Break

Will be on a bit of a break this week as I wrap some things up with internship/work. I'm going on vacation next week at work and will post then!

The Winner!

Congratulations to Chris from St. Mary's! You are the new owner of Millionaire Women Next Door. Here's the winning comment:

"I'm new to personal finance and everything I've read has been online. I don't have a favorite personal finance book because I've never read any. I've tried getting TMMO through local library, but don't want to wait forever to get to the top of the hold list. I'd like Millionaire Women Next Door to be my first."

Thanks to all for entering! I was surprised that so many said they'd never read any personal finance books. In the future I will talk more about some of my favorites.

Chris, email me at thefrugalshrink AT yahoo DOT com with your name and address and I'll get this sent out to you.

For Those With Foot Issues

The expensive-but-very-comfortable-and-well-made Born brand of shoes is on sale for $30 per pair at 6pm (the shoe store, not the time). This is no $10 sale, but it is a good price for Born and those suckers will last you for years. Their boots are even on sale for $30, and they normally cost $180 and up. Worth checking out for those with problematic feet.

Book Review and Giveaway: Millionaire Women Next Door

I really learned from Stanley & Danko's book The Millionaire Next Door, so when I saw this book for cheap I grabbed it. Like The Millionaire Next Door, there are definitely dry patches that you can easily skip over. However, there was still much to be gleaned.

What I learned:

1) Millionaire women have very clear goals (daily, weekly, monthly, annual, lifetime). They are more likely than their male counterparts to have these clearly defined goals.

2) Millionaire women largely have parents that set them up to succeed. Most millionaire women (not all) had parents that exhibited the following values/traits: empathy, leadership, happiness, independence, and responsiveness. These parents taught their daughters how to get along well with others, how to lead, how to be happy with where they are, how to be independent, and how to respond well to others.

3) Millionaire women began earning money at an early age. Most of these women were not the products of well-to-do parents, and their entrepreneurial spirit was evident early on.

4) Millionaire women are givers. They give a great deal to church and charity. Sometimes they give too much to family and enable their children to become economically dependent on them.

5) Millionaire women are self-employed. Sometimes they are engaged in unusual businesses. They see a need and figure out how to fill it and fill it well. Top earning careers for these women are management and consulting.

As with all of the Millionaire books, I think the most interesting part are the individual case studies. It's pretty interesting to see why people become what they become.

Want your own copy? I snagged an extra off of Paperback Swap to give to one of my readers. Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite personal finance book is and you will be entered into this giveaway. I'll draw a winner on Friday. Open to all in the U.S.

So I'm Really Going to Graduate

Today I picked up a belated birthday gift from one of my friends. It is a beautiful red leather portfolio, and on the front there is a plate that she had engraved with "Dr. Mylastname." Looking at that engraved plate is the strangest experience for me. Even though I have written "Dr. Mylastname" about a thousand times before just to see how it would look. ;)

Also today I picked up some white 100% cotton bond paper for free at Staples (used my rewards certificate) to print my dissertation on. I've had to make a few minor changes following the defense, but it looks like I will be ready to print and turn in the required copies in the next week or so.

Both of these incidences were very clear reminders that I am getting ready to graduate with my doctorate. This is not something that my brain has accepted yet. I will be done with my internship at the end of August and will officially have the doctorate September 1st, although my graduation ceremony isn't until October. I have been focused on this goal since I was 17 and I have just been running as fast and as hard as I can since that time trying to get to where I am now.

Now here I am at the finish line, and I don't quite know what to do with myself. It's definitely a happy thing, but something that is going to take some time for me to wrap my head around.

Bulk Food Stores

I love bulk food stores! There is a new-ish bulk food store in my hometown that I recently visited for the first time. There were tons of great deals, but I limited myself to just a few things. I picked up some powdered milk, natural peanut butter, carob chips, lentils, and chocolate covered pretzels (for the ride home ;) ). If I were more organized, I would preplan out a month's worth of menus and do more shopping in bulk. Unfortunately I will have to make do with the little organization that I currently manage.

I Have Plans...

...and they will probably go horribly, horribly wrong. Much like the Great Tomato-Plant Murders of 2007. But I have to keep trying, right?

Deal Alert: $9.99 Shoes at ShoeTrader

ShoeTrader has a bunch of shoes on sale right now for $9.99 with free shipping and free returns. Use code 943706 if the prices don't show up correctly in your cart. There is no good way to sort the items, so be prepared to be frustrated. However, if you have the patience there are some cute things in the midst of some frankly hideous stuff.

I'm trying to stop buying unreasonably tall and/or uncomfortable shoes due to joint problems. I've been getting rid of my unreasonable shoes but let me tell you it is no easy task to find cute low-heeled shoes!!

Here's what I bought:


Green linen sling back sandals- originally $35:


Sofft (love this brand for comfort!) leather sandals- originally $70:

Black leather sandals- originally $60:

Boring but functional leather loafers in tan and black- originally $40 each:

Original total: $245

Paid: $50 shipped

Not bad.

Vintage Purse

I found this cute little vintage purse at a flea market last weekend. It's in great shape and was $7. Look at how the clasp is on the handle- I've not seen that before. The print lining and inner metal zipper are also indicators of its age. And how cute is that lining!

The New Staples Ink Rewards Program: I Like You Better. I Think.

I have been quiet about my beloved Staples lately since they have taken away nearly every perk that kept me shopping there. They even changed their ink recycling policy, and I wasn't sure that I even understood it. So I waited to report back.

And I'm pretty sure I like it better than before! Basically, you can take in three ink cartridges (Dell, HP, or Lexmark) per day and they will periodically mail you one coupon for all of the ink cartridges that you've redeemed. I like it better because I could potentially save up and have quite a large coupon to spend at one time.

The downside is that I'm not frequently near a Staples store anymore, so I will have to carefully plan on recycling cartridges when I'm in the area. I have been saving ink cartridges in the trunk of my car until I could be sure that I wanted to continue with the Staples program, so I guess it's time to start recycling!

Library Book Store Guilt

I love, love, love the library book store in my tiny hometown. Rather than having a yearly or twice yearly sale, the "friends of the library" open up this little book store one day a week for a few hours. I go once every month or two and buy a bunch. Because I love hearing my friends and family complain about having to lift 52,341 heavy boxes of books every time that I move.

Anyhoo, prices are cheap. The lady working at the store (incidentally, she was my first-grade teacher) tried to charge me $4 for this stack. "How about $5?" I asked, feeling guilty for spending so little and getting so much. Then I just gave her a ten and told her to keep it. I am terrified that they will close this place down, so I try to donate something extra every time that I'm there. Also, I seem to be the kiss of death for stores. If I love it, it will close.

So I say keep the change as long as you keep your doors open and let me feed my addiction.

Recent Cheapie Clothes Buys

I have been finding a lot of good clothing deals lately. Here's some of my recent purchases!


Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker suit- $8.98 per piece at Steve & Barry's. I was in need of a suit since I've lost weight and none of mine fit me right now. It's even a wool blend! Jacket is lined but skirt isn't- it definitely needs a slip underneath.



Banana Republic jacket- originally $148. Was $27.xx on sale and I had a $15 off coupon. Paid about $13. Did I tell you guys that I am going to be presenting at a national conference in November? Whoo hoo! So this is a legitimate purchase for that occasion. Ahem.

Rue 21 short-sleeved jacket- $5. This store has great clearance- I don't ever pay more than $5 here. Their stuff is not wonderfully made, but you will definitely get your $2-$5 out of it. I recently also got a cute red button-down shirt for $5. Their jewelry clearance is $3 and less.

Cato skirt- $5. It's fully lined!

Express skirt- originally $69.50, paid about $7. It has pockets! I *love* pockets on dresses and skirts!

Cato shoes- paid $4. I don't buy a lot of cheapie shoes, but these were too cute to pass up!

And the winner is...

Beachnerd! Here is her winning entry:

Wow Dr. Tessa, this is a generous offer! I was flying home from a business conference and tried a friend's ipod. I declared right then and there that I want one for my birthday. Ok: I'm frugal when I make homemade pizza or salads for dinner and then use our bogo Dairy Queen coupons after seeing the free big band music on the weekends for our "date out". I'm not frugal when my daughter has the same day off of work as me. Then we go to lunch wherever she wants to go, mostly because it doesn't happen that often.

Her entry was randomly selected through one of those internet number generator thingamajigs, not just 'cause she called me Dr. Tessa and that made me smile. ;)

I have so enjoyed reading all of your entries! It is really interesting to see what is important to each of you. To be honest, I did this contest in part to make some of you comment here for the first time! I can "see" the number/location of the people who visit, but I wanted to know who you guys are. Thanks to all who commented and entered the contest.

Beachnerd, email me at thefrugalshrink AT yahoo DOT com with your name, address, what color Ipod shuffle you want, and what you would like to have engraved on it. Congratulations! :D

This Week's Walgreens Trip

I'm ashamed to admit that it had been weeks since I'd hit up WG. None of the deals have looked too tempting and I've been busy, so that means no shopping. You should see my hideous pile of unorganized coupons. Terrible.

Anyhoo, this week's deals:
Therabreath Starter Kit 9.99 (will be FAR)
Dawn dish soap .49 (used a .50 manufacturer's coupon)
Air freshener 1.50 for two (used a BOGOF coupon- not a great price, but my stockpile is low)
Reynolds wrap .34 (used a .55 manufacturer's coupon)
Nature Made Vitamins 9.99 (will be FAR)
Sandwich baggies .99 (needed these)
Scotch tape 3/1.00 (remember my traumatic no-name tape story?)
Pilot 2-pack of pens 1.00 (will be FAR)
3 packs of Papermate mechanical pencils .15 total
Chocolate bar .99 (will be FAR)

Total spent after taxes (I used a previous WG gift card): $28.32.
Total that I will get back in rebates: $24.16 (including the 10% bonus)
Total spent: $4.16

Also, I told myself that this would be the year that I would stay away from the school supply deals. I'm still trying to get rid of/use up supplies from two stinkin' years ago. However, the siren song of .05 packs of pencils was too much for me to handle. It is a sickness, I tell you! One that apparently runs in my family- not that I'm blaming anyone. ;)

Ipod Shuffle Giveaway!

Let me tell you about my Ipod shuffle.

For many years, I have guffawed at how everyone had to have an mp3 player, let alone one made by Apple. I should just never open my mouth.

For my birthday (June 4th), my mom offered to get me a shuffle. I thought that sounded good, since I could use it when I exercised. Since that time, I have had an ongoing love affair with this tiny thing, except for one traumatic incident where I accidentally threw away the headphones. People, it makes *everything* better!! Need some motivation for exercising? Ipod shuffle. Hate doing chores around the house? Ipod shuffle. Want to tune out your children/spouse/boss? Ipod shuffle.

I love it so much that I am going to pony up the money for one of you to have one. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me one way that you are frugal and one way that you aren't. I will randomly draw a winner on Saturday. Make sure your comment includes some way that I can reach you. This is open to anyone in the U.S., including people that I know in real life and/or relatives. 'Cause I totally believe in nepotism.

Go!

Coming next week...

...a fun giveaway/contest.


What could it be???

Neglect

I know, Internets. I've been neglecting you. You thought we had an agreement, right? I would try to post more often. And that is my intent, it's just that some weeks are so busy. Lately everything has been busy (in a good way!). I promise (for real this time) that I will get back with it in the next couple of days.

XOXO,

Tessa

How to Turn a $25 Giftcard Into $30

ALWAYS check and see if there are coupons out there for the stores that you have giftcards from! My friend Beth gave me a Kohl's giftcard for my birthday, and I knew that there was a $5 coupon out there just for signing up for their email list. I wanted to get some bedding or other house-y stuff. After browsing through the store, I found a set of sheets for 50% off ($24.99) and a gold waterfall valance at 90% off that is perfect for my bedroom window ($2.90). After tax, I got .45 back in change. :P So use those coupons to stretch your savings, even with giftcards.

For No Good Reason

But I laugh hysterically every time I see this. :P

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