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!

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!!

HEB Almond Milk Review (Chocolate Edition)

I went to HEB yesterday (the best, cheapest grocery stores in Texas), and once again they had the deal for $1.00 off HEB brand Almond Milk.  I was running low on the Original flavor, and decided I needed more for my daily cereal breakfasts.  Then, I remembered that I wanted to try the Chocolate flavor too.  I figured, why not?  They would only be about $1.50 each, so $3.00 for it all.

When I got home, I was already excited to try it out (which is how I usually am about new groceries that I try).  I poured myself a little cup and was very pleased.  No, it does not taste exactly like Promised Land or Horizon chocolate milk (nor should it, since that probably has 250+ calories per cup).  However, it's still very delicious.  I ended up drinking a cup for dessert after dinner.  It's rich, thick, creamy, and sweet.  It's very different tasting from the original flavor, as the chocolate masks the "almondy" taste.

Once again, I recommend trying this if you don't have a fear of dairy substitutes.

Free Redbox Rental Tonight

Go to your local Redbox kiosk and enter codes BEMINE & FEB7MOVIE to get a free one night rental with each code (today only 2/7)!

You must return it by 9:00pm tomorrow to avoid the $1 rental fee!

Make tonight movie night with Redbox!  I'm probably going to take advantage of this!

40% Off All CVS Brand Products Online Only

For 3 days, you can get 40% off all CVS/pharmacy brand products, but you have to purchase them online.  This is a great time to stock up on OTC meds, makeup remover, hand santizer, or whatever pharmacy products you need.  Click here to get to the sale!

$5 Albums on Amazon.com

Amazon.com has a great selection of $5 Albums available as MP3s to download to your computer or iPod. This is the only way I buy albums anymore; their prices are almost always better than iTunes.


I just bought Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album.  I'd been wanting it for a while, but now's the chance to get it half the original price!


Here are some popular ones to choose from:

True Grit Soundtrack

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes

The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood

The Everglow by Mae (an absolutely FAVORITE of mine...one of my favorite albums ever)

Heavier Things by John Mayer

Treats by Sleigh Bells

No Spend Saveuary is Over

January for me was called "No Spend Saveuary" since I planned to do my best not to spend money on frivolous things like shopping, restaurants, bars, entertainment etc.  I wanted to focus all my spending on fixed expenses, since I have a ridiculous medical bill hanging over my head.  I'm also trying to save money in my emergency funds.  So what was my spending breakdown?

Outside of fixed expenses, I spent:

• Shopping--$128 ($60 toward my party dress for the wedding, $50 toward new sheets, $15 toward donating to my friends' band The Eastern Sea)
• Restaurants & Bars--$140 (this includes an expensive bottle of wine and new years)
• Entertainment--$0

That is according to Mint.com.  There were probably a few expenses here and there with cash, but those are harder to keep track of.  I also want to mention that I spent about $50 more on groceries than I usually do, to compensate for not eating out.

All in all, I didn't completely cut out discretionary spending, that would be impossible and not to mention embarrassing.  When people want to go out and get food or drinks, I hate turning it down for budget reasons.  Instead, I just choose the cheap things on the menu and avoid getting drinks.

I am actually going to try to start over in February, which should be easier since it's a shorter month.

$5 Off First Deal on Eversave

Have you heard of Eversave?  They feature 50%-90% off on restaurants, 

spas, local activities and online deals. It is free to get their email,
and for each new friend you refer you can earn $10 in Save Rewards to
use towards great deals.

Click the link to sign up for the Eversave daily newsletter:
Sign up for Eversave and get $5 off your first deal

$3 Off Schick Quattro Trimstyle

Go to Schick's Facebook and click "Like" to receive a $3 coupon towards the Schick Quattro Trimstyle.  I've never tried the Trimstyle, so I'm very excited about this!  I'm a big Schick Quattro fan, it's the only razor I'll use.  This will be twice as awesome since it has a bikini trimmer as well.

How to Dress Frugally

Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't look cute!  First of all, I did break my "no shopping" rule on this dress, but only because it's a necessity.  I have a wedding coming up in March, and I wanted to get the buying of the dress out of the way.  It's also the first wedding I'll have gone to since I was a little girl!  So I'm pretty excited to get all dressed up.  Anyways...

Here is the breakdown of my entire outfit:

• Dress: $30 on sale at Francesca's boutique
• Bracelet: $12 at Francesca's
• Necklace (that little pearl at the neckline, very tiny): $14 at Francesca's
• Shoes: $35 from boutique that I've had for several years
• Purse: $?? from my High School Prom!! 

So what are lessons to be learned from this?

• You can buy an entirely new outfit for less than $60
• Learn to go "shopping" in your own closet--that's how I found the old purse and shoes!
• Shop at small boutiques instead of department stores--the sale racks have higher quality clothes than you'll find at dept stores
• I went to several different stores before I got this find; don't get frustrated if you can't find it immediately.  This is why you must shop further in advance

Benefits of No-Spend Saveuary

• A liberating feeling to know that you don't HAVE to spend money all the time
• Looking at your Mint.com spending summary and not getting depressed
• More money in your bank account!
• Inspiring others to join my challenge
• Having something important to write about in my blog
• Creating better spending habits for the future (like any diet, this one has a "cleanse")
• More flexibility to pay off debts faster
• Builds character (really!)

Update on NO SPEND SAVE-UARY

On January 3rd I declared this month NO SPEND JANUARY SAVE-UARY.  This means, no spending money on anything I don't actually need, or that is not a bill/required expense.  So far, the only things I've bought with my disposable income in January (we're not including New Years, people) are $8 on Firehouse Subs (pre-NO SPEND JANUARY  SAVE-UARY plan) and a footlong Subway that I split into two meals.  Thats only $3 a meal!

It's only been about a week into January, and it's a little hard but it's a good feeling.  It feels like a diet cleanse, where you go without eating carbs or fat or sugar...or solid food altogether... for a certain amount of time.  Only this is money, not food.  It's refreshing to know I don't HAVE to spend money every day to entertain myself or enjoy life.

If anyone else wants to try this with me, let me know!  We can inspire/support each other!

Frugal, But NOT Cheap!

Here it goes: my first blog post.  I wanted to title this blog “Life After College,” but it was taken.  I also wanted to title it “Jesus Saves, I Use Coupons,” but I thought that might be a little offensive.  So, the best way to describe myself right now is the current name of my blog: Frugal, but NOT Cheap!

Here is the gratuitous introduction: I am a recent graduate from the University of Texas (class of May 2010), and currently employed at BuildASign.com.  I work in SEO marketing, and I love it.  BAS has been ranked as one of the best places to work in Austin several years in a row.  It’s no surprise, as the people there are awesome, it’s growing every day (in September we hired 15+ people, including little ol’ me!), and other goodies like breakfast tacos and free Thursday lunches.

But enough about my job.   On to the important shtuff.  Like what my blog is about.

I’ve been browsing “frugal” blogs, “cheap” blogs, “coupon” blogs, and all kinds of money-saving sites.  I feel like it’s hard to find any that relate to a recently post-grad, single, full-time employed young woman.  Most of the bloggers out there are SAHMs (stay-at-home-moms, for those not in “the know”), or…well that’s about it.  It’s about time a 22-year old without kiddos talked about frugality.  Because yes, it is hard to raise an entire family frugally, but it’s also hard to support oneself when all your friends want you to go out and get drinks, get dinner, go to shows, celebrate birthdays, and look cute while doing it–on top of all the other expenses that life throws at you.

I know it sounds selfish, SAHMs, but that’s what your early 20′s are about!

So, what is my main financial goal right now?  To be FRUGAL, but NOT CHEAP!  This means that I am trying to enjoy life while being smart about it.  I am trying to save as much as I can for a rainy day and pay off my debt (mostly just my student loan). However, I won’t turn down every opportunity to be social just because money is involved.  Yes, I will buy a bottle a wine and some cheese now and then.  Yes, I will see shows and concerts with my friends.  Yes, I will buy that cute dress if it is calling my name (and is a good price)!

I am going to blog about my experiences, ways that I’ve been saving money (and spending it intelligently), random product reviews like wine, movies, cheap food, and other enjoyables.  I also may follow suit and post random coupons & freebies to make readers want to read my blog!

Enjoy!