Henry Link Furniture Photos

Please excuse the terrible photos- these pictures do not do justice to how beautiful this furniture is! I have all of the above pieces + one more nightstand and a standing mirror. I'll try to take better pictures soon in the daylight.

This is all vintage late 1950s/early 1960s Henry Link furniture. It's HEAVY wood with dove tailed corners and the Henry Link name is etched inside some of the drawers. It is all an antique white color with gold trim. The coolest thing about it is that it came with the original catalog and sales receipt! As a person that loves old things much better than new things, it is a dream to find so many pieces in perfect condition. I visited this set in an antique store several times over the course of two months in deciding whether to buy it. I was able to negotiate about 20% off the price, but it still wasn't frugal!!!!! :D

Menu Plan

Banana bread and banana/chocolate chip bread.

I have really fallen off the bandwagon lately when it comes to food. I have been neglecting meal planning and eating out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. So here I go again.

Meals this week:

Breakfast- 1/2 bagel with natural peanut butter and organic skim milk (I have this every day)

Lunches/Dinners- Baked Mexican chicken casserole (already made), crockpot pizza, burritos, cereal, and I have a few single portions from previous meals frozen if I get bored or need other options (chicken carbonara, spinach enchiladas)

Fruit/Veggies- green beans, carrots, oranges, bananas

Dessert- chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (already made)

Passed!

I passed my dissertation defense!! I do have to add in a few more paragraphs to clarify some info, but the worst is behind me. I was SO nervous all of last week. Normally I get "good" nervous before presentations- the kind that helps you perform well. But last week I was "bad" nervous- the kind that makes your mind go blank and/or makes you vomit. Thankfully, none of those things happened. ;)

When I complete my internship at the end of August, I will officially be Dr. Tessa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recent Free Stuff

* Did anyone else use that great Target coupon that was $5 any 3 Band-Aids (also some other brands like Stayfree, etc.)? I automatically read the fine print on any such coupon to see if I can get something for free. Sure enough, if I could find Band-Aids cheap enough I could get 3 boxes for free. And I did. Which is a really good thing because I was almost out of Band-Aids and I am, shall we say, accident prone. I tend to cut myself frequently on things like scissors, razors, and cheese graters. True story.

* Also, a few years ago I signed up while at Goodwill for their birthday club. For the past three years they have sent me a $5 off any purchase coupon, which I used to get some free (new in package) wrapping paper.

Big News

This Friday I will defend my doctoral dissertation. I really hope it goes well. :D

$5 Skirt

I recently had a $10 off any purchase coupon for taking a survey for Van Heusen, which is a good thing because suddenly all of my clothes are falling off of me. I scoped out the store with the intention of getting something for free but they weren't having any super duper sales. In the back I found this skirt marked down to $14.99 from something like $36. I tried it on and loved it, so I got it for $5.12 after tax. I also tried on this really fabulous dress that looked vintage-y but would've still been $40 after coupon. And it was a black and white print and I don't need another black and white dress. Luckily my cheapskate side won out and I left it on the rack.

This ramble brought to you by Tessa's Ramblings. All rambles, all the time.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!

Well, the move was successful although I still have a little bit of stuff that I need to move over from the apartment. I am now in a town house/duplex and it is FABULOUS. It is more rent than I was paying but it is worth every stinkin' penny.

I am still unpacking and cleaning, so pictures will have to wait. In exciting purchase news, I bought most of a vintage Henry Link bedroom set. I had intended to put it in my spare bedroom but then decided that I wanted it for myself. Pictures of that are forthcoming!

Moving...

I'm in the process of moving and posting will be spotty over the next week or so. I will return with lots of pictures and new posts!

What I Did With the $10/$30 WG Coupon

Last Friday Walgreens had a one day $10 off any $30 purchase coupon. June's free after rebate (FAR) items also happened to start that day. I had several scenarios in mind, but WG was out of stock on some items that I wanted to get. Here's what I wound up getting with the coupon:

* Water filter cartridge 6.99 (FAR)
* Ecotrin 2.00 (FAR)
* WG Calcium 5.99 (FAR)
* WG Glucoshot 1.99 (FAR)
* Excedrin 1.99 x 2 = 3.98
* Theragran vitamins 4.99 (FAR)
* Quilted Northern TP 4.00 x 2 = 8.00

Subtotal: 33.94
-10.00 WG coupon
-6.00 Manufacturer's coupons
______________
17.94
+ 1.30 tax
______________
$19.24 Which I put on a WG giftcard, of course. AND I will get $24.15 back in rebates.

Let me recap: I spent $19.24 and will get $24.15 back. And I didn't technically even *spend* the $19.24 since I used a WG giftcard.

This is why I love Walgreens.

Raking in the Freebies- Birthday Style

As my 26th birthday rapidly approaches (June 4th), I'm finding that my inbox is filling up with freebie offers. Yay! Last year, I went to the Slickdeals freebie forum and signed up for several offers on their birthday freebie list. I'm only planning on using those that are completely free, not those that require that I buy something else (I'm looking at you, Dairy Queen and Fuddruckers!!!). Here are some of the deals that I have received so far:
* Free Love It size Signature Creation at Coldstone Creamery
* Free Bath & Shower Bubbles at Sephora
* $5 off a meal at McAlister's
* Free Gourmet Burger from Red Robin

I've also received a $15 off any purchase coupon from Banana Republic (I have a store card) and was told that I should receive a similar offer from Brooks Brothers since I have a store card there, too.

Action Shots for the Ivy Fans

Perched on her favorite spot by the window:
Yawning:

Snooping while I am trying to stage a cereal photo shoot:

Coupon Myths Article

If you're new to couponing or are thinking about starting, read this article.

How to Do a Stupid Budget

If you're reading this blog, it's probably because you like saving money (or because you're one of my family members. One of the two.). I hate to break it to you, but a budget is CRUCIAL to saving money. I know, I know, I hate them, too. This will never be the most exciting thing that you do, but it may be the most important thing for your financial life. Money has a way of slipping through your fingers when each dollar does not have an assigned purpose. Here's a very painless way to start budgeting:

1) Write a budget every month- do not try to make one budget for a whole year. Some of your expenses are fixed and won't change from month to month (rent, insurance, etc.) but many things will change monthly. For example, in May I had to get an oil change and in June I will get a haircut. In June I will also need to have extra in the budget to get my dissertation bound. These are not fixed expenses, and if I used a yearly budget I would not have the money available.

2) Go grab your checkbook. You will use this to determine what your budget categories are and to take an average of what you spent in each category last year. Some suggested categories are housing, grocery, restaurant, entertainment, insurance, auto, clothing, medical, pet needs, gifts, savings/investments, miscellaneous, and debt. You will probably have more categories as you figure out where your funds go.

3) Use the IRS Withholding Calculator to determine what your tax responsibility will be.

4) Use an online budget calculator to give you a place to start. I like the Crown Financial calculator.

5) Print off your budget and tweak the categories and percentages until they work for you. Every dollar needs to have a "home" that it goes to. If you have extra money, it needs to go to your debt or to savings.

6) Decide if you want to use cash or if you're okay using checks. Cash is easier since you can put the assigned amount in an envelope and you can easily tell how much remains in that category. If you are diligent, checks/debit card can work for you as long as you carefully note how much is going out from each category.

7) Evaluate the budget at the end of the month. What worked and what did not? Keep these things in mind as you write your budget for the next month.

I admit that I have never been great at following a strict budget. I am determined to change this as I prepare to pay down my student loan debt. I don't want money being frittered away when it could go to my good friend Sallie Mae. Or to her cousin Citibank.

Donna Freedman

Lately I have really been enjoying the writings of Donna Freedman over at MSN Money. I remember a while back when they profiled her very frugal living, and I recently found that she had been hired to write. If you have time, check it out.

Freebie: Nature Made Vitamins Samples

The very wonderful Lisa, who works for Nature Made, emailed me to give me a heads up about this freebie. You can request a fourteen day supply of your favorite liquid softgel vitamin here.

Here's my Nature Made plug:
I have an unholy love for Nature Made vitamins. This is because I can purchase them at a buy-one-get-one free sale at (surprise!) Walgreens AND use coupons AND "bank" wellness rewards points. Those points add up and then they send you great $5 or $7 coupons in the mail. This means I get vitamins for very cheap.

Thanks, Lisa!

Cereal Coming Out of My Ears

I went to Wal-Mart last Friday and got this stuff free after internet coupon (nosy cat not included). The Scrubbing Bubbles was a manufacturer's rebate, though, which I have already sent in. I also got Silk Soymilk for .75 per carton. After that, I went to Walgreens and bought four more boxes of cereal for .50 each after coupons and Register Rewards. Guess what I'll be eating for a while?

How to Make Your Cashier Like You (or at least not run away screaming)

If you have used coupons for any length of time, you will know that cashiers generally do not like you. We can potentially cause a lot of extra work for them, and sometimes they think you're trying to do something illegal. I have heard all sorts of horror stories on the web about cashiers and coupons, but I have had generally good experiences. Here is what I do to make it easier on both of us.

1) Shop slowly. Make sure that you select the correct item for the coupon that you're trying to use. This is not the time to rush through the store.
2) Carefully select your cashier. If you're at Wal-Mart or Target, you probably have a bunch to choose from. If you're at Walgreens, not so much (at WG, check out at the makeup counter if possible). Look for someone who appears pleasant, not too tired, and fairly competent. If
3) Approach with pleasant-ness. I'm going to be honest here- I'm a pretty happy person and it shows (as a reference, I generally don't make people want to vomit, but they do sometimes laugh at my optimism). Because of this, it is much easier for me to make nice with people since it is genuine. However, large stores with bunches of people make me cranky, so even I have to fake it sometimes. Greet your cashier very happily and tell them immediately that you have coupons. Ask them where they want you to place the coupons and do so. Gently remind them when they try to "forget" to enter them in.
4) Use your coupons properly. Don't try to pull a fast one. Comply with store and manufacturer's policies, and never do something like copy coupons or try to slip the wrong product or an expired coupon past a cashier. If you do, you make all of us look bad and make it that much harder for couponers to be seen as legit. You also can be banned from stores.
5) Be polite but firm. If you're using your coupons legally and within the limits of the store's coupon policy, then request a manager. It helps to carry a copy of the store's coupon policy with you. You can email Target and get their policy, and Wal-Mart has their coupon policy here. Once I had a cashier at Target tell me something that I knew wasn't true and I politely but firmly corrected her. She didn't like it, but she did honor the policy.
6) Recognize the great cashiers! Take the time to tell their managers how easy they made your life. The cashiers that enjoy talking to me and don't mind my coupon use (or even look forward to it!) have my devotion for life.

Happy couponing!

Earning Free Gift Cards

Have you heard of My Points? I've been a member for a couple of years now and have earned multiple gift cards. All you have to do is just click on a website link in their emails and you will earn 5 points. You can try their offers or use them as a shopping portal and earn points, too, but I think the best/easiest way is to just click on the email links and earn 5 points each.

If you do want to try their offers and such, I'd recommend getting an additional email address as they will submit your email address to the company that is offering the deal. If you plan to just click on the 5 points links, then it's safe to use your primary email address. I've been a member for 2+ years and have yet to see an increase in spam.

Right now I have 3,410 points. I normally save up enough points for a $10 gift card, get impatient, and cash them in. This time I'm saving up to see how long I can go before going crazy. ;) This takes at most one minute out of each day. Go earn some FREE gift cards!