in my mind's zen garden

Angelina Jolie, Salt and the Female Action Superstar

Randomguru — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:00:19 +0000

I definitely wanted to chime in regarding the movie “Salt”, starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Already, there’s been some harsh reviews from some of the prominent movie critics out there. And the bottom line is, those artists and entertainers who put themselves out there in front of the public are subject to praise or ridicule. And I think that’s totally fair.

But, critics in general can make or break an artist (and personally, I’ve experienced that first hand from a local critic who didn’t have many nice things to say about my performance).

The difference between Angelina Jolie and I? Critics can pan her all they want. Somehow, she pulls through and she already has built up a collection of movie roles that have proven she is a force to be reckoned with, a talented soul, a persona that defies the critical reviews. She is Angelina Jolie, one of the most attractive femmes on the planet, and her beau is Brad Pitt.

. . . .

From Edward Salt to Evelyn Salt

Supposedly, the role of Salt was offered to Tom Cruise, who eventually passed on it and somehow the character was transformed into a female lead with Angelina Jolie taking on the character of Evelyn Salt.

The movie was originally scripted with a male lead and Tom Cruise was approached to play the title character. Ultimately, he backed out and the script was rewritten with a female lead and Angelina Jolie took the role. —imdb.com

So, the lead role was transformed from Edward A. Salt to Evelyn Salt and much of the script was re-written… enter Angelina!

Critical Reviews

Most of the critics who wrote less than shimmering reviews of “Salt” and Angelina’s performance in it, mentioned that the movie was hopelessly cliched and more of the same. Some pointed to Angelina Jolie’s performance as a subject of criticism. The overall rating at RottenTomatoes.com was 57%, pretty dismal for a brand new action flick, starring an A-list actress such as Angelina Jolie.

One writes:

It’s too bad the actress spends more time jumping from pose to pose instead of getting to explore a potentially engrossing character.

Others add:

To Jolie’s credit, she is a convincing action star. She can’t, however, take the movie’s reheated world tensions and make them seem fresh. Long after James Bond settled his score with the Russians, ‘Salt’ picks up his fallen torch and wields it clumsily.

There was enough people getting kicked in the face and punched in various places for me to feel like it was not a complete and total waste of my time.

. . . .

The Quintessential Female Action Hero

Of course we should eventually get to the praise for the movie and Angelina Jolie’s performance as Evelyn Salt.

First, I look at Angelina Jolie and what she’s done with the female action super hero, the femme who like to kick a*s and asks questions later. I guess you could say she was fortune for getting the role of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider series. But, judging by her lean yet athletic physique, it’s pretty obvious she was the right lady for the role. And, ultimately she managed to branch off into other action movies like “Wanted” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”.

When you look at the history and progression of her action roles, Angelina has played it smart and developed herself into the top female action star the world has ever known. She definitely kicks a*s but somehow her philanthropic projects and raising her on United Nations style family… flows into her onscreen persona. Which I think is a good thing.

A High-Speed Summer Blockbuster

My feeling is that the movie “Salt” (now that the script needed to be re-written for a female lead) served two purposes: 1) presenting to the audience a viable Summer blockbuster action flick that is entertaining and full of fast-paced action that can bring you to the edge of your seat. 2) with the re-writing of the script to fit the leading lady, the movie also became a “vehicle” to launch Angelina Jolie as a viable action star. And, I believe she truly made her mark, taking her femme and action hero status to a higher level.

And if we look at these two approaches to the film, the it should be that much more enjoyable.

After all, we as viewers come to the movies to be entertained. And most, if not all, films have their flaws. There is no perfect movie out there. But at the same time there is the need for artistic express and presentation, elevated to a higher level, that makes performances like this one stand out and shine.

I think Angelina Jolie “shines” in “Salt”. She is badass and she really pulls it off with her charisma and command of the role.

Yes, you can take anything in any movie, especially when it comes to action movies such as this one, and you can find things that would be highly improbable and unbelievable. But that’s what movies and Hollywood are all about. Many critics fail to realize the entertainment value… just pure entertainment, for we go to the Summer movies to be entertained, and not to give a critical analysis.

Summer blockbusters are, well, supposed to be thrilling, with enough twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing. When all is said and done, Angelina’s performance here just might be more appreciated for it’s importance in elevating the female action super hero to new heights.

Did I think Angelina’s performance was great? Yes, and I think there is an obvious dedication to her craft that shines through. I found the movie very entertaining, not boring at all, and highly fast-paced. I was able to follow the storyline and plot, yet I wasn’t bogged down by too much going on like I’ve experienced in other movies.. And, I’m hoping for the sequel to come out soon (it was quite obvious that they were setting that up), and this is one I’ll have to buy on DVD (or blu-ray).

Reportedly, Angelina Jolie did most of her own stunts. —imdb.com

Angelina Jolie + Salt = High Octane Margarita

Randomguru — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:42:00 +0000

Salt

If you’re an Angelina Jolie fan, then this is an exciting week for you because her latest film, “Salt”, opens this week. And she’s scheduled to make a last minute appearance at the Comic-Con Convention in San Diego to promote the movie. Fans everywhere are going to try to get last minute tickets, but supposedly this extremely popular convention was sold out months ago… last year, if I’m not mistaken.

I found a review of the film here.

And of course there’s the official site and trailer.

. . . .

The Official Site

“Salt” is a very silly movie, and by the end of its brisk and breathless running time (and I mean that literally), it makes the “Bourne” movies look like documentaries.

I’m not entirely sure that’s a bad thing. —HitFix.com

. . . .

The Internet Is Abuzz…

Without a doubt, the most popular post at the “Zen Garden” is something I’d written about Angelina Jolie’s diet. And, I’d written about this phenomenon here.

As many of you probably know, there was news that Angelina Jolie had fainted on the set while filming “Salt”. Apparently, it was due in part to a special liquid diet she’d been on to lose weight for the movie. Call it a publicity thing or maybe a sign she is anorexic. Frankly, I would think you’d have to be in pretty darn good physical shape to do these action movies (and she’d been doing them for years now).

Anyway, in the official trailer she looks really great, and doesn’t look anorexic at all to me. And, I’ve been on the set before filiming on a past TV show and know for a fact that a typical filming day can last 15-16 hours. It is long, physically demanding work.

Yesterday, I saw the trailer/preview to the movie Salt (starring Angelina Jolie). She looked great! Her complexion looked as radiant as ever. Though, many people have mentioned (including my wife) that she seemed skinnier than usual. And, supposedly she passed out during the making of the film, with rumors that she was on a special diet that caused her to lose even more weight. Thus, the controversy continues regarding whether she might be anorexic or not.

Of course, there is no proof (medically speaking) that she is, in fact, anorexic. But the Salt movie looks like a very action-packed film, so I imagine she had to get physical.

Anyway, the facts in my article were based mostly from her Tomb Raider training days. I don’t think anyone is absolutely sure what she is currently eating nowadays, but most people seem to think not much.

. . . .

The Official Trailer

. . . .

Elsewhere on the web:

Official Trailer and YouTube Channel

Angelina Jolie in “Salt” Delivers Impossible Thrills

Angelina Jolie appearing at Comic Con to promote Salt

Angelina Jolie Tattoos: Body art part of her fashion at ‘Salt’ Premiere

I seldom go to the movie theaters these days, but it looks like this upcoming movie is definitely one I will go and see before it reaches Blockbuster and Netflix.

How about you? Do you want to see this movie?

Z-Star Manual Wheatgrass Juicer

Randomguru — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:26:56 +0000

I also wrote about this juicer over here.

So far I’m like the Z-Star Manual Wheatgrass Juicer very much.

It’s manual so I don’t use any electricity at all, a big plus for all you green, sustainable living folks.
But, it’s very easy to use and the hand crank works very smoothly.

I was able to easily juice wheatgrass, oranges, celery, cucumbers and watermelon. Though, it was a bit tougher to juice the harder types of fruits and veggies, like carrots and watermelon rinds. But, it can be done.

. . . .

My Reasons For Buying A Manual Juicer

Well, the rationale was that I wouldn’t have to use electricity, using my own physical energy to churn out some wheatgrass juice and other types of juices. Thus, saving a bit on my electrical bill by doing the work myself, knowing that daily use of an electric juicer can add up.

Another reason for going manual was to save money, obviously. Because buying an electric version would cost maybe 2-3 times more.

And last but not least, a manual juicer can be taken anywhere, even to places where there is no available electricity! I could even take this on camping trips.

. . . .

Out of the box, the Z-Star Manual Wheatgrass Juicer was very easy to install. There is a booklet on how to assemble and take apart the juicer, but the parts logically fit together nicely, it was easy to assemble this juicer without reading the manual.

Also, cleaning this juicer is so much easier than my two centrifugal electric juicers, which are also very noisy (must consider the noise pollution when it comes to juicers too! With the centrifugal juicers, somehow cleaning was really a chore, it almost made it not worth juicing. This manual juicers is quite easy to clean and it comes with a large cleaning brush.

All in all, I give this product 4.5 stars.

Reducing Monthly Bills by Reassessing your Insurance Costs

Randomguru — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:44:53 +0000

Reassess And Reduce

There is no doubt (and it goes without saying) that people have REALLY been feeling the financial pinch these past few years.

But whether economic times are good or bad (and even if you feel there is no need to, financially speaking), it is always wise to search for better ways to cut costs, and lower your monthly bills.

And, reassessing your current insurance costs can help you save in the long run, thus reduce monthly costs.

Free Insurance Quote Sites

Nowadays, in today’s highly competitive insurance market, one can find the best deals by simply going online, and getting the best home insurance quotes… for free.

Many web sites that offer “free quotes” can be very useful and can provide you with the best deals for the same coverage, whether you’re looking for something specific like insurance for business in Illinois, or something more basic such as auto insurance.

. . . .

Protect Your Home, While Reducing Monthly Costs

Home Insurance in California can be quite expensive, since the average value of homes in California are some of the highest in the nation. But at the same time it is a highly competitive market, and it is possible to find deals and help reduce costs.

A couple of years ago my wife and I consolidated our auto, home and other insurance with one insurance company. This was a highly effective way to reduce our monthly costs:

By consolidating all our insurance under one company to take advantage of discounts.

By getting quotes from different companies to get the best deals and save.

By going through an insurance broker in order to help us get the best deals.

Also, an insurance broker has your back, can remind you whenever you’re late with paying premiums, and work as a liason if you run into financial difficulties or hardships.

When we were in the Philippines a couple of years ago, we had a death in the family and had forgotten to pay our insurance premiums. The insurance broker helped resolve things while we were abroad.

Investigating Free Quotes Online

Today, with the many free insurance quote sites available online, the next time we reassess our insurance we will shop around online for the best deals. I haven’t discussed this with my wife yet, but we need to find out if we can do the same thing online (go with a broker to consolidate all of our insurance with one company).

. . . .

Some Ways To Reduce Insurance Costs

For individual insurance quotes, use whatever online tools and sites available to get free quotes and the best deals. It always pays to shop around to find the best deals for the same coverage.

If you want to consolidate all of your insurance, go through a reputable insurance broker in your area to save by getting auto, homeowners and other insurance with one company.

If you really need to save, look into the possibility of having a higher deductible. This is the amount of money you would have to pay, out-of-pocket, before the insurance company will pay you for any claims of damage or loss of property. Though you’d have to pay a higher amount upfront, your monthly premium can be significantly reduced.

Check with your insurance company. You might be able to further reduce your monthly premium by doing little things like adding additional smoke detectors, or adding a home security system.

. . . .

Note: Home Insurance in California doesn’t include Earthquake Insurance. I believe that is a separate type of insurance, but I could be wrong. Check the “exclusions” section of your current policy to make sure, but usually home insurance excludes the following: earth movement, water damage, power failure, neglect, war, nuclear hazard, and intentional loss.

. . . .

The Forgotten Photos: “Venice, Italy” August 2005 – Part 2

Randomguru — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:00:17 +0000

The Hotel Capri

This is a continuation from Part 1 in the series.

On our first day in Venice, it rained!

I remember passing through the train station and coming out the other side to catch a first glimpse of Venice and it was pouring and the skies were dark and cloudy.

We had to walk to the Hotel Capri, which on Google Maps below looks like it is very close to the train station, but because it was our first time in Venice and we didn’t know the streets, it seemed a mile away.

. . . .

Location of the Hotel Capri

. . . .

A Slight Variation on a Theme

Here is the same view of the Santa Maria della Salute, the domed Catholic church that is a prominent feature of the Venetian panorama. It’s a slight variation of the photo in Part 1.

. . . .

The Quiet Canals of Venice

In many of the quiet canals and walkways in Venice, I had a nice vibe. Venice to me had this quiet old world charm. It’s hard to believe that one is surrounded by buildings centuries old, with foundations sitting on wood piles! One thing I noticed there, is that every-once-in-a-while you’d feel a gentle swaying. Even in the hotel room I felt a subtle swaying motion a couple of times. Nothing too drastic to get the most sensitive person seasick, but I did notice this slight swaying a few times during my stay in Venice.

On the second day in Venice, the sun came out and we had mildly warm weather with scattered clouds here and there. The weather changes drastically here, just like on the East Coast. I can’t remember if it was the 1st or 2nd day that we visited the Piazza San Marco. I believe it was the 1st day but later in the day, as I remember the sky was still overcast.

. . . .

Random Window in Venetian Blinds

Venice isn’t like other cities where the blocks are perfect squares or even triangles. There seems to be a randomness about how the streets/canals and walkways were designed. One can easily get lost here.

. . . .

Venetian Architecture

Needless to say, I was fascinated by the Venetian architecture surrounding us. I tried to capture the essence of the buildings against the skies above…

. . . .

Join the forum discussion on this post

The Forgotten Photos: “Venice, Italy” August 2005 – Part 1

Randomguru — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:08:23 +0000

I’m not really good about uploading all the photographs I’ve taken.

Usually, I’m too critical about my photography skills. And, it wasn’t until only a few years ago that I finally bought a decent digital camera, just in time to take photos at my parents’ 50th Anniversary celebration.

But, these photos taken 5 years ago in Venice, Italy, aren’t too bad. I had a cheap digital camera but it did the job. And, reviewing these pics (just rediscovering them after all these years) is really nice. I’m looking back with fond memories now of the family’s trip to Europe.

. . . .

Venice, Italy on Google Earth

Looking on Google Earth you can see that Venice is basically a collection of islands, protected by a lagoon. You can see the Grand Canal weaving it’s way through the city. That line cutting diagonally on the upper left corner are the train tracks that lead to the Santa Lucia train station.

. . . .

Taking The Overnight Train from Paris to Venice

We traveled on an overnight train from Paris directly to Venice. In the middle of the night we passed through Switzerland and had to show our passports (but had to give them to the night conductor ahead of time, so that we could sleep).

Technically, we’d visited Switzerland as well, but we were all asleep. Our train wasn’t a high-speed train but we had our own cabin with 4 beds (bunk beds on each side). It was fun and cozy, and we got to see a lot of the French countryside before nightfall. I remember passing through Milan on the way to Venice.

. . . .

The Santa Maria della Salute: Venice, Italy

You can see the famous domed Catholic church, The Santa Maria della Salute, that can be seen across the Grand Canal from the Piazza San Marco. Here, the gondoliers transport their passengers, a very common sight in Venice.

. . . .

Highwater and Flooding in Venice

Here’s an example of the “high waters” moving in, where the tides from the Adriatic Sea above the first floor of many of the buildings. It’s hard to believe that the foundations to all these buildings were made of piles and piles of wood posts. But since the wood receives no oxygen underwater, the wood actually petrifies and becomes stronger.

Another view of the rising waters encroaching into the walkways of Venice!

The city has been sinking over the centuries and there are a couple of different projects to either lift the buildings (a monumental feat) above sea level, or to create barriers to prevent the tides from coming in.

. . . .

The Hotel Capri: Venice, Italy

The Hotel Capri is a quaint, modest hotel not too far from the train station in Venice. There are no roads to get around, just canals and bridges of course, so it helped to find a hotel that wasn’t too far from the trains, for when it was time to depart. The center of Venice which I assumed was the Piazza San Marco was still far from the hotel and we had to take a “water bus” (called a Vaporetto) along the Grand Canal in order to get to the Piazza San Marco. Otherwise, you had to walk which could be hard. Venice is pretty much like a whole bunch of little islands when you think about all the canals that run through the city. We did walk around the city and explored many of the hidden canals and bridges. And it can be quite easy to get lost there if you don’t have a map.

. . . .

Santa Lucia Train Station: Venice, Italy

The Santa Lucia train station in Venice is quite huge. When you think about it, all those tourists from all over the world, arriving at their final destination, there’s a lot of tourists coming and going here. And, the train station is a nice place to eat too. There are several eateries and I remember dining at a large cafeteria-style place where you could select what you wanted.

We ate at several small eateries in the heart of Venice. Bought gelato ice cream in quaint little stores. But for some odd reason the “cafeteria” at the train station was more memorable.

. . . .

Departing From Santa Lucia Station To Florence

Here you can see that we are leaving Venice on our way to Florence, Italy. Overall it was an amazing stay. Venice is a centuries-old city, and the canals and bridges were definitely memorable. We had fun getting lost in the city, getting gelato for the kids (which was the best in Italy, of course, but we found out it was even better in Florence). We finally got to ride one of those high-speed bullet trains (like the one pictured above) to Florence, and again to Rome.

Continue to Part 2…

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The Most Popular Posts at the Zen Garden: 1st Half of 2010

Randomguru — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:18:08 +0000

Top 10 Posts: 2010

Below you’ll find the most popular posts within the first 6 months of 2010.

I enjoy writing these Top-10-Posts articles every now and then, as many of you are aware. For me it’s just fun, but I think it also helps Google and other search engines proper index my most popular sites.

There. I confess this is a kind of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) “white hat” technique that I’ve been doing these past few years, which seems to work, I think.

If anything, at least this habit:

keeps me aware of my most popular posts.

helps me to get writing ideas for new posts by looking back at older ones.

helps me to simply reflect on my work here.

forces me to look at my statistics on Google Analytics.

helps me to understand what my audience finds most entertaining and interesting.

. . . .

Most Popular Posts :: January to June 2010

. . . .

1. Are Filipinos Asian?

22 FB Shares. 2 Retweets. 69 Comments.

Far and away the most popular post, there simply has been much controversy surrounding this simple question. But the answer lies in the complex issues of national and ethnic identity. Filipinos are understandable a mixture of ethnicities and cultures that, simply put, defines who Filipinos are… unique people… but although matters of geography seem to be played down when it comes to a people within a given region, it truly is a very important factor.

Who is to say is an American for instance? Ethnicity can’t really come into play here because you have your native Americans, decendants of Europeans, and immigrants coming in from around the world who become naturalized. Of course, regardless of race or color anyone born in America is a citizen.

Who is Asian? Many have a narrow concentric view that Chinese, Koreans and Japanese are the true Asians, but no one denies that Singaporeans are Asian, nor Thai people, Malaysians and Indonesians are usually considered Asian, and of course, Indians, Tibetans, Nepalese and so on. But with Filipinos there is a question mark. And it’s not just non-Filipino people but the Filipinos themselves who have varying opinions on the matter!

. . . .

2. Spotlight on Angelina Jolie: Just What Does She Eat, Anyway?

2 FB Shares. 2 Retweets. 5 Comments.

Yesterday, I saw the trailer/preview to the movie Salt (starring Angelina Jolie). She looked great! Her complexion looked as radiant as ever. Though, many people have mentioned (including my wife) that she seemed skinnier than usual. And, supposedly she passed out during the making of the film, with rumors that she was on a special diet that caused her to lose even more weight. Thus, the controversy continues regarding whether she might be anorexic or not.

Of course, there is no proof (medically speaking) that she is, in fact, anorexic. But the Salt movie looks like a very action-packed film, so I imagine she had to get physical.

Anyway, the facts in my article were based mostly from her Tomb Raider training days. I don’t think anyone is absolutely sure what she is currently eating nowadays, but most people seem to think not much.

. . . .

3. Are Filipinos Asian? – Part 2

7 FB Shares. 1 Retweet. 46 Comments.

Just a continuation from Part 1, this article just adds to what had already been said, plus adding statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau that specifically classified Filipinos as part of the Asian group, and clearly defining true Pacific Islanders.

. . . .

4. How Much Did It Cost in the 1960s?

2 FB Shares. 2 Retweets. 0 Comments.

Call me nostalgic, but I do have fond memories of buying bubble gum and other candies from the local “nickel & dime” store for a few pennies each!

Of course, everything seemed cheaper back then, but it was just a matter of inflation. Minimum wage back then was around $1.25 an hour.

And obviously, The Beatles reigned during most of the 1960s, and buy 45′s and LP records were even cheaper. With music, times have changed and most everything is in the digital domain and is downloadable from your computer. But, those old 45′s seemed more tangible and you could even play frisbie when them. Something I very much later regretted. Imagine the money I could make on eBay, had I only kept those 45′s in pristine condition, rather than playing frisbie with them and watching them disintegrate out in the street!

. . . .

5. Preview: Ubuntu Linux 10.04 “Lucid Lynx”

1 FB Share. 5 Retweets. 0 Comments.

I had downloaded the Beta2 version of Ubuntu “Lucid Lynx”, and didn’t have any major problems with it. Sure there were minor glitches that have long been forgotten. Nowadays, I’m running this latest version of Ubuntu and I haven’t had any problems. And I’m not dual-booted with Windows or any other OS. I’m kicking it 100% with Ubuntu Linux 10.4 “Lucid Lynx”.

. . . .

6. Keith Jarrett – Solo Piano: Tour Dates in 2010!!

1 FB Shares. 2 Retweets. 0 Comments.

Ever since his Koln Concert was released back in the 70s, I’ve been a big fan of Keith Jarrett’s work, especially his “live” solo piano concerts, which all have been improvised out of thin air.

He has already finished solo piano concerts for the year, it seems. Now the trio (featuring Keith Jarrett: piano, Gary Peacock: double bass, Jack DeJohnette: drums) is finishing up concerts in Europe and is schedule to do a series of concert this Fall in Japan.

Somehow, this one post had become quite popular through the search engines. So, even though it’s a blog post from the past, I still currently update the concert dates on this page when I can.

. . . .

7. I Carry Your Heart: by E.E. Cummings

12 FB Shares. 3 Retweets. 12 Comments.

Possibly E.E. Cummings best poem. I simply re-arranged its structure, since everyone knows that he had a unique and unconventional way of phrasing in his poetry.

8. Yes, Filipinos Are Asian!

9 FB Shares. 3 Retweets. 43 Comments.

This was actually my original post related to the “Are Filipinos Asian?” controversy, written back in February 2006. It was mainly a response to a few haters out there who didn’t think to highly of the Filipino people. Thus, had to get the word across in a more detailed fashion, and as intelligently as I could write.

. . . .

9. CD Review: World Is India

3 FB Shares. 3 Retweets. 8 Comments.

This post became surprisingly popular, but especially because I had added this to the “store” on my site and I had sold quite a few CDs. So, Bollywood and Indian/World dubb music is still alive and well, and people can truly appreciate it. In fact, many other styles of music around the world, from Jazz to Hip Hop, have been influenced by Indian Music.

And, thanks to movies like Monsoon Wedding, Bend It Like Beckham, and Slumdog Millionaire; that have contained some great Indian-influenced music in their soundtracks. It just brings Indian Music to a wider audience.

. . . .

10. 100% Raw Cacao-Banana Smoothies

6 FB Shares. 3 Retweets. 8 Comments.

This recipe (and post) has been getting quite a few hits this year. A lot of people love chocolate, and jumping into a raw/living foods diet is a being change in one’s dietary habits. As great as the diet can be health-wise, it is quite challenging and one must make quite a transition and face many “social” challenges to get there. Having a 100% Raw Cacao Banana Smoothie is a great transition food for chocolate lovers.

The recipe is quite simple, and it only takes a few minutes to make with the few ingredients and a blender. And, this is a good “pick me up” in the morning.

. . . .

3 Ways To Save with Online Promotions, Coupons and Value Books

Randomguru — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:17:51 +0000

Being More Frugal

I know of a few people who are exeptionally thrifty and can take advantage of promotions and coupons and come away from the supermarket saving quite a bit of money and, I’ve done that too when I actually set my mind to it. It’s important to follow through and be persistent in order to generate savings.

The following tips might be considered common sense, but the idea is to make it a weekly habit to save money. But you have to ask yourself, are you truly making this a habit to save? Be aware of the money you are spending and make it a habit to constantly look out for special deals out there, and save.

. . . .

1. Online Coupon Sites

I confess that taking advantage of cost savings through the use of online coupons and promotional discounts is something I never really jumped into until recent years. Savings.com is a great site to find online coupons and promotional codes so that you can use them and save when shopping for products and services online.

Everything from Home Depot coupons to Drugstore.com promo codes can be found on the site, as well as special deals for airfare, hotel rooms and car rentals to save on your next vacation.

For the latest deals it helps to subscribe to Savings.com’s blog or sign up for their newsletter.

. . . .

2. Entertainment Value Books

These can be purchased through fundraising programs, maybe through elementary school, girl scouts, and so on. Basically, for $19.99 you get a book with tons of coupons for special deals at movie theaters and restaurants that can be found in your local area.

Even though these value books are only good for the current year, and it’s not likely (realistically) that you will use up ALL COUPONS in the book, just by using maybe a third to half of the book will bring you substantial savings.

Even just using up all the coupons for movies theaters in this book will at the very least help pay for itself. So, the savings are truly there. My wife and I like to use these value books for saving money on the movies and eating at local restaurants. You might even find special coupons to buy these books online for much less than the $19.99 fundraiser price! But, do some research online… I think you can get this book for less than $10.00.

. . . .

3. Store and Supermarket Coupons

This last tip is a bit of a no-brainer. If you’ve ever read the Sunday paper you’ll find pages of coupons within, mostly to save money when shopping at the local supermarkets. This can be a tough one if none of the coupons are for products you really use. But, usually there are some that I find useful, especially in the way of cereals, cosmetics and household cleaners.

Also, stores like Borders can provide coupons that can be sent to your email inbox, and printed out for substantial savings on their books and other items. My wife uses coupons that she gets via email from her favorite stores, like Victoria’s Secret, Ann Taylor and even Bed, Bath and Beyond. You might be able to get these coupons via regular mail if you’re on their mailing list. But I think that you can save even more if you receive their email newsletters.

During Hard Economic Times The Tough Go Shopping… with Coupons!

According to many reliable news sources, the economy has not fully recovered from the housing market and Wall Street crisis that has been affecting us since 2008. With rising costs in fuel, I’m sure this affects everything else we buy at the store, because that simply means that the costs to ship these products dramatically increases.

For me, the current economic conditions and the slowdown of job opportunities have forced me to become more frugal in my day-to-day living. Especially when one is self-employed and a freelancer, one is acutely aware of the costs of everything and forces one to be on a tighter budget.

But even if the economy is on a roll, so to speak, we should all be taking advantage of the coupons and special promotions in order to save money, so that we can put some of it away to invest, for our children’s college funds, or to just save it for a rainy day… but don’t forget the vacations!