Chase.com Mobile Deposits

I recently discovered something VERY awesome about having a Chase account.  No longer will I need to go to the bank or an ATM to make a check deposit.  All I need now is my smart phone! That's right, if someone writes me a check, all I have to do is take a photo of the front and back of the check and it will be deposited instantly into my checking or savings account.

If you have an android phone or iPhone, you can download the Chase bank app.  Then, go to menu and choose "Deposits".  Select your account you want it deposited to, the dollar amount, and then take a photo of the front and the back of the check.  You'll receive an email shortly after letting you know that you made the request, and then another letting you know that it was accepted.

I don't know about you, but I think this is such an amazing time and hassle saver. Definitely a good reason to switch to Chase.

CVS.com Sale

I thought I'd share this great deal if you need to stock up on drugstore products.  

Save 20% sitewide, when you enter coupon code GET20WINTER.* (Coupon codes are case sensitive.)

To get your extra $10 savings, fill your shopping cart with $50 worth of nonprescription items.**
You must enter this unique coupon code CAD0D2HKWJ1 at Checkout to receive your savings.

Hurry! Exclusive savings end Monday, January 2.

Got All This at B&BW for $29.25 + tax

Wow! I just got ALL of this from Bath and Body Works for only $29.25 + tax (total=$31.66).


Let me break it down for you:

• 4 shower creams @ $3 each
• 2 body creams @ $3 each
• 3 hand soaps @ $2.75 each
• 2 mini candles + candle holders @ $2.00 each
• 1 scentportable @ $5 (not on sale)
• 1 mini body lotion (for travel) @ $1

That comes out to $39.25 BEFORE my coupon.  Then, I used my $10 off a $40 purchase (the lady let me do this with a little less than $40).

How did I get $10 off a $40 purchase?  Just print it by clicking on this link.

If you don't feel like going to the store, there's a sale online too.  If you go through ShopAtHome.com, you can get 6% cash back.  Then, go here to get to the sale.  Make sure to use code 10WINTER11 to get $10 off a $30 purchase, or GIFT20 for 20% off.

Happy Shopping!

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee 5-Piece Getting Started Kit only $6.39 Shipped (Reg. $14.99)

1. First, sign up to get your $10 off $10 coupon from Vitacost. Wait for it to arrive in your email inbox.

2. Go to Burt’s Bees Baby Bee 5 Piece Getting Started Kit. The retail value is $14.99 but Vitacost is selling it for $10.99.

3. Place it in your cart and checkout. Your total with tax should be around $6.39 or soshipped!

This kit includes:

• Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion
• Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash
• Baby Bee Diaper Ointment
• Baby Bee Nourishing Baby Oil
• Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap

Thanks to TheFrugalFreeGal!

Amazing ModCloth Deal!

ModCloth is one of my favorite online stores, with cute dresses, shoes, accessories, etc.  I just recently got 2 cute dresses from here, so I can definitely say I love this store.  It's hard to ever find stuff on sale here, so this is a real treat!

Right now, they have a lot of adorable stuff on sale here.  To sweeten the deal, they are offering 25% off all sale merch with code SALEAWAY.  Now for the best party: ShopAtHome is offering 10% cash back on all ModCloth purchases.  I highly urge you to sign up for ShopAtHome.  It's a great way to get cash back on almost any online purchase.  I've already gotten over $13 back from just 2 purchases (Old Navy and ModCloth).

Check out this deal scenario:

This qualifies for free 3-6 day shipping, AND I'd be getting $7.49 BACK from ShopAtHome!  So, you're only really paying $67.50 for a really nice jacket and a dress, worth about $100.  Great Deal!

SmartyPig No More!

For a long time I have been singing SmartyPig's praises because of their adorable website, user-friendly-ness, and best of all, high interest rates.  For a while it was over 2%! A few months ago, they lowered their rate to about 1.7%.  Then, 1.1%.  I was still a loyal SmartyPigger.  Now, they just decreased their rate to 0.7%! Can you believe that?  They're not even competitive anymore.  As soon as I was able to, I closed my goal and sent the money back to my checking account.

Here is a link to the blog post that SP posted about their interest rate decrease: http://blog.smartypig.com/read/announcing-a-change-in-apy/

If you are/were a SmartyPig customer, feel free to comment with your opinions.

So Adorable: iCaughtSanta!

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when your child sees a photo of Santa sneaking around the house! iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos. 

In three simple steps you can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself. 


And if that's not cool enough, get 50% off today! Just enter: SANTA50 when prompted to get 1/2 off!  


I think this is so ridiculously adorable, and I would totally do it if A) I had kids and B) I celebrated Christmas.  Maybe soon they'll have an iCaughtHanukkahHarry (just kidding, there is no such thing)! 

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

Sephora Gift Card Giveaway!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

 

I don't know about you, but I could certainly use a $20 gift card to Sephora! In fact, I could use about 500 $20 gift cards to Sephora, haha!  There are so many things I could buy there.

 

"Gilbert the Gift Card Machine" is giving away more than 100 gift cards every week leading up to Gift Card Weekend (Jan 6-8). They're giving away $20 Sephora gift cards daily to Facebook fans from December 19-23. Check the page often because they are giving away gift cards ALL MONTH for tons of cool places!! 

 

All you have to do is like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook.  Then, share it with your Facebook friends so you can receive an extra entry for every friend you refer to like Gift Card Weekend.  

 

 By the way, Gift Card Weekend  is a once-a-year event where participating retail partners give featured offers for gift cards purchased during the Holiday season and redeemed from January 6-8, 2012.

 

So, if you're a gift-giver, you can increase the value of your gift by purchasing gift cards from the participating stores.  These offers will be available for redemption during Gift Card Weekend, January 6-8, 2012.

 

Participating stores & restaurants:

-JCPenny

-Regal Cinema

-Subway

-Sephora

-Applebee's

-Bass Pro Shops

-Adidas

-Buca di Beppo

-Lowe's

-Spa Finder

-Marriot

-Giant Eagle

 

What what the heck are you waiting for?  Like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook!!

Straight Talk: Feel Richer Every Month!

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

Want to feel richer?  Cut your cell phone bill in HALF!  Talk about being frugal (and this time I’ll admit it’s cheap)!   Are you sick of spending $150+ on cell phone bills?  I find it pretty ridiculous that we’re expected to pay these exorbitant amounts of money on something that everyone uses.  $150/month for one year is $1800 a year.  That’s $9000 over the course of 5 years.  Imagine what you could buy with $9000! 

I love the idea that you can feel richer with Straight Talk because you cut your cell phone bill in half.  You have to be crazy to be on a contract when you can get everything you need without one. 

What’s Straight Talk?  It’s this cell phone company with NO contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks.  It has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity.  Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia, and Samsung.

Monthly Plans:

-The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1000 minutes 1000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

-Unlimited Monthly service is only $45 and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web

PSST: Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year for only $499!  Way better than $1800 I have to say.

Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

Phone Selection:  Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.  Great for young users!  Amazing smart phones, touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth

Check out these videos of testimonials from real Straight Talk customers:

Hook, line and sinker

Android on Straight Talk

Call a friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idm12bvAdeE&feature=related

Slim Down September

I recently joined Gold's Gym since Boot Camp was neither frugal nor cheap.  Gold's Gym is only about $30/month and there are so many around Austin.  I started taking Zumba classes and I am in LOVE.  My roommate and I are addicted and it's actually a healthy addiction.  It takes me back to high school when I was on my dance team and just had fun dancing.  Zumba is an awesome fusion of hip hop, latin, reggaeton, and jazz dancing in a one hour "exercise in disguise" class.

Would you try it?

Sober Saving Slim-down September

Anyone remember "No-Spend Saveuary"?  Well, this month it's going to be similar but a triple threat!  My good friend D told me she's going on this reverse binge called "Sober Saving Slim-down September."  I think it's an awesome idea!  Basically, no alcohol-drinking (or as little as possible), no extraneous spending outside of pre-made budget (already taken care of in my handy dandy Mint.com account), as well as working out and eating right to slim down.  Not to mention sober and slimming down go hand in hand--alcohol has so many useless calories it's not even funny.

Things I must drink/spend money at:

• Wild Frontier Fest (Sept 10th)
• BuildASign Talent & Art Show (Sept 11th)
• Austin City Limits Festival (Sept 17th)
• Elaine Greer's show at the Mohawk (Sept 22nd)

Outside of those events, I'm going to do my best to bring my lunch, drink water, and work out like crazy.

Straight Talk--Feel Richer Every Month!

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Want to feel richer?  Cut your cell phone bill in HALF!  Talk about being frugal (and this time I’ll admit it’s cheap)!   Are you sick of spending $150+ on cell phone bills?  I find it pretty ridiculous that we’re expected to pay these exorbitant amounts of money on something that everyone uses.  $150/month for one year is $1800 a year.  That’s $9000 over the course of 5 years.  Imagine what you could buy with $9000! 

I love the idea that you can feel richer with Straight Talk because you cut your cell phone bill in half.  You have to be crazy to be on a contract when you can get everything you need without one. 

What’s Straight Talk?  It’s this cell phone company with NO contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks.  It has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity.  Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia, and Samsung.

Monthly Plans:

-The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1000 minutes 1000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

-Unlimited Monthly service is only $45 and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web

PSST: Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year for only $499!  Way better than $1800 I have to say.

Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

Phone Selection:  Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.  Great for young users!  Amazing smart phones, touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth

 

Check out these videos of testimonials from real Straight Talk customers:

hook, line and sinker

mom knows best

call a friend

everything you need

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx4K5aY9Wlk&NR=1

 

Let me know if you end up getting a Straight Talk account and what you think!  

Can't Wait to Try Out Zenni Optical!

This post brought to you by Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Myth: Buying optical glasses and frames will empty out your bank account.

 

Fact: There are some companies out there that sell glasses and frames at very reasonable prices.

 

A few weeks ago, I was considering purchasing some new optical lenses & frames from LensCrafters.  The glasses were pretty cute, but I had quite the sticker shock.  Most frames were around $200.  Then, the salesperson let me know that lenses are not included in the price, and can be as much as $300.  The glasses/lenses I wanted was going to be around $300 AFTER their "sale" of 30% off when you buy lenses & frames together.  I quickly walked out as I was not willing to dish out $300 on glasses when I didn't truly NEED them.

 

Today I made an awesome discovery: Zenni Optical.  This is a website that specializes in AFFORDABLE glasses frames.  I'm talking as low as $6.95 per pair!  I'm going to have to try this out soon, since I've had the same glasses since my freshman year of college, 5 years ago.  Can you believe how much money I'll be saving on glasses?  Hundreds!

 

I think this Time Magazine reader put it perfectly: "Please tell me editor Bill Saporito is receiving mental-health treatment, because he is insane for spending $1000 on a single pair of glasses.  I buy glasses from Zenni Optical, an online site.  It's $20 for a complete set at my doorstep, shipping included." (Peter Minton, Winsted, Conn.)Time magazine

 

Wait...Shipping INCLUDED?  YES!  Okay, I have to try this now...

Check them out here: Zenni Optical

50% OFF Easy Canvas Prints Plus Free Shipping!

I thought I'd share this amazing deal with all of you!  If you are a fan of custom canvas prints, or are interested in trying one, you HAVE to check out Easy Canvas Prints.  I work for BuildASign, and Easy Canvas Prints is one of our sister sites.

Right now, they have this deal you just can't pass up--50% OFF all canvas plus FREE shipping on your entire order!    All you have to do is like them on Facebook and you're in!  SO EASY!

Go Here to Get 50% OFF plus FREE shipping on Custom Canvas Prints from Easy Canvas Prints!

My Experience with Walgreens Brand Products

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Obviously, my blog is called Frugal But Not Cheap.  I will not spend money when it's not necessary (or don't REALLY want it), but I also have to make sure I'm always feeling great.  If I have the sniffles, I'm not going to sit at home waiting to feel better, I'm going to do something about it.  I also hate the feeling of spending more than I need to on top of feeling icky.  That's why I love Walgreens.  There's one right around the corner, a couple blocks away from where I live.  

Now, I could go and spend $10-12+ on Sudafed or Nyquil, but why do that when Walgreens has Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products?  They have them at practically half the price, most with the same exact ingredients.

If you live in Austin, you know how bad allergies can get.  Well, I remember a recent need for some serious allergy meds, which led me to purchasing Walgreens Wal-Phed PE Sinus & Allergy Tablets.  Remember how I said Sudafed can be around $10-12?  Well the Walgreens brand is only $4.99.  That is some serious savings, which you can use toward some Kleenex, chicken soup, and a nice Cosmo to make your sick day a little better.

Here are some more awesome things to note about Walgreens:

Purchase of every Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Product supports bringing preventive wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.  They are going to donate up to $3 million annually to the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.  I find this to be pretty amazing since we all know the world desperately needs more funding for health care.  For details, visit walgreens.com/waytowell.  

My whole point is, if you're going to buy some meds, why pay more for the exact same thing with a pretty label?  Check out Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products since A. you'll spend less money and B. you are helping a very worthy cause.  

One more thing!  Many bloggers are giving away some Walgreens Gift Cards here: giveaways!

Origins GinZing Product Review

This weekend I went on a bit of a shopping spree and stopped at Origins, my favorite skincare brand. I've lately been noticing some major puffiness under my eyes (see above photo, left eye), and decided to forgo my years of denial.  I needed to come to terms with the fact that I need eye cream.  Not only do I have puffy eyes, but I also have pretty dark circles as well.  At least I don't have wrinkles (yet!).

I told the sales associate about my issue, and immediately she pointed this out to me: Origins GinZing--Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff.  I also grabbed A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian, which is part of my daily regimen (moisturizer just isn't the same without it).

Now, I have been a long-term loyal customer of Origins, since I was about 11 or 12 years old.  I use Checks and Balances Face Wash, A Perfect World Skin Guardian, A Perfect World Moisturizer, Stay Tuned Foundation, Modern Friction Microdermabrasion, and much more where that came from.  Even though my trust for Origins is pretty hard to knock, I still get skeptical with eye creams.  My usual thought is "What difference could it possibly make?  It's only around your eyes?"  This is why I decided to write a review on GinZing.

I have to say I am extremely impressed with this product.  I put a very small amount under and around my eyelids, and I instantly felt a cooling sensation.  The next thing I noticed was that the cream has light-reflecting minerals which create an illusion of lighter "dark circles" and makes for an amazing primer for concealer.  However, the ultimate test was, does it depuff like I need it to?  The answer is absolutely yes.  I have already noticed that the puffiness has gone down quite a bit.  My rating for this product?

***** FIVE STARS! :)

Only $9.00 for Two Movie Tickets at Fandango!

Is one of your favorite pasttimes going to the movies?  Then you're going to love this awesome deal from LivingSocial.

Get Two Movie Tickets for $9 TODAY ONLY!  You won't regret it.  That's about 50% in savings.  You can't afford NOT to do this (unless you are a complete hermit and never go to the movies).  Think about it.


Click Here to Get Two Movie Tickets for Only $9!

Cash Only Update #2

We are now at May 11--about 1/3 the way through May.  And I am at $222.  I think I'm beginning to see how quickly money can slip through your fingers.  I took out $300 on Thursday, and am down $78 in less than a week.  And that's mostly from just going out to eat, so I don't have much to show for my money spending.  Let's see how long I can make it without reaching for the debit card.  Wish me luck!

Freschetta Simply Inspired Review & GIVEAWAY!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FRESCHETTA®. All opinions are 100% mine.
This week, I was given an awesome opportunity by the amazing people at FRESCHETTA® Simply…Inspired™.  My absolute favorite frozen pizza brand picked me to review their new line of pizzas called "Simply inspired."  Here's the funny part: I had already bought one a week before!  This gave me a chance to eat it twice, and enjoy it twice!
Freschetta Simply Inspired pizzas come in eight different flavors, but the one that stood out to me was their Harvest Supreme.  This one has Italian Sausage, black olives, spinach, sundried tomatoes, roasted red onions, mozzarella and feta cheese, with a red sauce & basil.  All of that on a crispy thin crust YUM!
So here's what I think:

• The first thing you notice is the packaging.  This is a completely new style: plastic box with a plastic airtight wrap.  No more gross cardboard box that doesn't fit in your trashcan.  This box just looks fresher and nicer.  It's actually why I picked it out when I bought the first pie.  Not only is this more visually appealing, it also uses 30% less packaging material AND locks in the freshness better.
• The next thing is the variety of veggies that you get on this pizza.  It's like going to a pizza restaurant, without paying $1.50 per topping.  And veggie pizzas are my favorite kind!  The price is great at being under $5 a pie
• Okay okay, so how does it taste?  Well, let's just say I was planning on eating half, and instead ate 5 out of the 6 slices I cut.  As embarrassing as that may be, it says a lot about how good it was.  VERY good.
• Overall? I loved it, and pretty much ate it all up (while watching Sex & the City and drinking half a bottle of wine!)

Here are some other flavors you may be interested in:

• Classic Bruschetta
• Hawaiian Style
• Chicken Bianco
• Farmers Market Veggie
• Rustic Pepporoni Pomodoro
• Southern BBQ Recipe Chicken
• Tuscan Farmhouse

With that ridiculous variety, you'll never get bored of pizza!  If you want to give it a try, Freschetta has a $2 off coupon on their Facebook, so make SURE you friend them!
**********************************************************************************

GIVEAWAY!!!

(ends May 31, using random.org, and must live in contiguous US)

And here's the part you're all waiting for...the GIVEAWAY!  I have one coupon for a FREE Freschetta pizza and a really FANCY bamboo cutting board courtesy Freschetta to give away to one of you awesome readers.  Here are the entry methods:

• MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow me on GFC

Extra Entries:

1. Follow Freschetta on Facebook
2. Comment with the pizza you would like to get if you won! 
3. Like FBNC on Facebook (or click "Like" on my sidebar)
4. Follow FBNC on Twitter

Gas Prices are Ridiculous

I'm sure it's no new concept that gas prices have been outrageous lately.  I just wanted to vent that I just spent over $50 to not even fill my entire gas tank...it was about 13 gallons while my Jeep has a 17 gallon tank.  It angers me that I can't even fill my gas tank with $50 of my hard-earned money.  There is no logical reason for this, especially since gas companies have been more profitable than ever lately.  Need proof?

This just makes me sick, and I don't see any sign of relief.  Oil is a necessity for the majority of people who need to get around, go to work, make a living...why aren't there any regulations on cost of oil?  Food stamps are provided to those who need food, why not the same for those who need gas to get to work so they can actually make the money they need to live?

JustFab! 50% Off First Purchase!

I just ran across a new awesome shoe website for frugalistas and recessionistas.  It's called Just Fabulous!

The idea behind this website is that you take a survey, pick your favorite styles, and the shoe "stylists" behind JustFabulous work to find shoes perfect for you.  And they are all only $39.95, with FREE SHIPPING!  And the best part of all is that on your first day, you get 50% off your first pair of shoes or handbag. 

I'm planning on getting a handbag today.  And it'll be less than $20--that's better than Target or Walmart!  What are you going to get?

Boot Camp!

I wanted to drift from my usual "frugal" schedule to talk about something I've been doing a lot lately.  On Monday April 25, I started going to boot camp.  Thanks to Groupon, I only paid $59 (when it is usually about $160/month) to join.  This particular boot camp is called Camp Gladiator, and is located in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Shreveport.  

I go Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 6:30-7:30AM.  I have to wake up at 5:45 instead of my usual 8:00.  That's not easy! And neither is Camp Gladiator.  Signature workouts include planks, Johnny-C's, burpees, squats, lunges, running, and more.  We also do a lot of buddy and team work which is great for motivation.  The image below is one of the games we've played, up-cone/down-cone.  One team tries to knock down all the cones, while the other picks them up.  You can see me below circled in red.

And here I am again, probably doing some kind of plank hold or pushup.  CG is kind enough to take pictures of us while we look our absolute worst, but I posted these for your enjoyment.  

Unfortunately, I had to miss CG last Wed and Fri due to an ankle-twisting incident, but I'm better now and am really happy to have gone back today.  I actually missed it, even though it kicks my butt every time.  I feel a lot better the rest of the day after working out.  Last week I actually felt kind of gross and lazy.  Only down side?  I am ravenously hungry on workout days.

I'm on week 3, and after 4 weeks I will report back on if I decide to continue paying for this.  I'm actually afraid for my frugal self that I may like it too much to quit!

Cash-Only May Challenge Update

So it's been about a week into May, and I altered my plan just a little bit.  I ended up not being able to hit up the ATM until yesterday, so until then I used my check card.  I spent about $70 on my check card ($40 of which went to Mother's Day present).  Then, I took out $300 yesterday in cash to start my cash-only challenge.

• I spent $11 on cupcakes (buy 1 get 4 free so I got 15 total and paid for 3)
• I spent $10 at Chuy's today for lunch (Seis de Mayo?)
• $5 on Mother's Day card

I also plan on going to a bar tonight, so my money may run away again.  Looks like I'm now down to $274 for the rest of the month.  Think I can do it?  I hope so!

The Cash-Only May Challenge

After hearing about the many benefits of paying with cash only, I decided that the month of May will be the opportunity for a new challenge.  On May 1, I am going to take out $400 in cash.  Anything I do in May such as eating out, entertainment, drinks, desserts, shopping, etc will come out of that cash.  When I'm done with it, I'm done with it.  That's it.

The reason this is so effective is the physical feeling of "losing" money when you pay in cash.  You have a set amount, and when you spend money, you can actually see your amount decreasing.  With debit/credit cards, it's very "out of sight out of mind."

This challenge will be similar to my No Spend Saveuary/January.  I am not completely eliminating extraneous spending, but I am definitely going to watch every penny so that I don't run out of that $400 before the month is up.

Why am I doing this?  I think it will train me to budget even more than I do now.  It will also allow me to save for things like my birthday in June, and my trip to Ireland in July.

Anyone else with me?

I Really Like this Quote

This quote sums up a lot of what my blog is about.

Being frugal means "you can have anything you want, but you can't have everything you want."  

I love this.  Because it goes perfectly with my blog.  I don't save money because I never want to spend it.  I save money by not buying things I don't need or genuinely want because I want to spend it on things I absolutely want.  I'm saving money by not buying those $100 jeans because I want to go on a vacation, not because I'm a cheap person.

I just purchased a Groupon this morning for $59 (orig $69 but I had a $10 credit) for 4 weeks of boot camp classes.  This is totally worth it to me, not because it was originally $160 and I'm saving 57% or whatever.  But because it's something I want to do to be healthier and happier.  I made the CHOICE to spend my money on that instead of something less valuable to me because I'm frugal...but not cheap!

FREE Bumper Sticker Giveaway!

Do you like BUMPER STICKERS?  BuildASign.com is giving away FREE bumper stickers!  All you have to do is share your custom design on Facebook and voila!  You get a bumper sticker 100% free!  No shipping, nothing.  Free, Free, Free!

 All you have to do is go to http://www.buildasign.com/bumperstickergiveaway and design your favorite sticker! Add it to your shopping cart, checkout, and you're done.  You don't even have to enter any credit card information!

25% Off at Old Navy Today!

Today only, you can get 25% off at Old Navy with the promo code ONSPRING.  Old Navy has a ton of inexpensive dresses right now too, so you can get some really great deals right now.

If you give this a little time, you can still get some discounts, but it's one of those "vanishing" promotions.  Today you get 25% off, 4/15 and 4/16 you can get 20%, and then 4/17 you get 15% off.  Obviously, you'll want to use this today!

Lean Cuisine Chicken Pot Stickers Review

I made a quick stop at HEB this evening and picked up a few new things to try out.  One of these was one of those new steam-in-the-bag Lean Cuisine Market Creations Chicken Pot Stickers.  First, I'm going to run down the nutrition facts so that you know what you're getting:

Calories               270
Fat                       6g
Fiber                    5g
Protein                11g
Sodium                750mg
Carbohydrates   42g

Weight Watchers PointsPlus 7   (for those of you on WW)

About the Market Creations
These meals are a bit different from the normal TV dinners we're all used to.  Instead of a plastic container, these come in a steaming bag.  It's single serve, for those of us who like to cook for one (me!!).  You have to use your own dish, but I actually prefer that as it improves the eating experience.

Maybe Add Something Extra?
Now, these are meant for dinner, and that's the meal that I ate them in.  I also ate a spring mix salad with shredded carrots, avocado, crab stick, and Annie's Goddess dressing.  I think that's totally fine, since neither part of the meal had too many calories.  With both this and the salad, I am definitely full.  I'm pretty sure I'd still be hungry with only the potstickers.  That's my only con to this frozen dinner.

So how does it taste?  
I have to say, this is definitely a new favorite of mine.  It's slightly more expensive than the other Lean Cuisine meals, but only by a few cents, and tastes a ton better.  The potstickers tasted like REAL potstickers.  It also had crunchy water chestnuts, edamame beans, green beans, red peppers, and carrots in a sweet chili ginger soy sauce.  The veggies tasted crunchy and fresh, not soggy and mushy like most frozen meal veggies do.

My Rating?  

My Secret Reward: Worth $50!

So I thought only the $10 rewards existed.  I have been proven wrong!  My mother sent me her Victoria's Secret Secret Reward Card (always worth at least $10) and I checked it out today on www.victoriassecret.com.  I was expecting a $10 card, just like almost every other one...but guess what?  Mine is worth $50!  I am so excited, and I know exactly what I'm going to get with it.  Unfortunately, $50 doesn't go TOO far at VS (it's worth about 1 bra or 10 pairs of underwear) but I am still excited.

I have been very lucky lately!  The other day I won free shoes from Keds.  Check out these sweet babies which should be coming soon:

Ready for a New Month

I don't know about you guys, but since I have a Mint.com account, I am always excited for a new month.  The month starts over, you can start fresh again, and stop looking at your "budget" that you clearly went over by way too much.

Now, probably the main cause of my guilt is the recent purchase I made--a new T-Mobile MyTouch 4G.  It was not cheap.  It was not frugal.  But I am so happy that I got it!  It is my first smartphone, and I couldn't be happier with a product.  It was a huge investment, and I feel like I am finally in the year 2011 (as opposed to like 2004 with my old stupidphone).

Now You Can Accept Credit Cards!

This device is going to change everything you know about money and getting paid.  Now, anyone can accept credit cards.  Do you run a very small business?  Do you sell things like crafts at shows or food at farmer's markets?  Or, do you just want a simple way for your buddy to pay you back that $5 she owes you?  SquareUp is your answer.  Just download the app, connect the device, and then people can pay you with the swipe of a credit card!

Get this SquareUp device for FREE by going to this website: https://squareup.com.  Just know that you'll be paying a 3% fee on all charges, just like most businesses.  So what are you waiting for?  Get one for free and test it out!

I just ordered mine.  I don't have a smartphone, but I should be getting one come April since I can renew my contract then.  So excited!!


Just got a smartphone--the MyTouch 4G--read about it in the blog post above ^^

I'll be updating with a new blog post and "review" once the Square comes in :D

Only $45 for a Custom Canvas Print!

Through Localiter.com, today/tomorrow ONLY, you can get a beautiful 16"x20" custom canvas print with the photo of your choice for only $45!  These canvases come from Easy Canvas Prints, are made on the highest quality canvas and with the highest quality inks available.  I highly highly highly recommend purchasing this, since the canvases are normally worth $98.  The $45 even includes FREE SHIPPING!

Localiter is founded in Austin, but anyone can use this group purchase deal!

Check out some blog posts of others who absolutely love Easy Canvas Prints:

A Place For Us Blog
Two Bears Farm
Funky Mama Bird
A Day in Motherhood
Ain't That Sherific?

Remember, to get this AWESOME deal from Easy Canvas Prints, click here to get your 16"x20" custom canvas print for only $45!!

My SXSW Adventure

This is going to be slightly off-topic, but I want to talk about my SXSW weekend.

It started on Thursday around noon, when A & I went to see our friends in Buxton and Robert Ellis play with Old 97's at The Belmont.  It went on for a good 5 hours or so, and everyone was amazing.  Buxton sounded awesome, and you should definitely check them out.  They recently got signed to the New West label and are currently touring with the Old 97s.

 Here is a photo of A and me sitting on the ledge at the Belmont.  

We were pretty darn close to the stage!

 Here is a photo of The Old 97s.  They did an awesome job, 

and of course played one of my favorite songs "Question" (Google it!).  

Then, it was on to Friday.  Around 2 PM, A and I ventured over to the Historic French Legation to check out their Lawn Party.  Artists included John Vanderslice (one of A's favorites) and Sean Lennon, John Lennon's son.  There were many more, but that's all we saw.  There was also plentiful free Izzes since they were sponsoring the event.

John Vanderslice had a great set.  His music is very calm, enjoyable, and 

well-written.  He's a very talented songwriter and producer as well.  

Saturday was a whole lot of craziness.  We started here (pic below), at Halcyon, a very well-known coffee shop in Austin, TX.  It's also a bar, as well as a humidor.  Their slogan is "Caffeine, Nicotine, Alcohol: All the vices under one roof.  I enjoyed a delicious egg/cheddar/ham panini and a latté here.  Yum!! 

After Halcyon, it was on to more sightseeing around Austin.  I considered myself a tourist in my own city.  We spent most of our time walking all around downtown, discovering new things, and getting a ton of SWAG.  One highlight of the weekend was going to the Austin Convention Center.  We picked up lots of swag, I found out about an amazing eyeglasses company called Tortoise & Blonde which I am absolutely ordering my next glasses from.  Then, there was an awesome Keds promo center where we entered a raffle and guess what...A won!  And is giving me the shoes to have for myself :)

The absolute highlight of the entire weekend was going to the PureVolume House.   We saw so many awesome bands, got endless free drinks, and FREE massages!

 Hands down best part: seeing James Vincent McMorrow singing

"If I Had A Boat" which is a favorite of mine.  He also said he'll be

at the Gallway Arts Festival when I'm in Ireland!

Also amazing: seeing Augustana live, a band I've loved since high school.

Unfortunately, they didn't sing my favorite song, but they sounded amazing.

All in all, I did a lot of things, saw a lot of bands, went a lot of places, and saw Austin in a whole new light.  Thank you to this wonderful city for giving me an awesome first SX experience.

20% Off First Purchase with BuyWithMe

Ever been to BuyWithMe.com?  It's just like all those other deal websites, only this one is offering an even sweeter deal.  You can get 20% off your first purchase to BuyWithMe using this promo code at checkout: 

47X32J

Make sure to click HERE to get to BuyWithMe.com.  


If you live in Austin, you can get a $115 massage for only $40 with the 20% discount. That's what I did!  Plus I had a $10 credit for signing up as well, so I only paid $30.  I am so excited to try the spa out!

New SmartyPig Account

Not too long ago, I set up a SmartyPig savings account.  This bank is a bit different from most, in that it's A. fun to use B. has a high yield % rate and C. concentrates on savings goals for the future.  You can choose to save up for things like a wedding, a home, a car, or even something like an iPad.  One of the really cool features is that you can refer friends and make $10 per friend, up to 100 friends.  I referred my friend to it since she had been asking me where to save, and I suggested it.  And guess what?  I made $10 off that toward my goal!

Now, I have several different bank accounts.  I have a checking and a Way2Save at Wachovia, a checking and a savings account at Chase, and now a SmartyPig account!  My Way2Save is my backup savings that I can quickly get to.  I have about $900 in there, but I'm saving that for a trip to Ireland in July.  My goal with the SmartyPig is to save up $1000 as a legit emergency fund.  I want something that I can't touch, in case something bad happens.  I want to pretend like it doesn't exist.  I want to save $1000 in one year, and am doing so by contributing about $80/month to it.

Check out the little gadget on my sidebar to the right.  It's actually in case people want to "contribute" to my fund.  Now, I don't expect anyone reading this to do so...but hey I won't stop you either haha!

Dry Cleaning is Not Frugal or Cheap

Want to know what's NOT frugal OR cheap?  Dry cleaning.  I shiver when I hear those two words.  I haven't done it in at least a year, but I had a pile of professional clothes (which I don't have to wear to work) building up in my closet.  I also had a couple dresses that can't be thrown in the washer unfortunately.  I've just been dreading it and dreading it for a long time.

Today was the day (okay, so Monday was the day but who's counting) that I took the pile to the dry cleaners.  I gave them 7 pieces to launder, and 3 pieces to dry clean.  Guess what the total came to?  About FIFTY DOLLARS!  $50 for 10 pieces of clothing.  I could have gotten a new outfit at Forever 21 for that amount of money!

Now, if you just launder clothing, it's about $2.50 a pop.  Not so bad.  But those 3 dry clean items will get you--$11.50 each!!  I was in shock.  What are they doing, gluing diamonds on my dresses?

I'm considering buying this little *gem* over to the left called Dryel.  At-Home Dry Cleaning Start Kit.  Now THAT'S what I need to keep my pretty clothes clean, and my wallet full.

Has anyone else used Dryel before and have any advice?  Is it good?  Bad?  Let me know!