The No-Spend Zone

Employee of the Month

While I did make a nice chunk of change working over the summer, I don’t want to spend more than I made.  When there’s no money coming in, the only alternative is to spend down savings and that’s what I was doing until I got a job this week. Yeah! I work 9 hours a week, which with the heavy studio load in architecture is manageable -- and it’s a library job.  This is the kind of job I’ve been dreaming about ever since I worked in the back kitchen of a dining hall last semester.  When I worked at the dining hall, I was so tired when I finished with my shift, I would pass out when I got back to the dorm.

This year is a very different story.  I applied early, which is key in the job search, and I was persistent. The good jobs get taken the quickest.  I applied for several jobs at the same time in hopes that at least one would work out.  And when I got no response within a week’s time, I applied for another series of jobs.  Thankfully, I got the one job I really wanted.

Now, I have a feeling my summer earnings won’t be disappearing and I can keep on earning interest on them. Maybe I need to look into some online banks that pay higher interest rates. Any ideas?  Every campus has job opportunities.  Even if you feel you are incredibly bound to your academic studies, there are positions where you only have to take a 4-hour shift once a week and can do your school reading between customers.  You are basically getting paid to do your schoolwork.  My friend Regine made money last year by participating in psychological studies. One week she made $50 from it.  Check your school ‘s job website to get more information.   There is time to have a job in school, no matter how busy you are.  Tons of people balance academics with work. It’s good to have a paycheck coming in again!

(Gym)ini Cricket

Last school year, I signed up for a gym membership at Cornell. I am embarrassed to say I never used the gym once.  I wasted $145.  Trust me, it kills me to reveal such wastefulness.  But, for all those people that actually do use those gym memberships, I am here to say there is a cheaper alternative - and that is using the world as your gym.  Run outside, instead of the treadmill.  Not only do you get to escape the indoors, which you see too much of as a college student, but on top of it you save electricity.  Abs causing a problem?  Instead of using those bulky machines at the gym, just find a comfy floor and get to work; leg lifts, crunches, sit-ups, bicycle crunches, all without spending a dime.  Speaking of bicycles, bike riding is another good source of exercise if you have a bike.  The hills around Ithaca are pretty daunting however, and after what happened to Brian, I think I might just keep my feet on the ground. 

I could see why most in Florida would want to escape the heat while exercising, but during the winter months a refreshing run might just be the pick me up you need.  For the hot months, try a run on the beach and then a quick dip in the water to cool off.

Here are some websites you should check out to keep that new year’s resolution about staying in shape.

1. Fitness Exercises
2. Ithaca Trails

Lovely Day for a Picnic

  While many believe you have to spend money to have fun (think theme parks, movies, shopping), there is one form of entertainment that costs almost nothing at all.  Last school year Brian, our friend Lindsay, and I ventured into what is known as the Cornell Plantations.  It’s a garden filled with sculptures, beautiful plants and park-like expanses.  The closest comparison in Miami might be Fairchild Tropical Gardens.

However, there isn’t anything tropical about Ithaca.

Still, last fall we grabbed our bikes, got a lot of good exercise climbing the hills that abound in Ithaca, found a nice spot for a picnic and enjoyed our time away from the books.  We scrounged around for some food. We had meal plans at this point so all we managed to come up with were bagels, peanut butter, canned pears, and yogurt.  Not the most exquisite cuisine, but it filled us up and we spent a pleasant day outdoors.

IN FLORIDA: Morningside Park near the Design District is nice, and you don’t have to pay for it.  Fairchild is definitely the more stunning location but there is an admission fee. Try getting a student membership. It costs $30 for the year and you can go as many times as you want.  If you go enough, you definitely get more than your money’s worth.

Let me know where your favorite free spots in Miami are. A day in the outdoors might be a change of pace for you but our picnic was a great time.  Try it out (not when a hurricane is bearing down, of course), see how it goes and let me know how it works out.

 

Soup Du Jour

I have officially broken in the kitchen stove.  I strayed from cereal and ventured into a new territory (and I’m actually not that bad).  With my purchases from Aldi’s and some help from Wegmans, I managed to come up with an inexpensive meal that should last through the week.  Monotony may at times be bad, but in my case I have 24 hours in a day and 28 hours of stuff to do in that day, so monotony of food seems to satisfy.

    Ingredients:
        1.    Vegetable Broth
        2.    Carrots
        3.    Potatoes
        4.    Tomatoes
        5.    Onions
        6.    Brown Rice    

Basically all you do is cook the brown rice in vegetable broth in one saucepan, in another chop up all the vegetables listed above and boil till softened in more vegetable broth.  When both are completed combine saucepans, stir, and simmer ingredients for a little bit.  Voila, soup of the day (week)!

If soup doesn’t satisfy try another classic, grilled cheese.  The good thing about it is it’s dirt cheap - try $0.45 according to the Cheap Eats blog 8.26.08 entry.  Anyway what could be better than soup and grilled cheese? It brings the comforts of home to school, and who doesn’t need that every once in a while. 

Leave a comment with any and all recipes for some money saving cuisine that can be made with the basics, it would be much appreciated.

The (not so) Dreadful Textbook List

Just like Brian, I called up my booklist online only to find that I had one textbook to buy.  It was a far cry from Brian’s $500 punch in the stomach - how much, you ask? $110.  And just because Brian would love to only pay $110 doesn’t mean I’m going to pay full price for mine.  At the Cornell Book Store they sell it used for $82.50, but I thought I could do better. 
   
I took the online suggestions and the best deal I found for the book was on Amazon.  There is also a store in Ithaca called Kraftees that sells used textbooks and buys back books that the Cornell Store won’t at the end of each semester.  I checked there and their prices were way better than the Cornell Store, but Amazon still couldn’t be beat. 

        Final savings:  $110(Original Price) – $65.98(My Price)= $44.02

Huge savings on the original price, but I went further and saved an additional $16.52 on the Cornell Store used book price.  I’d say good bargain hunting to that.      

A good website is cheapesttextbooks.com - it shows all the prices on a certain textbook from most textbook websites and highlights the cheapest.  Also be sure to sell unwanted textbooks back to a bookstore, or better yet on amazon.com at the end of each semester to recoup most of your costs.

Thrifty Business

Desperately seeking clothes and have no money?  Don’t fret, there are many options. 

Option 1: Flamingo Plaza in Hialeah, FL.  It’s a whole plaza of thrift stores.  If you want clothes for nothing, hit it up.  I bought a pair of polo jeans for two bucks, ripped the legs off and now have some summer-worthy shorts.  Not into searching through mounds of clothes for name brands? Try Plato’s Closet. It offers used clothing, but nothing’s older than 2006, and it’s all name brands.  While I haven’t purchased anything there, I wanted to earn some extra cash before I came to school.  I was able to get $5.60 for selling them two shirts.  This sort of plagued me the entire day, because I wasn’t sure the pay equaled the worth of the clothes, I got over it.  I plan on taking the rest of the clothes that didn’t meet their standards to Goodwill. You can get tax write-offs for these donations, so ask for a receipt. 

Here are a bunch of other places you can try in South Florida that where recently mentioned in The Miami Herald (never been, not sure of the pricing):

-The Fashionista Consignment Boutique, 3138 Commodore Plaza, Coconut Grove (305.443.4331)
-Douglas Gardens Thrift Store, 5713 NW 27th Ave., Miami (305.638.1900)
-Jezebel (contemporary and vintage), 1980 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954.761.7881)
-Divine Trash (vintage), 7244 Biscayne Blvd., Miami (305.751.1973)

Other places for bargain clothes? Try Target. Also any store that is having a clearance sale is a good place to start. Remember, though, don’t just buy for the mere fact that something is on sale. Only purchase items if you need them, or you think you’ll get great use out of them.  Do you know any other places that seem to have great deals? Do tell.   

The Fees That Ate My Bank Account

    First thing I did, look at my bank accounts.  And do you know what I learned, BANKS LOVE FEES.  Lots and lots of fees.  Learn the rules of your bank accounts to save you from losing the precious bucks you worked so hard for.  Ever overdrawn an account, well depending on the bank they can charge you upwards of $35, and if you aren’t keeping track of your finances each additional week or even day your account is overdrawn slaps you full frontal in the face with, you guessed it, another fee.  Consider signing up for overdraft protection, it links your checking with your savings or a credit card giving the bank permission, if there are insufficient funds in your checking to pull them out of either your credit or savings, at my bank that saves me a $35 slap for each overdraft. But watch out, I still get charged $10 if the service is actually used, so just don’t overdraw your account. 
   
    Another thing I learned depending on the type of savings account you have there are a limited number of times you can withdraw from your savings account each statement period.  I called my bank to know exactly what rules where attached to my savings account.  Have one extra withdrawal and you get charged, it is usually only about one buckaroo, but you just lost any interest you made.  Anyways, some advice keep track of your accounts, it prevents you from being charged, and not to mention if you check it weekly, you can prevent identity theft. 
   
    When I first opened my saving account I only had to have a minimum balance of $100.  So when my bank changed the minimum balance to $300, do you think they contacted me, told me they where changing it?  Of course not, the only thing my bank did was charge me $5 for not having the minimum balance; my savings account was losing my money, not saving it.  Anyways, I called and asked what the charge was about, they then proceeded to tell me about the changes in min. balances.  THANKS… for nothing.  If you ever think a fee that was charged is unfair, don’t be afraid to call them up, sometimes you can get them to lower it or even eliminate it all together.

Trash Pickin' & Dumpster Diving

What to do when you need a lamp?  Just dive through your friendly neighborhood dumpster.  You’d be surprised how much you can get.  Especially at the beginning and end of the school year.  People are moving into their apartments, replacing the old with the new.  The old ends up on the street, and if you know that, you get first dibs.  Vice versa, people are moving out of their dorms and apartments, and have nowhere to put all the things they have, and it ends up on the street, again just for you.

Thankfully, I have family near school.  And, thankfully, that family is willing to store all my junk in their basement.  Thanks, Laura.

While Cornell does have dumpsters, I haven’t actually dove into one (but I wouldn’t count it out).  It would be pretty tough, though, considering they are gigantic – at least 11ft. tall.  I have rummaged through people’s trash before.  I found a seventies-style night table on the curb. Call up your local sanitation and waste department and find out what days people are allowed to put large items out for pick-up.  Then just cruise the neighborhood and stock up for you entire abode.

Besides dumpster diving you can also go dorm raiding. Find those people who have nowhere to store their stuff and feel a little bad about pitching it out.  I got a full-length mirror, a shower curtain, and a garbage can from my ex-roommate (tear)/best friend, Regine.  All my free finds should work out well in the apartment.  Friday we’ll move into our apartment in Ithaca, and I expect we’ll be making the rounds this coming weekend, looking for free finds. 

I <3 Airplanes, Not Fees

Living in Miami, I don’t have the luxury of filling an entire car up with things that I need and driving an hour and 30 minutes to college as Brian does.  But that’s okay.  I love flying.  Packing for school if you are commuting by plane, though, is a different process, quite a delicate one at that.

Last school year, I could take two suitcases and a carry-on with no extra charges.  Nowadays, most airlines are charging for everything – earphones, pillows – because of escalating jet fuel prices.  When I flew down to Miami from school this summer, I had heard the reports of extra airline baggage charges, so before my flight, I checked to see what Delta Airlines had to say.  An additional bag cost $25.  But, if your bag was over fifty pounds, there was an $80 penalty fee.

On my flight back to school this week, I flew JetBlue.  There is only a $20 charge for an extra bag.  But, you still can’t exceed the 50 lb. limit without a penalty.  It’s easy to see that it’s better to bring an extra bag than too have a bag that is overweight.  Also JetBlue charges if your bag is oversized.  If it exceeds 62 inches when you add together length, width, and height, you’ll pay. So measure. 

How do I compact all the things I need for school into three suitcases, without huge fees?  First of all, I travel with my mother who puts her clothes into a carry-on, so that I get her one suitcase allotment.  I also get the biggest suitcase that doesn’t surpass limits.  I pack it as tightly as possible, stand on a scale, weigh myself, than weigh myself again while holding the suitcase, making sure it’s not over 50 pounds.  We pay the extra $20 bag fee because it’s a lot cheaper and easier than shipping 50 pounds.  Anyways, be aware.  And if you want to save space, let’s say you are bringing bedding; the vacuum seal space bags work quite well.  If you’re nearing your weight limits, leave out the toiletries. They’re heavy, so just buy what you need when you get to school.  Or use your roommates.

Also remember to book your flights to and from school early.  Around the dates that many students are returning to school, flights to college towns fill up quickly and you won’t get the best fares.

Now that you have done all your advance planning, sit back, and enjoy your flight, not to mention the view.

Get it for $free.99

    About a month before school starts, come all the enticing Back-to-School advertisements.  They try to convince you that your college dorm room or apartment should look as though it came from the pages of Metropolitan Home.  Let’s just say the dorm rooms seen on TV meant for two people would typically be for four at most schools.  Space is tight, and buying a bunch of stuff that you don’t need, or for the most part already have, is just a waste of money. 
    Moving into an apartment, I need more stuff than the typical collegiate dorm room.  There’s the whole kitchen that comes completely unstocked. So instead of rushing out to the nearest store to buy numerous glasses, plates, and silverware, I start with my parents’ house.  After all what’s better than free.  So far I have managed to get measuring cups and spoons, a peeler, can opener, and a couple mugs. Let’s be honest for college cuisine we only need the basics.  Who needs something as silly as an egg slicer when all you need is a knife?  What are the minimum essentials for a starter kitchen? 

The Reveal

Penny-pinchers, our journey to spruce up "Your Pad on a Penny" officially ends with this post.

It's been an amazing ride.

We tackled ways to revamp your patio for $100 or less, how to make coupons your BFF on shopping ventures, how a gallon of paint can transform a room and in turn, lift your spirits.

By the way, most paint shops resell botched paint or what they call "oops paint" at a dramatic discount. One man's pink paint snafu may be the just the pink you need for your daughter's room, so ask to see the paint mistakes of the day.

                          Here is my top ten list of budget-saving tips to carry with you as you go forth to decorate.

And of course, we met Pearl, our makeover winner who yearned to have her black and gold lacquer decor banished from her life and replaced by a room that more hotel chic.

We were challenged to get it all done - labor, new furnishings and accessories for a VERY large space on a budget of $2000. In the end, we were over budget by $300, but Pearl is decidedly happy and nearly gave me a beat-down for suggesting we return some items
Here's where we started: 

This is how we end:

Many thanks to Pearl and her trusty helpers: Aaron and Kayla.

Many more thanks to the Oasis team, my partner Ralph Forde - who made a custom media unit for Pearl - for free; and to our amazing assistant Asanyah Davidson, who keeps us sane daily. A slide show of the makeover will soon be available on our website: www.oasisied.com

We’ll take a break from the penny-pinching, but please continue to revamp those pads on a penny.

The Herald’s own Brayden Simm’s returns to the No-Spend Zone on Monday with his Heavy Thrifting blog. I have a hunch he’ll be able to stick to his budget, unlike your often challenged penny-pinching decorator.

Pour that cement!

One word from your penny pinching team: exhaustion.
Yep, today was that dreaded day.

The one with the cement, the million pavers in which to pour said cement, the unbearable heat, the ruined hairdo, all this to transform out client's Paulette and Greg's outdoor space into their dream space. Well, they were a little nervous to see so many trucks at their gate at 8 a.m on a Saturday morning.

But as each paver was filled by the very capable cavalry of cement experts, not to mention to the very capable supervisory skills of my partner Ralph, (did I mention that the intricacies of cement is not really my cup of tea?) they were all smiles.

Greg, the lovable Greg, who has a pookie friend to do everything imaginable, finally left things in our capable hands and did the unthinkable: nothing.

Yep, no fuss, no offer to pour the cement himself to save an extra $5 bucks. He just watched and smiled as each paver popped to life and he started the see the yard go through it's transformation.

We'll add the finishing touches - sod, river rocks, plants,  outdoor furniture, umbrellas, a hammock - in a few weeks. When it's done, I'll go through a budget breakdown and reveal how we managed to turn a massive yard into a great outdoor space on a budget that was chopped into pieces many, many times. Kudos to Paulette for finding a way to meld her diva wishes with the realities of her pennies.

Okay, so a girl's had a rough day. I think a bottle of wine is in order. Let's chat tomorrow about transforming those bathrooms for under a $1000.

Penny Pinchers We Have a Winner!

Ah South Florida, we have some homes in need of surgery.
Missing tiles in bathrooms, broken faucets, popcorn ceilings, whipped creamed ceilings (and that is just my delicate way of describing this very interesting technique that was very popular back in the day):

But in the end there could only be one winner. And her plea came in this form:

"Help O Diva of Frugal Design," my Master bedroom is stuck in a 1980's Black and Gold Lacquer rut, while I'm screaming Boutique Hotel.

What can I do on a nominal budget to achieve this effect?

Congrats to Pearl Bethel who wants nothing more than to vanquish this black and gold lacquer furniture and live in a room that soothes her soul after a long day at work. Well, that is the test. Our budget is $1,000. It'll be tight, but that is why we are called Your Pad on a Penny. Stay tuned as we transform her space.

Makeover Contest Rules

As promised in Sunday's introduction of this column here are the rules for the makeover contest.
a) Set a budget
b) Choose one space only
c) The makeover will be cosmetic only i.e paint, window treatment, furniture, accessories.
d) No major renovation projects will qualify i.e no installation of kitchens, removal/replacement of bathtubs/vanities etc..
e) No water features
f) No design fees will be charged but labor for electrical work, carpentry (if needed) and handyman services must be paid from budget set by contest winner
g) A photo of the space must be submitted with entry
h)Entries must be submitted via email to nicole@oasisied.com by 12 p.m Friday, May 23, 2008
I) Entries from Broward and Miami-Dade only. We also reserve the right to consider travel distance in determining winner (pesky gas prices).

There you go. Count the pennies and enter away.

P.S
Some great penny-pinching tips from Sunday's HGTV Design on a Dime special: 25 Budget Decorating Secrets

Crunching the numbers and craving coffee ....

Have I mentioned that it's hard for me to function without caffeine? To think about design on a tight budget without that dark-colored liquid? This blog will be a challenge for you as you try to get your space redone on a budget. It'll be a bigger challenge for moi as I try to help you achieve that with no CAFFEINE! I've had to quit. Again. Here I am, seven days and counting and losing my mind. Pray for me. Pray hard.
On the bright side, my friend at The Frugalista Files will be proud to know I've saved $25.13 (7 days worth of Starbuck's Double-tall Cappuccino)
So where were we? Debbie's pad.
Sigh. Slightly overbudget. Believe me it happens.
Her total: $2691 (was a tad more but she was able to return a few items)
So what happened? How did we fail on our budget mission?
Shipping costs...
The culprit? The Ikea dining table we used as her desk. We paid $375. It would have been $199 plus tax, had it been in stock at the Sawgrass store. Sold out. Indefinitely. She was smitten, so we ordered it online.
Lessons learned: beware of shipping costs.   

Final breakdown:
Daybed: $1047
Chairs:$258
Desk: $375
Roman shade: $200
Accessories (rug, frames, magazine holders etc..): $300
Fabric @ $5.99 a yard: $148
Labor for pillows: $90
Chair (desk): $50
Vases: $62
Kinkos (black/white prints): $114
Paint: $47
Total: $2691 (* Please note there is always an additional fee for design services. This budget breakdown was of her hard costs not service fees which vary depending on project size.)

So what could you have done if say your budget was $1000 or less?
Paint the room a fabulous color. On your own or with the help of a friend to save on labor.
Use a twin size mattress/box spring (similar to the one shown here) as a daybed. Average price $399.
Dress the bed with a simple quilt/comforter with tons of throw pillows and place it against a wall to mimic a sofa/daybed
Get a budget friendly desk and chair from a retailer like Target or Walmart or get a used desk from a thrift store (more to come on that in a later post).
Use inexpensive curtains or blinds instead of a roman shade.
Accessorize with items you already have stashed around the house or pick up a few items from a budget friendly decor chain like HomeGoods.
Then enjoy the space!
You did it on a budget and saved yourself some pennies.
Now, about that coffee...I'm off to find a substitute. Catch ya'll later with the contest makeover rules.

I cut hair, not coupons

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and after thinking it over I decided to get something for my mother that she would really enjoy: a haircut.  Not for her, mind you, but for myself; I've let my locks run wild for the past year or so and nothing drives her crazier.  But while I indulge myself in top-of-the-line electronics and decor, I admit that I'm rather cheap when it comes to pampering my hair.  So many high-end hair salons cater to mere upper-class aesthetics: you end up paying more for the experience of your posh surroundings than your actual cut & style.  The best haircuts I've ever had were done for less than $20 at a Classic Cuts located conveniently next to a Subway, and that's what I call luxury: a great haircut & quality dining all within 5-ft of each other!  And lets not forget that this present (and yes, she loved it) also serves two purposes: not only do I make my mother happy, but the loss of ~10 inches of hair feels oh so good in the scorching weather.  So happy was I, in fact, that I ended up tipping the hair stylist $20 for a $14.95 haircut.   Seeing as how it would normally cost around $50 for a cut in any "fancier" salon, I felt justified in my enthusiastic tipping...and it further expresses the wonderfulness of my mother in raising such a giving (ahem), benevolent (cough), and totally non-materialistic daughter. 

Well, when the mood strikes me, anyways.

The results are in...?

I've been attempting to put off this post as if I were a child trying to waylay an inevitable scolding.  Allow me to introduce you to my new computer.  I only bought the tower portion (a new monitor can come later), and with a 3-year warranty plan the final price ended up at $909.  More than I wanted to pay, yes, I admit.  And no, I don't buy something this expensive, take it home and plug it in and content myself with "Weee! Shiny!!"  I want to be happy with my purchase, and my computer is an essential part of my everyday life (more so than any other form of entertainment, certainly).  And the thought has already crossed my mind that I may end up taking this system back, buy a cheaper one, and simply purchase a superior graphics card (which would equal to much the same price).  I have 7-days to test it out before the return policy expires. 

This, as well as the comments I'm sure are coming, have kept me from posting about my purchase thus far - I'm just not that sold on my sale just yet.  But give me a couple more days and we shall see; perhaps it's just Windows Vista (which is something I have also avoided) that is throwing me off.  As you can guess from the picture, my life is in general disarray at the moment.  

You can browse the system specs in the link above, for those who are interested or have any comments/recommendations.  This was purchased at Brandsmart, who offered it $60 cheaper than at Best Buy.  The full package, w/ monitor and without taxes, was about $1350.  I figure I can pick up a nice monitor later down the road, and at a discounted price.

Apparently "PC" doesn't mean "pretty cheap"

Yesterday I had swung by GameStop (since it seems GameStop is the new Starbucks, and there is one on every corner) to see if I could pick up any new PS2 multi-player games through which I could beat the crud out of Bridget.  Yadda yadda yadda, I end up leaving with a $50 PC game. 

Same old-same old, right?  But you see, Assassin's Creed is different.  Assassin's Creed is the "next gen" of PC gaming; i.e. it requires an ungodly amount of system requirements in order to run, even at a minimal level.  So much to my dismay I knew that I had no choice but to appeal to the geeks at Best Buy for a graphic/memory upgrade.

So how did all that end up to the now impending reality of me buying a new computer?  Lets break it down: I have a Pentium 4 HP.  A new graphics card = $129, and 2GB worth of memory = $200.  Also, my current computer is a "single-core processor"; don't ask me what that means (I just nod and go "uh huh" most of the time), but all computers currently produced are duo-core or above.  So even if I purchased the two graphic/memory upgrades I would still never be able to run the game properly on my system.  So add the frustration of 1) not being able to play my new game, with 2) being told that my computer is basically obsolete, and suddenly I'm throwing up my hands and saying "Take me to your computers!".  (Side-Note: It must be mentioned at this point that I am a hard-core gamer and PC-enthusiast, so being up-to-date is an important issue for me; I don't generally recommend normal computer owners to go for the kind of graphic updates that I am looking for, since it's just not necessary for everyday use.)

And before you go saying it: I'm not insane, and I'm not rich.  I do not want to (and I don't think I WILL) spend over $800 on a new computer system.  I made sure to call my dad (who is akin to an AA-sponsor) as I was browsing the aisles to let him know what I was up to, and he smartly said something along the lines of "For godsakes don't be impulsive - you can buy a computer today, but just wait for me to come home and we can browse around first".  Note the crafty use of "you can buy (insert item here) today".  I have a congenital case of Veruca Salt™, and the only prescription is more cowbell instant gratification; however, I certainly was not keen on the $1079 Best Buy recommendation.  We shall see what Costco has to offer, and hopefully I'll be able to purchase something that not only fits my basic needs of the moment (this being PC gaming), but also fits my longterm goal of maintaining my bank account.  I'll be sure to post later!

Turning trash to treasure

We just got a free used barbecue grill, thanks to a family friend of Amanda's. Her dad was the one that knew about the deal and called Amanda -- apparently these people bought a new grill and needed to get rid of the old one. So her dad helped with putting it in his truck, and now we have a grill!

And Amanda was not against this "used" item, like she is with other used items, so hurray for that. The only thing is that it needs a bit of work to get it cleaned up. That's going to be my project today.

And there was an old fountain in our front that was dried up and collecting leaves. I'm still in the middle of trying to get that fixed up with help from Amanda's dad (thank goodness he knows how these pump things work).

I also want to fix up the patio this week. There are old wicker chairs left there from before, with old cushions. Some need to be thrown out, but maybe I can stick a few in the washing machine. After  checking out the prices of cushions, we would have to spend a pretty penny to get all new cushions. Maybe we can salvage a few of these.

There's a barstool that is broken, but I'm thinking I can find a way to fix that, too.

There are metal pool chairs without cushions. I told Amanda I would like to find some cheap cushions for these. She says she rather just buy some new pool lounge chairs -- probably plastic so they don't need a cushion.

What would you do? Spend money on a cushion for the lounge chair, or buy a new one? I saw a chair wrap thing at Bed Bath and Beyond for $30... and saw a pillowy cushion at Wal-Mart also for about $30. I think cushion is the way to go, because I doubt we'll find a new chair that cheap. But I have more bargain hunting to do before I decide.

It's almost Summer time... common stores, I'm counting on you to give me some pool/beach Summer sales! Momma needs to pretty-up this porch and soak in some rays!

A great TV breeds great entertainment

So as Bridget mentioned, I recently bought a Playstation 2.  Now, here is the thing: I already own a Wii, and while I thoroughly enjoy playing on my friends Playstation's, it has never occurred to me to actually purchase my own.  See, most of the games I love are the type that I am way too chicken to play on my own.

But then Best Buy had to go and do it.  They've set up a row of incredibly discounted PS2's by the cash registers...much like candy in a grocery store.  So even if I go shopping for something completely unrelated, I end up staring down and contemplating this new, amazingly cheap entertainment system.  What can I say, I'm easy to pull over to the Dark Side, folks.

And while I know that the PS2 is soon to be an antiquated relic of gaming yore, you really can't beat $129.99.  And while Bridget suggested that I contemplate the pricer Playstation 3, impulse spending is not only based on the "see it, want it" principle, but also on the occasional "deal" that the shopper perceives to exist.  And while $129.99 is a definite deal, $399 for a memory-limited, non-backward compatibility machine is not.  And if you didn't understand any of the latter, don't worry.  It's probably better that way.

Oh, and not only did the gaming system come with a 50%-off price-tag, but all the games for the system are also on a steady price-decline.  I just picked up (ahem) USED copies of both a Final Fantasy game, as well as Kingdom Hearts 2 (both for $17.99, as opposed to the non-used price of $19.99). And as I told Bridget, as disgusting as used items are...I don't think my $2-save on each game really matters much in the long run.  And in hindsight, I'd rather have a clean, sparkling, and new version than one that is possibly gross and defective.  After all, didn't I save enough by buying the PS2??

Bridget helps the economy and buys a TV!

I've bought a TV! Thanks for voting, folks. Looking at the results, it seems most of you wanted me to buy a new one now, so I'm glad you support this purchase.

Waiting and shopping around -- my traits that Amanda hates -- has helped me find a great deal on a 32" Sylvania LCD! I got it for $498.88 at BrandsMart AND it came with a free year of HDTV service from Comcast, so we upgraded. With tax it came to $528.81. It was clearly the best deal after looking around for several days.

Amanda was with me, and the salesman didn't even finish talking before she shouts out "SOLD! WE'LL TAKE IT!" and I'm giving her the "I'm gonna kill you" eyes and hitting her to be quiet. But she was right - it was a very good deal.

I paid for it all. Amanda offered 50/50 so that she would ease the burden of the payment and that I would eventually pay her back to own it, but I thought that was silly. I'm glad she was with me, because I almost spent another $70 on some two-year warranty. If it wasn't for her, I would have wasted $70. With computers, phones and mp3 players, I'd get the warranty. With this TV, I'll live dangerously.

Driving back home, I was full of anxiety about the purchase. But as soon as we turned that TV on, I was so happy. I mean seriously... I was prancing around the couch. That's friggin' happy.

We really needed a TV, and I'm very satisfied with the purchase. Considering I didn't want to wait seven months for a holiday sale, I think I got the best deal in town. Plus I'm helping the economy! Hurray!

A different kind of freebie

As stated previously, my mother came to visit me yesterday.  Our main goal was to purchase a large area rug for our living area (see picture), so we first headed over to IKEA (because everyone knows the Swedish are stylin'). Unfortunately most of the rugs there proved to be excessively large for the space.  We strolled around the Shops of Pembroke Gardens for a bit before heading over to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

While, once again, no appropriate rugs emerged, I did end up getting a new glassware set in the process (courtesy of my mom...or rather, my stepfather's Discover card).  While Bridget seemed to be satisfied with using her motley assortment of plastic cups, it's nice to have something that matches.  Freebies are always nice to receive, especially when you're trying to budget your expenses in anticipation of this month's rent/utility bill.  In fact, my dad just gave me this amazing decorative clock/mirror (see picture) from his recent trip to Italy that fits perfectly in our living room (and helpfully fills up the final blank wall).  If you can't tell, I have a very open-door policy, aka "gimme! gimme!" when it comes to gifts from my loving parentals.

And while we still haven't solved the rug-issue yet (alas!), our household walked away with some good necessities/not-so-necessities.  In conclusion: thanks Mom!  Thanks Dad!  I have a futon with your name on it if you ever should need a place to sleep!

To budget money, you must budget time

This morning I was late leaving the house, and only had time to throw a few snacks into my lunchbag. Grapes and an Oatmeal Creme Pie don't make a lunch, so I ran out to McDonald's. I had a gift card for Mickey-D's from Christmas that I used. But I wouldn't have even needed to use it if I just budgeted my time better to make a sandwich.

Since we started living together, I've been good in avoiding fast food for lunch and dinner and eating what's at home. But what good is it buying food to pack a lunch if I don't budget my time to make a lunch? I don't think I'll ever be good about waking up early, so maybe I should make my lunch the night before to avoid giving all my money to Mayor McCheese.

Bridget makes kittens cry.

So Bridget makes a post about the woes of living with a pet (something few Americans have to deal with, since NOBODY owns animals nowadays), and I have to console a weeping Tootles whose only crime is continuing to do what she's always been doing.  Perhaps Bridget should consider what I have to spend to keep up with her idiocentricities. 

I just made an online purchase of $35 on a cat-screen so that the litter box does not offend dear Bridget's sight.  I even purchased (as stated previously) a hidden litter scoop at a slightly extra-cost ($7).  And now Bridget is suggesting that I find another way to give Tootles water, such as a kitty water fountain, even though for the past three years she's only ever insisted on drinking from the sink (and for the record, I tried the kitty fountain already).  I even offered to pay for my parent's cleaning lady to swing by once every two weeks (~$60).  I'm trying to be considerate of her feelings, while at the same time thinking she's a complete nut.

Hopefully my mother (who is visiting tomorrow, finally) can either offer a solution or otherwise assuage Bridget's OCD-impulses.  And yes, Bridget, I know: "I don't have OCD!"  I don't know how many times I have to lick the countertops in order for her to believe that it's clean by all health-department standards.  What germs there are are unavoidable!!  The cat is going NOWHERE, I tell you!

Speaking of Mommy - this brings up another topic: begging!  I love it when my mother visits/I visit my mother, because not only does she have a better style-sense than I do, but she also can be wheedled into buying me several pricey items.  Never underestimate the high-pitched power of the whine!  Hopefully her visit will provide Bridget & I with an area rug for the living room - one on which I'm sure Tootles can't wait to rub her butt on.

Hot pockets, tampons, and beer - oh my!

Made my first grocery store run for the new house today, though it was motivated mostly by my need for cold medicine rather than food.  It seems for the past three or four days I've been thriving on bagels and leftovers.  Anyways, with two people living in a household and one not-too-large refrigerator, certain questions come up as far as the practicality of buying the same items twice.  It becomes less of an issue of conserving resources, and more of an issue of saving space.

For example, there are currently two jugs of orange juice in the refrigerator that take up almost half of the top shelf.  While she seems to enjoy pulp whereas I don't (the sensation is akin to swallowing tiny bugs), I'm sure a compromise can be met for our next grocery-run.  And then there are other products that are used by all and are long-lasting, like olive oil, butter, and laundry detergent.  My take on it is that we can just alternate between who buys what every week (or as the need arises), but I have yet to approach Bridget with this idea.  She seems the type to be concerned over these sort of things, so I'm interested to hear what she'll have to say - but the simple fact of the matter is that our refrigerator cannot handle a full load of groceries for two separate lists.  As it is, our pantry is bursting at the seams with near-apocalyptic amounts of canned goods.

For this reason I didn't go "all out" buying food today; mostly I purchased frozen items, like hot pockets (yum) and toaster strudels (omg, yum).  Actually, thinking about it, I don't know what the heck I spent $80 on.  But before any big food purchase is made, this issue of either splitting the groceries or splitting the 'fridge is one that has to be discussed between Bridget and myself.

Trash is something you throw out, not buy

While I might accuse Bridget of having some odd quirks, I should probably take the time to turn the mirror upon myself and admit to one of my own: used items scare me.  Thrift stores, Goodwill, and yard sales are all the stuff of nightmares (take for example the included image, circa 2005, of my first and last time inside a Goodwill store).  There is an unknown history to these items that I neither care to know or guess at, and I’d rather invite a vampire into my home than a dubious piece of furniture or clothing (though I must pre-requisite that the vampire should resemble Interview with the Vampire's Tom Cruise, pre-crazy ).  I don’t care how big of a bargain I’d get – I’d rather buy full-priced and new than opt for half-priced and pre-dirtied. 

Such was the case a month ago, when my stepmother, Patricia, spotted a $200 leather sofa for me during one of her weekend yard sale adventures.  Bridget and I were looking for a sofa/living room set at the time, and Patricia was being nice enough to keep an eye out.  And while I’m sure there is some satisfaction in uncovering the hidden gold in another’s man’s garbage, no amount of potential savings could entice me to even go and look at the sofa that she was offering.  Bridget & I ended up picking up a very reasonable (and new!) living room set at Rooms To Go  for about $1300 (which includes a sofa, loveseat, coffee table, side table, and sofa table).  So though I agree that savings can be obtained through swap shops and yard sales, you can't put a price on peace of mind or happiness.  I'd rather deal with the cost of buying new than the consequences of purchasing a used piece of furniture and finding out it's not what you'd hoped it'd be.

The saver isn't always better than the spender

Today the story of Chicks and Balances makes its radio debut on WLRN 91.3 FM during the Miami Herald Friday Business Report. Tune in at 5:44 p.m. to listen live, or just come back later and we'll post the link.

But here's a taste of what's to come. Niala Boodhoo of the Friday Business Report spoke with local financial planner Ben Tobias, president of Plantation-based Tobias Financial Advisors, about relationships and spending. Click the link to listen to the two-minute interview about the struggles of living with someone with a different financial style.

[Financial planner Ben Tobias talks with Niala Boodhoo of the Friday Business Report]

The biggest shocker for me was when Tobias said being a big saver is "as serious an issue as the over spender." And that being overly concerned about spending money is a "depression mentality" because that person is worried that at some point in their life they’ll run out of money.

Well I'm not a depressed person -- quite the opposite, actually -- but what he said got me thinking. I grew up hearing my parents talk about savings and money concerns -- especially when they sent my brother and I off to college -- and I think that's what shaped me to be the bargain hunter I am today. I have money in my savings and I have no credit card debt, so why be so concerned about saving? Because I don't want to wind up worrying about debt. I dream of diving into a pool of my own money. Of course debt will happen when I start a family, but at least this money I'm saving will cushion the fall.

Budgetary boiling point

It may not be breaking news to Floridians, but it was hot today.  And not just outside, but inside, as well.  I woke up from my nap with that unpleasantly warm feeling that fooled me into thinking for several minutes that I might possibly be running a fever.  Come to find out, the air had been mysteriously turned off by persons unknown!  Running down the list of usual suspects and utilizing my gumshoe detective skills, it was eventually revealed that Bridget had turned off the A/C sometime last night to "save money".  Now, as trendy as this "go green" thing is, my hormone-driven temperature fluctuations cannot deal with an 86-degree household.  And while I can understand cutting corners in certain areas of life, the A/C is not one of them.  I also find it funny that Bridget seems to attempt to save money in one area, while obliviously wasting it in another. 

For one thing, Bridget refuses to use the same towel more than once before washing it.  Bridget also insists on buying little paper sippy-cups  for when she brushes her teeth, instead of using her perfectly good set of cupped hands (that are FREE upon birth).  It's like living with my grandmother, only twice as neurotic.  It's equally amusing and frustrating to witness, yet all-together awesome for making fun of her.

And while the total cost of sippy-cups and towels might not hold up to the expense of powering the air conditioner for a day - in Florida, what is more essential?  Step outside for a moment if you're having any trouble with that question, because methinks the answer is "A/C"!  I don't put my foot down on many things, but when it comes to comfort cost is simply not an issue.  Truth be told, I'd even invest in a new fan for my bedroom if I didn't think I'd electrocute myself in the process of installing it...

Give a big hand to BOGOs and free breakfast!

Greetings, blog readers. Bridget the BOGO shopper here. (BOGO being buy-one-get-one, of course.) Before I get into my grocery shopping adventures, can I just say how wonderful my FREE breakfast was this morning?

That's me sucking down a free breakfast blend from Jamba Juice. They were giving away free items from their breakfast menu, and I had a Berry Topper, which is thicker than a normal smoothie and has granola.

I don't normally go to Jamba Juice, but I learned of the freebie from some messages on Facebook. Did Amanda jump on this wonderful deal at a store 2 minutes away from our place? Nope, she went back to bed.

Starbucks was also giving away free coffee today, but only from noon to 12:30, and I couldn't get out of the office to snatch that. I hope this free drink stuff keeps coming my way!

So yeah, about the BOGOs. It's been two years since I've done my own grocery shopping. When I moved back in with my parents after college, I never had to worry about groceries. (Hurray for mom!) But on Sunday I strolled down the isles of Publix with a mission to fill our empty fridge (well... it's wasn't totally empty if you counted the case of Bud Light that was in there.)

And boy... I really lost touch with how much things cost.

I took my mother with me for guidance on deals (and to make sure I don't fill my cart with Little Debbie). I spent $127.75 on 59 items, but you have to remember that I'm starting with nothing. So I stocked up on BOGOs of pasta, sauce, coffee... and then you have to get some staples like peanut butter, jelly, butter, mustard... and I have frozen corn dogs to last me months.

I also got a good amount of lunch food and snacks because I always pack my lunch to work, unless it's a day where I'll be on the road. Then I go for cheap fast-food.

With my coupons and other in-store sales, I saved $17.11! Of course my next shopping won't be as large, but if nothing else this trip gave me a reality check on the costs of groceries.

I can't help but wonder how much Amanda will spend on food. After all, her father lives next door and she always has the option to raid their fridge for a snack when in need. And I don't know how much she goes out for fast food.

Me on the other hand, I'm sure I'll be making a few trips on the weekends for a nice home-cooked meal from mom. :)

A friend indeed, not a friend in debt

Howdy - Amanda again.  In response to Bridget's post setting things straight in regards to what this blog is about (namely, that we're not trying to change our spending styles to become an exaggerated version of ourselves), I thought I'd talk about a topic that seems to affect a surprisingly large percentage of my friends: credit card debt. 

You would think that as a self-proclaimed "impulse spender" I would have a credit card holster on one hip and five or six platinum cards readily available.  Truth is, I only have one credit card (and Victoria's Secret totally doesn't count as a credit card; everyone only gets it for the coupons, anyway!).  Several of my friends, though, are in credit card debt.  And I'm not talking "Oh, I have to finish off my school payments"-credit card debit; according to Wikipedia  (and who doesn't trust Wiki?), the average college student in the U.S. begins their post-college life with approximately $2,000 in credit card debt.  I'm talking about tens of thousands of dollars spent on pseudo-trendy vehicles and endless after-work weekend benders at TGI Friday's . 

And I'm not trying to be sanctimonious and say that I don't spend large amounts of money at any given time, but I get so much more satisfaction with the "pay it now" debit card option.  Credit card payments are too easy for me to forget about, and there is nothing fun about a late fee.   And though I'm sure I'd look so stylin' with the in-crowd in a new Volkswagen, I just don't have that kind of money right now (though weekend kamikaze trips to Disney...that we can talk about).  So come on, people (and I'm talking to you, friends of mine!) - you wouldn't drive your Jetta with an empty tank of gas, so don't buy one with a negative balance in your bank account!