I am a cashier in in big box grocery store. I regularly ring up orders of 100 items or more. In my store, we are expected to scan a certain number of items per hour. I cannot afford to inspect every item for a coupon as this slows down my time. My time affects my annual raise. Do you really want or expect your cashier to inspect every item for a coupon? Place the items with pull off coupons at the end of the order and politely tell your cashier, "These items have coupons on them."
I love that people always point a finger of blame at cashiers/retail employees/wait staff, but never look at the general lack of civility in society in general and consumers in particular. Do you know how many times I have said, "Hi, how are you today?" and the customer has replied, "Don't squish my bread" or "Don't pack my bags too heavy" or "The last time I was here my order was screwed up." Even better is the customer who talks on their phone through the whole transaction, not even acknowledging you as a person. People regularly treat me like uneducated garbage.
Navy Pier is a glorified mall, but do ride their ferris wheel - it gives you a great view of the shore and Lake Michigan.
I say Giordano's has the best pizza - try the deep dish! Also check out Berghoff Brewery and Restaurant. They have great German food, beer and root beer. The Artist's Cafe on Michigan Street looks like a 50s diner with fabulous, light and trendy food - reasonably priced, too. I love Miller's Pub for late night dining - it's Greek-owned, great Greek and American food. Make sure to get a Chicago dog (hot dog on a poppy seed bun, with mustard, relish, pickle, tomato, and celery salt).
Make sure you go to Millennium Park on Michigan Street. It's wonderful! Also check out Buckingham Fountain, State Street Beach, Lincoln Park Zoo (it's free!), Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Art Institute and The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Street).
My hubby and I always stay at the Congress Hotel, but it's become pricey. Check out hotels.com for good deals. If you stay at a hotel on our near Michigan street, you'll be close to everything. You can always jump on a bus or the L (elevated train) to get anywhere else. ... View related article.
Go to your local thrift store. They have lots of reusable containers at very reasonable prices. I recently shared a purchase of a bunch of real Tupperware with my mother-in-law. They were 50 cents to $1.00 a piece.
How do you lose your gladware? Do your kids throw them away? Does your husband leave them in the car until they get moldy? Learn to treat your plasticware like your plates or glasses and you won't need to keep replacing them.
When I was a kid, my mom made me bring home my ziplock bags so she could wash them and reuse them. I thought we were really poor (we were) but I didn't know she was also reusing and recycling them! ... View related article.
How would you like it if you were used to having companionship 16 hours a day and then only had it for an hour or two a week? When my husband and I go on vacation (and we haven't in 3 years due to finances) we have one of his brothers stay at our house. If we didn't have them, we would board her. Maybe some cats are independent and don't need attention, but mine sure does. ... View related article.
I've fed my husband vegetarian "sausage" and "ground beef" and not told him what it was. I've put as little as 1/8 of a pound of chicken or beef in a casserole when he insists that he needs 1/2 pound of meat per meal. I used to sneak him diet pop and sugar free koolaid, until he decided to switch "on his own". He didn't know I had made the switch years ago!
He also used to insist that certain soaps, shampoos, or laundry soaps were superior. After 10 years, he now says, "oh, just get whatever is cheap and you have coupons for." What a good man! ... View related article.
A crockpot is a great idea and so is cooking ahead and freezing meals. Also, cut up your vegetables and prepare your starch (potato or rice or bread) the night before if you can. When it's time to make the meal you only have to cook the veg and meat and heat up the starch.
Assign your husband specific household chores that he and only he will do. Try taking out the trash, vacuuming or sweeping, washing windows, etc. That way when those things don't get done, he has only himself to blame.
If your husband is very picky about food or expecting elaborate meals, go in the opposite direction. Serve him the same simple dish every day for a week. When he asks why, tell him you are too busy with work and chores to think of something else to make.
Above all, unless your husband is really bad to you (abusive, addict, gambler) don't regret getting married. Time may change things. Or even if it doesn't, being married to a good man is a blessing. My husband of ten years still waits until he is out of clean socks to ask me to wash some, forgets to take out the overflowing trash and never rinses out his milk glass. I love him completely, though, and have never regreted marrying him.
These little bitty spoons (they give them with samples in grocery stores, cafes, etc.) are also great for lunch boxes. I use one to spread stuff on crackers, to eat pasta salad made with small pasta like alphabets or orzo, to eat pudding cups, or to slowly eat a small cup of soup. They make you eat slowly and really enjoy your food. ... View related article.
The store manager of my $100 million dollar a year big box store told me a couple years ago that he picks up a penny if he sees it. Last year I kept track of the money I picked up. I found $181 and change. Not bad for just the effort of bending down to pick it up. ... View related article.
