Groucho Marx was making a JOKE. Belong to all of them. It’s absolutely crazy not to.

My AMEX rewards pays for my newspapers. We all know about the amazing discounts that AAA provides. And obviously Costco or Sam’s Club, depending on where you live. And the supermarket ones, which basically write my shopping list for me, depending on what’s on sale. Fishing around the Screen Actors Guild website, I found out that union members get discounts on an INSANE number of things, I had no idea. (Being that 99 percent of SAG members earn about 20 cents a year, I hope that people pay attention to that and use them).

I took my friend to lunch the other day and he took out his KCRW public radio discount card, saying, “well you might as well save 10%.” This is a guy who lives in a 2-million dollar plus house, who I never in a thousand years imagined would EVER think about saving the $4 on lunch….that one was inspiring to me.

The GAP flyer came yesterday. 3 day sale, an extra 30% off for CARDMEMBERS…INCLUDING CLEARANCE ITEMS. I actually bought Nathen a pair of shoes at Kids Gap last week, special promotion, FORTY FIVE PERCENT OFF for cardmembers THAT DAY ONLY, his clearance sneakers cost THREE DOLLARS (and they are damn spiffy I might add).

Here’s the thing….don’t just sign up for every card that begs you to become a marketing tool…sign up for the ones that have value and then USE THEM. REMEMBER you have them. They are actually MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. Or to your favorite charity. Or just decide that you are too lazy, too busy, too “something” to even worry about it….then you shouldn’t EVER complain about the vacation you can’t take, the car you can’t afford, the house you can’t live in, or the restaurant you would never be able to go to. Not to mention the braces your kid can’t have, the summer camp they can’t go to, or the tutor they need for help at school…….

I’m serious about this one, it’s a thorny issue to me. I grew up with trading stamps and driving miles for a bargain. AND WE WERE LOADED. So allow yourself to be the same, I hereby give you permission.

In summary….card savings, anywhere from 10-40 percent. And it truly falls into the category of “Why the hell NOT?”

Thanks for continuing to sign up and pass this around, it means a lot.I am TRULY an advocate for this stuff, and the comments are amazing and warm and touching and inspirational……keep it up……

WG