A Few Graduation Photos

First of all, here is my cute leopard print dress for all of you frugalites.  It was $7 and the belt was $4.

Have I mentioned before that my mom laughs at me when I take pictures of my outfits in the mirror?

Before the ceremony in the ultra-flattering robe and tam.

And after being hooded and receiving my degree.  I'm done!!!

In Case You're Having Trouble...

http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com

I've Moved...

So come on over.

It's Coming...

The new blog transition is almost complete.  Bear with me over the next few days (making a copy of my blog is harder than I thought/have the attention span for).  Very soon it will be up and running with new, regular posts! 

Fractured Christmas Fun

About a week before Christmas Eve, I woke up with some foot pain.  I ignored it, because that's how I roll.  One week later, I ran to my house because it was cold outside and I noticed that my foot was hurting more.  I decided to go to bed early, because I love sleeping and believe in its magical healing powers.  I woke up at 3:30 am on the morning before Christmas Eve with horrible throbbing pain.  Pain so bad that it made me cry, which is unusual for me.  I figured that I had fractured it, so after consulting with my insurance book (yay managed care!) I found that it would be cheaper for me to go to the ER to get an x-ray than for me to go to urgent care.  So I went to the ER at 4:30 am and got x-rayed.  The ER doc couldn't see anything on the x-ray, but he gave me crutches and told me to stay off of it until I could visit a podiatrist.

The hospital is out of my network (again, yay managed care), so I had to find my own podiatrist referral.  By the grace of God she was able to get me in the next day, on Christmas Eve.  She did an exam (ow) and took more x-rays and found a fracture.  I have a fractured tibial sessamoid bone, which according to my good friend the internets apparently never heals well if at all.  Things are bleak, my friends.  I have to stay off the stupid thing for six weeks.  I am doing well at this about 75% of the time.  At work and for longer distances I use a scooter thing since crutches are painful.  I still use the crutches as needed, though.  I can only drive very short distances and that still hurts a bit.  I am definitely discouraged about the prognosis, but I am taking a bunch of vitamin C and will also start calcium this week in an effort to speed up my healing.

Did I mention that this is my very first broken bone?  Pretty crazy considering that I fall down all the time...

Changes Ahead!

There will be big changes coming to this blog in the next couple of months.  I plan to completely relaunch in a big way and, you know, actually have regular posts.  Keep watching...

New to Me Shopping Portal: Cashbaq

Every time that I shop online, I try to use a shopping portal such as Ebates, Lucky Mag Rewards, or even My Points to get a percentage of my purchase back.  I recently signed up for Cashbaq because you can essentially get the Entertainment Book for free if you shop through them.

I like the Entertainment Book but can't justify its price tag.  For free, though, I can definitely use it enough to justify that purchase!  Right now most of the Entertainment Books are going for $15 shipped.  Through Cashbaq, you get a $5 bonus for signing up PLUS a $10 rebate for buying the Entertainment Book...so it is basically FREE!  I won't get the check until March, but the money is already sitting in my account.  And I will use Cashbaq instead of Ebates in the future if I can get a higher percentage back.  

Here's my referral link if you want to give it a try, but you certainly don't need to use that to sign up.

Amazon Shoe Sale!!!!!

There are a TON of great deals to be had on women's shoes at Amazon right now.  Check out the link here.  So far I'm abstaining.  Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf...

Check Out Money-Saving Mom...

She has a post on how to get a free Amazing Grace dvd here.

What .72 Can Buy You

$6 Footstool

Perfect for my bedroom!

When Bad Things Happen to Good Coupons

My coupons are completely out of control and have been for months.  :(  It makes it very difficult to find specific coupons.  Don't let this happen to you!!!!!

Have Yourself a Frugal Little Christmas

It's that time again.  I know that many people are on a very strict budget this year, but that doesn't mean that you can't give nice gifts for very little money.  Here are some tips on how to do it:

1) Cash in those rewards points!  I cashed in my MyPoints rewards and the rewards points from my credit card for Amazon gift certificates that I will use to shop for people on my list.  In previous years I also cashed in those points for gift cards that I gave as gifts.

2) Use rebate money as shopping money.  I'll be getting a $30+ check from Ebates soon, and I may just use that money for Christmas shopping.  If you saved your rebate money all year long, you could probably accumulate quite a bit.  

3) Use high dollar coupons.  When you get those $10 off any purchase coupons, use them for gifts.  Also remember that Walgreens has lots of gift-y items right now and they frequently put out $5/$20 purchase coupons.

4) Cash in your change jar at a Coinstar machine.  You can get gift certificates from it with no service charge.  Right now they are also offering a promo where you cash in $40 of change and you can get $10 in additional gift certificates by mail.

5) Use gift cards that you have received.  I won a $10 gift card to a gas station at my company's health fair.  That will be perfect for adding automotive things to a gift basket that I am creating.

6) Keep an eye out for free photo gifts.  Nearly all of the online photo companies will offer free photo gifts this time of year- you just have to pay shipping.  When I bought a digital camera, I also received a coupon for several free photo gifts.  I just ordered them today and will use as Christmas gifts.

7) Keep an eye out for deals.  They are EVERYWHERE right now, both online and in-store.  Victoria's Secret is offering their body lotions and sprays 8/$35 right now.  There is also a coupon online that you can print and get a free scrub as well.  9/$35 is a great deal and would make good small gifts.

8) Don't forget dollar stores.  They have some things in stock that may surprise you and would be appropriate for gifts.

9) Give used.  In my family, it is perfectly acceptable to give used DVDs and books that are in good condition.  If you can find it on Paperback Swap, even better!

This season, try to think outside the (ridiculously-priced) box.  Remember that one day is not worth sacrificing your finances.

Great Deal on HP Ink!

There is a great deal on HP t