Be careful of what you ask for this Christmas.

A "Keeping Up" Savings tip you should not miss. (5-7 min read)

I received a call from Mr. Charles Jones last week and it was apparent that he was just a tad bit upset. Charles what seems to be the problem? I asked. Let's just say I should be careful of what I ask for. Charles, what are you talking about now? Can you let me in on your big disappointment? Well, he said I asked my wife because of the economy to start using more coupons he said. What did she do? She started to use them. I said, well she listened to me in our last meeting on finding ways for you to pay yourselves every month. He said well yes and no. Yes, she started using coupons, but she did not listen to the other part you mentioned.

The other part:

If you have not been, paying attention or sleeping under a rock for the last year, you may have noticed a slowdown in the economy. That may mean a few things to you, which you might not be aware of. Businesses while we love to patronize some of them, there are some that will not return that same love to you. Make no mistake about it companies want your business, but will not sacrifice profit for it. When the economy tightens up, they become more creative in how they get your last dollar. They change menu items, they change content sizes, and yes, they even get you to come to their place of business and spend more than you wanted. That said; you also become creative in how you spend your last dollar. For example, the biggest thing people do is use more coupons to save on their purchases when the economy tightens. (we think you should use them no matter what state the economy is in) Here at "Keeping Up with the Jones'" we consider this a good thing, but also a curse in disguise if you are not careful. Coupons if created well are designed for you and I, (the consumers) without hesitation, offer good while supplies last, only three at this price to take action now.

How can a coupon be a curse you might still be asking yourself? After all no one can make you do anything, you don't want to do right. For starters, coupons while created are supposed to save you money, but sometimes they end up costing you more money in the end. "I sure wish I had a coupon for an oil change," Charles told me about two weeks ago. He checked his mailbox two days later and guess what showed up? You guessed it right a coupon for an oil change. (Be careful what you wish for this holiday season) The coupon had eight coupons on it he explained. It had four coupons on one side and four on the other side. The coupon was for various services from a savings on the total amount spent to just a simple oil change. Charles's comment to me was he only needed an oil change and the coupon that stated "free" tire rotation with oil change for only $19.99 was a dream come true. Our job here at "Keeping Up with the Jones'" is to empower you with information so that you at least have an opportunity to keep up. What you will learn while attending any one of our workshops is tips and strategies on how to survive in any economy.

We will explain to you what we explained to Charles, but he failed to explain to his wife when she went in for the oil change. Red flag number one nothing is ever "free"; red flag number two the word "only" and the third and final flag is $19.99. Now here is what happened when Mrs. Jones went into the business with her coupon for $19.99 looking for an oil change only. She explains to the desk manager that she wants to get an oil change, but she would like to take them up on their offer for a free tire rotation. They said no problem ma'm we will get you right in and out, they said. Getting the oil change with a regular price of $39.99 for only $19.99 was a signature "Keeping Up" moment. Opting for the "free" tire rotation was unfortunately the curse.

(We think you should be careful what you ask for this Christmas season) When she asked for the "free" tire rotation she gave them what they wanted, a reason to up sale her. She asked for a "free" tire rotation at a brake and tire shop only wanting a $19.99 oil change. Really? They did not intend to let her come in, only spend $19.99 for an oil change, and not look at her brakes and tires. (getting an oil change at a tire and brake shop would get a free inspection of your tires anyway, pulling the tires off after you to bought at least one would get you the free brake inspection as well) That's the reason they threw in the "free" tire rotation, to only look at the brakes. Charles called me upset, because she ended up spending more than $270.00 dollars on the SUV for which they had only budgeted $19.99 for the car repair. Let us just imagine she only got the oil change, well that would have came up to more than $35 dollars instead of the $19.99 she had planned for. The reason is the coupon on the oil change was for only for 4 quarts of oil and their SUV takes at least 5 quarts. The extra court of oil generated an additional cost of $3.99 and there was a hazardous waste fee of $3.10 to add insult to injury. Throw in an oil filter, because well you just changed the oil so changing the filter makes sense right. Then you add tax and she still would have left with more then she budgeted for. Now we will tell you how she ran up the other$ 235.00 or so in less than 30 minutes.

When they rotated her tires for "free" they brought her out to the garage area (even though they say no one should be in the garage are, because of insurance reasons) and showed her a brake pad. Now the first question is was it even her brake pad? Maybe, maybe not. Nevertheless, it was a brake pad that was worn out which was a problem that needed to be addressed. Add in the fact that she had a child booster seat in the back and they knew that safety would be important to her. I know what you are thinking; they would never get you like that right? Think again. If a person tells you that, your brakes are bad and we (as experts) recommend you changed them as soon as possible, then you tend to listen to them. Why? Because you now have, a planted seed in your head that every time you approach a stop light you ask the question will your car stop or will this be the time that your brakes go out.

This Christmas season here at "Keeping Up with the Jones'" we would like to wish you a marry one, but be careful of what you wish for. Sales, discounts, and bargains may be good, just be alert. The "Keeping Up" tip from this story is have a budget when you go in and never, ever alter it for even the best deal. It might just cost you more than you think later. As for Charles and his family this Christmas season, they have incurred yet another cost to their car. They were out of another $148.00 bucks because of the "19.99" oil change visit. You see they had to find another company to balance the tires they had rotated for "free", because as a result their SUV started pulling to the left as they applied pressure to the new $230.00 brake pads. Next month: "When is going green, going to save you some Green"

“How to get a Tax Free check during election time”

"Charles and his "Double Duty Dollars" (3 min must read)

It had been a few months since the last time I reached out to the Jones', but quite frankly it's been a busy few months all together. While reading this short blog you may be wondering what exactly has kept me so busy to not reach out to anyone over the last few months. I must now come clean and confess. I have just finished reading the last email, postcard, and website for all of the candidates running for office and I still don't know who to vote for on Election Day.

Make no mistake about it every election year I; personally love figuring out what the measures are and how they will benefit my clients or me. Some measures come in the form of new bond offerings from the state or city which allows some of my clients to have an opportunity to receive a tax free rebate check from the city every 6 months. Yes you heard correctly, TAX FREE! I love some of the new issues when they come out, because some my clients benefit twice. Let me explain to you how Charles Jones made money from the state every six months by accident. Did I mention it was tax free?

Charles Jones called me 3 years ago and told me he had to stop making his monthly contribution to his son Justin's college fund. I asked why and was there something I could do. He said well the city had just approved a Bond Measure; let's just call it Measure J. Measure J would improve the building and bring it up to earthquake standards. It would also expand the library, campus auditorium, and gymnasium. He was a little upset personally, because he had voted against the measure. I said well that should be a good thing, I'm all for improving a library no matter where it is. He said he was too but, he just could not afford the increase in his property taxes at the time. I said I'm yet to meet anyone who could afford an increase in taxes of any kind.

My next comment would not only surprise him, but knock him off his feet. I told Charles that not only would he continue to make the contribution, but I would get him a check to pay for it and that the check would be tax free.

One of the things that has become a tradition at most every live "Keeping Up" seminar (besides giving away free Macy's® gift cards. Certain Restrictions May Apply) is share a "Keeping Up" tip on how we partner with the government in some shape, form, or fashion. When I say partner, I mean look for a way for the government to reward us for helping them. That's the way partners should be. They help you, and you help them.

After my assistant and I brought Charles too from his shock, he said now how are you going to do that? I told Charles that we would create a partnership with the local Government. He said how can that happen? I told him that we would buy that same bond that shows up on his property tax bill in the top left corner. He said really? I said yes we would buy the bond and have the bond pay us every six months tax free. While the tax free payments come in we would then make a contribution to Justin's 529 college plan (which in most states comes out tax free once Justin uses it for college). Now that's what I call a partnership Charles stated. "Double Duty Dollars" I get it, they partner with me on helping me write off the interest from my property taxes that has the bond on it. Correct I said. He then said, and then I partner with them by buying their bond to fix up the school that will benefit my son. I said now you are getting it. I then said because you are a resident of the same state that city's bond payments will then be tax free to you. He said I love it! I then told him that he should embrace the election season. This is Jenny Jones from the "Keeping Up" Educational Series and (I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE)