Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

I have Amazon prime. I thought it was sort of high. But I tend to do most of my shopping on line anyway and a good deal of that on Amazon. It only takes a few of items to pay for the membership. I joined last December and actually made up my membership in shipping costs with Christmas shopping. Over a year's time it saves me gobs. Using it lowers the overall price I have to pay and gets me quicker shipping on tons of stuff.

Ok, I'm curious to know how Prime saves you money. I've been shopping on Amazon for about 10 years now and I love a lot of their features, but perhaps I've never fully understood the Prime membership because they've never been able to talk me into joining. I understand you get free 2-day shipping but I have never paid for shipping on Amazon anyway. They changed it recently so you now need $35 worth to get free shipping but until just a few weeks ago it was only $25 and I never seemed to have any trouble getting my order up to $25 to get the free shipping. It isn't 2-day shipping but I never need anything desperately enough to care about waiting an extra day or two. Other than the 2-day shipping that I don't care about, I never was able to see what was "in it for me" to pay the annual membership fee. Are there additional savings to being a prime member that I'm not aware of?

One of the features of Amazon that I really like is the ability to put stuff in your cart and save it for later. So any time I find something I want, I put it in my cart, even if it is only a $4 item. Then when I want to order something and need to get the order up to the $35 for the free shipping, I just look through my cart and move some of those items up until I get up to the level I need. The problem now is that I have 30 items in my cart in the "save for later" category but in looking through them, I've changed my mind about most of them since putting them there and no longer want them….I was able to move one $4 item into the cart along with the gloves but that still leaves me a little short. Oh well, I don't need the gloves desperately either so I guess they can wait until I think of something else I need as well.

 

[chicken danz]

Not all things qualify for the free $35 shipping thing. But I guess not all items qualify for prime either. But normally there is an option that includes prime that saves money over the other options. I ordered several larger items this year, like a pressure canner for my son, a big 60 gallon pot to process turkeys in, a propane burner to heat the pot etc. These items all would have ended up costing a ton in shipping if it weren't for prime because they were large and heavy. When I want something I usually want it in a hurry and don't want to wait. If I have a $10 item I don't want to wait until I have $25 worth before I order. I do occasionally put things in my cart and change my mind later but that is usually cause I am just "looking" and not wanting to buy it exactly that moment. More like comparison shopping.
I guess it all depends on how you shop. If they decide to raise the price of Prime as well, I might opt out but at this price it works for me. I just got notification that UPS is raising their rates December 30th so that means even higher prices on shipping, and of course USPS is always raising theirs.
I'm not close to a metro area like you are, so shopping means driving for 40 minutes to an hour each direction for me. I can save by having items shipped because it is almost always less than I would pay to drive to go get something. I'd suggest signing up for a 30 day free trial like when you are shopping for Christmas and then if you don't think it is worthwhile cancel before you get billed for the annual fee. I did that two times and saved so much the second time I decided to keep it.
I do think there are some free books or movies to download or something if you have a kindle or something similar, but I don't use that stuff. I just remember getting some notices. You've have to check into that.
I also have an amazon credit card I use for Amazon purchases only. I have gotten enough points on it to pick up a couple of free items that weren't real pricy. Just some additional savings to add to it.
My one complaint about Prime is that 2 day shipping may not be fast at all. There are several different vendors and some of them take their own sweet time filling orders. I try to look for items that say I'll receive it by like 2-3 days later.
I am cold. It is warm in house according to the thermostat but it just feels cold in here today. That is keeping me from wanting to do anything but sit here and drink coffee. I need to get moving!!!

 

[HEChicken]

Not all things qualify for the free $35 shipping thing. But I guess not all items qualify for prime either. But normally there is an option that includes prime that saves money over the other options. I ordered several larger items this year, like a pressure canner for my son, a big 60 gallon pot to process turkeys in, a propane burner to heat the pot etc. These items all would have ended up costing a ton in shipping if it weren't for prime because they were large and heavy. When I want something I usually want it in a hurry and don't want to wait. If I have a $10 item I don't want to wait until I have $25 worth before I order. I do occasionally put things in my cart and change my mind later but that is usually cause I am just "looking" and not wanting to buy it exactly that moment. More like comparison shopping.
I guess it all depends on how you shop. If they decide to raise the price of Prime as well, I might opt out but at this price it works for me. I just got notification that UPS is raising their rates December 30th so that means even higher prices on shipping, and of course USPS is always raising theirs.
I'm not close to a metro area like you are, so shopping means driving for 40 minutes to an hour each direction for me. I can save by having items shipped because it is almost always less than I would pay to drive to go get something. I'd suggest signing up for a 30 day free trial like when you are shopping for Christmas and then if you don't think it is worthwhile cancel before you get billed for the annual fee. I did that two times and saved so much the second time I decided to keep it.
I do think there are some free books or movies to download or something if you have a kindle or something similar, but I don't use that stuff. I just remember getting some notices. You've have to check into that.
I also have an amazon credit card I use for Amazon purchases only. I have gotten enough points on it to pick up a couple of free items that weren't real pricy. Just some additional savings to add to it.
My one complaint about Prime is that 2 day shipping may not be fast at all. There are several different vendors and some of them take their own sweet time filling orders. I try to look for items that say I'll receive it by like 2-3 days later.
I am cold. It is warm in house according to the thermostat but it just feels cold in here today. That is keeping me from wanting to do anything but sit here and drink coffee. I need to get moving!!!

Ahhh, ok. On the left hand side when you do a search, there are options to narrow your search and one of them is "eligible for free Amazon shipping", so when I do a search for something, I always narrow my search to those items first - that way when I'm looking at the results, I'm only looking at the things that will get me the free shipping. When I ordered my canner, it was still free shipping even though it is a large, heavy item, because they just go by dollar amount and not by the weight, and since it was over $25, it was a no brainer. I may be close to a metro area but I really hate to shop. I can't remember the last time I was in a mall. So I do most of my shopping online anyway. But I'm serious when I say I have NEVER paid a cent for shipping to Amazon, in the 10 years I've been shopping there….

I also have the Amazon credit card and I agree - that is a really good deal. I end up getting some of my complete orders free because the points add up in a hurry.

I don't really like signing up for free trials on things, because they always want my credit card info on signing up for the free trial and then it is up to me to keep track of the 30 days and cancel before they charge. Then, I always seem to have to hunt for the number to call to cancel so in the end its usually more hassle than its worth

Another tip that saves money is to subscribe to stuff. They've changed this too as it used to be you saved 15% just for signing up for the regular shipments. Now you have to have 5 things in the same order to save the 15% and if you have less than that you only save 5%. But all "subscribe and save" items are free shipping regardless of the dollar amount. So I subscribe to some things I know I'm going to use regularly, like cat food and litter, and a few other grocery items. With the free shipping and saving 15%, its a pretty good deal. You can choose the regularity of the shipments too, from one a month to once every 6 months. So, things that I use but don't need every month, I set for less often, and then they are automatically sent when the time comes. They email you before shipping so if you don't need it that month, you can login in and just say "skip this shipment" and you stay subscribed but don't have to buy it until you're ready. You also choose your shipment date and it will be the same date every time. For example, if you pick the 15th of the month, and then subscribe to something new on the 17th, it will be added to the next month's shipment on the 15th. You can change that any time so if you subscribe to something and want it quicker, you just change the date you want your shipments and they send it out right away.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, I had bought some of those gloves last year & somehow misplaced them so I'm going to have to order some more. How is the sizing? Someone I saw on Amazon.com said they run large, but that was the only comment I saw about sizing. My hands aren't small, so I need to figure out what size I need to get. I want them to be big enough they'll be comfortable, but not so big they flop around.

I'm dreading going outside again, ugh. I feel sorry for my son working outside in Oklahoma, it's just like it is here down there today, I talked to him on the phone this morning.

tweety, that hood looks nice & cozy, I might have to look into getting one of those. I don't really like hats, I usually end up putting on a stocking cap when it's really cold out & then I have hat head. My head sweats so bad too & I come in even in the cold & my hair is soaking wet, it's just awful.

 

[chicken danz]

That's a good idea to subscribe to things. Wish I could have my chicken feed subscribed to and delivered, then shoveled etc!!! LOL
I guess my patience is my biggest enemy when I order stuff. If I want something I want to get it ordered and not wait. I found when I was doing the $25 order thing I would end up buying something I really didn't need to fill up the dollar amount and then usually went over that amount. It irritates me how things can be priced at $whatever.99 so you end up a penny or two short then have to order several more dollars to get to the total needed.. Now at $35 it would be even worse. I would rather pay even dollars and save some money in the long run.
I do more cancelling of orders when it gets to shipping costs than I do actual ordering. I absolutely hate web sites that don't give you shipping costs until you are checking out. I don't know why they just can't post them up front and be done with it. All that does is waste my precious time.
I hate shopping with a passion. All I want to do is get away from people and be home. I'm definitely not a typical female figure in that aspect at all. Well come to think of it, I'm not typical at all in any aspect.

The only time I enjoy shopping is if I have a lot on my mind and need to get away from ordinary routine. Unfortunately I usually shop when I am depressed about finances. I think that is one of those obsessive compulsive things!!! About two times a year if I am by myself I enjoy just going to look and shop. But it usually just totally exhausts me. I really just prefer to stay on the farm. The very very worst thing is Christmas shopping. The crowds make me insane!!!! The way I see it those black Friday shoppers can have the bargains. I'll be sleeping in without fighting crowds and traffic.

 

[HEChicken]

LOL Danz, we are so alike. I think the shopping when depressed about finances thing is the same as stepping on the scale, noticing you've gained weight and then immediately feeling hungry and craving something high in calories

Oh goodness yes, if they allowed subscriptions to chicken feed, I'd be all over that!

I am the ultimate cheapskate so I guess that helps to be patient in order to save the money on shipping. I know what you mean about other websites - that is a pet peeve of mine, to not know what shipping is until check out and then, like you say, I end up canceling the order because the cost of shipping makes the item too expensive. I guess that's why I do stick to Amazon as much as possible, since I know what the shipping won't be, or even if I needed something immediately, they tell you up front what the shipping is, so you don't waste any time on it.

The one thing I won't do is order stuff I don't really want, just to get up to the minimum level for free shipping, as in the end that also makes the things I do want, more expensive.

Oooh - I know - I need to go and consult my kids' Christmas wish lists. Maybe I can find something on there to add to the cart so I can get the gloves ordered sooner.

Tweety, my DH has one of those hood things that he wears in cold weather - they are really nice. I have a set of ear muffs that go behind your head and over your ears. I like that style because there is nothing on top of my head and nothing to fall down in my face. I have a Carhartt jacket (actually its the Atwoods "store brand" version of the Carhartt but its identical in every way except it doesn't have the logo) with a hood so I put on my ear muffs, then the hood, then zip the jacket all the way up and the top half of me stays toasty warm. I did dig out my ski pants and last time I went out to check on the birds I wore them. Its a little bit of a hassle to get them on an off before going out but once outside it is REALLY nice not to have the wind cutting through the denim of my jeans.

I didn't check on the hatching chick this last time. I decided its better off under its warm Mama and she is still clucking softly to it. I'm just glad no one kicked her out of the nest to lay their eggs.

It seems like a nice day to have the oven on and the smell of cookies baking….I'm trying to get motivated to go and do that.

 

[HEChicken]

I just checked on the hatching chick and so far it is "business as usual". The hen had multiple eggs under her and I reached around trying to determine by feel, which ones did not belong. Needless to say Mama was not very happy at this point. I found two that were only laid today and pulled them out. Then I found the third and pulled it out just far enough to see that it is the one that is pipped. Feeling the blast of cold air, the chick chirped vigorously and I hurriedly slid it back under her where it is toasty warm. I feel so sorry for this chick hatching into weather like this but in my defense, it was NOT my idea for this hen to go broody in November. If it makes it, this will be one tough chick.

 

[chicken danz]

Okay here is something special for Trish, HEChicken and anyone who has turkeys, but for the rest of you too.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/egreetings/image/01.swf
I've got a broody orp out there as well. I haven't kept track of time or know how the eggs are doing. HEChicken just think how warm those babies can stay under that big ole fluff from a hen.
We have a couple of those hood things too. I always called them balaclavas. I don't like them though because I am asthmatic and claustrophobic. I tend to freak out when I feel something is blocking my normal breathing. Yeah I am truly just weird!

 

[HEChicken]

Oh, I love that turkey song - I have it saved on my computer and pull it out every now and then and play it. Is it sad I have the song memorized?

Yeah, its nice and warm under Mama Hen, but I figure it has to come out sometime and its a cold world to come out to. And its a Reece Barred Rock which seem to feather out so slowly. Now that the one is hatching, I'm actually kind of glad there's only one - she'll be able to cover and keep one warm until its quite big, and its gonna need her for quite awhile.

 

[Trish44]

Okay here is something special for Trish, HEChicken and anyone who has turkeys, but for the rest of you too.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/egreetings/image/01.swf
I've got a broody orp out there as well. I haven't kept track of time or know how the eggs are doing. HEChicken just think how warm those babies can stay under that big ole fluff from a hen.
We have a couple of those hood things too. I always called them balaclavas. I don't like them though because I am asthmatic and claustrophobic. I tend to freak out when I feel something is blocking my normal breathing. Yeah I am truly just weird!

I remember that song from last year, but it still makes me smile.

Oh, I love that turkey song - I have it saved on my computer and pull it out every now and then and play it. Is it sad I have the song memorized?

Yeah, its nice and warm under Mama Hen, but I figure it has to come out sometime and its a cold world to come out to. And its a Reece Barred Rock which seem to feather out so slowly. Now that the one is hatching, I'm actually kind of glad there's only one - she'll be able to cover and keep one warm until its quite big, and its gonna need her for quite awhile.

Congrats on the chick hatching, what a cold day to hatch, brrrr. At least it has momma to keep it warm.

I have lavender Orpington chicks in my hatcher starting to pip. I'm so excited to see them, they're not really due till tomorrow & they may not hatch till then. I just noticed a couple are starting to peck through. That's all the chicks I plan to hatch now till spring hatching.

I went out to find out that one of my extension cords that is actually plugged in inside of the coop had shorted out, so the main coop waterer was frozen. I will have to replace that cord tomorrow & get it thawed out. I don't know if the chickens pecked on the cord or what, it was fine when I put it in there. I'm going to have to fix it differently this time so they can't get to it. It sure was cold out there this afternoon & the wind was blowing too, that just makes it worse. I came in with red cheeks again & they feel wind burned. I had everything covered up except for my face. Even the chickens from the main coop weren't thrilled about being out today, they were really acting like the cold was bothering them too. They sure aren't laying well right now, that's for sure. I have customers waiting for eggs because I can't get enough for them. That's even with running a light for them in the coop.

I finally got things cleaned out of the other half of the garage so my DH can park his car back in there again. I still have a few things sitting at the back of my car to carry into the house, but I just was too cold & too worn out to carry them all in tonight. I carried in a few things, but I just didn't feel like making multiple trips back & forth after being out there doing chores in the cold.

I've been doing most of my shopping online the last couple of years for Christmas. I might go get a few stocking stuffers for the girls, but mostly I've been doing the bulk of it on the computer. It's a drive for me to get anywhere to shop too & I learned my lesson a couple of years ago at Best Buy on Black Friday. Most of the stores will have things online as well as in the store for Black Friday anyway. I do usually try to go to Walmart & pick up a few things for the girls. Last year I was at Walmart at midnight & it was pretty crazy, but crowds don't bother me so much as people who act stupid. I got run over with a shopping cart last time & the person didn't even say excuse me or I'm sorry or anything. You would think these people were shopping for their very life the way they act. You have to pick your most important spot to be for the things you want the most & grab those & then move on if you can get through the store to get other things. The most popular things are grabbed first & I mean grabbed. I have had people pushing & shoving to get to something, just stupid behavior. I already have some of my shopping done. I got out of my son the other day what he wanted & he made it easy he had given me the link to something on eBay, so I just got it. I already ordered the main gift for my granddaughter too, it goes with her birthday present & her birthday is on Thanksgiving, so we're having her party at our house the weekend after so my son can be here. I'm getting a gift certificate for her sister, so that should be easy, I found out which store she likes to shop at. My DH is actually the hardest this year to shop for, but I have figured out a couple of things so far for him.