Thanks to everyone who attended my coupon class at the "Got to be NC" festival Friday afternoon at the state fairgrounds. And a big thanks to the folks at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for inviting me to speak about some of my favorite topics: coupons and saving money on groceries.

From Manchester to Melbourne, Maker Faires are drawing tech and creative types around the world. Maker Faire North Carolina in Raleigh touts itself as a gathering of "makers, crafters, inventors, evil geniuses, scientists and artists" for a day of family-friendly fun and inspiration.

During my teen years, I spent a summer working the gaming midway at a Kentucky amusement park. In that time, I learned a little something about separating a customer from his hard-earned money.

The most sure-fire approach? Get him to play Shoot Out the Star.

Long a midway staple, Shoot Out the Star offers some of the biggest prizes at this year's N.C. State Fair, and for good reason: it's nearly impossible to win.

For $3, gamers get 100 BBs to shoot a paper star with a machine-gun replica. During my entire summer at the amusement park, I know of four people who won the game. Hundreds of thousands of people passed through the park that year.

So don't let those shot-out-stars trick you into thinking it's easy. Spend that $3 on a corn dog instead.