Have you ever seen such a bizarre looking cucumber? It grew through a light plastic mesh fence I installed to protect my Rhode Island garden, which I planted on an earlier visit. (Did you miss my post about moving across the country?) Everything seems to grow very well in the Ocean State so I’m satisfying my gardening itch for sure. The smaller plants I culled from my garden will go into my homemade composters.
You can still see a little of the black mesh, which the cucumber partly swallowed. It took me a few minutes to cut the questioning vegetable free. I plan to use it in one of my favorite salads, which I copied from a friend who isn’t fond of measuring spoons.
Favorite cucumber salad
1 cucumber, chopped small
juice of two lemon (or to taste)
chili pepper (few dashes)
cayenne pepper (if you like it spicy)
If you can, marinate everything for an hour, but this is optional. You can also add diced red onions or a diced tomato. Has anything as strange as my cucumber grown in your garden?
Related posts:
How to save money by gardening
Recipe for easy dessert with fresh strawberries
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared these coupons.
Buy a Mac for College & Get a Free iPod Touch at Apple. Expires September 7, 2010.
Get 15% off full-priced merchandise at Crocs. Expires August 17, 2010.
Get $20 off full-priced orders of $75 or more at Ann Taylor Loft. Expires August 5, 2010.
Get 15% off storewide at SpaLook. Expires August 31, 2010.
Get 25% off all orders at Lock & Mane. Deal ongoing.
Bargain Hubby with Simba
This is a post I never wanted to write, but coming clean seems the best thing to do. I’m writing this post because it no longer makes sense to hide the fact that my husband and I are getting divorced. In the past I have shared stories from my personal life – how I went from jazz to journalism and why I don’t blog on Sept. 11 – but sharing my heartbreak and his had no place on BargainBabe.com. Until now.
I moved out almost a year ago after months – no years – of thinking, and talking, and crying. Day by day, as I examined what had always been in front of me, I realized Bargain Hubby and I were on one path, and I wanted to be on another. So I packed my things and left.
Starting anew was sad and overwhelming. I am lucky to have a very supportive family and friends who talked and hugged me through each day. More importantly, I am lucky to have married a man who remained as generous and open-hearted in separation as he was in marriage.
I said a private goodbye to Bargain Hubby a few days before my move to Rhode Island and asked him if he had any thoughts on how – if at all – to tell BargainBabe.com readers that we were getting divorced.
“How about an ‘Ode to Hubby’post?” he said. How about it.
Here is a short list of the many things my husband Andrew taught me. Thank you, Andrew, for many wonderful years. I will remember them fondly.
- Have fun everyday.
- Learn how to fight fairly.
- Ordering the best dish on the menu is an art. (I’m still learning.)
- Pull over and watch the sunset. It’s worth it.
- Call muggins when playing cribbage no matter who your opponent is, including your wife the sore loser.
- Experiment in the kitchen.
- Think twice before you trash something. (A dirty black poncho doubled as a rain tarp more times than I can recall; wires can make anything happen around the house.)
- Give hugs liberally.
- Bring another jacket. (I always get cold.)
- Ultimate Frisbee really is the greatest sport ever invented by man.
- Accept your love for who they are and don’t try to change them. If you can’t, you are setting the relationship up for failure.
- Being with someone who always wants to dance, and I mean always, really is wonderful.
- Believe in yourself. You are a star.
UPDATE: Thank you, dear readers, for your wonderfully supportive comments. I am touched.
This change is weighing me down.
Grab your wallet and examine the contents. Are you carrying around things that make you vulnerable to identity theft? Are you needlessly carrying around receipts and cards that weigh you down? Are you missing important documents should you get into an accident? In my case, the answers are yes, yes, and yes.
Here is what’s in my wallet:
Vitals – license and current insurance card
Money – $41 in cash plus $4.91 in change
Plastic – main credit card, debit card, and AAA card
Plastic money – gift cards to Starbucks, TJ Maxx, Jo-Anns,
Plastic that is occasionally useful – loyalty cards for FedEx Kinkos, The Body Shop, Club Bev, Anthropologie, and the Ocean State Library system
Paper – 18 receipts, 8 coupons, two business cards, and a sticky note with two ID numbers I use for work
Lists – contents of boxes that I put in storage and carried in my cheap cross country move
Personal – two pictures of me and friends, two bobbi pins, half of a picture frame mount
My excavation was promoted by an email I received from a women’s personal finance site called LearnVest.com. According to the site, there are only 10 things you should carry.
1. Your main credit card—only.
2. $25 to $50 in cash.
3. A.T.M./debit card.
4. Driver’s license.
5. Insurance card for both health and auto insurance.
6. Transportation card, such as an unlimited rail pass.
7. Reward cards for stores you visit frequently (grocery, drug store, etc.).
8. Gift cards.
9. Membership cards (such as to your gym).
10. Airline cards.
Now for what not to carry in your wallet.
1. Personal information like your PIN (although a first name and phone number is OK in a note to someone who find’s your wallet)
2. Account numbers
3. Social Security card
4. Back up credit cards (they belong in a safe place at home)
Opps! I made three mistakes. Carrying around two ID numbers for work could make me vulnerable if someone know how to also log into that account. My receipt load is way too high; it’s time to sort out what I need to file and shred the rest. And I took my health insurance card out a few days ago and forgot to put it back in, which is a no no.
How did you do?
Entertainment books – New contest! 25 random winners will win two 2010 Entertainment Books of their choosing. Like the BargainBabe.com and Lozo page on Facebook to enter. If you’re not on Facebook, this is a good reason to join!
Free tote – Get a free tote if you are a woman fighting cancer.
White Castle - Here is a White Castle coupon for a buy one get one free Saver Sacks.
McAlister’s – Today only! If you live near a McAlister’s Deli, head on over for a free sweet iced tea.
Free apps – Coupon Cravings has a neat list of the top 30 money saving iPhone apps.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
McPrior / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
You’re in the office and your tummy starts grumbling. You have many options for lunch but which one is best for your wallet? Options include eating out, brown bagging and re-heating a frozen entree.
Eating Out
Pros: This option is convenient and depending on where you work, you have an array of foods at your fingertips. There is no need to pack a lunch the night before or wake up extra early to prepare something. Eating out with coworkers can be a bonding experience and if you can chose the eatery, you can make sure you have an Entertainment Book coupon. Cons: This can quickly become an expensive habit if you don’t find deals for eating out. If you stick to dollar menus to minimize the cost, your waistline and health may take a toll. Cost: $10 per meal x 5 days a week = $50 per week
Brown Bagging
Pros: Keep an eye on your wallet and your waistline with this option. Brown Bagging can be more environmental if you use a reusable lunch bag, bring utensils from home instead of using disposables and pack a reusable water bottle. Being your own chef allows creative meal planning, especially if you use a multi-compartment easy lunch box. Re-heat dinner leftovers for a tasty meal. You can eat quickly at your desk or find a nearby park. Brown Bagging is nearly as fun as eating out with a favorite co-worker. Cons: It gets boring fast if you stick to the same meals and requires advance planning. Cost: $2.60 for a sandwich + .40 for baby carrots or fruit slices = $3 x 5 days a week = $15
Frozen Entrees
Pros: Prepackaged foods are very convenient and easy to grab on your way out the door in the morning when you’re in a hurry. You can stock up when they go on sale and keep them for weeks in the freezer. You can eat quickly at your desk. TV dinners used to have a bad rap for being unhealthy but there are now healthy options. Cons: Many TV dinner are loaded with salt and lack fiber and vitamins, taking a toll on your health over time. Portions are often so small you head to the candy machine for an afternoon snack. Cost: The entrees cost around $5 and sometimes cheaper when you can find coupons. $5 x 5 days a week = $25
Eating out costs significantly more than brown bagging or relying on frozen meals, but also takes a lot more time. What’s your frugal lunchtime option?
If you live in the greater Los Angeles area, this sale is for you. The largest wholesaler in the country, DLM Off-Price Specialists, is opening their doors to the public this Saturday, July 31, 2010. Expect prices to be 80-90% off retail and look for name brands like DKNY, Ellie Tahari, and more.
DLM normally sells to the discount shops, so you are getting prices below wholesale – pennies on the dollar in some cases! There are absolutely no knock offs.
The selection is huge in DLM’s 100,000 square foot warehouse, which is 15 minutes from downtown. Score great bargains in women’s clothes, men’s clothes, and children’s clothing, plus home goods like Paula Deen dishware. One Paula Deen platter that sells for $25 at Macy’s is $7 at DLM. Snappy!
The sale is this Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DLM is located at 2343 Saybrook Ave. in Commerce, CA. Their phone number is (323) 724-5474. This video has more details about prices and brands.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
Cathy at Chief Family Officer shared four great grocery deals at Ralph’s this week. These prices assume coupon doubling up to $1. New to coupons? Check out my post on coupon clipping basics. If you want to take advantage of these deals, make sure to save the coupon inserts you receive in the mail or with your Sunday newspaper. Here’s a great suggestion for how to handle coupon organization.
And a few highlights:
Buy 2 and use $0.75 off 2 Ball Park Products coupon from 6/27 Red Plum coupon insert or printable coupon
Final price: $0.50 each
Buy 2 and use B1G1 printable coupon
Final price: $0.50 each
Use $0.75 off 1 Smart Taste printable coupon here or here
Final price: FREE
Use $0.75 cents off 1 Crest Toothpaste 4 oz or larger from 7/4 Proctor & Gamble coupon insert (exp 7/31)
Or use $0.50 off 1 Crest Toothpaste 4 oz or larger from 6/27 Red Plum or 6/6 Proctor & Gamble (exp 7/31)
Final price: FREE
Keep reading Cathy’s grocery deals at Ralphs.
lovejanine/Flickr
Shutterfly – Get 25 free photo prints from Shutterfly now through July 31, 2010.
Juicy Couture – Here is a Juicy Couture coupon for 20% off all regular-priced merchandise. Expires August 1, 2010.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
There were so many wonderful, informative comments left as part of my latest reader giveaway contest that I had a hard time picking one winner.
I envy Brenda A.’s meticulous organization.
We love camping and do it several times a yr since our kids love it. I have all my cooking pans in plastic bins labeled, cooking stuff (pantry items)in another bin and so on. The most important thing to me is making a menu for each meal and day we are going to be camping, that way I dont buy thing I dont need and stay on top of the items I do need. After every trip we do an inventory list of the items that need to be replaced.
We keep all our camping/outdoor gear ready to go inside our emergency kit (water, food, etc.). It saves time getting out the door for a weekend getaway and keeps us prepared in case of a major disaster.
Fonedoc gets his/her kids excited for the trip by including them in the decision-making process.
I like to get the kids excited by telling them some options of what we can do and have them decide on some activities, so that its their decision in helping us plan our trip. They usual can’t wait and talk about the trip for days before and even after. I like hearing them tell their friends all about our trips together.
Michael Ayson Muson starts by calling his friends to borrow gear – very savvy!
I prepare for my camping trips by calling all of my friends to borrow their gear! Please hook me up with my own gear both for my and my friends’ sake!
Hilary takes a stress-free approach.
I start by taking a nice long shower…because it will be a few days before I get another one! In the shower I start making my mental list of everything I need to pack/take with me…anything left behind…well, we don’t need it!
Scaredekat’s comment made me laugh. Get ready, set, go!
i check to see if the camp grounds are available. then i check weather and i start on my list! from supplies/gear to food to toiletries, and not to forget my dog supplies for Max!
My most favorite thing to do is to time how fast i can pitch the tent!
And the winner is…Michael Ayson Muson. I hope these camping supplies, generously donated by Kmart, help you go camping more often. If Michael does not email me within 48 hours to claim his prize, the runner up is Fonedoc. Thanks to everyone who joined the contest!
My tip was a lot bigger than this! Credit: Dauella manera/Flickr
It’s amazing what two twenties will do. When I arrived at LAX last week, I had no intention of lugging seven heavy boxes through the airport by myself to the regular check-in counter. Instead, I stuffed my fist with cash and walked up to the Sky Cap counter, which had a line 40-some people deep.
Two nights before a reader named Eileen had shared a valuable but expensive lesson on luggage. “My Mother taught me this,” Eileen said. “If you ever need help at the airport, put a fifty dollar bill in your raised hand and ask if anyone can help. Someone will find you.”
Eileen was right. With $40 in my left hand, I approached the Sky Cap counter.
“I have seven boxes to check. Is it okay if I put them right here while I wait in line?”
Two junior Sky Caps conferred and decided it would be okay to tuck my bags off to the side so I wouldn’t have to inch them forward as I waited in line. I think they saw my twenties.
I put my cash back in my pocket and began unloading boxes from my friend’s car. A senior Sky Cap came over while I was dropped off box No. 3 and I double checked that it was okay to stockpile my boxes while waiting in line. It was.
When I dropped off the last box he was waiting for me. Had he seen my twenties? I’m pretty sure.
“How many are you flying with?”
“Just me.”
“We’re going to have to charge you for those extra bags, unfortunately.”
“That’s fine. I did the math and Southwest is the cheapest.”
The senior Sky Cap asked for my full name and suggested I step down two counters so he could check me in. What? No line?
He DEFINITELY saw my twenties. Because he offered to let me cut, I didn’t protest.
I checked in and was free of my burdensome bags within 10 minutes. I paid $250 for my seven pieces of luggage (the first two bags are free on Southwest and each bag after that up to 10 bags is $50). Not a single bag was weighed – at least that I saw. Bags over 50 pounds are $100 and one of my pieces was awfully heavy. Did my big tip save me an overweight baggage fee? I’ll never know.
I jumped into the security line and wondered if big spenders regularly experienced the ease and comfort I had. My $40 saved me time, reduced my stress, and got me out of the mid-day heat.
I rarely sympathize with big spenders – I have been known to scoff at overt displays of wealth – but after my $40 worked wonders at the airport I have a new perspective. Spending money, and not just saving it, can bring peace of mind. So if a Sky Cap at my destination airport happens to notice my fresh twenties and offers to lug my seven boxes across baggage claim? Well, I’m going to smile and say thank you.
What was your most worthwhile splurge?
Thanks for the tip, Eileen!
Michiel Van Balen/Flickr
Staples - Get a free backpack while supplies last.
Back to school deals - Here are all the back to school deals and freebies I found this week. Got any to add?
Borders – Here is a Borders coupon for 33% off most items, including online purchases. Expires July 29, 2010.
Hotel deal - Get a cheap hotel stay at Red Roof (15% 0ff) when you stay three nights, or two if you are military personnel.
Check out all the coupons and deals I share on my WalletPop blog.
Schlepping made easy with two luggage carts
Who says airline baggage fees are excessive? I carefully considered all my options for moving across the country from Los Angeles to Rhode Island and calculated that flying was cheaper than professional movers, Uhaul, and the United States Postal Service. Don’t believe me? Check my math below.
Movers
Pros: All I have to do is pack. The movers load up my stuff and unpack it. Cons: Dealing with skeezy movers, who may charge me a higher rate for any boxes above and beyond my initial estimate. Plus, the pick up window is two weeks and the delivery window is four weeks. I called a national moving company for a quote to move 13 large boxes under 40 pounds each.
$623.43 = total includes a fuel fee, stairs fee, and an administrative fee
Uhaul
Pros: Getting to see the country with a friend. Cons: Molding butt to seat over 3,560 miles.
$2,519 = an 11-day rental for a 10-foot truck with up to 3,560 miles costs
(Extra mile fee: $.40 per mile over 3,560)
$848 = Gas: 3,560 miles in a 12 miles per gallon truck at $2.86/gal (average price of regular gas according to AAA)
$500 = 5-nights hotel
$150 = 6-nights camping passes
$4,017 = total
U.S. Postal Service
Pros: Boxes delivered to my new doorstep. Cons: Stuff doesn’t arrive for eight days and may be damaged from the rough ride or heat.
$559 = parcel post rate for 13 boxes each weighing up to 40 pounds
$36 = Insurance of $2.75 for up to $200 for each box
$595 = total
Flying on Southwest (Bags on Virgin America, which has limited routes, are just $25 per bag, up to 50 pounds per bag, up to 10 bags. That’s even better than Southwest!)
Pros: Stuff arrives with me. Cons: Lugging boxes to and from airport.
$0 = boxes 1-2, which are free on Southwest
$250 = boxes 3-7 which are $50 per as long as they weigh less than 50 pounds each
$0 = boxes 8-13, which a friend flew across for me for free using his elevated airline status perks
$40 = sky cap tip checking me in in 10 minutes flat
$20 = shuttle driver tip for loading and unloading boxes
$310 = total
If you had to move across the country, how would you do it?
sean dreilinger / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A couple weeks ago, my sister begged me to take her to watch “Eclipse” and I caved. Since I wasn’t interested in the movie, the last thing I wanted to do was spend a bunch of money, so I decided to try an independent theater near my area.
I paid $6.50 for a matinee showing. Score! Nowadays, the cost of movie tickets is steep but with some simple changes you can save money when going to the movies. Here’s how:
Think independent. I’m not suggesting you go by yourself. Find local independent theaters and frequent them for their low prices. The theater I went to is small and only has three screens but it was clean and had an old Hollywood vibe to it.
Go to a matinee. The easiest way to save money and avoid the crowds is to head to the movie theater in the morning and not during peak days like Friday and Saturday. Make sure to check the times your local movie theater considers matinees as it varies from theater to theater.
Avoid the concession stand. These days, popcorn is more expensive than movie tickets. Instead bring your own snacks. Many of our Bargain Babe Facebook friends confessed to sneaking in snacks to save money. I’ve done the same.
Use the student, senior, and military discount. Many theaters offer discounted prices to students, seniors, and military personnel so make sure to present your ID at the box office to get a discount.
Head to Costco. Not only can you buy a year’s worth of toilet paper but you can get cheaper movie tickets. I bought two tickets for $15.49 for the Regal Cinemas chain that I will use to watch “Inception.” The cashier told me the warehouse also sells AMC tickets for a couple cents more.
Clip coupons. Another friend, Kristin, said she buys Entertainment Books when they are discounted (the books are currently going for $10-$15 for 2010) and clips coupons to get cheap movie tickets. Movie tickets cost $5 to $6 with the Entertainment Book.
Buy in bulk. If you’re loyal to a theater, take advantage of their rewards program. AMC Theaters’ AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers two points per ticket purchased and you can receive free concessions or tickets for every 10 points earned. The Regal Cinemas’ Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. When you rack up 120 points, you can redeem them for a free ticket. Other theaters send special offers to members.
Avoid reservation sites. Buy online and you’ll end up paying more for your tickets. Movietickets.com has a $1 surcharge and Fandango.com tacks on $.75 to $1.50 per ticket, depending on the area.
Get a free ticket to a TV show instead. BargainBabe.com blogger Bobbi previously shared about a dozen tips for getting hooked up with free TV show tickets.
Sign up with Film Metro. It’s free and they will send you invites to movie screenings. At college campuses, there are often people offering free movie passes for screenings.
How do you save money when going to the movies?
Lisa Leonard jewelry
I’ve never been a fan of charm bracelets until I saw Lisa Leonard’s custom, hand-stamped jewelry. Her gold and silver pieces are feminine, expressive, and stylish. No clunky tea pots and train cars among her wares. I particularly like her open circle and oval pieces.
I’m not the only one who is a fan. Lisa’s jewelry has been spotted on celebrities like Josie Bisset and Jason Priestly’s wife Naomi. One of Lisa’s most popular pieces is her heart strings necklace, which starts at $58. One to four hearts are stamped onto a 1 1/4-inch sterling disk, then you can add names and a pearl. Very sentimental.
Lisa has generously offered a 20% off site wide coupon code. Use bargainbabe20 when checking out (all lower case). The coupon code is good through Wednesday, July 28 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Lisa also makes pieces for men, including a key chain that says “my daddy is a superhero” and a sterling ring imprinted with a message or name. She has non-custom pieces that feature whimsical designs and simple, powerful messages. One necklace dubbed “every corner of my heart” has a sterling heart in the corner of a textured square.
Lisa also writes a blog with pictures of her family’s adventures, the food they cook, and musing about life.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
