The No-Spend Zone

A flat tire and no coupons!

Remember a while back when I said something always goes wrong on installation day? Well, it always does and today was no different. This should have been a quickie. Meet the drapery guys to install a black-out shade and discuss a closet system design for my client Debbie's master bedroom redesign. One hour tops. Then I could have a gossip-filled lunch with the BFF Jazz, who was in town for a few hours. Sigh.
Everyone was scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. I make it out the door at 9:45 a.m and stop dead in the parking lot: a flat tire. I mean, really flat. Not a slow leak or a softie tire. Flat like a pancake. A happy looking nail stared back at me. Ya gotta be kidding. As I stare at the flat, panic sets in. I've yet to renew my triple A service. Double sigh. I also get two calls from potential clients at the very minute I'm assessing said tire and thinking that I have no clue how to change such things. I mean, I'm no girlie girl (I've cut tile, grouted em, hauled a 100 bags of cement to build a pond etc..etc..) but tires are outa my league.
One of the potential clients offers to come by and change the tire (hmm, he may get a discount for such a sweet offer) but alas, it occurs to me that Ralph's (yep, the business partner exiled to Barbados) truck is parked in a guest spot and no matter how much Diesel it'll take to fill that monster, it'll be the ride du jour. I hop in and make it to the installation just a few minutes behind schedule.
I also discovered today that I need to follow my own penny-pinching rules. I purchased some fabric samples and stencils at Jo-Anne's and Michaels Crafts (did you know they're affiliated and will accept each other's coupons?) Well, of course I had no coupons on me. Shameful. My purchases were just $12 and $6 respectively but still, wouldn't have hurt to get a little something taken off at the register. Could have used the extra pennies for that Diesel I mentioned. Word of advice: get a coupon carrier and haul it with you wherever you go.
P.S
Makeover contest entries must be in by Friday so keep sending those pictures and entry details.
P.S.S
Does Red Bull count on the no caffeine diet?

Champagne vs Beer

Alas, it's finally here. "Your Pad on a Penny" -- our guide to helping you transform your space to that oasis you have always wanted but thought you couldn't afford.

There won't be many rules. We'll likely tackle some of the best ways to decorate key rooms - living rooms, a master bedroom, a powder room, a patio, a small water feature - but helping you pinch the pennies to get it done. I'll also give you a behind the scenes look at how my partner Ralph Forde and I tackle some of our current projects at my design firm, Oasis Interior/Exterior Design. (Read entire column in tomorrow's Money Section in the Miami Herald)

Okay, so I lied. There is at least one rule: Know thy budget.

Whether it’s $500 or $5,000, say it loud and proud and be disciplined enough to stick to it.

The truth is most of us have champagne tastes on a beer budget and oh boy, no where is this more evident than in our quest to decorate our homes or landscape the yard.

We want it all!

Designer chairs, custom-designed silk drapes, waterfalls in the yard, outdoor kitchens and then the reality of just how much pennies there are in the bank comes into play.

Be honest with thyself. Be honest too with your decorator or designer if you hire one, because they need to know these things if they are seriously supposed to help you.

So here’s the trick.

A. Make a list of what it is you want to accomplish in that space and how much funding you have to get it done.

B. Are there items you can reuse? Do you really need a new sofa or can you simply reupholster the existing one? New mantra – reupholstering is thy friend.

C. Trust your decorator. They probably have some experience on finding you the best deals since they do this for a living.

My client Debbie has agreed to be used to illustrate this point clearly.

She’s stuck in her 2/2 condo. It should have been her starter home but alas, the market is what it is and she aint going nowhere anytime soon so she called me in to revamp her office/guest bedroom.

Things I had to work into the design: a brushed-nickel ceiling fan and a media center she'd purchased for a pretty penny from Crate and Barrel. She'd also decided on a paint color after turning her wall into a crazy color wheel - Caribbean cool.

She wanted a minimalist-chic space. No curtains, no fuss. Just clean lines. She wanted to spend a lot of time in this room so it had to be fabulous but on a budget.

Must haves: a day bed, a new desk, a new computer monitor (did I mention that Debbie is also a packrat? she'd had that monitor since college!) desk chair, seating area for friends and window treatment that had to be clean and simple. The room had to be painted. We would also need some artwork.

We set a budget of $2,500.

Aha, but Debbie is a designer junkie at heart and she would soon have multiple love affairs with some very expensive items.

First off: The Barbados daybed.

It would eat up a hefty chunk of the budget but it was BEAUTIFUL, had tons of storage and room for an extra mattress and fits her room like a glove.

Desk: She then fell in love with the Micah console table from Scan Design. Sigh. It was pricey. It was also very narrow. But most important, it would kill the budget. We settled on the Torsby dining table from Ikea

Bigger sigh. The table was sold out at the store so we had to order online. Shipping costs would push us over the limit.

Chairs: Another romance. This time with the Barcelona chair. Okay, not the originals which cost about $4,000, but even the knock-off was not in the budget: https://www.shopseating.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=43&gclid=CMeHoauenJMCFSE0kgodgEm2rw

Here I had to stage an intervention. Now, they are beautiful but for an office? Nope. We fought. I reminded her of the budget. We fought. She relented.

We settled on the Klappsta chairs also from Ikea. After the Ikea purchases she'd learned some harsh lessons about the budget and stopped fighting me on every turn!

It was all gravy after that.

That fabulous chair she had her eye on at West Elm would not be had.

We settled on the Bentwood office chair from Walmart.

We saved money on artwork by using a series of photos she took while on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

And the end result?

To be revealed in tomorrow’s blog. Come on, a girl's gotta give you a reason to come back for more...

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.

Tomorrow's Forecast: Heavy Spending

Long time no write, readers.  The main reason behind this is because I'm trying to conserve money since my recent purchase of a computer, but I also have several events on the horizon that I have to be ready for...namely an anime/comic book convention at the end of May, and a wedding (in which I am the Maid of Honor) in September. 

Of course, no wedding would be complete without a bachelorette party, and I am in way over my head in trying to plan for this thing.  Not only do I have to worry about the cost of my dress, as well as various party supplies, but the bachelorette party and wedding are to take place in Tampa and Georgia, respectively.  I have no idea what the cost of a round-trip plane ticket is nowadays, but needless to say I shall be spending some change.

The more immediate concern is the upcoming convention, however.  Not only did I pay $25 for the ticket, but an additional $40 for a photo-op with THE WEASLEY TWINS of Harry Potter fame.   Letting me loose on those boys the convention is bound to end up with me coming home with a ton of trinkets, goodies, and presents (for myself).  Unfortunately, what with our blog ending within a week, you won't be privy to those shenanigans, but wish me luck (or rather wish my bank account luck).  Hopefully Bridget's presence will assist in swaying me into a degree of frugality...but alas, when has that ever worked before?

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!

This, that, and cats (again)

If you might be tired of hearing about cat issues, then I'm tired of writing about them.  I didn't think we had another issue, even...but since I woke up to a new post concerning Tootles, I suppose we do.  Needless to say (since it has been mentioned) the cat litter box has been moved to a more out of the way location, complete with a modesty screen (see picture).  I'm pretty good at cleaning it once a day or once every other day, and if a whiff of poop is detected that simply means she has gone "boom-boom" again and it hasn't been covered properly with litter.  Fascinating reading material, I'm sure.  But when living with any type of animal, there is only so much that can be done in regards to their toilet procedures. 

I was told recently that my entertainment center wouldn't be complete without an Xbox, but seeing as I have yet to play my PS2 buying a new gaming system is the last thing on my mind.  Also, whenever I think about an Xbox the only games I can picture are 1) Halo, and 2) Dead Rising.  Being a girl-gamer who's not a particular fan of shooting games (being that I am a chicken), I have no interest in Halo; being that Dead Rising is basically a video game-version of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, I'm dying to have it.  But seeing as the Xbox is around $280, I really have no intention of buying it.  The one draw (that being Dead Rising) is a good one, but when I'm too scared to even play the game...what's the point?  I've also been thinking: if anyone would buy an Xbox in this household, that would be Bridget.  When I was flipping the thought of buying a Playstation around in my head a few months back, she was the one to suggest I go for an Xbox instead.  Bridget has also been the one to whimper and swoon at the thought of buying Rock Band for my PS2, so we'll have to see - because while she talks it up, I have no interest or intent on buying it on my own.  Guitar Hero already frustrates the heck out of me.  But what are your guys thoughts about this?  Since I own the system, should I buy (all) the games?

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??

I think I just witnessed a miracle. Amanda bought something USED!

Right after I bought the TV, Amanda stopped into BestBuy to pick up a Battlestar Galactia DVD. I waited in the car, guarding my precious.

I get a phone call from Amanda while she is in the store. It went something like this:

"Bridget! A PlayStation 2 is only $130!"

"Yeah... because it is old. I think my brother and I had one since 2001."

"But it's just sitting there, begging me to buy it! I must own it!"

So I told her to walk away and just sleep it over. That usually works for me. If I feel really strongly about something a few days later, then I'll probably get it. But I usually lose that desire after two days.

Not that long ago she bought a Wii, and there are several things she can still buy for that. And if she wanted another system, I suggested to spend money on a technology that isn't outdated. But PS3s are still very pricey and they have issues with backward compatibility of PS2 games. They still make some games for PS2, like Rock Band, so it's not that out-dated.

And her buying another system worried me. I am very easily tempted to spend money on games. My brother took the PS2 with him to college, so my temptation left me. But now it's back.

Imagine the following scenario: Out with friends, having a beer at a local family-friendly dining establishment. We're walking along the shopping center and we pass a GameStop (because there is a GameStop every two blocks where I live)... and next thing you know I'm buying a stack of used games for her PS2 while under the influence of 2-for-1 beers!

Ugggh. Willpower, Bridget. Willpower.

I get home from work the next day and she tells me she's going out to get a PS2. Well, at least she thought it over. But I think waiting that long was starting to drive her crazy, ha.

But when we get to Best Buy, I don't think she realized that she has to buy a memory card. And a second controller. And games.

The games were $20 at Best Buy, but I suggested that she check out some used games and shop around to see if there was a cheaper controller at another store.

And whaddaya know! She waited to buy games and a second controller until we drove to GameStop across the street.

I started hunting around the used PS2 controllers to find one that was in good shape for $12, but when I handed her one I think she threw up in her mouth. You see, Amanda doesn't like used things. And if she wanted a pre-owned and refurbished PS2, she could have gotten it for 70-something-bucks. But once again, that idea made her skin crawl.

But she was looking around at the used games! And *gasp* she bought USED GAMES! She once told me that she couldn't stand to buy a pre-viewed movie from Blockbuster, but now she just got two USED GAMES AND SAVED MONEY!

She didn't save money on the controller, but that's OK. Baby steps, Amanda. Baby steps.

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!

And yes, the carpet matches the curtains!

Bridget and I finally accomplished one of the last big hurdles of our move-in: purchasing a large area rug to tie-in the new furniture with the huge living space.  You have no idea how long we've both looked for and angsted over the size, shape, price, and availabilty of a rug that both fits the space and our budget.  Who would have thought that the answer would arrive via a Super Target...though I really should know better, as I can easily spend half my paycheck in there.

The total cost of the rug came to somewhat over $130, and happily my mother has agreed to pay for it as a housewarming gift (among other items *cough*).  Again, thanks Mom - I shall not forget that Mother's Day is soon approaching!

Our next project that I'd like to tackle is the back patio, which still harbors all of my grandfather's creepy old wicker (and falling apart) furniture.  I'm afraid to even touch the stuff, because I might either end up 1) haunted, or 2) with tetanus.  Also, the back yard and pool area sorely needs a proper sunning-chair or two.  Since my weekend has just begun (my days off are Monday after 9am, Tues/Weds/Thursday) I'm excited to go out and look at patio set options, but I know I'm going to end up frustrated because Bridget is going to have to approve before we make a purchase.  Though I could always just use Tootles as a "good taste" reference...she approves of the carpet, after all.

With great power there must also come...great collectibles!

I am a nerd.  A geek, a dork, what have you.  Unfortunately geek-dom doesn't just come with social ostracism (which is SO fun in your formative years), but also a hefty price-tag in keeping up with the constant flow of my various hobbies.  My bookshelf alone (pictured) holds an ungodly portion of my income in comic book trade paperbacks.  One of these babies can typically be priced at anywhere from $14.99 to $24.99, and I have 70 on just the two first shelves (I soon lost the willpower to continue counting).  And let's not talk about my manga collection (which is the japanese equivalent of comic books).  I easily have over 200 various titles scattered on bookshelves and inside boxes, and any given manga can range from $7.99 to $15.99.  And I make a dash for Tate's Comics about once every two weeks to restock.  Of course, these are all items which I have accumulated over 10+ years, but still...I have to wonder how I was ever able to afford such a drool-worthy nerd-stash when I've only been with a steady job for a little over a year & a half.

I bring up this topic because I just spent a little more than I planned to on one of my budding obsessions.  Impulse-spending strikes again!  I happened to have purchased a few overseas items yesterday to expand my Marvel Figurine Collection, and it seems that I should have taken that pounds-to-dollars conversion rate a little more seriously.  Very quickly did $39 turn into $77.  For that money I should have purchased something useful...like a guillotine.  And will anyone I know (or anyone who reads this, for that matter) really appreciate my need to own a Deadpool miniature action figure??  Maybe not, but it makes me happy and it's not like I got into comic books because I care what other people think of me.  But my major weakness (my kryptonite, if you will) is the internet - money just seems like such a transient concept when it's so easy as point-click-sold!  I would say that myself and the internet have a love/hate relationship, but I really don't have any of the post-purchase guilt that Bridget carries around.  Whatever money I spend, I know I'll just get more next pay check. 

So whatever your hobby, I highly recommend indulging yourself in something at least once a month (if not once a week!).  It not only perks up your day, but everyone loves getting packages in the mail!

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!

'Just say no' works for drugs. But for discount dresses?

The other day Amanda wanted to go to The Shops at Pembroke Gardens to see if they had any stores that sold cute things for the home. I was working from home all day and wanted to get out of the house, so I tagged along.

I had no intention of buying anything. And I never go to the mall on a weekday, so if it wasn't for her I'd probably never have a reason to visit this place.

But I came home with $132.98 spent on clothes.

Oh. My. Gawd.

What came over me? LoveCulture came over me. Loehmann's came over me. I've never been to either of those stores before, but I walked away with some great clothes that were cheap. I got seven things. Two dresses, and that's a huge deal because I never wear dresses. One was $18.90 at LoveCulture, the other $23.98 (originally $59) at Loehmann's. I think the last time I bought a dress was last year and that's because I had to own a nice dress for a family cruise.

(To see a close-up of the items, just click on the picture.)

I got a shirt that had an Ed Hardy style to it, but it was $12.90. A solid blue shirt for $4.90. Two work short-sleeve jackets for about $25 each. And a soft, thick olive zip-up sweater for $13.

I've been needing some new clothes for a long time. I've worn the same six tops to work for the past three months. And the three months before that, it was the same five tops. The biggest wardrobe updates usually come as Christmas and birthday gifts.

I wish I didn't spend so much. But I tell myself that I was in need of doing some shopping for nice things I can wear to work. The Ed Hardy-ish shirt was bought because it was only $12.90 and I always wanted something like that. That wasn't a "need."

But the scary part about all this is Amanda hardly bought anything. But it's not like I bought everything I saw -- I did put many items back on the rack with much internal debate. And I spent a good chunk of time rummaging through Loehmann's for bargains.

Did Amanda influence me since I wouldn't normally have gone to the mall on a weekday? I think I have only myself to blame. But considering I hardly ever go shopping for nice clothes, I consider seven useful items -- items in colors and types I don't already have and that were all at good prices -- a success.

I don't think Amanda sees it as a complete success. She keeps telling me she wants to take me out shopping for bras and skirts and summer dresses... gah. I don't think I can do it. I'm hoping I can make excuses for the next several weekends until she gives up. I especially can't now, after I spent so much on these clothes.

Who am I kidding? I tell myself it is a success, but I still have guilt!

Decorations to die for

Without a doubt, the biggest non-essential expense that I've made towards this house is in the purchase and framing of my four The Haunted Mansion portraits.  If you're a Disney fan you'll recognize them as the stretching room paintings from when you enter the. most. amazing. ride. in all of Disney creation.  And if you don't recognize them, allow me to explain: they're from the. most. amazing. ride. in all of Disney creation.

Now I've been rather obsessed with The Haunted Mansion since childhood (cast your eyes to the side picture for four separate poses taken in front of the Mansion), and it only got worse into my teen/young adult years when I started to obtain an income of my own.  Money = souvenirs, obviously.  I even have my car decked out in Haunted Mansion-gear.  So imagine my astonishment when Bridget happened upon these limited edition portraits at the Disney outlet store in Sawgrass Mills Mall!  I didn't even look at the price tag ($65 each, totaling about $200) - I had to have them, as both a collector and as an new home-owner/renter.  Problem was, there were only three out of the four portraits available.  Blasphemy!  And not only was it missing a portrait, but it happened to be the best one out of the bunch! 

About four months go by with me feverishly checking Ebay every other day in the hopes that someone will make available the one portrait I need (ironically, every other picture was available on Ebay EXCEPT the one I wanted).  Finally I see it: the picture I need, with a "Buy It Now" option, at $150.  Done and DONE.  Take my money, my first born, whatever you want...just give me that portrait!

With my set complete I took them all over to Michael's to get them appropriately framed (all custom, of course), which cost me about $130 for each.  So $520 later, and adding on the $350 cost for the pictures, I spent $870 on a set of four pieces of artwork.  ...holy crabapple.  I actually never stopped to total up all the $$ figures but that's a lot, even for me.  Still, look at the big picture: these are limited edition (only 250 of each were made) collectibles from my favorite ride, from my favorite theme park.  Though the total expense makes me cringe, I know that there is no way that I would take that money back and give those beauties up.  I'll be taking those babies with me to the grave...and beyond?

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.

Listen to Chicks and Balances on the Friday Business Report

Listen to the Friday Business Report by clicking the link below. I had a recorder with me when we visited Tate's Comics on Saturday, which is where our shopping story takes place... 

Friday Business Report | Roommates and personal finance

How can a spender and a saver live together and still maintain good financial habits? The Miami Herald Friday Business Report talks to reporter Bridget Carey about her new living situation and financial planner Ben Tobias about couples, roommates and personal finance.
Listen now

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. :)

And Tootles makes three

Moved my cat into the house today, and I was more excited about Bridget's reaction than my cat's.  Bridget is a borderline germaphobe, and was raised with an unusual adversity to felines.  But also, there is the concern over the added expense of an animal in the house (which, of course, I'd be responsible for).  A bag of Meow Mix isn't a big expense every now and then, but having the opportunity to purchase all new cat-goodies is a big temptation for me.  I've already browsed E-Bay looking at $45 cat bowls (kitty couture - who knew?!) and self-cleaning litter boxes.

But even I have to hesitate before clicking that delightful "Buy Now" button...because I know Tootles (my cat) doesn't really appreciate any of this.  What she appreciates is the simple equation of: her claws + my new sofa. Maybe I'm just underestimating Tootles' ability to enjoy some luxury in life, but I still haven't been able to get her to sleep in that velvet pink cat-bed I purchased for her two years ago.

In the end I opted for a demure PetsCo purchase of $22 for a plain old plastic food dish and litter box...but wouldn't it be nicer if it were rhinestone-encrusted ??  This missed opportunity will haunt me in my dreams, I'm sure of it.

Spending money -- and staying friends

If you want to better understand each of our viewpoints, check out our column in today's Miami Herald.

We'll each be blogging for a month about the struggles of living with a friend with different spending styles. Fellow Herald blogger The Frugalista recently wrote that to be frugal, you need to surround yourself with frugal friends to avoid the temptation of spending.

I guess I'll find how out true that is as I live with Amanda. And to be clear, this isn't about me trying to not spend any money. I'm reasonable with my expenses, and try to keep my spending to what is necessary with a dash of cheap fun. However, I'm concerned that I need to be more disciplined with my money now that I have more bills to pay. So I'm going to make it my mission to cut back my extra spending so I can keep adding to my savings account.

Check out a video of us at IKEA picking out dishes. As you can see, I'm much more caring about who is spending how much on everything we buy. You gotta be fair about making costs close to even when it comes to things we'll both be using, like dishes.

At the time of this video I had a hard time making decisions, so I just kept talking myself into things to get through the shopping. But after seeing what Target had and their prices, I know we got a pretty good deal considering how many plates we got.

It is not the spoon that bends, it is only your willpower

As Amanda mentioned in her last post, yes, I was getting googly eyes over bins of Star Trek action figures from the 90s. But this was my downfall last year. Last year I attended this same Olympic sale at Tate's Comics and walked away with practically every character from Star Trek: The Next Generation for $60. I think I blacked-out for most of that shopping experience, cause the last thing I remember was going into a fit of joy when Amanda found a toy of Barclay... and the next thing I remember is being at home, with a garbage bag full of action figures.

Folks, that's an impulse shopping horror story I hope you never have to experience (But hey, the toys were 3 for $10, such a deal! Or so I keep telling myself.) And I couldn't let that happen again.

So today I did much looking, but walked away. Amanda came here on a mission for a severed unicorn head. And I went with her to support that mission. I've longed for that silly thing for months, but I couldn't see myself spending $60 for it.

I've also liked the matching severed mouse head, but $45? I had to walk away. Being in a store with too many cute things is dangerous.

And then I came across salt and pepper shakers that actually shake. You pull a string and they vibrate. Well... we have been needing salt and pepper shakers for the new pad. And we wanted something a little different than the norm. So for it being on sale for $9, and that we both agreed that we liked it, I had to get it. When am I ever going to come across a self-shaking shaker again? And we needed shakers, so I consider it a useful purchase.

And then the impulse buy bug came over me again when we got to the checkout line. There he was... Marty McFly... in his shiny plastic case with his hover board...

Back to the Future is my greatest weakness next to Disney stuff. And I never find Back to the Future toys. I have seen this before, sold in Orlando for $30. I passed it by then. But now, it was $13.50. This is one of those things that if you pass it by, it gives you nightmares. I had to get it. Of course I would have never gotten it if I hadn't gone into this store. But I did. And there was no going back in time for me.

If I'm going to be good about saving, I really need to stay out of nerd stores. It's just way too tempting to by things you don't need.

Luckily, I made up for the splurge by being smart about shopping for utensils. I had saved up some Target gift cards from Christmas and Easter, and I used them on getting a six-pack of forks, knives and spoons. Price = Free!

But we have eight dishes. If we ever have an eight-person dinner party, two will have dishes, but no silverware. I was willing to take that risk, but Amanda wouldn't stand for it. She also bought a set of six of each. I felt bad because I didn't intend for her to buy more, but she didn't hesitate on the purchase. She explained to me that she goes through tons of spoons in a day, so for her this was a necessary purchase. I'm not sure I can understand such massive spoon usage, but to each her own.