Found Not Lost

Today is the first day of school for my girls. Two of them are headed off to high school and the third is starting middle school this year. The one who is starting middle school is a bit apprehensive what with the new school, meeting new friends and all that. She is excited about one thing though, she’s going to get her own locker from now on!

I was going to give her this free 1590D Set-Your-Own Combination Lock that I received to review, but the school issues them their own lock that the school has a master key for. So, my oldest daughter got this new lock instead and she has been playing around with it at home. This morning, of course, it was packed into her book bag, all ready for school. Here is what she wrote about the Master Lock Set your Own Combination Lock. Read more…

Back to school shopping is officially underway. Along with crayons and notebooks and other school supplies, and aside from laptops, musical instruments is going to be one of the bigger expenses for most parents.

The following is a post from Jade, 16 years old and high school junior.

Musical instruments, and the ability to play them are great things to have. They are the gifts that keep on giving. People who play musical instruments are considered to maintain and possess a greatly valuable and admirable talent.

I learned to play the clarinet in sixth grade and after a year of playing it I changed to the bass clarinet. I loved the bass clarinet and continued playing it through my freshman year of high school. After which I quit. I don’t regret quitting though I miss it a lot.

The following summer, my aunt bought me a $50 acoustic guitar when I expressed interest in playing it. I attempted to teach myself since I couldn’t afford lessons. Let’s just say the guitar is very dusty and I know one song on the guitar. The acoustic is nice, and I love the sound but my guitar is not the best quality, the neck is a bit too wide and hard for me to play. Sometimes I wish I had gone with an electric or visted an electric guitar store to shop around. A few of my friends have electric guitars and I love them! Maybe one day, when I can afford my own lessons I will revisit the guitar and reawaken my musical talents.

If you or your child are considering picking up a musical instrument there are a few ways to go about it.

Renting is one option, when I first started playing my parents went this route. Music stores rent good quality instruments by the month and if you choose, with an option to buy. However, renting can be impractical if you are going into a year or more of playing. With what you pay for one or two months, you could easily purchase your own instrument, especially if it is something like a clarinet or flute, which can be bought at rather reasonable prices.

Buy your own. Ebay opens many doors when it comes to hobbies, clothing or sports you may be pursuing. We bought my first clarinet on eBay for about a hundred dollars (equivalent two month’s worth of rental fees), it was brand new and came in a nice case with a soft outer carrying case as well. It was a great buy and something that served its purpose and may now be sold or handed down.

Another back to school expense that can be purchased from ebay or similar online stores is sports equipment. When I took up field hockey as a sophomore in high school, I needed basic equipment. Most basic of all I needed a stick. While many people were dropping up to $80 or $100 on sticks, I found an okay-quality stick in my size for $20, plus shipping, it even came with a free practice ball. Buying online has many perks, you are able to trade things like books free of charge, buy things new or used and sell things you no longer need. The main key is to start shopping early and compare. So far, we’ve had good results shopping online.

My teen daughters and their friends fancy themselves to be hackers. They think it’s fun to try and hack each others locker combination at school or their Facebook accounts. So far, it has been just harmless fun just to prove that they can do it; but you can see how something like this can quickly turn bad or go too far. We’ve heard on the news how kids can be mean to each other and sometimes it leads to deadly consequences.

I have two daughters in high school and one just entering middle school. I already know, even before receiving the official supply list, that new locks will be on the list. For kids who can remember what you promised to buy them eons ago, they sure easily forget their lock combination over a summer and thus need a new lock almost every year.

The new Set-Your-Own Combination introduced by Master Lock is designed with students in mind. The two styles available are:
1500iD Speed Dial™ Set-Your-Own Combination Lock has a mouse like feature that opens on directional movements up, down, left and right. I can just see the girls and their friends trying to crack this one!
1590D Set-Your-Own Combination Lock is the more traditional rotary style combination lock. On this one you can set a combination using letters and/or numbers.

The 1500iD Speed Dial Set-Your-Own Combination Lock is available at Staples stores in the United States and Canada for a suggested retail price of $6.99 USD and $7.98 CAD. The 1590D Set-Your-Own Combination Lock is available at The Home Depot stores in the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $5.99 USD.

Facebook Application and Sweepstakes

Master Lock is also offering a solution for locking up secrets online with the introduction of the “Master Lock Secret Vault” Facebook application, featuring the new 1500iD Speed Dial Set-Your-Own Combination Lock. For Facebook users who have a juicy tidbit or fun photo they want to share with a select group of friends but not broadcast to their entire friends list, they can now install the application at www.facebook.masterlock.com and lock up their secrets in their own Secret Vault by creating a custom combination to share with only the friends they desire.

In addition, now through October 15, “Master Lock Secret Vault” users have a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize to help them secure their future in the “Master Lock $5,000 Secure Your Future Sweepstakes.” Whether users aspire to attend college, embark on a new business venture or simply pay their rent, Master Lock will help one lucky winner accomplish his or her future goals. To enter, entrants must meet the eligibility requirements.(1)

“Master Lock has been at the forefront of lock technology since introducing the first combination lock more than 50 years ago, so it is only fitting that we’re utilizing the latest online technology in a fun and unexpected way to keep users’ secrets safe and secure,” said Smith. “Whether it’s valuables, secrets or your future you want to protect, Master Lock is the leader in security solutions.”

For more information, please visit Master Lock’s media room at www.masterlock.com/media, visit www.masterlock.com/brightcove.shtml for videos