Since I've turned 50 I think I've gotten marketing from AARP in the mail every week. I've resisted joining since I didn't see anything in their material that made me think it was a good deal for $17/year. I have seen Walgreens give $5 RRs for buying $20 in the past and I noticed a sign today saying if you use your AARP card every time you get offers from them, but still not sold. Does anyone have good reasons to join this? Or bad ones to not join?
Coupon total ytd = 95.44
RX total = 32.01
Discounted Gift Cards = 18.00
Total = 145.45
I got some groceries this morning. Went to Safeway, Walgreens and King Soopers.
At Safeway I got $6 in produce and paid $5 after a $1 coupon.
At Walgreens I got 2 packages of Oscar Meyer bacon and 4 bags of David's sunflower seeds. The bacon was on sale for $6 after $1 RR. The sunflower seeds were on sale for $1/each. Used $11 in RRs from last week and .29 on a gift card bought with RRs. No out of pocket. I wanted some of the Green Giant green beans for .24 but they were sold out. I got a raincheck.
At King Soopers I picked up a prescription, paid $2.22 and they added another $25 to my card for groceries. I spent .98 using my RX coupon for 2 large boxes sugar free cherry Jello. I had a coupon for .55/2 that doubled. They were on sale for .99/each.
My oldest niece called last night and talked for an hour or so. She got her hair cut. I know she will look beautiful, but can't imagine what it looks like from the description. It was down past her hips before she cut it. She said one side is shaved now and the other is like a pixie cut. Ooookay. 
She said she walked in a Salon and asked the guy to go crazy.
She was explaining how much she wants to travel and learn about other cultures and her other grandma asked her why she wanted to do that and she said it was because she hates America. I asked her to explain that and she said we're so materialistic and care about looks so much and we're obese etc. I really hate the indoctrination they get in college about how bad America is and not how good we are. We are a great nation and we have done great things in the world. I wish it wasn't so one-sided in the schools.
The other countries are better because they don't waste and they live communally helping each other etc. Hmmm, hopefully one day she'll grow up a little and see both sides. Anytime a culture has a lot of something they waste it. Communal living means a few people do most of the work and some people do none. People are people and they will always have disagreements living together - it's not one big happy family.
I think most of the people in tribes and poor cultures would jump at the chance to have electricity and be warm or cool as needed. To have hot and cold running water that is safe to drink. To be clean and healty and have enough to eat with a variety of choices. To be educated and given opportunities.
Just because we live in a materialistic world doesn't mean we have to be materialistic. We don't have to buy in to the appearances lifestyle. We don't have to be obese and eat junk food. It's not really a choice when you don't get to choose if you want to live in poverty, but it's imposed on you by local conditions.
I finished reading my book Styx's Storm by Lora Leigh. Paranormal - very good.
AARP
April 19th, 2011 at 08:13 pm
April 19th, 2011 at 08:22 pm 1303244549
April 19th, 2011 at 08:52 pm 1303246330
My own kids are in grade/middle school and the values imparted from the staff and administration are VERY GOOD and balanced.
April 19th, 2011 at 09:18 pm 1303247919
Then when you learn about the flaws when you're older, it can be very disillusioning and overwhelming. It's not that the college POV is one-sided; but it shows an unvarnished view of America's drawbacks that was hidden from view before.
I myself went through an extremely cynical period once I began learning some facts that were kept out of elementary, middle and high school history classrooms.
I'm still realistic (and, yeah, a bit bitter at times) about some of the huge flaws in American society and some of the dangerous directions we're heading. However, I've learned to also celebrate our successes, our strengths and our charms.
I say let her go through this and have some sympathy. Some young people veer between extremes, but most become better-balanced the older they get. That's based on my own experience and what I've seen from acquaintances.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:05 pm 1303254308
Fact is, obesity is a worldwide epidemic, largely because many developing countries have adopted western style diets. In fact, the US is no longer the fattest country.
According to Forbes, the top 5 fattest are: Nauru, The Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga
Actually, I couldn't think of a better way to get an education, the kind you wouldn't get in a classroom, by traveling abroad. She will gain much in maturity and wisdom if she travels.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:09 am 1303258173
April 20th, 2011 at 03:54 am 1303271645
more time--I think that's a sign of some issues in our culture. But baselle is right the romanticization of other cultures usually shows they haven't seen all sides of them.
April 20th, 2011 at 07:04 pm 1303326253
ceejay74 - I went thru the same thing in my college years about religion. I learned some new things and felt really disillusioned about what I had been taught 'lied to'. It took some time to get over that and it's probably what she's going thru now regarding our country. It just feels like so much of the so-called 'elite' in this country spread the mantra that America is horrible. Movie stars, politicians, reporters, college teachers etc. I don't care how widespread the idea is.
May 3rd, 2011 at 04:45 pm 1304441101