REBATES.....and all of the fine print

(This cartoon is kind of small (stretching it just made it blurry), but I thought it was hilarious).

Maybe you have noticed as well, but I think these rebate people are getting more and more sneaky.

For starters.....rebates are sneaky to begin with. Companies lure you into buying something with the notion that you are getting a fabulous deal because of the great rebate that is offered. It may very well be a great deal if you want to take the time to jump through all of the "rebate hoops" and actually send it in. But I bet there are MANY who forget them, lose them, or simply just never get around to filling out all of the forms and sending them in.

For years I have been buying my contacts from my doctor's office and there is always a rebate to send into to ACUVUE. I have never had any problems with their rebates and always recieve my rebate check very quickly. However, this year I did not receive a check. Apparently, the new rebate tactic is pre-paid VISA cards. I had heard that Verizon has started doing this, but this was the one that I had received.

I would definitely prefer to go to the bank and get my $100 cash, but regardless I will make sure I use the full $100 on my card. Heck, I can blow through that in one purchase. I think these companies are planning on people losing the cards before they have used all the money or forgetting they have them until after they expire (mine expires after a year). It also came with some limitations. You can't use them for cash advances at an ATM, your can't "pay-at-the-pump" at gas stations (the clerk has to run the card inside for gasoline purchases), etc.

If you have direct deposit and never go to the bank it maybe you would prefer this method, but I just think it is a way to be sneaky and try to prevent people from receiving their full rebates.

MY PERCEPTION OF THE PROVERBIAL "WAGON"

Tonight I was going through all of the pictures on my computer and burning them to CDs so that I can free up some space on my computer. After looking at hundreds of pictures of me in such a small time frame, I was disgusted with what I saw. This got me thinking about really focusing on and conquering this weight that I have been trying to get rid of for a long time now.
A while back I mentioned the website sparkpeople.com that I have been using for a couple of months. They have message boards where people can ask questions, post success stories, help motivate, etc. There have been a lot of posts lately of people "falling off the wagon" and wanting to get back on. This, along with tonight's pictures staring me in the face, got me thinking. The following is something I posted on sparkpeople.

Until recently, I thought of the proverbial "wagon," that everyone [myself included] keeps falling off of, as my worst enemy. While on the wagon I could not eat whatever I wanted, eat however much I wanted, be lazy, I had to exercise which I thought of as torture, etc. Why would I want to ride that? It just made me miserable. In fact, I often found myself standing so close to the side of "the wagon" just hoping there would be a little bump that would knock me off and help me to rationalize my fall. (It is my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, I have been really good so I deserve this, or whatever. I will get back on and start being good tomorrow).

I have recently changed the way that I look at "the wagon." Now "on the wagon" is where I want to be. The wagon is not a bad thing. It is what will help me [and you] to feel better, become healthy, and more attractive. Who doesn't want that??? It is hard to reach your destination if you are not on "the wagon." Yes it will take work and it might be a slow ride at certain points along the road, but the results are 150% worth it. So I say to myself [and to everyone]... hop on that wagon, stay away from the edges (temptations), hang on and enjoy the ride. When those bumps come along, nothing will be able to knock you off.

If you do fall off just get back on. Ü