Lean with Green

Are You a Weekly or Monthly Budgeter?

2011-09-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy friend-os! It's been awhile! I hope you're all doing well, saving your money and enjoying a Lean with Green life, even if I'm not here to keep you company as often as I used to be. Sorry about that.

As I was tracking my weekly spending habits over on Mint.com (you should sign up for it - it might change your life), I noticed I had nearly blown through my shopping budget not even halfway through the month. "It's okay", I rationalized to myself. "I won't shop for the rest of the month, plus I got those shirts on sale and I needed them." Hmm. Okay. Need might be the operative word there. True, most of my shirts are either old maternity shirts (totally cute when you're NOT pregnant anymore) or don't fit quite the way they used to (oh, the joys of body after baby). I digress. But what troubled me was I started telling myself it was okay to spend everything I allocated within the first 10 days of the month...what happens if there's a better sale at the end of the month? Will I justify it then and completely go above and beyond my budget?

Usually, a monthly budget works fine for me, particularly on things like dinners out (delivery or take out these days) or grocery shopping. I have a weekly "target" if you will ($75 on groceries, for example) - if I spend over that one week, I'll scale back on groceries the next.

So, dear readers, I ask you - how do you budget? Do you set a weekly budget to keep a tighter grip on your money or are you more comfortable with a monthly budget for some wiggle room week to week?

Psst - if you're missing BudgetBabe in your life, check me out as Mama Mahvelous on my mom/life blog. I like it. You might, too.

Transitioning...

2011-07-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hi lovely readers. I know I've been neglecting you, and I'm awfully sorry about that. While talking about all things money related still makes my heart go pitter patter, I have a new love (my sweet little babe) and and obsession with all things baby. So I've started (sigh) a parenting blog:

mamamahvelous.blogspot.com

If you're into the whole parenting thing, I hope that you'll join me over there. I am by no means any sort of parenting expert, and I hope to keep my BudgetBabe practicality and sense of humor with Mama Mahvelous. It's just a way to chronicle this whole mommy thing, as well as be a sounding board for me and (hopefully) a resource for others. I'll still post over here occasionally, but if I'm not as (un)active, you'll know why.

Cheers and thanks for your reading through all the ups and downs. :)

Do We Earn Things Anymore?

2011-06-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

After stealing, errr.. borrowing, my husband's Men's Health, I came across this very interesting article about the fiscally fit man. The author had 5 areas for "debt weakness", but the one that struck me the most was perverting the American Dream.

Decades ago, the American Dream was pretty simple. If you could afford to buy expensive things, like a car or a house with a white picket fence, you were doing pretty well. Most of the time, you had to buy with cash or a large downpayment. People saved for years and years to buy big ticket items. They tightened their belts and budgeted down to every last penny. With the explosion of buying things on credit and having long-term loans, it seems most people have lost the concept of earning nice things. People max out their credit cards or take out multiple loans in order to get something they feel they deserve. Do you know the average American household has nearly $11,000 in credit card debt? I understand that times are still tough for a lot of folks, and credit cards are a necessity just to get by when you're in between jobs. But I would make a guess that not all people who carry a large balance on their cards are people who are out of work and trying to support a family.

I will acknowledge I'm part of this perversion. While my husband and I saved for 2 years for a house downpayment, it wasn't a traditional 20%. True, to save 20% to buy a house in the Seattle metro area likely means you would be saving for at least 10 years, and I know that's the case in many other parts of the country. And while we have paired down to be a one car family, we still have a loan for our car. We put down a chunk of money and got the shortest loan term we could, but we don't own either of our big ticket purchases free and clear.

On the bright side, we have ZERO credit card debt and have had it that way for nearly 3 years. And now we save for mostly everything else. Taking a vacation? We have a vacation fund...if we can't afford it, we wait until we can. How about a shiny, new appliance, like an energy efficient washing machine that I've been lusting after? We're saving up to hopefully buy one in the fall. We have a 6-9 month emergency fund that we spent a year to build in case something drastic happens. We don't have the desire (or ability, after becoming a one income family) to go out and spend a ton of money on non-essential items.

I understood the concept of earning better when I was 12 than I do now. If there wasn't enough money in my wallet, I couldn't get it. I could do more household chores or babysit more neighbors, but I didn't have the option of buying it now and paying for it later like so many of us do today.

The question still nags me - do we earn things anymore? Often, people feel they deserve luxury or expensive things because they work hard, or they're a good person, or insert other reasons here. And while I'm all for celebrating success and rewarding ourselves, does it come at too high a price? Keeping up with the Joneses is costing us big time.

What do you think? Do we earn things anymore? What was the last big ticket item you purchased? Did you charge it and pay it off little by little, or did you save for awhile and pay for it all up front? How did it feel?

What's Cooking?

2011-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Going out to eat is awesome. You don't have to grocery shop, spend hours cooking, clean up, and it's (usually) a social time. However, it can really take a bite out of your finances. According to a Mint.com study of their users' behaviors, the average person spends $29 per transaction at restaurants (not including fast food chains) and eats out 6 times a month. That adds up pretty quickly, especially when you can cook at home for less than $2 a meal in most cases. Here are 10 cheap staples I keep in my kitchen to whip up quick, easy, healthy meals that don't break the bank:

Protein

*Tuna - canned tuna is a great thing to have on hand. You can make the old lunch sack fave tuna sandwiches (or go gourmet with tuna melts by adding a slice of cheese and sticking it under the broiler), or add it to salads or pasta. This is one of my favorite fish cake recipes (it calls for salmon, but tuna's great with it as well). Plus, it's a great way to get servings of Omega 3 fatty acids. You can usually find cans for less than a dollar, making tuna a pretty good bang for your buck. Just don't overdo it - have less than 6 ounces a week due to mercury concerns. Also, look for tuna that's dolphin safe.

*Beans - I always have a couple of cans of beans in my pantry. They are a great source of healthy, vegetarian protein and they are really versatile. They can be added to soups, they can be blended into a dip or spread. And for usually around $1 a can, you can stretch your dollars with this pantry staple.

*Eggs - I feel like eggs get a bad rap sometimes because of their cholesterol. Sure, maybe you shouldn't have fried eggs for breakfast most days of the week, but adding a few servings of this healthy protein into your diet is good for your body and your wallet. Eggs can be more than scrambled for breakfast - they can be hardboiled (makes a great snack or chopped up in a salad), mixed with leftover rice and veggies for fried rice...endless possibilities. Most markets have a dozen eggs for around $2 (or less than 20 cents per serving!) - great value.

Produce

*Baby Carrots - baby carrots are my favorite all-purpose vegetable. You can usually find a 1 pound bag for a few bucks. Not only are they cheap, but they are already washed and peeled, saving you a few minutes for other things. I usually grab a handful for a snack, chop up a few for salads, or roast them with a little bit of olive oil and herbs.

*Mixed Greens - another staple in my fridge is a container of mixed greens. Obviously, they are super easy for salads, but add greens into your sandwiches or wraps for a great crunch and extra fiber. If you plan to eat a lot of greens, warehouse stores like Costco can't be beat (usually finding a 32 oz tub for $4 - makes 4-5 good sized salads).

*Onions - they might be tear-inducing, but I consider onions a pantry must-have. For one, they usually take 2-3 weeks to go bad. They can add great flavor to just about any dish and you can usually get a large onion for under $1. Most of the time, I don't even use a whole onion - I just stick it in the refrigerator and don't peel the part of the onion I'm saving to preserve the freshness.

*Potatoes - potatoes are to me what shrimp was to Bubba in "Forrest Gump". You can do anything with them - bake them, mash them, fry them, roast them, add them to soups...and it doesn't get much cheaper than getting a sack of potatoes. Plus, much like onions, they take quite awhile to go bad.

Grains

*Pasta - noodles are a great thing to always have on hand. It's cheap, quick and easy to cook, and it's the blank canvas of cooking - you can add just about anything to it and it tastes awesome! I usually stock up on pasta when it's on sale because the expiration date is usually years away. And when does spaghetti not sound good?

*Rice - I. love. rice. I do. It's cheap, versatile and easy to cook (if you have a rice cooker, it's practically impossible to screw up). Not only is it a great side or good in burritos, but you can have it for breakfast (microwave with a little bit of milk, raisins and brown sugar) or dessert (rice pudding!).

*Oatmeal - I know most of you are thinking that oatmeal can't be anything other than breakfast. Well, it is awesome with some maple syrup, but I also add it to smoothies for some extra fiber. Oatmeal can also give your lunch and dinner entrees some crunch and texture - sub them in for breadcrumbs. I haven't even mentioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or any fruit crumble for dessert! I get a container of plain oats for $2 that lasts me for a good month or so.

Obviously, this is not a completely stocked pantry. But with a few condiments, some salt and pepper, and a little creativity, I bet my Top 10 could make some pretty interesting (and inexpensive!) meals.

What's something you always have in your kitchen?

The Decision to Stay at Home

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

As soon as we found out we were expecting, the very next conversation my husband and I had was how we planned to raise our child. Was I going to stay home or go back to work? (Note: it's not that we automatically jumped to me staying at home because I was a woman...my husband makes considerably more than I do, so it makes the most financial sense).

After looking at the costs of daycare and calculating what pay I would take home after childcare was paid for, I would net less than $500 every month. From that, subtract a car payment and weekly fillups at the pump, and I'm barely making enough to go to the grocery store twice a month. It didn't seem worth it to me when I feel like we can budget better in other places. We made the decision for me to stay home.

So how did we do this, and how will we survive in the future?

1) Practiced with one paycheck. My husband and I thought this might be a possibility when we found out I was pregnant, so we practiced living on one income. My entire paycheck for 10 months went into savings. Not only did we get the hang of what it would be like living on a single salary, but we bumped up our emergency fund, created a medical savings account, started a savings account for our daughter, and even fully funded a future vacation (Maui in November!). It took a little getting used

2) We are a one car family now. Even though my husband's main mode of transportation is the bus, he had an SUV that barely had any miles and came with a large car payment. My small commuter car wasn't conducive to our new lifestyle with baby and all the stuff that goes with her. So we traded both in for a Subaru Outback! Not only does this cut our car payments in half, but it decreases auto insurance, service and maintenance, and all of the other expenses that creep up when you have a car.

3) Cutting other incidental costs. Some spending naturally goes down when you have a baby - entertainment (unless you want to pay a babysitter, and then the cost doubles!), nice meals out, shopping for yourself. We're taking a hard look at cutting cable (mentioned here), and being smarter about every day choices.

I have no doubt that it's a little more unstable only having one income, particularly in this still shaky economy. But I think we're prepared for most worst-case scenarios. The only thing that is difficult about this for me is not being able to contribute to my retirement fund for a few years and getting used to not having my own spending money.

One interesting tidbit from Salary.com - the stay-at-home mom's regular duties add up to being worth over $115,000 a year! While you get no vacation days or pension plan, the benefits are pretty hard to top.

Any other families who grappled with this decision? What did you ultimately decide and why? Does anyone else have other suggestions or tips?

National Doughnut Day!

2011-06-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Apologies for being MIA recently - I've got some good stuff lined up for next week though. :)

There's not enough for a full Friday Deals post, but who can complain when it's National Doughnut Day! Krispy Kreme is giving away FREE doughnuts at participating locations from 6 AM - 6 PM, and no additional purchase is required.

Dunkin Donuts is also giving away some free doughnuts with the purchase of any beverage. But really, don't you need coffee to go with doughnuts anyway?

YUM! Happy National Doughnut Day!

Will You Ever Retire?

2011-04-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

It's been well documented in this blog that I'm totally freaked out about retirement. Yes, it's still a good 35 years away, but expenses are also going to start creeping up with a baby (and another one in the future) - add to that a bigger house eventually, college funds times two...oh man. Why do all the good things in life have to cost so much money?

So I was reading this great article in Money Under 30 and felt a little sick to my stomach after I was done. According to blogger David Weliver (and others in the PF world), you should have anywhere from 1-2 years salary in your 401K or other retirement account by the time you reach 30. Uh, what? I mean, I thought I was doing okay in my retirement savings, but 1-2 years salary?

After my husband was laid off in 2009, we were completely focused on building up our emergency fund to last 6 months. When we found out we were pregnant, we started building a healthy savings account for medical and baby expenses. So instead of upping my retirement contributions (like I intended to do a year ago), my money was saved in other places. Did I make the right choice?

I'd love to hear from you all out there - does anyone have (or did you have if you're over 30) a year or two's worth of your salary in your retirement accounts? How did you do it?

Earth Day Freebies!

2011-04-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

I do love the earth. It's pretty awesome. I love celebrating Earth Day, too! Not only do you get to take some time to appreciate the planet, but some really great freebies and events happen to encourage you to adopt habits that are good for the earth! Here's what's going on for Earth Day 2011:

*My absolute favorite Earth Day freebie (did it last year) - trade in any cleanser bottle (full or empty) for a FREE full sized Origins facial cleanser! Only on Earth Day (4/22). You have to fill out this form in advance, and I'd recommend going early before all the supplies run out!

*FREE coffee or tea at participating Starbucks on April 22nd when you bring in your travel mug!

*FREE coffee at Whole Foods when you bring in your travel mug, too! Check your nearby store to confirm they are participating.

*FREE eco-friendly workshops at select Home Depot locations!

*Lowe's is also celebrating Earth Day by giving out a million FREE trees on Saturday (4/23)! See if your nearby Lowe's is participating. While you're there, make a FREE birdhouse with the kids at 10AM with the Build and Grow program.

*The best way to celebrate Earth Day is in the great outdoors, right? FREE entrance to all national parks!

And don't forget - celebrate Earth Day by doing something good for the planet! Take a shorter shower, turn off your lights, turn down your heat (or AC, if you're having better weather than me!). Maybe even hug a tree!

Happy Earth Day!

Friday Deals PLUS Tax Day Freebies and Deals!

2011-04-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for all your great feedback for whether or not we should give up cable. I'm strongly considering it once summer rolls around. And now for Friday Deals!

*Boden, one of my very favorite stores, is having 40% off select items for their midseason sale! They make fantastic clothes that really hold up well, so while they are a little on the spendy side, getting items for 40% off is a great way to start what will likely be a Boden obsession for you! :) Plus, you can get an additional 10% off AND FREE shipping! Go forth and shop - you won't be sorry.

*All you cosmetic junkies should take advantage of Sephora's sale - 15% off! You have to be a Beauty Insider, but it's free to sign up (plus, you get all kinds of cool perks when you do). Ends April 21st.

*And thanks to lovely reader Alysia for pointing out this fabulous freebie - to celebrate Earth Week, Target is giving out FREE reusable bags on Sunday, April 17th. Get there early - I went to my Target last year to get one an hour after they opened and they were almost out! Remember to ask Target cashiers for 5 cents off when you bring your reusable bag to the store!

*FREE Curly Fries at a participating Arby's today when you bring in this coupon. Mmm...

*FREE admission to National Parks April 16th-24th to celebrate National Park Week!

*FREE Bath and Body Works 2 oz lotion of their new fragrance Into the Wild...hurry, it's only good with this coupon today and tomorrow!

Tax Day Freebies and Deals

I hope you all have filed your taxes, but you still have a couple more days (thanks Uncle Sam!). We owe this year (BOOOO!), but not too much. If you're getting a refund, remember to spend it wisely! If you have to pay like me, here are some freebies and deals to at least take the sting out a little.

*Cinnabon is giving away FREE Cinnabites from 6-8 PM on April 18th (participating locations only).

*FREE sundae at Maggie Moo's on April 18th from 3-6 PM at participating locations.

*McCormick and Schmick's restaurants are giving people two days to celebrate the end of tax season - today and Monday, get bar food and drink specials for $10.40.

*P.F. Chang's is giving 15% off dine-in and takeout orders on April 18th.

I'll repost some of these deals on Monday so you remember to take advantage! :) Enjoy your weekend!

Giving Up Cable

2011-04-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, not quite. I love the heck out of TV, particularly cable. My DVR tapes over 10 shows a week. I have a sick obsession with multiple shows on Bravo - anything with Bethenny Frankel, or a show that starts with "The Real Housewives of..." I will most likely watch. And then they sucker me in with spinoffs and new shows that look AMAZING.

But I hate paying the piper for my addiction. Every month when the Comcast bill comes, I feel a little nauseous. It also includes our internet service, but $160 a month for reality shows and NBC sitcoms? I am so torn between my want to save money/feel like less of a couch potato and the sheer entertainment value of watching grown women throw wine at each other. And yes, I am that person that calls every few months to negotiate a lower rate by threatening to get a dish or cut my cable. But still, I wonder if even the reduced high cost of cable is worth it.

So when my good friends and fellow TV afficianados Kate and her fiance Joseph brought up giving up cable, I was shocked! They, too, love TV (and they watch better shows than I do) - how could they even consider? But their suggestions of watching streaming shows via Hulu/Netflix and paying 99 cents for others on iTunes really had me thinking...could I do this?

For one thing, it would help prioritize what I really want to watch. The ability for me to tape shows has caused me to delve deeper into the basement with bad TV. Another Kardashian show? Okay. What's this new cooking competition? Sure. Put it on my queue. If I didn't have access to DVR and cable and had to pay per individual show, 80% of what I watch currently probably wouldn't make the cut. Is this show worth 99 cents to watch? Sad that I'm watching shows that aren't even worth a buck.

Are there any other TV addicts out there that have cleaned up and given up cable? How is life on the other side?

Birthday Resolutions

2011-04-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I'm not so big into New Year's resolutions, but more birthday resolutions. Why? Well, for starters, January 1st is just kind of an arbitrary day. Yes, it's the first day of a new year, but it's pretty much just another day. Your birthday, though, is a whole new year for you. Plus, people never keep New Year's resolutions and I figured I'd keep myself more accountable and pump myself up for my new year if I had some goals to go with it. I do both financial resolutions and personal resolutions.

Birthday resolutions in past years:

*Have 6 months of living expenses saved - check!

*Increase retirement contributions by 5% - uh, still working on it

*Open a Roth IRA - ugh, no

*Make steps to become pregnant - check!

*Take 3 vacations a year - check!

So since I turned 29 a few weeks ago, I wanted to keep you up to speed on my resolutions for my year before the big 3-0.

FINANCIAL:

PUT MY MONEY IN A ROTH IRA - this is in all caps because it has been a goal for almost 2 years and I haven't done it. Bad personal finance blogger, bad! It WILL happen this year, even if I don't put the max contributions in. I'm determined.

Start a college savings fund for our daughter - I'm assuming college costs will keep rising at their current rate of 7-13% every year, so by the time our daughter goes to college, it will cost an arm and a leg. We'll start saving now - money we get now for her will start going into a savings account, even though I'm not sure yet what savings account would be best.

PERSONAL:

Be the best mom I can be - I know to make goals achievable, they have to be SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely). While this may not be a specific or timely goal, I'll hopefully be able to measure it in smiles. Wow - super cheesy! :) But seriously, my daughter is my number one priority, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her. Until she's a teenager - and then, I will not give her my credit card.

Run a half marathon - I've never been a runner. There was the time I ran track in 8th grade and I thought I had an asthma attack...turns out I was just out of shape. But I want to really push myself and see if I can do it. I've signed up for a race with my friends for Labor Day weekend and I'll be so proud of myself when I cross the finish line. I'm not doing it for time - I'm doing it for pride. And the chocolates and mimosas at the end of the race.

Okay, so there you have it! My two financial and personal goals for my 29th year!

Anyone else make birthday resolutions? How about sharing a few of your goals for the year?

Friday Deals!

2011-04-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Finally, some Friday Deals for you all! :) Did anyone watch "Extreme Couponing" on TLC the other night? Makes me want to up my deal-hunting game a bit, but they are definitely on the crraaazzy side in my opinion...anyway, onto deals that you don't have to work so hard for!

*Ben and Jerry's is having their annual Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 12th in their Scoop Shops! The lines are usually long, but so worth it! Dreaming of a Cherry Garcia cone...

*Speaking of ice cream, Baskin Robbins is having their 31 Cent Scoop Night on Wednesday, April 27th from 5-7 PM. The 31 cents will benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Put it on your calendar!

*Need to update your spring wardrobe, ladies? Ann Taylor and LOFT are celebrating their Friends and Family with 30% off your purchase! This ends Sunday, April 11th, and is good in stores and online. Here's the coupon.

*April is National Volunteer Month and Volunteer Match is celebrating all the folks who give their time by giving away FREE Newman's Own products! Yes! Sign up for a project during the month of April and you'll get a coupon for any free Newman's Own item! I'm a big fan of their Caesar dressing!

Enjoy your weekend! The sun is actually supposed to make an appearance here in the Northwest, so I'm going to try and soak up some Vitamin D with my family.

Saving Some Bucks with Baby

2011-04-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

While I'm a neophyte parent, I'm well aware of how expensive babies and children are. But in my very limited experience, I have learned strategies on my own or through my very smart parent friends on how to save money with a new family member in the picture.

*Go Gender Neutral - while it is SO tempting to get all those cute gender specific clothes or furniture, try to steer clear of getting everything in boy or girl styles, particularly if you're planning on having more than one child. I'm not going to sit here and say that my husband and I have nothing girly - we totally do. However, many of our big purchases (like the stroller, car seat, etc) are gender neutral. It doesn't seem to make a ton of sense to spend hundreds of dollars on equipment to last a few years to not be able to use it again if or when another baby is welcomed into your family.

*Have Multipurpose Furniture - who wants to spend a couple hundred bucks on furniture only to have it serve a few years? My husband and I were pretty savvy when it came to shopping for nursery furniture. We purchased a crib that converts into a toddler bed (you can even find some cribs that will convert into a full sized bed), and instead of a changing table, we got a dresser that a changing pad can be secured to and then removed. We wanted to get furniture that would grow with our daughter and viewed it as an investment as opposed to furniture for the baby stage in her life.

*Cloth Diaper - I know that this sounds completely crazy to most people. And it very well could be, as it is not yet something my husband and I have actually done yet. But if you can make the commitment to cloth diaper, it can save you beaucoup bucks (an estimated $1500-$2000 over the diapering process according to Consumer Reports). The value doubles if you can reuse your diapers for another child. And cloth diapers today are totally different than they were a generation ago - no pins, but velcro and snaps instead! Obviously, there might be an initial yuck factor to get over and the startup costs are more steep(anywhere from $12-$20 per diaper), but most likely, the diapers will pay for themselves within the first 6-8 months. Plus, it's good for the environment. Oh yeah, and they're super cute. What's not to like?

*DON'T Register for Clothes - most family and friends are excited to shower your new arrival in clothes - they're cute, easy to pick up and fun to shop for! You may even have some people who want to give you their old baby clothes for free. Save space on your registry for other things you may really need. If you don't get enough baby clothes, they are quite easy and cheap to pick up at places like Target, Babies R Us, or even Goodwill. Also with clothes, be careful of buying too many before baby's here. Your baby may not fit into newborn clothes. Or those cute seasonal clothes (fleece jackets and mittens, or summery clothes) may not fit when the weather's appropriate.

*DON'T Stock Up - I know, this seems counterintuitive. You want to be prepared and in control. But babies have personalities, and just like you, preferences. Maybe they won't like those pricey bottles you have 10 of. Maybe the swaddling blankets you bought 4 of will make baby uncomfortable. Start with getting one of a few different types and see what your baby prefers. It might seem a little wasteful at first, but not using one item sure beats not being able to use a dozen, don't you think?

*Know What to Get Second-Hand - there are plenty of things you can get at Goodwill, on Craig's List or handed down from friends and family. And it will save you a TON. But be careful - baby items are frequently recalled. Do your research and make sure the good deal is also in the best interest of your baby's health and safety. You can't put a price on that.

*Nurse - if you can, breastfeed. Not only have studies shown it's the best for your baby, but it's FREE! :) Of course, breastfeeding does come with expenses (pumps, clothing, accessories, etc), but compared to the costs of formula, you'll save a lot of money. Bonus - it's good for moms! You burn up to 600 calories a day AND it is linked to lower instances of breast cancer!

Hey moms and dads out there! Anything else you did to save money?

Life Is What Happens...

2011-04-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

So sorry for the delay in posting, but I had a baby.

And she's really cute and takes up a bunch of my time. :)

While I'm focusing more now on trying to be an amazing mom instead of a blogger, I'll try to be a little more regular while my little angel takes naps. More posts coming soon...

Friday Deals

2011-02-25T07:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have some fun weekend plans in store! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE full-sized body butter at The Body Shop (while supplies last or through Sunday) with a purchase of $30 or more. This offer is good online only.

*Another online sale at Gap - 25% off your order when you enter code GAPSAVE25 though Saturday.

*Did you know that March 1st is National Pancake Day? Well, it is. And IHOP wants to give you some FREE pancakes! When you go in between 7 AM and 10 PM, you can get a FREE short stack. It's also a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network, so consider leaving a sweet donation.

*I love SELF Magazine so I was thrilled when I saw Tanga is offering it for $3.99 a year (and you can subscribe up to 3 years at that price). Enter promo code SELF at checkout. This deal is only good for a few more hours, so hop to it!

*I love me some Chipotle and also some reality TV - combining those two is an unbeatable combo! When you "like" the new NBC show "America's Next Great Restaurant" on Facebook, Chipotle is giving out coupons for buy one, get one FREE burrito/taco/bowl/salad. It's good through Friday, March 4th. Nice! While you're there, feel free to "like" Lean with Green. If there's a good deal during the week, we'll post it on our Facebook page - don't miss out!

*Restaurant.com is selling gift certificates for 80% off (normally $10 for $25 worth of food is now $2) with the code DINE at checkout. Valid now through Monday, February 28th.

That's all I have! If you know of any other deals, feel free to leave them in the comments!

Reduce, Reuse...Make That Old Corkboard Fabulous

2011-02-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

I love Young House Love. LOVE it. I think John, Sherry, Clara and Burger are just about the cutest family ever. I also love their design aesthetic, their creativity, and how they stretch a buck. They totally inspire me to go through piles at Goodwill to find a diamond in the rough, or head over to Michael's clearance aisle to see what I can do with scrapbook paper, a vase and fake flowers. I had an homage to YHL in the past with my Halloween decor, and I thought I'd share my recent triumph with giving new life to old junk.

I've had a corkboard lying around for years. Literally. It had not been in use since the year after college where it served as a photo holder of the good ol' days (that had just happened 6 months before...). I never got rid of it, thinking I'd be able to find a use for it. After we moved into our house last March, I had an Oprah a-ha moment - the corkboard would be a jewelry display board. Oh yes.

So I took the sample of paint I had from when we painted our bedroom and painted the corkboard within an inch of its life - really, probably about 5 coats. The color is Benjamin Moore's Coventry Gray, if you were curious.

I purchased a box of 40 cup hooks at Home Depot.

And then it continued to sit in our basement until last week. Finally, I decided to get my act together and finish what I barely started.

Project Budget:

Corkboard - FREE and in need of a purpose

Leftover paint from sample - FREE (but I did pay $3 for it when we painted our bedroom)

Box o' hooks - $2.19

Patience from my husband for a project that took months when it should have taken an hour - priceless

TOTAL: $5.19

The finished product:

While I wanted to paint the wood frame white to set it off against our dark blue walls and to match the hooks, I ran out of patience (hey, I'm 39 weeks pregnant). But overall, I'm pretty pleased. My necklaces aren't getting tangled any more and it's doing double duty as a piece of functional wall art.

Anyone else have some fun DIY projects in the works? Can I get a "heck yeah!" for YHL?

Think Small!

2011-02-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

Bigger is better, right? Well, I'll take a bigger piece of cake, a bigger salary or a bigger blanket to avoid cold toes, but I don't think bigger is always better. For instance, take housing.

Since we've had baby on the brain for the last 9 months or so, people keep asking us what "stuff" we need. Baby stuff can be endless and take up a lot of space in your house. But my husband and I have been pretty good (in my opinion) of avoiding "stuff" for stuff's sake, primarily based on the fact we don't have room for it in our 1400 square foot house. It got me thinking that maybe having a small house is the way to go. How else can having a small house save you money?

*Energy costs - this is kind of a no-brainer, but the less space you have to heat or cool, the more money you save! Right on! Not only that, but if you have fewer rooms, you likely have fewer electrical appliances plugged in, meaning the "vampire draw" (or appliances that suck up energy without being used) will be less!

*Less space to fill - just like my husband and I refuse to get "stuff" for our baby because we don't have room for it, this can apply to just about every space in our house. We have a small kitchen, so our cabinets are full of things we use frequently instead of the random appliances that we'd use once a year. I can't be a crazy bag lady and have multiple half-used bottles of beauty products in the bathroom because we have 1 bathroom with 4 shelves of storage. If I don't have 7 rooms to fill with furniture, I'm saving thousands of dollars! It keeps us conscious of what we buy and helps us better identify when it's time to give other things a better home when we're not using it anymore (tax deductions or garage sales put money back in your pocket!).

*Less upkeep - whether you do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you, the less space you have means the less time and money you spend on cleaning, renovating or replacing. I can tell you I already hate spending half of my Saturday cleaning my 3 bedroom home (and I'm too cheap to pay someone to do it)...I would absolutely cringe spending my entire weekend cleaning a 5 bedroom and multiple bathroom home. Who wants to clean more than one shower? Not me.

*Healthier in a small home? - I could be reaching here, but I would argue you could be a healthier person if you live in a smaller home. Think about it - a smaller home is easier to keep clean, meaning there would be less germs and air pollution. Although I guess you could argue you might be in better cardiovascular shape if you had a bigger home (walking further, climbing more stairs, etc).

Image from MyBallard

Obviously, you have to have a space that works for you and your family. But if you can get by with a smaller home, it will benefit your bottom line in multiple ways.

Anyone else who loves living in a smaller place and saving money? Anyone who lives in a big space that feels it's worth it?

Friday Deals

2011-02-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Happy almost weekend everyone! And for some of us, it's a long one! Thank goodness for 3 day weekends! Here are your Friday Deals!

*Good Presidents' Day sale at Gap starting today - 44% off 44 styles and lasts through Monday. Not sure what the 44 styles are, but that's a good amount of stuff! Not valid at Gap Outlet.

*Gap's more expensive big sister Banana Republic is having a sale of their own - 25% off already reduced merchandise in stores and online (enter code BRPRES25). Ends Monday.

*25% off your full priced purchase at Ann Taylor Loft in stores and online (just enter code PRESIDENT) AND 40% off sale merchandise! Ends Monday.

*20% off all women's orders over $150 at jcrew.com when you enter code FABFEB. Ends Monday.

*Buy 3, get 3 FREE on Signature Body Care products at Bath and Body Works in stores or online. Ends Monday.

*Buy 1, get 1 50% off on all items at Express, PLUS $15 off every $75 you spend (enter code 1088 online).

If you know of any other sales or good deals, leave them in the comments! Have a great weekend!

Is $75,000 the Magic Number?

2011-02-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

As I was watching Oprah a few weeks ago, she had a man named Dan Buettner on her show discussing how to be happier the "blue zone" way? What the heck is a blue zone? According to Mr. Buettner, blue zones are places in the world where people are exponentially happier and live longer than in other parts of the world - and these places share many commonalities. Residents have high rates of being physically active, of drinking wine (yes please!), eating a primarily veggie-based diet, of belonging to a faith-based group...there are a total of 9 indicators (the "power 9" as he calls them). One point of contention between him and Oprah was on the topic of money. He said research suggested that at a salary of $75,000 per year for a family of four, your happiness plateaus. As you can imagine, Oprah begged to differ.

But I'm wondering if that's really true. Clearly, something to take into account is location. Obviously $75,000 goes a lot further in Cedar Rapids or Cleveland than it does in Seattle or San Francisco. Another thing - happiness is kind of subjective, right? Would you be happy if you didn't own your home? Would you be happy if you couldn't take a vacation? Would you be happy if you didn't have designer clothes? Some things that might be key to your happiness might be more difficult to obtain on $75,000 a year.

Apparently, the $75,000 magic number relates to day-to-day happiness, and that once people make more than that, their day-to-day happiness plateaus. And by people, I mean persons over the age of 15, men and women, and people all over the world. There's also a difference between money and satisfaction (strong correlation) and wealth and positive emotion (more complex). Read more about the story here.

What do you think? Is $75,000 the magic number for universal happiness?

Lessons to Teach Kids About Money

2011-02-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

As I'm weeks away from welcoming our little baby girl into our home, I am thinking about all the things my husband and I will have to teach her: sharing is caring, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all, treat others the way you'd like to be treated, subject-verb agreement...the list goes on and on. But one thing I don't think enough parents tend to tackle is the subject of money. Studies show that parents have a hard time talking with their kids about the big three: sex, drugs and rock and roll...er, money. But it's hurting our kids - by the time children start to manage their own finances, they have an average of $2100 of debt on 4 different credit cards! Schools can't be guaranteed to teach financial literacy - most states do not have mandatory financial literacy units. I know we're still a few years out from talking to Baby Claire about money, but this is where my husband and I are thinking about starting.

Allowance does not equal an entitlement. I do believe that kids have to have their own money in order to understand how to manage it. That said, I don't think kids should get $10 a week just for being them or doing their basic household responsibilities, like keeping their room clean or making their bed. No one pays me to clean the house! It's just what I have to do as a member of the family. When kids want to take on projects that fall outside their realm of responsibility, then they should be paid according to their age and the level of difficulty of the chore. It shows they have to earn money, they can't just sit and wait for it to fall into their lap.

The importance of being earnest. Money is very complex, and should be taken very seriously. Yes, you can have fun with your money and you should! But money is for more than just having fun. It's survival, both short and long term. It's saving for a goal. It's giving to something or someone who needs it more than you. I love the piggy bank below because it accounts for all the various ways kids should view money (in my opinion anyway). Of course, kids should be able to spend money just like adults. They can get that toy they've always wanted, or they can buy something impulsively, never play with it again, and it becomes a teachable moment. But kids should also understand the importance of philanthropy and giving back to others. I want my kids to feel like they can make a difference - whether that's at their school, in their community or in the world. Philanthropy and charitable giving is a great way to make kids feel like they did something good for someone else. Obviously saving is a great value to instill in children - they might be saving for a big purchase or event, but teaching them to save when they're young will help them be better savers when they're older. And I love that there's an "invest" slot in the piggy bank. When you're ready to talk to your kids about how to invest and what the stock market is, that is a great tool to help facilitate that lesson. For allowance and cash gifts kids receive, I like the 40-30-20-10 rule: 40% long term savings, 30% big ticket purchases savings, 20% immediate spending and 10% charitable giving.

Image from Money Savvy Generation

Everything costs money. Or as my husband likes to say "There's no such thing as a free lunch." I don't think kids should be sheltered from the costs of things. Obviously, there are more appropriate ages to bring up the costs of a mortgage versus the cost of a pack of gum, but kids should know that everything has a price. I think showing monthly bills

or grocery store receipts can go a long way in kids understanding how money works to keep a house going. In order to get things that we need and want, we have to work and pitch in to earn money. At least until the money tree we planted last year starts to grow...

Practice what you preach. While we all want to raise financially savvy children, it's hard to do that when you have mass amounts of credit card debt, live in a house you can't afford, and spend money like it's going out of style. You are your kids' best teachers, but actions speak louder than words. Getting conflicting messages about money will no doubt confuse kids, so make sure to be a good role model yourself.

Are you a parent already teaching your children about money? What do you do that has worked? Did your parents give you any words of wisdom you take with you to this day? What are you planning on doing with your children?

Friday Deals

2011-02-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been WAY too long since I've done one of these! Lots of fun stuff, including gift ideas for Valentine's Day if you needed to get a jump on doing something special for your sweetie. Enjoy!

*FREE Coffee Mate creamer when you "like" Coffee Mate on Facebook. By 9 AM PST today, they will be giving out over 100,000 coupons for a FREE creamer. Nice! I could probably drink the Hazelnut Biscotti flavor straight out of the container...okay, maybe not... but it sounds delicious!

*Need some FREE dessert? Chili's Grill and Bar is giving out coupons for FREE Brownie sundaes today only when you "like" them on Facebook. The coupon is good through next Thursday, February 11th. Also, if you sign up for their email list, you get a free welcome gift of queso and chips. Nothing says "Welcome!" like melted cheese, in my opinion.

*We mentioned already on our Facebook page that Burt's Bees grab bags are back! For $25, you get over $50 worth of great stuff. When I bought mine last year, I took a few things out that I wanted to keep and gave the rest as gifts or stocking stuffers during the holidays. Perfect! Hurry though - they don't last very long!

*If you want to get your online shop on for Valentine's Day, head over to The Body Shop. You get a FREE gift with a purchase of $25 or more. Online only and expires on 2/13.

*Another just-in-time-for-Valentine's-Day deal...Victoria's Secret is giving away FREE underwear with a $50 purchase. I can't tell if it's just online, but use the code LACIE50 when checking out. Ends Sunday.

*Need some romantic music? Head over to Amazon for 14 FREE downloads of Valentine's themed songs!

*Like Cheez-Its? Well, "like" them on Facebook for a FREE sample.

*A GREAT Groupon deal for all you book lovers out there! You've got the weekend to get $10 for $20 worth of merchandise at Barnes and Noble. This can even be applied to ebooks! It's valid online and at most of the 700 retail locations. Hurry - it says limited quantity available so I don't want you to miss out!

That's all I got! If you know of any other good deals, feel free to post them in the comments! Happy weekend!

The Dark Side of Group Buying Sites

2011-02-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Some people wake up with a cup of coffee. Some need a shower before they can function. Me? I check my Groupon, Living Social, Tippr, and BuyWithMe emails. It's a gross obsession really. I do really love a good deal, but sometimes, just the notion that I can get something more than 50% off is just enough of a catalyst to get me to reach for my credit card.

What the hell? I write a financial literacy blog and I am a compulsive group-buying site deal shopper? Can the two go hand in hand? Here's how I learned to enjoy the opportunity that group buying sites provide and still have my dignity (and spare change) in tact.

1) Be smart about your purchases - I know that part of the reason these sites exist is so new businesses can draw clients in the door with a cheap meal or service with the hopes they become repeat customers. While I love trying new places, I also have to be somewhat realistic. Sure, an unlimited month of yoga for $40 sounds amazing, but the studio is 35 minutes away from my house. I may make it once or twice a week, which drops the value of the package significantly.

2) Read the fine print BEFORE you buy - many times, there are all kinds of restrictions on your half-off deal - not for use on alcohol, must be used in one visit, cannot combine with other offers like happy hour, etc. Check out the business' website to see if it's realistic for you to spend your certificate in one purchase, or if there's anything you'd actually want to eat there that's not on the happy hour menu.

3) Question refund policy - I have had two experiences (one with Groupon and one with LivingSocial) where the merchant went out of business before I was able to spend my certificate. With the LivingSocial deal, I didn't even know it was too late until I drove past the dark restaurant with the windows boarded up. I contacted both LivingSocial and the restaurant to ask if I could get a refund for my $20 and never received a response from either. On the flip side, Groupon actually contacted me when the vendor I purchased from was going out of business. They wanted to either give me a $10 credit towards another Groupon or to refund the $10 to my credit card. Customer service winner goes to...GROUPON. In this economy, particularly with new businesses, it's tough to keep the doors open, so make sure you're aware of how things are handled if the vendor can't honor your certificate.

In short, I look at group buying site deals like grocery store coupons: if it's not something I would normally buy without the deal, it's probably going to be a waste of money and I shouldn't get it. We've all had that moment where you MUST get something because it's on sale, right? Hopefully, it was a great purchase and you got a lot of use out of it. But sometimes, that thing you had to have just sits in your closet with the price tags still on. The deals online are definitely tempting, and I say go for it if it's in your budget and it's something you'll enjoy. Just don't get blinded by the good deal that isn't actually worth it.

One more group buying site to check out: Ideal Network. They are not everywhere yet, but it's a daily deal site where part of the proceeds benefit area charities. Check out their deal in Seattle right now - $10 for $20 of Theo Chocolate...and $2.50 of your $10 goes to one of 6 charities you choose (I chose the Woodland Park Zoo). Do you like how I preach about the evils of group buying sites and then show you a new one? Ha!

Theo Chocolate - feel free to get me some for Valentine's Day!

Any other thoughts on the merits or drawbacks of group buying sites? Do you have a particular strategy to get a bang for your buck but keep in line with your budget?

Discussion: What's Your Biggest Splurge?

2011-02-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

Greetings y'all! I hope most of you are staying warm - it looks nasty in most of the country. The Northwest has the makings of a perfect winter's day - crisp, sunny and dry!

Anyway, my friends over at WiseBread had an interesting question posed to their readers this morning, and I thought I'd ask you all: what's your biggest splurge?

This was a question that took me awhile to answer. I allow myself to spend $25 every month at coffee shops...is that a splurge? I recently upgraded to a nicer gym with amazing amenities and cleaner facilities for an extra $5 per month than I paid at my old gym. Splurge-worthy? I don't have expensive clothes or shoe habits, I don't get weekly manis or pedis, I've had 4 massages in my whole life...what the heck do I splurge on?

The closest things I could think of as splurges are a) food and b) home improvement. With food, my husband and I cook 5-6 nights a week, and when we go out to dinner, we usually go to a delicious restaurant that doesn't cost more than $40 for the two of us (including tax and tip). Hardly splurging...BUT when it comes to groceries, we probably spend $75-$90 a week. What do I buy? Lots of fresh produce (which is often organic), Greek yogurt, and hardly any processed foods. This means that our grocery bills might be a little higher than average, but eating good and good-for-you food is important to me. If you can, I totally recommend buying from a farm that participates in community supported agriculture (CSA). You are buying directly from the farmer, so your produce is super fresh, seasonal and supports your local businesses! One more food-splurge: grocery delivery! While I don't do this all the time, I have ordered from AmazonFresh on a handful of occasions. It's not necessarily more expensive than a grocery store, but there is a delivery fee if you don't purchase a certain amount of food. It's convenient (I've had groceries delivered at 6 AM before), it saves me time and money on gas, and it might even stop me from those impulse buys.

As far as home improvement go, I think it's almost in our biology to prepare our home for a new member of the family. Before little Claire came into the picture, my husband and I wanted to put in California Closets or pimp out our backyard. Maybe make the basement into a man cave. After we knew we were expecting, all those fun projects got replaced with buying new carpet (not fun, but necessary) and getting a nursery ready to go. And while we didn't go over budget too badly, it's just hard to say no to buying things for your unborn child. The willpower is not so strong with us when it comes to getting cute art for her room or a onesie that says "It was the dog." (yes, we have it in orange).

But I do have a splurge goal now: traveling. I want to see more of the world, and I want Claire to see more of the world with us. I think exposing children to different people and places is extremely important for them to learn and grow.

What about you? What do you splurge on and why?

Ask and You Shall Receive

2011-01-17T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I cannot believe it's been almost 2 months since I last posted! Wow! That's what happens when you're 34 weeks pregnant and you've got a few other things on your plate, I guess. :) I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and that 2011 has started off on a great note!

Here in my household, we are fast and furiously preparing for our baby girl's arrival in mere weeks...and with that comes dropping some serious dough. Or does it? As you know, my husband and I purchased our first home early last year. While the house was in fantastic condition pretty much all the way around, we knew we were going to eventually replace the carpet. It was pretty heavily stained and while I'm not exactly a germaphobe, I know that carpet can get DISGUSTING. The sellers even apologized for the condition of the carpets. So now with baby on the way, we wanted a clean slate and started to price out how much it was going to cost to get new carpet in three bedrooms. First, Empire Today came to our home to give us an estimate - initially $2100! I had no idea how much installing carpet was, but I wasn't going to pay that much. I told the representative that it was much more than I had anticipated, and we were going to continue to look. Almost immediately, he dropped the price down to $1600. Did you hear that? Just by asking and refusing the first offer, I saved $500! After pricing around other companies and retailers and figuring cost of installation, haul away, etc, Empire Today did have the best deal.

Lesson: never accept your first offer. Always see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Part 2 of Preparing For Baby Without Dropping All Your Dollars: we have to make our small space work for us in more ways now. Our 3rd bedroom now has to serve a multifunctional purpose of guest room/office. To increase our space, we got rid of our full-sized bed and are replacing it with a sleeper sofa. We waited and waited for our dream sofa at West Elm to go on sale...and it did! Not only was it $400 cheaper than the original price, BUT if you ordered online, you saved an extra $200. Uh - guess who ordered via phone where the $200 off didn't come into play? But guess who realized that, called back, and talked to customer service to get that extra money back in Claire's college fund? And isn't the couch so pretty?!

Lesson: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you're not completely satisfied with your experience, speak up. More than likely, the customer service department will do whatever they can to keep your current and future business.

In one week and two shopping experiences, I saved our family over $700 by being proactive, doing some research, and not taking "no" for an answer. Don't be afraid to ask for a better price - in this economy, many people are willing to be flexible and are more responsive to customers' needs.

How about you? How have your negotiating skills benefitted you recently?

Holiday Decorating on the Cheap 2.0

2010-11-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

Ah, the holidays have officially arrived! You may remember my Christmas home decor spread from last year that cost me less than $15 dollars. This year, my Martha Stewart/nesting mode is really kicking in - I've decided we're going to get a REAL tree, so that means that I should spend a lot more money on holiday decorations, right? Wrong. Here are some things I'm doing this year to keep my house looking magical but keeping some extra dough in my pocket:

1) Using fruit - I did this last year with cranberries, and I did it this year for my Thanksgiving table scape (yeah, I just threw out the words "table scape"). There are beautiful in-season fruits, like clementine oranges, apples, and pears that are perfect for having around the house. Bonus - you can eat your decorations! Plus, you can pair spices like cloves and cinnamon with your fruit to make wonderfully smelling decor! In elementary school, I used to stick cloves in oranges to make pomanders and give them as gifts. The cloves help to preserve the oranges, too!

My "horn-of-plenty deconstructed" table scape.

2) Repurposing what you have - have some empty frames? Put some pictures of holidays past around your home. You could also make a holiday sign - print out "holiday" words, like "joy"or "snow", put in a frame, place on your mantle and voila - something that costs at least $15 at a store you just made for pennies. You could even frame holiday wrapping paper for a fun holiday piece of art. What about spare vases lying around? Fill it with ornaments and place on your coffee table. How about metallic ribbon? Use it to tie around doorknobs, drape around shelves to make anything look more festive.

My hurricane and apothecary jar stuffed with ornaments

3) Decorate with candy - by going to a drug store or a discount retailer, you can pick up your decorations and stocking stuffers! Candy canes are classic - you can hang them on your tree, or put in a vase or a jar. Fill a hurricane or glass bowl with Hershey kisses - this also works as a snack! And who doesn't like a gingerbread house? Using milk cartons, graham crackers, frosting and candy, you can make a great and traditional holiday decoration!

4) The great outdoors - bringing the outdoors in keeps things really festive and seasonal. In lieu of getting holiday flowers that die within a week or so, try holly. Head to a nursery, get a few sprigs of holly, and put in a vase - it would be a beautiful centerpiece. I mentioned this in my post last year, but hit up Christmas tree farms for spare branches that make excellent table decor. Home Depot keeps a bin in their outdoor department of branches people wanted cut off, or branches that were broken off. You might get a little sap on your hands, but for free decorations, I feel like it's worth it. Hunt around your neighborhood for pinecones and red berries.

5) Using candles - in my opinion, candles make everything better. Simple white tealights or small pillars grouped up on a table look simple, elegant and cheerful. Wrap a ribbon around your candles and they look even more festive.

6) Decorate with cards - I hope you still get holiday cards and letters from family and friends (why people think a "happy holidays" text is acceptable is beyond me). Once you start getting these in the mail, punch holes in them and string them up around your house with ribbon or yarn. Keep them for years to bring back memories of the good people in your life.

7) Get crafty - okay, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not super crafty, but there are some really simple decorations you can make with things likely around your house. Paper snowflakes, paper chains, magazine trees - check out Martha Stewart's great ideas!

With all of these good ideas, I have to get decorating!

How do you all decorate for the holidays? Any ideas for not breaking the bank?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

Apologies for not writing a real blog entry in almost a month (yikes!), but I wanted to make sure to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I've got so much to be thankful for...

In 2010, we bought our first home....

We are pregnant with our first child....

We witnessed many happy occasions of family and friends...

Just goes to show you that although money is important (and I'm so thankful for mine and my husband's jobs), it definitely can't buy you happiness.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones and eat lots of delicious food! Definitely thankful for socially acceptable elastic waistbands during the holidays... :)

Emergency Fund = COMPLETED!

2010-11-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!

I just had to give myself a little pat on the back - my husband and I saved and saved and saved the past few months - having a little one on the way will definitely do that to you! And within 6 months, we've saved up 6 months of living expenses! Our emergency fund is done! This is literally 6 months of exactly how we live right now; I think if we scaled back more on expenses, our fund could probably last for 8 months if we needed it to. We have it in ING's Orange Savings Account, so it's liquid, plus we're still earning 1.1% interest - it's not much, but every little bit helps!

Our saving journey is not over - we're putting money aside for our estimated hospital costs of labor and delivery, starting a college fund for the bambina, and putting aside other money for general kid expenses. And I know I've been saying this for almost a year, but we're going to start a Roth IRA before the year is over! What a way to start November!

How about you guys? Any goals you've achieved recently? Do you have enough in your emergency fund?

Freaky Friday Deals!

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! It's the Friday before All Hallow's Eve, and I've got some great deals for those of you looking to not break the bank to celebrate Halloween.

*TGI Fridays is celebrating Halloween all weekend - come in costume on Friday or Saturday and get a FREE appetizer (mozzerella sticks, pot stickers or green bean fries). Make your money go even further on Saturday, and use this coupon to buy one entree and get the second for half off. If you come in on Halloween, kids in costume eat FREE (one child per paying adult).

*IHOP is giving away FREE scary face pancakes to kids 12 and under today, Friday October 29th. No costume necessary but you must dine-in. Call ahead because not all locations are participating.

*Chipotle is doing their boo-rito campaign - go to a Chipotle location between 6 PM and close on Halloween and for $2, get a delicious burrito, bowl, salad or tacos. The catch? Dress up as a "horrifyingly processed food". The money goes towards Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, which encourages people to make better choices when it comes to eating better food.

*Buy 1, get 1 FREE item at Gap Outlet stores! This offer is only valid on Saturday, 10/30 and in-stores only. Here's the coupon!

*Buy 1, get 1 FREE Pumpkin Smash smoothie at Jamba Juice with this coupon. Good today, October 29th - Sunday, October 31st.

*New York and Company is having a great sale - get $50 off when you spend $100! Plus, they've got a lot of cute stuff on sale.

*Go door-to-door in your neighborhood to get FREE candy! Oh, you knew that already? Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Hot (Deals) for Teacher!

2010-10-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Are you a teacher or do you know someone who is? First, please thank them. Not only are they in charge of educating our young minds, but they put out fires on a daily basis, they have to deal with under or over involved parents, the politics of schools...it's a tough job, that's for sure. Thanks teachers!

To make sure you know how much you're appreciated, I found some surprising deals you are eligible for just because you're a teacher - and some of them have nothing to do with education (unless, of course, you count dressing smart as a part of your curriculum).

1. J. Crew - I just found this out a few weeks ago! J. Crew offers a 15% in-store discount with a valid teacher's ID. College students are also eligible for this discount with a valid ID - but if you're a college student and you can afford J. Crew, you'll have a rude awakening when you join ranks in the Real World. Or maybe I'm just jealous.

2. Apple - in the market for a new computer? Apple offers up to $200 off a new computer purchase for students and teachers with a valid ID. I'm not sure if it's only valid in stores, but when my husband and I bought our new Mac, I definitely took advantage of shopping with my mother-in-law (high school Spanish teacher) AND purchased in Oregon (sales tax free). Booyeah!

3. Ann Taylor LOFT - sign up for LOFT Loves Teachers and you're eligible for an immediate 20% off introductory offer, plus 15% off every time you shop. And um, I may have also signed up for this (I'm not a teacher but I work with kids in schools) and it has yet to ask me for a valid teacher's identification. I may feel too guilty to use it, but just sayin'...

4. Bookstores - obviously this makes a lot of sense, but stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders offer at least 20% off purchases in store and online with their educator programs. If you like to frequent your small local bookstore, ask to see if they offer teacher discounts.

5. Office supply stores - this is another no brainer, but Staples, Office Max and Office Depot have special perks for educators. The reward programs can be 15% discounts, cash back on purchases, special times of the year to save more...check them out!

6. Home discounts - yep, I'm serious. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a program called Good Neighbor Next Door. You can get up to 50% off the list price of a home if you are a teacher (or a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, or emergency medical technician). It sounds like there's potential for a lot of red tape (you have to purchase in a certain area, you have 5 days to purchase the home, etc), but check out the listings nonetheless. You could save a TON of money!

7. Cell phone companies - this isn't just good for teachers, but cell phone companies offer discounts for employees of many companies. Talk to a representative or go online at your specific carrier. Usually, you just put your work email address in and it will let you know if you're eligible for a discount. It's not much, but every little bit helps!

Keep in mind these discounts are good to teachers year-round! Some stores do other promotions during back-to-school time or Teacher Appreciation Week (the first week of May), so definitely keep your eyes open for other deals at certain parts of the year. Not only that, but feel free to ask your favorite retail store if they offer discounts for teachers - the worst they do is say no, but the best is you save some money! Just be prepared to have your school identification with you.

Any other cool teacher discounts you know of? Anyone thinking about a career change?

Friday Deals!

2010-10-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm a little late in posting this (internet problems!), but here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE Quizno's small sandwich when you buy a bag of chips and a regular fountain drink. Coupon expires on 10/27, so you have a few more days to use it.

*Ann Taylor LOFT is clearing out their sale items - take an extra 50% off all sales! They definitely have some cute stuff left, but sizes and colors are limited so go quick!

*FREE sample of Garnier Ultra Lift moisturizer.

*$2 for a $25 gift certificate at Restaurant.com when you enter the code PUMPKIN. Ends on Monday.

*Old Navy is having all kinds of sales! Use this coupon to get 30% off now, shop online and get up to 50% certain items, take an extra 15% off when you shop online using code ONTREAT aaaand....FREE shipping when you spend $50 or more (use code ONSUPER50).

*Old Navy's big brother Gap is having an online sale of their own - take 25% off TODAY online for online purchases when you use code GAPSAVE25 at checkout.

Any other good deals you guys see out there? Leave me a note in the comments!

Have a great weekend!

Halloween Decorations on the Cheap

2010-10-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just a few weeks away - can you believe it? If you want to make your house festive and not drop a ton of money, I'll let you know what I did with my house this year.

I didn't want a ton of cheesy looking decorations, so I looked to Young House Love for some inspiration. Of course, I am no John and Sherry (they are ah-mazing), but I loved some of the ideas they had...and I stole them.

First, I went to Michael's and found a ton of fall stuff on sale. I got a bag of 6 plastic gourds for $5 and got a can of white glossy spray paint for $5. I spray painted the gourds white, and I'm planning on using them beyond Halloween for the rest of fall and Thanksgiving. Plus, even though I spray painted the crap out of the gourds, I've still got at least 3/4 of a can of spray paint left for other fun projects though. Bummer? I spray painted my walkway...oops. Lesson learned - make sure you have a place to craft that won't make your spouse mad.

Next, I wanted to create a kind of macabre (oh yeah, I just threw out macabre) look for our console table. I picked up a 12 inch apothecary jar (for $7 at 40% off), 5 59-cent fake carnations and a can of black spray paint for $5. I spray painted the carnations black and put them in the apothecary jar for a funeral-y look. Kind of reminds me of the rose in "Beauty and the Beast" - right? I also thought this California condor was totally cool and spooky looking, so I picked him up for $5.

To complete the look, I picked up 12 black tealights at Target for $3.

And nothing says Halloween like candy - pick some up! But if you have a hard time resisting grabbing a handful every time you walk by (or worse, making up excuses of why you have to walk by so you can get your candy on), make sure you only fill the bowl when company's coming so you can have some help eating it.

My total spent on Halloween decorations: $33. Might be a little steep, but when you consider I'll be using the gourds for the next few months AND for another holiday, plus the spray paint can be used for other projects, I think I did pretty well.

Other ways to save on Halloween decorating:

*Use things you already have - candles, black tableclothes, scarves, vases - you'd be surprised at how much you can do with a little creativity and a lot of resourcefulness.

*Try to plan for multipurpose use when purchasing to get a bigger bang for your buck - just like I did with the gourds, think about how you might be able to use the same thing for multiple holidays or occassions. I'm thinking the apothecary jar would look really cool with Christmas ornaments in it. Maybe some silver candlestick holders would look really festive for New Year's Eve but you can put blood red candles in them for Halloween.

*Shop sales - duh. But Michael's is just one of many places having sales on their fall craft items. Look into your store circulars to see what you can get for the lowest price.

What about you all? How do you decorate for the holidays? Any money saving tips?

Friday Deals

2010-10-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Apologies for being MIA... here are some good deals for your Friday!

*30% off denim at Gap when you "recycle" (or bring in) your old denim! Your old jeans don't have to be a Gap brand either! Offer good through October 20th and only on full-priced denim.

*An extra 40% off sale items at Ann Taylor LOFT! Enter SAVE40 online and free shipping for orders over $125. I can't seem to find a date, but since it's their Columbus Day sale, I'm guessing good through Monday?

*Restaurant.com is offering 80% off gift certificates. You normally pay $10 for a $25 gift certificate, but from now through October 12th, pay $2 for $25 worth of food! Enter code ENJOY at checkout.

*FREE sample of Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo from AllYou.

*Want to get a FREE drink at Starbucks? Purchase a 6-pack of their new flavored VIA Instant Coffee drinks and get a FREE tall drink of your choice through tomorrow (Saturday).

*FREE sample of Crest Pro Health Clinical Gum Protection at Walmart.com.

*Good Borders coupon - save 40% on one item through Saturday!

Have you seen other good Columbus Day sales? Leave a note in the comments!

Have a great weekend!

New Group Buying Sites

2010-09-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Apparently Groupon and Living Social are old news...

Just to make sure I'm doing my due diligence to save y'all money, here are some newish sites (or new to me, at least) that I wanted to pass along!

Tippr - this site is similar to Groupon and Living Social, except there's 3 deals per day! Available in 11 cities. Bonus - if you click my link and sign up, you get $5 towards your first Tippr purchase!

Eversave - another group saving site, Eversave is available in 57 cities! Deals last from 24 hours to a few days, and run the gamut - cooking classes, online merchants and more! Get $5 just for setting up an account!

BuyWithMe - bummed that this isn't available yet in my city, but it is available in 11 other cities!

SocialBuy - this site looks pretty cool - the daily deal in Los Angeles when I checked was $50 off concert tickets for Roger Waters from Pink Floyd! Might offer more diverse choices than Groupon or LivingSocial. Available in 15 cities.

Adility Daily Deal - available in 45 cities - very similar to Groupon and Living Social.

Woot! - allegedly started the "daily deal" phenomenon, Woot! is an online store sells merchandise for one day only. Most of it is tech stuff, but I just found a queen memory foam mattress for $300. Since it's stuff instead of experiences, you do have to pay for shipping, but it looks awesome!

While I love all these money-saving sites, I do wonder about the group-buying bubble. Will these companies have the same fate as pets.com (yeah, remember that?)? Only time will tell, I suppose.

In any case, get the deals while they're hot! Does anyone else have other sites they like to use?

Convenience Fees Make Me Angry

2010-09-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance that this is more of a rant than a blog post but....

I HATE CONVENIENCE FEES!

Bank of America holds my mortgage and for me to pay my bill online, they just instituted a $3 online transaction fee. Ugh. I purchased concert tickets to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary last month and was charged a $10 convenience fee from LiveNation. Double ugh. If you have less than a $5 at some restaurants that you'd like to put on your credit card, they charge you 50 cents! All these little annoying additions to what you're already spending add up, and I don't like it. Not at all.

For the most part, I can avoid convenience fees. I can mail my mortgage payment, I can avoid purchasing from places that charge for minimum purchases (or carry cash, but you know how that goes for me), and I can get cash from my bank's ATM instead of getting charged double if I use another bank's.

But it's just really, really annoying.

Does anyone else despise convenience fees? What one do you find most annoying? Do you pay them so life's easier or do you do things the hard way to save some bucks?

Free Night of Theater Returns!

2010-09-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Just wanted to pass this sweet deal on! Starting today, tickets went up for grabs across the country to celebrate Free Night of Theater during the month of October. Head to the Free Night of Theater 2010 website to find performances for free near you!

Did anyone participate in this last year?

Friday Deals

2010-09-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Haven't done one of these in awhile - sorry if you've been missing out on some good deals! Here's what I found this week!

*FREE samples of Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, Quaker Life Soft Baked Bar and more at Walmart.com.

*FREE 3 piece starter kits at Origins with any skin care purchase (that's right, no minimum purchase necessary). Available while supplies last!

*If you're planning on seeing a movie today, grab this coupon from Regal Cinema's Facebook page to get a FREE small soft drink. Only good Friday though!

*Buy one, get one FREE smoothie at Jamba Juice! Use this coupon by September 22nd.

*FREE shipping and 5 FREE samples with orders over $35 at Body Shop. Ends Sunday.

*FREE tote filled with beauty products at Victoria's Secret when you spend $75 or more in stores. Available for a "limited time only" - whatever that means!

*An advance warning, but FREE ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery for Make-A-Wish month on September 30th from 5-8 PM. Receive a 3 oz sample of Kate's Creation - Kate is a client of Make-A-Wish, and her wish was to create an ice cream flavor (caramel apple ice cream with graham cracker pie crust and apple pie filling). Sounds yummy and what's better than free ice cream? Not much. Plus, you can purchase Make-A-Wish stars for $1 at locations and the money goes to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes to terminally ill or severely ill children.

*Do you like shoes? Of course you do. I hope you're a DSW Rewards member - if you're not, sign up and get double rewards starting now through September 27th. These rewards help you get more discounts on shoes and when they ring up twice as fast, you get shoe money quicker!

*And while this isn't a deal per se, J. Crew is opening up their Factory Store online - weekends only, but you can still snag some good bargains on great clothes!

That's all I have! Hope you guys enjoy your weekend!

HELP!

2010-09-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now in my 4th month of pregnancy, the costs of reclothing my rapidly changing and growing body is starting to become more than I bargained for. Here's what I've done so far:

1) Invest in a BeBand - these things for me have been lifesavers! They are these stretchy bands that fit over your pre-preggo clothes when they become tight (meaning you have to unbutton or unzip your pants because you just can't suck it in anymore). They also act to hold up maternity pants that are just too big. Plus, for $17 at Target, it's a steal! I have them in 3 colors since I'm now at the point where I'm wearing them every day. I look at them as an investment - while they are not actually clothes I can wear, they extend the life of my prepregnancy clothes (as long as my hips don't get any bigger, which I'm sure they will).

2) Scour the sale racks at chain stores - particularly for layering staples, like tank tops and t-shirts. When it turned to fall last week in Seattle, Target put their maternity t-shirts on clearance, so I picked up 4 for $4.99 each. The nice thing about the t-shirts is they are a little long on me right now, which is fashionable anyway. But in a few months (weeks? oh geez), I'm sure the extra length will come in handy to accomodate my growing belly.

3) Received clothes from very generous mama friends - moms really are the best. They know exactly what you're going through, and they've saved clothes to give to people who need them! Thank goodness for my mama friends! :)

But even with all that effort, I've still managed to spend $200 on bands, shirts, and two pairs of pants (I got them for 20% off at Gap but still). Ugh! And I'm barely showing. A shirt I am thinking about spending my money on? This Buddha shirt from Lala Baby Boutique. Um, I'm sorry, but how cute is that?

So what gives mamas and dads out there? Am I doomed to spend a small fortune so I don't have to work in sweatpants? Any good maternity fashion (and budget friendly) tips for us mommies-to-be?

7 Baby Steps

2010-09-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

As someone who's very interested in all things personal finance, I like to make sure to research different strategies and methods of looking at how to manage your moolah.

Dave Ramsey is someone I've talked about before - he coined a slogan I love that I talk about here. And a few days ago, Newlywed Next Door introduced me to his 7 Baby Steps. I gotta say - I like his style. I think for some people, taking a hard look at yourself and your spending habits can be overwhelming - how do I get out of debt? How will I save enough for retirement? Will I be able to afford college for my children? Ramsey breaks it down into 7 very simple, one sentence steps.

I'm somewhere in between Steps 2 and 5 - while I have no credit card debt, my husband and I each have a car loan, plus my husband has some student loans. We'll have 6 months of living expenses saved in our emergency fund by the end of October (thanks to Mint's helpful budgeting tool). Right now, I'm investing about 10% of my paycheck into my retirement account, which I should really up to 15% as Ramsey suggests.

Something interesting to note is that Ramsey (as do most financial experts) suggest contributing to children's college funds AFTER you have a really nice retirement cushion. As has been said before, there are loans for higher education, but there are no loans for retirement (although Ramsey doesn't think you should have loans for anything!).

What do you think of the 7 Baby Steps? Where do you fall? Does this inspire you to get financially prepared?

Gettin' My Shop On (Holiday Edition)

2010-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, no, wasteful spending is not something we promote here at LWG. Shopping when you need things is different, obviously. But let's be clear - holiday shopping is never about need. I always need food, and no one gets me groceries for Christmas. It's about random crap you get people to show them you were thinking about them around the last part of December.

I know it's September, but I am already thinking about the holidays. With me being nearly 7 months preggers around Christmas/New Year's, one of the last things I will want to be doing is walking around a mall with thousands of other people, trying to get gifts for my loved ones. So I'm planning to get my holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving with the help of...my credit card rewards.

For every $1 I spend, I get points. With these points, I can buy all sorts of stuff - a coffee maker, workout DVDs, and thousands of other choices. You can also redeem your points for cash back or gift cards at many stores and restaurants. While I could take the cash back option and add to my savings or retirement, I'm going to redeem my reward points for gift cards for stores that I'll shop at for holiday gifts. Here's how I look at it - it's money I was planning on spending anyway, and it's not coming out of my pocket! Plus, it will automatically set up a budget for me based on the value of the gift card.

What do you think? Good idea or bad idea? Anyone else planning to get creative with holiday shopping?

Reader Praise!

2010-09-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give a special shout-out to one of our best readers: Newlywed Next Door! First off, she is a regular commentor, she has written a guest post, and she has definitely increased our readers by featuring us on her blog! Thanks!

I wanted people to know that she just finished a year of tracking and budgeting all on her own! She details her experience here, but I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS! It takes a lot of hard work, patience and dedication to hawkishly track your budget for 12 months!

I wanted to see if any of our other followers had a financial success story they would like to be featured on Lean with Green! What made you realize you needed a change? What was the milestone you reached? Share in the comments or write us a note at leanwithgreen@gmail.com and if you'd like, we'll make you your own entry deserving of your success!

Calling in the Big Guns...

2010-09-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

As my husband and I prepare to have a baby, I stay awake thinking about our finances. I'm not stressed out about it per se - we've got our emergency fund squared away to supplement my lack of income while I'm on maternity leave, we've got a medical fund set up to cover the out-of-pocket costs of labor and delivery (have I mentioned how glad I am to have health insurance?), and we've even got a baby fund to pay for items in the nursery, medical care, those really cute baby leggings...

But starting a family means a ton of extra cash per kid per year. And I don't think my husband and I are stopping at 1 (talk to me after delivery and see if I change my mind). Are my financial ducks in a row enough to pay for daycare? A car? College (gulp)? Not to mention the day to day stuff that really adds up over the course of time. Okay, now I'm stressing myself out.

When stuff gets a little bigger than me, I want to call in the experts. My husband and I have been looking into getting a financial planner, but where do you start? Here are some tips from the Wall Street Journal of what to look for:

*Make sure they are a CFP (certified financial planner) - CFPs have to take classes and get licensed. Also, some financial planning firms are just sales agencies in sheep's clothing. Which leads me to....

*Make sure your planner receives a flat rate for pay instead of commission. If their livelihood depends on selling more products or services to you, they may be doing that to make more money instead of doing what's in your best interest.

Do your issues with money run a little deeper? Do you get emotional about money? Do you and your partner fight a lot about your finances? Maybe you need a financial therapist. A wha? Yes, a financial therapist deals with the emotions and the roots of your relationship to money. 4 signs you may need to think about enlisting the help of a financial therapist, according to Women's Health Magazine:

1) You don't like spending money on necessities, like going to the doctor when you're sick or fixing the dragging bumper on your car.

2) You avoid coming home to your partner to avoid a fight about money.

3) You max out credit cards to get through the month and frequently overdraw your accounts.

4) You're constantly asking to borrow money from family or friends.

These 4 behaviors are signs you might be trying to deny your money demons... get some help before you get yourself into even more serious trouble.

Don't forget about other financial experts, like accountants and retirement planners!

Does anyone enlist the help of financial experts? Do you feel it's worth it?

What is it About 20 Somethings?

2010-08-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ugh. So I was reading this article in the New York Times Magazine last week, and I just had to tell you it kind of infuriated me. Please read it and let me know what you think.

It boils down to this: kids today are putting off "adulthood" longer than 20 somethings did a generation ago. What's adulthood? A magical age? When you feel like a grown up? Apparently, there are five milestones that mark the transition to adulthood: completing school, leaving home, becoming financially independent, marrying, and having a child. In 1960, 77 percent of women and 65 percent of men had reached all 5 milestones by the time they were 30. By 2000, less than half of the women and 1/3 of men had reached those same milestones by 30. I would not be surprised if the 2010 census data reflects even less.

But is that because 20 somethings are entitled or lazy? I don't think so. I mean, of course, I'm a twenty-something and I'm going to stand up for my age group. First off, the economy is really to blame. I really think having one of the worst economies in a generation is a ripple effect for everything else - how can you leave home when your job barely pays you enough to live (if you even have a job)? On top of that, are you going to be attracting potential mates from your childhood bedroom? Probably not. And don't even think about bringing a baby into that mess.

I'm going to look at the positive aspects of not achieving these milestones - first off, many 20 somethings are "putting off" getting a job right out of school to do something altruistic, like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, or getting involved in other national and international service groups. The rate of service has exploded in the last 20 years. Also, I'd like to think that marrying older (the average age for marriage now is 26 for women and 28 for men, compared to 21 for women and 23 for men in the early 70's) would mean you're better prepared emotionally to handle the responsibilities and the seriousness of marriage. The divorce rate hovers around 50% - maybe because of the 20 somethings holding out, the divorce rate will start to go down in the next 10-20 years. By waiting to have children until you're older, parents are more likely to be financially stable, as well as prepared for the intense and lifelong commitment to be good parents. When did waiting because you're preparing become a bad thing?

What do you all think? Do you think that 20 somethings are putting off becoming adults or do you think they're taking time to make decisions that will impact the course of their lives?

Friday Deals

2010-08-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's Friday Deal time!

*Take 20% off online purchases at The Body Shop for their Friends and Family promotion. Enter code FF10 at checkout. Ends Sunday.

*Keeping with the beauty theme, get a FREE 2 oz. bottle of Bath and Body Works' new scent Dark Kiss with any online order...sounds very "Twilight" if you ask me (not necessarily a bad thing).

*FREE samples of Playtex Sport tampons (huh) and Emergen-C at Walmart.com

*FREE small popcorn at Regal Cinemas when you "like" them on Facebook - gets you a printable coupon that is valid for this weekend only (8/27-8/29).

*FREE lip gloss when you order any PINK product online at Victoria's Secret. Just enter code GLOSS10. Expires on September 2nd.

*Also at Victoria's Secret, FREE PINK body lotion with any PINK purchase when you're a member of the PINK nation.

*If you need to stock up on cute fall essentials, head over to Boden - buy 3 items, get the 4th one for $1! Not too shabby...unfortunately, I'm not in the market for clothes that don't have panels. Blah. Take advantage for me, non-preggo friends!

*The Gap Inc stores (Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Gap Outlet, and Banana Republic Factory Store) are doing their Give and Get Promotion this weekend. Here's a coupon to get 30% off your purchases and 5% of what you spend goes to my charity of choice, Feeding America. It's only valid in stores with the coupon, and it lasts until Sunday. Do some good while you're filling up your closet.

*Ann Taylor LOFT is having a good fall sale - buy one top or sweater, get the second one 50% off. It only applies to full-priced items, and I'm not sure when it ends, so hurry!

A good list of deals if I do say so myself! Know of any other good ones out there? Leave them in the comments!

Have a great weekend!

Life is What Happens When You're Busy Making Other Plans...

2010-08-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry to start off with yet another apology for the lack of posts. My husband and I were in NYC for a week (two weeks ago...), and both Frugal Femme and I have been going through some life changes. I'll let Frugal Femme discuss her stuff when she's ready, but my husband and I found out 7 weeks ago that we're expecting our first child! It's been a VERY exciting time for sure! But it's also been exhausting (and I don't even have a kid yet!). But my first trimester is under my belt, and the second trimester has been so much better. I can't complain that much - I've had it pretty easy so far. I didn't really have any morning sickness, thank goodness. I had some pretty weird food aversions, but I still had an appetite. And now, I'm definitely in the "eating for two" stage.

Okay, so I know this is not a baby blog, so for those of you here for personal finance, we're still your gals! However, this blog has definitely evolved to include personal things that happen to me and Frugal Femme, so expect our future entries to reflect what's been going on in our lives.

So question for you parents out there: what would you suggest for a family getting ready to expand? Experiences to have? Things to do before baby? Amount of money to save? Things to straighten out?

My husband and I would appreciate any and all advice!

Friday Deals

2010-08-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE music downloads for Cost Plus World Market members! They are doing a promotion of "Eat, Pray, Love" (so excited to see that) so they have all kinds of great international music from the soundtrack to choose from. You get three free songs! You have to be a member, but it's free, and you get all kinds of cool perks!

*Did I say happy Friday earlier? I meant Happy National Root Beer Float Day! Go to A&W Restaurant's Facebook page to get a coupon for a FREE root beer float! Yum!

*Express is having a Friends and Family Sale - $15 off a purchase of $30, $30 off a purchase of $75. Use this coupon or online with code 4405 - expires tomorrow so hurry!

*25% off your purchase at Borders! Use this coupon (and you must be a Borders Rewards member - it's free to sign up).

That's it! Hope you guys have a great weekend!

Wake Up Call

2010-08-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

In the last year, my husband and I have endured a tremendous amount of financial change - unemployment, new job, and buying our first home. Every year or so, I like to do a personal financial strength assessment on USAA (if you're a member, do it! Do it now!). But after not doing one in awhile with so much that had changed, it was a little scary and I decided I really need to get my sh*t together.

What I learned that I can pass to you:

1) Get thee to a lawyer! Doesn't everyone have a friend who is a lawyer these days? Well, use their services to write your will and estate plan. You could even do it on your own by reading some books or heading over to LegalZoom. Bottom line - you should have a plan for the unexpected. Regardless of how much or how little you have, you should make sure your stuff will be taken care of by the appropriate people. Make sure your beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance policies are updated, too (and match what you put in your will). While you're doing the legal stuff, also look into any medical authorizations you should put in writing and who should make decisions. The Terri Schiavo situation years ago should have put that into perspective for us...

2) Do you know your coverages? Life insurance, disability, homeowners/renters, auto insurance, health insurance....the list is quite staggering. Do you if you're covered? Do you know how much coverage you have? Research your policies and talk to your HR department if you're not sure if you have adequate coverage. This can make a huge difference if something catastrophic happens to you. If you're married, make sure your spouse checks into their stuff, too.

3. Make sure to include debt into your emergency fund - this should have probably been a huge "duh" for me. I included things like our mortgage and car loans, but student loans? Forgot about those. Since we don't have credit card debt, we're all good on that end, but I need to bump up my emergency fund a tad to pay for student loan debt.

Anyone else taken a financial assessment? What do you need to work on?

Leaking Money?

2010-07-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend - sorry for the lack of posts recently. I think it's what's called "summer plans". :) Anyway, trying to be better and don't be too upset.

So leaking anything is never good (unless there's a chocolate fountain that's sprung a leak). Now that I'm a homeowner, the word "leak" sends chills down my spine, as does "hole", "repair" or "sinking foundation". How would you feel if I told you that you have a money leak? Well, chances are you probably have one! According to a recent study in SELF magazine, people cannot account for an average of $1100 a year! This comes mainly from incidental expenses that add up over time.

For me, I definitely leak money when I have cash. Since I rarely have it (I put everything on a credit card), when I do have a few bucks in my wallet, it's gone! I had $60 in cash this time last week, and now I have $13. I went to the farmers' market and spent $8.50 on berries, lemonade and the most amazing chocolate chip cookie, I spent $2 on parking at my doctor's office, $15 at the grocery store and the remaining $22, I have no idea. And this is someone who actually pays attention to where her money goes...or tries to, anyway. If I did that every week, I'd lose track of $1144 a year, just like the average person! Eek!

So what can I do to stop leaking money? Well, for one, I know cash doesn't work for me - I can't track it and it seems to disappear easier. Another thing is keeping in check those little things that seem to add up. There's nothing wrong with dinner and drinks with friends, a movie date with Junior Mints, or getting those shoes (on sale, hopefully). But it comes with a trade-off - you're further away from your savings goals. Every time you have a questionable purchase, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?". If the answer is yes, do it! If not, don't. It's that simple.

Do you leak money? How do you keep focused?

Book Review: You Don't Have To Be Rich

2010-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Back from a mini-vacation with my husband and good friends! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

While I was on vacation, I started and finished 2 personal finance books (who reads personal finance on vacation?). I love Jean Chatzky (you may have seen her on the Today Show or on Oprah) and I picked up her book "You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms". I thought it was a great book, and it had many interesting points. Three interesting points:

1) The amount of money you make has no bearing on your happiness - so the old addage "Money can't buy you class"....whoops, (too much Real Housewives of New York) I mean "Money can't buy you happiness" definitely rings true. Unless you are destitutely poor and cannot meet basic needs like food, shelter and clothing, the more money you make does not make happier. The research Chatzky conducted consisted of asking questions about happiness with your health, self-esteem, job satisfaction, satisfaction with friendship, relationship with a significant other and financial happiness to 1500 people. Once people made about $50,000 (close to the median salary in the U.S.), happiness in all categories was about the same. This is probably because once you make more money, your habits change. You start spending more because you tell yourself you deserve it or you somehow validate your extra spending to yourself. However, one thing the research demonstrated was that money could make you miserable. If people had too many bills, were incapable of balancing their household's budget, or constantly worried about the state of their finances, money turned out to make them unhappy, even if they made a six figure salary. Mo' money, mo' problems.....

2) Living within your means - I know, this probably gets so old. You hear it from us all the time at Lean with Green, but people (except you, dear readers!) don't get the message. According to the research, most people can meet basic needs (mortgage, groceries, utilities, etc) and they also have enough money to have a good time (65% of people said they had enough money to travel, eat out, shop, etc). But less than 1/3 of people could weather a financial hardship, 1/4 of people said they save the amount they would like for retirement, and 20% say they have enough for their children's education. What the what? People would rather go on a trip than save for retirement? Okay, yeah me too! But if you're shorting your future and your kids' future because you like cashmere sweaters in every color, something's gotta give. If you're already contributing to your retirement, have 6-12 months of living expenses saved, and have plans for your kids' education (if applicable), then go to the Bahamas! But I'm assuming for most people, you need to get to work and stop robbing your future self.

3) Make an "enjoyment list" - make a list of things that make you happy. That way, you know what adds to your happiness and you might be surprised to find that many of those things costs little to nothing. What's my enjoyment list? Getting a hug from my husband, spooning with my dog, taking a bath, a cup of coffee with a friend, hosting dinner parties, a long walk on the beach, eating Thai food, Sex and the City marathons, reading a good book, board games, cooking and baking, kickboxing, breakfast for dinner, blogging, Maui, family get-togethers around the holidays and good hair days. Almost everything I mentioned on that list is free or low cost. And Maui isn't free or low cost, but it's something I wouldn't mind saving for because it truly makes me happy (AND I have an emergency fund and contribute to my retirement - ha!).

Chatzky's book was great, and I'd highly recommend it. She has a lot of interesting statistics from her research, and she offers some good pointers for general personal finance from getting appropriate life insurance to how to consolidate your credit cards to save money and more.

I'm curious about what you all think - do you think money makes you happier? What are some things on your enjoyment list?

Friday Deals!

2010-07-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

What a week! Although I love me a three-day weekend, the amount of work you have to do doesn't go anywhere just because you have an extra day off, you know? I digress....

Here are your Friday Deals!

*80% off a $25 gift certificate at restaurant.com when you enter code FUN.

*20% off orders at philosophy.com when you enter code twentypercent.

*FREE C.O. Bigelow lip shine with any $10 purchase at Bath and Body Works! It starts today online (enter code shiplip) and tomorrow in stores. Looks like it's only good through tomorrow, so take advantage! For more information, "like" Bath and Body Works on Facebook.

*FREE Thai Cashew Chicken Breast meal at Panda Express on July 14th with this print out coupon.

*And one of my favorite days of the year is coming up - July 11th...otherwise known as FREE Slurpee Day at 7-11 stores! On Sunday, go to a participating 7-11 between 11 AM and 11 PM to get a FREE 11 ounce Slurpee! Sounds soooo good in this hot weather!

Enjoy your weekend! See you next week!

Happy July 5th!

2010-07-05T09:56:00.001-07:00

I hope you all had a great weekend, and if you're lucky enough, it's still going! Maybe you set off fireworks, maybe you had a picnic with family and friends, or maybe you hosted a 4th of July fete. I'm in the latter category, and as I'm cleaning up and wondering what to do with the 2 cases of leftover Bud Light (gross), I'm also wondering what to do with the hamburger buns, potato salad, cookies, cake, beans...it can't all fit in the fridge and it's been well-documented that I hate leftovers (or at least having them more than once). What's a girl to do?

If you have lots of leftover hamburger/hot dog buns....

*Use the hamburger buns for breakfast sandwiches (I'm patiently waiting as my husband's making me a fried egg and cheese sandwich).
*Season with olive oil, salt and pepper and toast buns for croutons.
*Check out more recipes and unique ways to use leftover buns from Real Simple. Mmmm...bruschetta!

How about leftover potato salad?

*Potato salad sandwich from Cheap Eats sounds pretty good....or these faux latkes with tuna from Lunch in a Box sound interesting....

Other miscellaneous things to use up: chop up leftovers from your crudite platter and put in a salad, crumble leftover hamburger meat and toss into tomato sauce and spices to make sloppy joes, and if you've got any leftover corn on the cob, you could cut off the kernels, mix with black beans, red onions, avocado, lime juice and chili powder and you've got a great salad!

Just for fun, here's a picture of my American flag cake!

Okay, back to cleaning up - have a good rest of your weekend!

Friday Deals!

2010-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! Lots to look forward to this weekend, and the fact that it's a long holiday weekend makes it even better! Here are your Friday Deals!

*As if I needed a reason to eat at yummy McCormick and Schmick's! Get a FREE movie ticket when you present this coupon with your dinner all this holiday weekend (Friday - Monday). Woo hoo! Here's a list of the restaurants and theaters that are participating.

*FREE Jr. Deluxe at Arby's when you buy a drink on July 5th!

*FREE La Source Hand Therapy at Crabtree and Evelyn! Print out this coupon to redeem it.

*FREE music, courtesy of iTunes and Starbucks. Fun summer music to go with your fun summer Frappuccino!

*$15 off every $60 you spend at Express. Sooo love their Editor Pants! Could be a good time to stock up. Use code 7495 when you shop online. Ends Monday.

*The final sale is on at J. Crew - there are some really great deals. I love this sweater! Originally $98, it's now $70!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope you have a fun and safe holiday!

CSA All the Way!

2010-06-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

I talked about my first experience with community supported agriculture (CSA) over a year ago, and over 400 days later, I still love my experience. Newlywed Next Door and I even had a conversation about how to pick a CSA, and I thought folks might be interested in what was helpful for me when picking a farm.

First, to find CSA in your region, try an internet search. Some areas have a very vibrant CSA community. My hometown of Portland, Oregon is a bastion of community supported agriculture - they have a coalition of all the CSAs in the area so you can search from one list in the Portland area, or even in the state.

Here are some factors I consider when choosing a CSA:

1) Flexibility - the CSA order I have has two pickup options - weekly or every other week. There's usually so much produce we have a hard time using it in a week so we love the every other week option. Plus, they offer ways to get substitute days (say if you'll be out on vacation) so you don't pay for food you won't use. Another great thing as far as flexibility - see if you have the option to sub out certain fruits or vegetables you don't care for. Not all CSAs will allow you to exchange fruits and vegetables.

2) Produce available - many CSAs typically offer food from their farm and they also partner with other farms for a wider selection of produce. But again, not all do - some just offer what's on their farm and it might not be a very diverse selection. It's worth looking into unless you'd be happy with just salad greens and carrots.

3) Cost - is it worth it to get a CSA? I pay 30 for a basket and it's essentially our only produce for the week. I build meals around what we get in our box. I honestly think it's on par with grocery store prices but the quality is obviously way better, so it's a better deal. We typically get about 8-10 pounds of fruit and veggies - this week we got lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, grapes, peaches, nectarines, oranges, carrots, a cucumber, spring onions, and radishes. But if you don't want to commit that amount of money to that much produce, the farmers markets are really good options.

And if you're in the Seattle area, definitely check out Full Circle Farm. They are a great farm with great people and awesome food!

Does anyone else use a CSA and do you have any thoughts on what else to look for?

Friday Deals

2010-06-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday to you all! I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend - big US soccer match against Ghana tomorrow morning, nice weather (finally!), and a whole mess of errands...okay, I'm not excited about those. Here are your Friday Deals!

*30% off in stores and online at Old Navy! Enter code ONBIG30 if placing an online order. Ends Tuesday, June 29th.

*Nordstrom is having their half-yearly sale for men!

*25 FREE songs from Urban Outfitters on iTunes! You've got until Halloween to take advantage of this!

*FREE samples of Nivea Happy Sensation lotion and Starbucks VIA instant coffee at Walmart.com. Who knew that I would be going to Walmart.com so frequently?

*My newest store obsession Boden is having a 50% off sale!? WHAT? Really cute stuff that was full price yesterday is now half off! I love this nautical-looking sweater - $27! The original price was $68!

*Take an extra 20% off clearance at Express.

That's all for now! Have a fantastic weekend!

Clean and Green: Making Your Own Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

2010-06-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you're spending a ton of money on cleaning products and then literally watching it go down the drain? Are you searching for eco-friendly cleaning options? Do you feel like I'm one question away from advertising an "As-Seen-On-TV" product?

Seriously, all you need to do is raid your cabinets. White vinegar is particularly versatile. It's a natural deoderizer and disinfectant. Here are a couple of ways to use vinegar:

*Mix equal parts vinegar and water for a multipurpose cleaner.

*Pour 2 cups of vinegar around your toilet bowl and let stand for an hour or so to clean your toilet.

What else can you use in your kitchen? Baking soda and coarse salt (good for scrubbing), olive oil (good for cleaning stainless steel appliances and polishing unvarnished wood), and lemon juice (cleaning copper and brass).

Here are some articles and posts I love with some great ideas!

25 Ways to Clean with Vinegar (thanks to my good friend Taiece for pointing this one out)

Non Toxic Home Care

How to Clean Your House the Eco Friendly Way

Do you all make your own eco-friendly cleaning supplies? Any other tips or methods to use what you've got to save money and the environment?

Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves!

2010-06-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Cue Aretha Franklin. I've never really thought about myself as someone who fixes things...in fact, I usually break things. But aside from my clumsiness, I also don't have much confidence in the area of home maintenance and repair. I totally bought into the gender stereotype that it's "man's work" - mostly because it was easier for me.

Enter The Home Depot. Okay, not really. The store itself still really intimidates me. But they have an amazing breadth of FREE classes for home improvers! My favorite? The Do-It-Herself workshops. These are geared toward and attended by women, and I'm a big fan! I've taken two sessions with my good friend Kate - one about painting and one about eco-friendly gardening. They've been fantastic! Not only are you typically in a small group, but you can ask all those questions you've been afraid to ask to an expert in their different departments. It's essentially like a tutoring class for those of us who might be behind in the subject of fixing things.

Best part? Free stuff! Out of the two workshops I've taken, here are all the things I've gotten for free: issues of Martha Stewart Living magazine, a can of primer, a strawberry plant, and a 4x8 wood garden bed! Yeah!

So for those of you who maybe need some brushing up (or a total reboot) of your home improvement skills, I'd look into the Home Improvers' Club at Home Depot. Great resource for people who want to get creative, get their hands dirty and put some sweat equity into their house!

Have you taken any home improvement classes to learn about how to take care of your house or would you rather pay someone to do it for you?

Friday Deals!

2010-06-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Here are your Friday Deals!

*Another FREE sample of Starbucks VIA from Costco! I love that!

*Need a new phone? Stop by T-Mobile tomorrow and get any phone FREE! Of course, you have to sign a 2 year contract, but really, any phone = FREE! Nice!

*We mentioned this on our Facebook page, but check out Burt's Bees Grab Bag! Full of great products (15!!) with a value of over $50...you get it for $25 for a limited time!

*Bare Necessities is having a Friends and Family Sale for 25% off - enter FRIEND at checkout. Ends on Monday.

*Bath and Body Works' Semi-Annual Sale is still happening - I love the buy 3, get 3 FREE signature collection! I know it's June, but it could be a great time to get a jump on holiday shopping (I know -that's crazy talk). I love the Cherry Blossom lotion!

And don't forget about Father's Day this Sunday - some specials for Dear Ol' Dad:

*FREE TCBY for dads on Sunday at participating locations!

*FREE small breakfast for dads on Sunday at IKEA!

*Great deals on magazines at Amazon for Father's Day! Forbes Magazine is 88% off - $15 for a year subscription!

*Don't forget a card! You can send FREE ecards at 123greetings.com.

Remember, you don't have to do something expensive to show Dad how much you love him and appreciate everything he's done for you - wash his car, make him dinner, make a photo collage. Being thoughtful always results in a good gift, regardless of how much money you spend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Make Your Own Seasoning Mix

2010-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say that I started making my own seasoning mixes because I have it that together. Not true. I am lazy and I really wanted tacos. But we were out of seasoning mix. Realizing that I own every spice under the sun I figured I could make my own. And I could! It was super simple and very tasty. Now in the grand scheme of things, you aren't going to save a lot of money by not buying seasoning packets, so I don't recommend going out and purchasing all of the spices to make them. But if you have them in your cupboard why not? And it's a lot healthier for you as well because there aren't a lot of processed ingredients.

Here is a link to my favorite taco seasoning mix from About.com.

Anyone else have some recommendations for tasty homemade spice mixes?

How Separate Bank Accounts Saved My Marriage

2010-06-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Okay that might be a little dramatic. But it has been a very beneficial step. When my husband and I got married we ahered to the philosophy that we put all of our earnings into one pot. As such we didn't see the need for having our own checking or savings accounts. We budgeted each month for us to have a set amount of spending money we could do whatever we wanted with.

Problem being this never really worked out. No one kept track of how they were spending and inevitably one person would spend more than the other. Then the arguments started. You spent WHAT on your haircut? HOW much were drinks with your friends?

The obvious solution is to get our own accounts which we finally did. They both link to our joint account, but we don't have access to each others individual accounts. It's been working great! I don't have to feel guilty about how much I spend on highlights and my husband is free to enter a poker game without me complaining about it being a waste.

Also having my own set of money has made me more conscious overall. When you are looking at a larger amount of money in a checking account a $10 lunch out doesn't seem like a big deal, but with my more conservative allowance, I'm starting to better understand and actually see how those small purchases add up. Now when I want to go out to eat, I make sure it's for something I'm going to really enjoy. I find these habits spilling over into the joint budget as well.

How do you and your significant other manage personal and joint money?

Book Review: The Automatic Millionaire

2010-06-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the "latte factor", coined by author and personal finance expert David Bach - it's about how minor incidental purchases add up over time to ruin people's finances and could derail your savings and your retirement plan. After wanting to hear more of Bach's thoughts on saving and budgeting, I picked up his book "The Automatic Millionaire". It was a quick read (took me about 2 hours to get through 220 pages) and had one very intriguing point: if you pay yourself first and make your savings automatic, you don't have to do anything else to have a solid retirement fund. No budgeting. No hairpulling. No kidding.

Okay, so I'm generalizing a little bit. Bach goes into more detail and has some pretty compelling stories from individuals and couples who have paid themselves first. One couple he worked with made a combined gross of $55,000 a year (in early 2000 wages PLUS they live in the Midwest where expenses are lower); however, they were able to outright own two homes (no mortgages), put two kids through college, and have a million in the bank by the time they were 55! What the what?! The couple went back to never carrying any debt (paid for everything in cash with the exception of their first home) plus they paid themselves first with automatic 401K contributions.

Bach pretty much sold me on his idea. If you aim to put 12-15% of your pretax earnings into a retirement account (401K, 403b, IRA, etc), you don't necessarily need to worry about budgeting for specific categories, like housing, groceries, etc. I'm a little Type A (I see my husband snorting at this declaration) so I'd like to know ballpark amounts of what I'm spending every month. But I can see how if you took the guessing out of how much you need to be saving for retirement and just did it, your worries would be gone.

Two great points I took away from "The Automatic Millionaire":

1) When you're talking about "paying yourself first", ask "how many hours did I work for myself this week?". Use your pretax hourly wage and compare with how much you're saving. Are you working 1 hour for yourself, 10 hours? It puts it in perspective if you might be saving less than you should.

2) Did you know the government didn't start taking taxes out of your paycheck until 1943? They thought people could save and pay at the end of the year! Those feds are smart though, and now take it automatically out of your paycheck. If only we were as smart as the IRS!

I'd love to hear from you all about this!

Who thinks "The Automatic Millionaire" and David Bach are right - if you just worry about your retirement savings, then everything else will fall into place? Or do you think everything needs to be budgeted just so?

Friday Deals!

2010-06-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Who's excited for Friday!? Me! A long week, but I've got a fun weekend ahead of World Cup, gardening and enjoying the sunshine! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE Sweet Tea at Popeye's tomorrow (Saturday, June 12th) - looove sweet tea!

*FREE one night rental from Redbox on Monday, June 21st if you "like" their page on Facebook.

*FREE Starbucks tall coffee at Barnes and Noble when you download their eReader app to your mobile device.

*Another Facebook deal - $1 off Skinny Cow product of your choice when you like them on Facebook. Look under the Fan Exclusives tab.

*Bath and Body Works starts their Semi-Annual Sale today. Lots of good deals - $4 lotions, $5 signature classics, and up to 50% off many other items!

*$2 tank tops at Old Navy tomorrow (Saturday, June 12th) in stores.

That's it! Have a great weekend!

Keeping it Real

2010-06-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Let me preface this post by saying that just because I co-write a financial literacy blog, I am in no way an expert on money matters nor do I always make the best choices. The blog helps keep me on track and I get inspiration from all of you wonderful readers, but I still slip up from time to time.

As you know, my husband and I bought our first home a few months ago. After we signed our downpayment check, I definitely felt a little ill - I mean, in one transaction, all of the money we saved for two years was gone! I know we saved specifically to buy a house, but it still was a little overwhelming. And I swore to myself that we'd be thrifty. We'd paint (because that's one of the cheapest ways to dramatically change the look of a room) and we saved up for a few pieces of new furniture (with a bonus check we got from using our realtor).

But all of a sudden, I got bitten by the perfection bug. I kept looking at our house as something we needed to have perfect within the first few months of living here. A new armchair and loveseat meant new throw pillows and blankets. A new bookshelf meant buying things to put in it. And soon, new art with custom framing, new towels and a higher credit card bill than I had expected. Gulp.

After having the bill stare me in the face, I realized a few things. One - a home is an ongoing process. Things do not have to be design book staged....well, ever...but especially within a few months. Figure out exactly what you're looking for, what you want your home to feel like, and what your tastes are. Two - you do not have to buy things brand new. Look into consignment stores, Craigslist, Goodwill...there are definitely great deals out there! It just takes a little bit of patience and a good eye. Three - I need to take my own advice. :) My husband and I have now instituted a no-spend policy on house stuff for an undetermined amount of time, and I'm definitely going to be better about scouring for used furniture. It's better for my wallet and the environment.

Do you ever get off track? What do you do to get refocused on your goals?

Monthly Meal Planning Update

2010-06-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Success! I'm happy to report that we survived our first week of the monthly meal plan and quite enjoyed it. We have shifted some meals around, but we have really curbed the urge to stop at fast food or casual dining for dinner. When you have a full freezer full of food looking back at you it's pretty hard to justify.

Also, once we get in the routine and mind set that we don't eat out unless is a planned or special occasion, eating at home has become more enjoyable. We've focused on meals that we both agree we like and are fairly easy to prepare. We also mix standards with a few new recipes which keeps it interesting.

This week we only spent $25 to pick up fresh produce, milk and bread. If we keep this up, we'll average about $65 per week total for groceries a month including our monthly big shop and weekly pick up. That's down from almost $125 per week, a lot of which we ended up throwing away because we chose not to eat at home.

Another plus side, we have almost an extra hour of our weekend back when we're not fighting other shoppers. It's a win-win.

What are some of your tricks for meal planning?

Profiles in Saving: Mr. Smith

2010-06-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

In our ongoing series Profiles in Saving, Lean with Green interviews people we admire when it comes to being financially savvy. This week's profile is Mr. Smith, married to Mrs. Smith (profiled two weeks ago). Mr. Smith has been a good friend of mine for many years. He works for a large software company in Western Washington, and is also the CEO of Splitts.com, an online company that matches people who are interested in fractional ownership of boats, vacation homes, and other big purchases. I loved what Mr. Smith had to say!

LWG: How did you develop your financially savvy identity?

Mr. Smith: When I was in grad school, my wife was working full time while I was working part time. We were living in an apartment, and just starting to learn how to pay the bills. I really wanted to buy a house after graduation (for no particular reason). To make this happen I had to figure out how much we’d need for a down payment and how much house we could afford, and that forced me to learn how to make and balance a budget. I also started looking at retirement since the retirement calculator was right next to the mortgage one. After running some numbers, I was shocked by how much we’d have to save. That scared me into the person I am today.

LWG: How do you integrate saving into your regular routine?

Mr. Smith: I love automated things. I have my 401k set to take out 9% of my paycheck, send another 15% to my employer’s stock purchase plan (which I flip immediately for 10% profit), and send yet another part of my paycheck to my investment account directly. I also dedicate most of my bonus to our Roth IRA accounts. We try to reserve shopping for replacing things that wear out and for special occasions like birthdays, and we focus our time on being together and being outside.

LWG: What do you splurge on?

Mr. Smith: Durable hobby-related items: things I know I’ll get a lot of use out of and that I’ll have for a long time. By buying something used that will retain its value, I can get a lot of value for not much money. For example, I recently bought a down jacket off Craigslist. It cost $75, but it should last for literally 20 years or more, and I’ll use it several times a month. It was also a birthday present. We also go to almost all “once in a lifetime” opportunities like weddings, and we visit family on the East Coast fairly often.

LWG: What is the best piece of financial advice you've ever been given?

Mr. Smith: My dad told me “Save as much as you can in your early years.” I don’t think he even knew the full extent of how important this is. A dollar saved today is worth around $32 in retirement (based on historical averages). If you’re making an inflation-adjusted salary of $250,000 in retirement (nice job!), you’d need to save $32,000 – 13% of your gross salary – to make up for not saving $1000 today – which is 2% of a $50,000 salary. 2% vs. 13% (of a salary I may never reach) - I know what choice I’m making!

LWG: What is the advice you'd give to someone who wants to be lean with green?

Mr. Smith: Math is your friend. Figure out how much money you need to save for retirement and for other major life expenses (rainy day fund, kids’ college, future car purchases). Then figure out how much you need to save each paycheck to meet those goals. Then set up a direct deposit or automated transfer so that that money is saved automatically. If you do this, you can’t fail to save because you’re effectively “buying” your savings before you get the chance to buy anything else. Of course, you might not be able to afford that much savings, which leads to my second piece of advice: analyze your spending and think about what really makes you happy. Does the $75 you spend on cable TV really make you happy? What about the $500 some people spend at bars every month? The thing you’ll realize isn’t just that some things aren’t worth it but that others are really worth it. For example, a breakfast out with your spouse once a month might cost you $25 but make you both feel great for days. Putting a value on things is especially important with houses and cars. You would think long and hard before spending $1000 on a stereo for your home, but it seems so easy to check the box for the stereo option package at the car dealer. Is it really worth spending $1000 on that? Also, be careful about anything with a subscription. $30 a month doesn’t sound like much, but that’s $360 a year – not cheap (remember, that’s about $11,000 in retirement!). The last thing I recommend is to choose your hobbies wisely. Auto racing costs $200+ dollars a day, going out to bars can easily cost $200 a month, while a membership to the Seattle Art Museum is $60 a year and hiking and playing basketball with your friends are free. Cheap hobbies tend to be good for you, too.

Thanks Mr. Smith!

Are you interested in being interviewed for Profiles in Saving? Leave a comment or contact us at leanwithgreen@gmail.com.

Friday Deals!

2010-06-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you've had a great week! Here are your Friday Deals!

*As previously mentioned on our Facebook page, it's National Donut Day today! Dunkin Donuts is giving away a FREE donut when you purchase a medium beverage, and Krispy Kreme is giving away FREE donuts with no purchase necessary. Yum!

*FREE admission to museums for Bank of America cardholders this weekend! For future reference BofAers, this happens every first full weekend of the month.

*FREE entrance to national parks this weekend! Check the U.S. National Park Service website for future dates - good time to plan for a weekend hike or camping trip!

*Walmart has a bunch of good FREE samples right now - Starbucks VIA instant coffee, Crest 3D White Whitestrips, Purina One Dog Food, and a mini roll of toilet paper from Cottonelle!

*15% off sale shoes at Piperlime. Use code EXTRA15 at checkout.

*20% off with this coupon at H&M - use through June 6th.

*While I don't normally post travel deals, fly to Maui or Honolulu from a major West Coast area for $330 roundtrip on Hawaiian Airlines! That's a great deal! Book until June 11th, and you must travel between August 9th and December 29th.

*Seattle homies - go to a participating Starbucks location after 2 PM today for "We Love Fridays" - a special treat just for Seattle customers for free tickets to local events. This Friday, it's FREE weekday admission to the Seattle Art Museum! No purchase necessary!

That's it! Have a fantastic weekend!

Once a Month Grocery Shopping

2010-05-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

In our ongoing effort to save money I meal planned, for an entire month. It was a bit of undertaking, but overall easier than I expected. Basically I planned my meals around four basic proteins and then bought them in bulk. For instance 5 pounds of ground beef can be found cheaper per pound than one. And you can buy items like pork chops in value packs. Then divide them into meal portions and freeze what you won't using for the week you purchased them.
Plus the added advantage is that I only have to do small trips to the grocery store each week to pick up perishables like fruits and dairy and it's pretty hard to say we don't have anything to eat with a fully stocked freezer.
Some people really go the distance and cook their meals in a weekend so they are fully prepared and just need to be baked or reheated. I didn't put in that much effort. It seemed overwhelming. But I did selected meals that were quick and easy to put together like enchiladas and steamed salmon. Also when I do make something that is a larger recipe, like my lentil chili, I'll freeze the remaining portion.
The key is having everything planned out. That way you don't end up with a bunch of say frozen chicken leftover the last week. It keeps the week well balanced and prevents the question what should we have for dinner.
So far I've spent $168 for a month's worth of groceries including some lunch and breakfast items. I'm hoping to not spend more than $25 a week in perishables keep us under $300 for the month. This will bring us under by quit a bit per month and we plan to add that extra money to our savings.
We do have two nights planned for eating out, but now it will be a enjoyable experience rather than just being too lazy to cook.
We'll see how it goes!

Friday Deals!

2010-05-28T07:38:00.000-07:00

Happy almost Memorial Day Weekend! Hope you get out and do something fun for the holiday! So many people are having sales this weekend!

*25% off and FREE shipping with purchases over $75 at Gap when you enter the promo code GAPSUMMER online. Good through Monday.

*$15 off every $60 you spend at Express with code 7286. Good through Monday.

*20% off coupon for H&M. Expires June 6th.

*40% off sale items at Ann Taylor - enter code SALE40 at checkout. Good through Monday.

*40% off one item at Borders with this coupon! Ends tomorrow.

*Nordstrom is having their half-yearly sale for women and children - prices vary but good deals on great things are to be had for sure!

*FREE small breakfast and coffee at IKEA this weekend!

*FREE insole from Dr. Scholl's when you like Dr. Scholl's for Her on Facebook! Literally you get 1 insole, but the people at Dr. Scholl's are hoping you'll like it so much you'll go out and buy one so you'll also get a coupon. Just in time for summer sandals!

When you shop online, don't forget to use ebates! You get cash back and sometimes even special deals!

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone!

Profiles in Saving: Mrs. Smith

2010-05-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Our second Profile in Saving comes from one of my very good friends, Mrs. Smith. Besides being an excellent cook, a great conversationalist and a nature lover, Mrs. Smith is a twentysomething Western Washington resident who will soon have her Masters in Teaching! Bravo, Mrs. Smith!

I've long admired Mr. and Mrs. Smith's savings mentality, and they were an inspiration for Profiles in Saving. I hope you love Mrs. Smith's words of wisdom as much as I did.

LWG: How did you develop your financially savvy identity?

Mrs. Smith: I really don't know for sure - my mom is pretty prudent about spending, and she was always pretty honest about what we could and couldn't afford. Her general financial philosophy was "be reasonable, and hopefully you'll be able to pay at the end of the month." Not exactly sophisticated. I will say I think New England is a pretty financially conservative area in general - people just aren't really big status consumers for the most part, and growing up in a rural area, I never had the opportunity to develop big spending habits as a kid or a teen. It was 30 miles to the mall, and most of the restaurants near home were diners. So I guess part of it is just how I grew up.

I think the other part of it is I'm terrified of not being able to pay for my lifestyle. I carried about a $1000 credit card balance for two months at the end of college (the cost of a totally worthwhile spring break trip with some girlfriends), and it freaked me out! I couldn't wait to pay it off, and I spent most of the money I got as graduation gifts paying it off as soon as I could. We had one month when we first moved to Washington where our expenses exceeded our income - I hadn't found a job yet, and there were a lot of moving expenses. But it scared the crap out of me, and I've never forgotten it! I think about it when I'm making the littlest decisions, like "should I get a new shower curtain?" Little things add up.

LWG: How do you integrate saving into your regular routine?

Mrs. Smith: Like I said, I think about the wisdom and value of almost every purchase. Almost. I have a tendency to overspend on cosmetics and treats - coffee, special food, new lip balm. But I'm very aware of that habit and I pay attention to it. I figure if I mostly restrict it to things under $5, it's never going to get too out of hand, and I do think it's a good thing to feel like you have a little financial freedom.

In college, I only had an ATM card for years. Every time I wanted to buy something, I'd pick it out, bring it to the register and have them put it on hold, then walk to the ATM to get cash. Usually, somewhere in that process, I'd decide the purchase wasn't worth it. Sometimes it took actually holding the cash in my hand. It's not really a practical way to live as an adult, but it was a habit that really made me more aware of the cost of things.

I'm not a coupon clipper - I never have been, and I doubt I ever will be. I need to feel like my time is valuable. Also, I haven't bought an item of clothing that wasn't on sale in YEARS, with the exception of running shoes and jeans.

LWG: What do you splurge on?

Mrs. Smith: Not much. Makeup and mani/pedis. I have sensitive skin, so I buy all Clinique, which I probably don't really have to do, but it makes me feel better about how I'm taking care of myself. Mani/pedis is really purely about feeling a little decadent, but it's a pretty cheap way to do it, especially since I don't do it that often. I have had too many bad haircuts to bother looking for a cheaper hairdresser. I used to drive to Portland (about a 3 hour drive) for a $45 haircut, and that was great, but it was ridiculous and inconvenient. Now I pay $80, which makes me cringe, and my highlights are $125, which I think is crazy. But my hair looks great, it lasts, and I don't get irritated every single morning.

The other thing I splurge on is excercise. I am willing to pay a lot more money for a gym that I actually like going to.

LWG: What is the best piece of financial advice you've ever been given?

Mrs. Smith: Last year, we were thinking about selling our condo and moving into a larger house. My mom gave me some good advice, which was "Don't buy a house until you can really afford to buy one that you'll love until your kids have moved out of the house." Fair enough. When I do buy a house, I'll have years to enjoy it, and I'll enjoy it more if it's actually big enough to entertain in and to have some flexibility with the space.

I worked for a financial consulting firm for several years, and most of my clients were retirement plans. I used to talk to people who were in their late 50's with maybe $10,000 or $20,000 saved who wanted to know how they should invest in order to get the best income in retirement. It was really tough to talk to them knowing that there was essentially no way they'd be able to retire. It wasn't exactly like someone gave me advice, but I learned my lesson well - PLAN for your retirement from the day you get your first job, and save as much money as you can while you're young. Don't go crazy trying to figure out exactly how much to put in Roth, how much to put in an IRA, how much to put in 401(k), how much to put in taxable savings. Put a good chunk in a 401(k) if you can, especially if you have any kind of match, but don't go nuts. Just put the money somewhere, put it in a balanced portfolio of stock funds, and DON'T TOUCH IT. One thing we realized is that if we ever have kids, it will be so much less financially stressful if we've already got our retirement more or less taken care of.

Otherwise, almost all the financial advise that people have given me when I haven't asked for it has been pretty crappy. Everyone always thinks they've found the new best idea, and usually, common sense and a conservative long-term view are the best way to go.

LWG: What is the advice you'd give to someone who wants to be lean with green?

Mrs. Smith: Money is important. But it's not the only thing. One thing I've noticed is that people who spend a lot of time thinking about how they're going to spend their money often end up earning less of it. Think about how you can grow as a person in your free time, not how you can spend your money. That will probably translate into spending more time doing cheap or free stuff (like volunteering, or taking up a new hobby), and the new, savvier, more self-aware you will probably start doing better in your job or figure out what kind of work you really want to be doing - and eventually, that will translate into bigger paychecks. Which you can put in the bank for retirement and look forward to spending more time on your hobbies and personal growth when you are 55 and sitting pretty on a big 401(k). I think people who are satisfied with their careers and with their personal growth don't tend to look for satisfaction in material things as much.

Thanks Mrs. Smith! Look for Mr. Smith's Profile in Savings next week!

Minimizing the Latte Factor

2010-05-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, a man named David Bach coined the term "latte factor". It basically means that small, incidental purchases every day can add up to be a lot of money over the course of months and years. Your daily $3 latte habit would end up costing you over $1000 a year, hence the name "latte factor". While some people's latte factor might be cosmetics or magazines, mine is definitely lattes, but here's how I'm getting it under control and still indulging.

First off, I'm brewing my coffee at home more often. I'll make a pot on Monday, put the remainder in the refrigerator for coffee later on in the week or iced coffee! Yum! Put a little milk and sugar in it and it tastes just like what you'd get at a coffee shop. Hint: if you have a Cost Plus World Market nearby, that is my favorite place to grab bags of coffee. Their coffee is great and really reasonably priced ($6 for a pound). Ask for a punch card and for every 6 bags purchased, you get a free bag! Plus, if you go on Wednesdays, you get double punches so it only takes 3 bags! It is seriously one of my favorite deals!

I still allow myself to have 2-3 lattes a week. To me, I really like having that treat, and happiness for $3 is pretty cheap in my opinion. How do I limit myself and still enjoy? I have a Starbucks card that I load at the beginning of every month with $25. Keeping that money on a Starbucks card versus using cash or a credit/debit card keeps me accountable - once it's gone, it's gone for the month. A bonus about having a Starbucks card is that if you register it, you earn one reward point every time you pay with your card. Once you get a certain amount of reward stars, you're eligible for things like free drinks, coupons, free wifi in stores, free drink customization... a pretty good deal if you're already planning on getting coffee anyway!

What's your "latte factor" and are you doing anything to keep it in check?

Profiles in Saving: BudgetBabe

2010-05-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Has there ever been someone you've admired for certain qualities (their business skills, their straight-A habits, their parenting abilities, etc) and you always wanted to ask how do they do it? I thought it would be interesting to do just that. I asked a few of my friends and family members whose financial skills I admired and present them to you in Profiles in Saving! For the first profile, I decided to do myself...I was available for an interview. :)

LWG: How did you develop your financially savvy identity?

BB: I think it took me awhile to get a sense of what I should be doing with my money. I have always been good about tracking it - as soon as I got my first checking account, I diligently updated my checkbook register. I switched soon to online banking and checked my accounts multiple times a week. I even signed up for Mint.com 3 years ago (way before it was cool). But I did not understand the importance of money until further on down the line. I had multiple credit cards and I only paid the minimum balance. I had store credit cards. I didn't save money I earned. My husband's unemployment really made me stop and think about what I was doing. I started noticing how my spending habits weren't matching up with my goals, and noticing the things I spent my money on didn't necessarily make me happy. Since I had my financial epiphany a year and a half ago, I'm credit card debt-free, I'm a homeowner of a house well within my budget, I have built up an emergency fund to last 6 months, and I co-write a personal finance blog! :)

LWG: How do you integrate saving into your regular routine?

BB: IFor me, it starts with being a savvy consumer. For big purchases (anything over $500), I do some research and shopping around. For everyday purchases, I shop smartly. I don't spend time clipping coupons - they are usually for products I don't buy and it seems like a waste of 30 minutes to save $2. I do shop sales at grocery stores and stock up if there's a product I use frequently. I use group saving sites, like Groupon and Living Social. My other purchase that adds up tends to be coffee - my solution was limiting myself to $25 per month. Once I go over, that's it for the month. It allows me to have an indulgence but I reign it in.

As far as savings go, I need to be better about making it automatic. Right now, anything that's left over at the end of the month goes into savings, and that's usually a decent amount. But making it automatic will just make it less work for me and make it more routine.

LWG: What do you splurge on?

BB: I definitely could slim down my clothes shopping budget. I've improved and I still don't usually spend more than $100 on clothes per month, but I do still get things that are not necessities. I try to stick with the rule of throwing one thing out if I'm going to buy something new, but that takes discipline that I lack sometimes. What I'm splurging on currently is higher quality food products. I subscribe to a CSA (community supported agriculture) and I get an organic produce box every other week for $30. I really believe that what you put into your body is so important and it can affect everything - your health, your skin, your mood. Plus, it's better for the environment to buy local. It is really worth the investment in my opinion.

LWG: What is the best piece of financial advice you've ever been given?

BB: Save at least 10% of any money you ever get - salary, gift, inheritance, etc. My dad said that to me a few years ago when one of his friends said he'd been doing that since he was 15 and it really stuck with me.

LWG: What is the advice you'd give to someone who wants to be lean with green?

BB: I think to not obsess about saving money. I think that ends up backfiring and causing more stress and headaches than it's worth. Live your life and spend your money in a way that's meaningful to you, but make good choices.

Coming next week, a Profile in Savings about some of my best friends. They are a married couple who have inspired me in many ways, but particularly when it comes to being financially smart! I hope you learn as much as I did from them! Stay tuned!

Book Review: The Millionaire Next Door

2010-05-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

I had been meaning to read "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas Stanley and William Danko for the last few months, so I was really excited when it was finally available on my library list! Overall, I thought the book was pretty good - I'd give it a B. While I didn't take away any specific saving strategies, I did come away with some really great ideas and insights.

Points I loved from the book:

Wealth is not the same as income - if you make a decent amount of money every year but spend it all, you're not getting wealthier.

There are seven factors to being wealthy - living well below your means, allocating time and energy efficiently in ways to conducive to building wealth, believing financial stability is more important than displaying high social status, and choosing the right occupation are among them. The other 3? Millionaires did not have "economic outpatient care" given to them by their parents, their children (if applicable) are economically self-sufficient, and they are proficient in targeting marketing opportunities.

Saving takes discipline - just because you are a college graduate with a prestigious job does not guarantee you financial independence and a sizable retirement account. You must plan to save at least 10% of your take home pay and avoid typical spending traps, like new luxury cars, expensive wardrobes and a lavish lifestyle.
A budget is essential - the authors compared a household that operates without a budget to a business that operates without a plan, goals or directions. It won't work. You must know how much you spend and analyze how you could be saving more and spending less.

Know your spouse's money habits - most millionaires married someone frugal like them, or some married people even more frugal. If you're single now, make sure talking to your significant other about money is on your list of things to do. Spenders don't tend to be millionaires.

Don't give your children unlimited access to your money - this saying by the authors really resonated with me: the more dollars adult children receive, the fewer dollars they accumulate, while those who are given fewer dollars accumulate more. If your kids need help, give them the skills and tools they need to solve the problem instead of throwing money at it.

Did anyone else read this book? Are there any other personal finance books you'd recommend?

Saving Money on Food, Part 2 - Produce Edition

2010-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

You'll remember a few weeks ago when Frugal Femme started our "Saving Money on Food" feature - she talked about cupboard challenges and using up food before it goes bad instead of throwing it away. I find the most of what I waste is produce, and a lot of that is due to not storing it properly. After talking to local farmers and researching on the web, food storage makes a huge difference. For one thing, if produce is stored properly, it has a longer life. Not only that, but if it's stored incorrectly, you could be unknowingly sacrificing many vitamins and minerals! Here are some tips:

Keep Food Dry

Moisture is one of the biggest reasons we lose fruits and veggies - it causes them to rot and get moldy! Don't wash your produce until you're ready to use them.

Keep Produce Cold

There is an exception to this rule for some items (apricots, avocados, bananas, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, pears, pineapple, plums, potatoes, tomatoes and onions), but almost everything else should be kept in the refrigerator. It slows the aging process and keeps produce fresher longer and keeps vitamins in tact.

All Refrigerator Space is NOT Created Equal

Do you know that some places in your refrigerator are better for storing specific produce items than others? For instance, keep berries in the front of your fridge - it's warmer there. Other things that can go in the front? Citrus, melons, corn, and peas. Your crisper drawers are for things that need a little more humidity, like leafy greens and lettuce, fresh herbs, cucumber, broccoli, radishes, carrots, zucchini and other squash, eggplant, green beans, and peppers. Apples, cherries and grapes stand up pretty well so they can go just about anywhere.

USE IT!

It's so sad/frustrating/wasteful when I buy perfectly good fruits and vegetables and I forget about them until they have a layer of fuzz. It might actually be more entertaining to light money on fire. I make sure to use the produce that goes bad quicker (mushrooms, berries and greens) first. For certain fruits, I try to figure out another way to use them if they might be going bad soon. Overripe bananas are the best for a good banana bread, and freezing berries for smoothies or baking would be a good way to use things that might have a quick shelf life.

Any tips you'd like to share about using food up before it goes bad? I'd love to hear!

Friday Deals!

2010-05-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Did this week fly by for you all? Man, it's mid-May already! Hope you all have a fun weekend in store! Here are your Friday Deals!

*$1 off coupon for Suave Professionals products when you become a fan on Facebook.

Image by Suave

*FREE samples at Walmart.com of Eucerin lotion and Prilosec OTC. PS - did you know that Walmart.com has a whole section for FREE samples, tools and music downloads? What the what?!

*FREE glass of wine at P.F. Chang's on Tuesday, May 18th at 5:18 PM. It's to promote their new wine Vineyard 518.

*Spend $25 at drugstore.com and get a $25 gift certificate to restaurant.com. Nonprescription orders only.

*Have you heard about Ebates yet? It's one of my favorite online shopping sites, and right now when you shop through them, you get 11% cash back in honor of their 11th anniversary! Awesome, right!? Click to join here and start getting rewarded for your shopping!

*Vera Bradley is having a Last Chance sale! 50-70% off certain colors and styles!

*20% at philosophy when you enter the code HAPPINESS at checkout for Friends and Family time! Ends 5/20.

*Ongoing deals and freebies: FREE bagels at Noah's (or Einstein Brothers) with coupon before 11 AM every Friday until the 22nd, and half priced Frappucchinos at Starbucks through Sunday (3-5 PM). Mmm....coffee frappucchino with a little bit of whipped cream and sunshine sounds perfect for a Friday afternoon, don't you think?

Image by Starbucks

Happy weekend all! Have a great one!

Act Your Wage

2010-05-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

I was driving down the street the other day, and I saw this sticker on a car. I literally sat at a stoplight for 30 seconds, analyzing the sticker, thinking about what I thought it meant, forming an opinion of the driver of the older, white van who believed in this so much he put it on his car.

Clearly it's talking about not getting in over your head, and not spending more than you make. Who cares if you don't have a brand new convertable? Or if your house isn't the biggest on the block? If you act your wage, you'll be sitting pretty when it comes time to retire or send your kids to college.

Acting your wage is not just about not spending more money than you have - it's about enjoying life on a financial level with which you are comfortable! As Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross said, "the best things in life are free", and while I think that's a nice sentiment, you do need money to function on some level. Yes, it would be nice to jet off to some exotic locale for a vacation, but for now, I'll take the trip to eastern Washington (it's exotic in its own right). And not to say you can't vacation at an exotic locale - by all means do if it's in the financial cards! As new homeowners, a trip to Australia is not in our budget. Since it's important to me (er, us), we'll save for it and go when it is feasible.

Think about how many lives are damaged by out of control spending and unnecessary debt - marriages are ruined, friendships are ended, families destroyed. At Lean With Green, this is definitely the message we want to get across. Life is too short to be mired in credit card debt for meaningless purchases or wasteful spending. You can be happy without stuff!

Friday Deals

2010-05-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

TGIF, right?! I hope you all have a fun weekend in store! Here are your Friday Deals!

*20% off all ladies' styles at Gap.com with the code GAPLUVSMOM. Good until Sunday, so it might be too late to get something for Mom, but get something for yourself!

*Starbucks is doing a Frappuccino Happy Hour starting today through May 16th! You get the yummy blended beverages for half-price between 3 and 5 PM.

*FREE sample of Nivea Happy Sensation lotion!

*New York and Company is doing another 50% off sale! Crazy! Ends Sunday.

*Express has a great coupon! $15 off $30 or more, and $30 off $75 or more! Ends tomorrow!

*Still wondering what to get Mom? Well, if she's into books, check out the Borders coupon for 33% off one item! Good through Monday!

*20% off at Harry and David when you enter code DISCOUNT20. Yum! Love their pears!

Happy weekend, y'all!

A New Frugality?

2010-05-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

I loved this article on MSNBC, and I wanted to share it with you all. The main point of the article is that while the economy has showed signs of improving (adding jobs, rising stock market, and increased consumer confidence), many people are still not spending money the way they used to. And economists think this "new frugality" might stick long after the Great Recession is over. The bad part about that? Since the U.S. market is so dependent on consumer spending, the recovery could take longer than other recoveries. But I like to look at the positive side of things - what it says to me is people are putting themselves and their families first and saving instead of spending to keep up with the Joneses.

I do think the recession started a change in my life and in the lives of my friends. For me, obviously it hit home quick - Frugal Femme and I started this blog shortly after my husband was laid off last year and I needed to figure out quick how to make things work with significantly less income. It was nice to be a part of a community who made saving a priority. For my friends, I've noticed less gatherings at restaurants and fewer shopping dates - more of the home gatherings, happy hours and spending quality time together. I definitely think it's made me closer to my friends rather than spending a lot of money at a bar to barely hear what they say.

How about you? Have you taken a new approach to life since the recession hit? Do you think your new habits will stick with you long into the recovery?

Discussion: How Much Do You Have Saved in Your Emergency Fund?

2010-05-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Until about a year and a half ago, I had no such thing as an emergency fund. While I was responsible and I had a savings account, I never felt that bad about dipping into it if my bills were higher than normal or after the holidays. After my husband became unemployed, I understood just how important it was to have at least 6 months worth of living expenses saved up. And I started saving. It took a little more than a year, but we saved up 6 months of expenses! Oh yeah, and that was on one income.

According to USAA, about 22% of people have NOTHING saved in an emergency fund! If you're one of them, don't fear! It's not too late! You have to start small - put away what you can, and try to set up automatic deposits from your paycheck. It's easier to not spend money you think you don't have. Next, make sure you have easy access to it. I wouldn't recommend putting it in a long-term CD. Your emergency fund has to be somewhat liquid so you can get it quickly when you need it. Last, look around for the best rates - check out Bankrate or Mint. You want to make sure your money is getting the most interest it can.

Another important thing to remember about your emergency fund is that it is not a fixed amount for everyone at any point in time. Since my husband and I just bought a house, we have to adjust how much we have saved and contribute a little more to cover the mortgage payments. Did you recently have a child? What about buy a new car? Anything that you would consider essential to living your life needs to be counted for in your emergency fund - don't short yourself. Evaluate every time you add a significant expense to your life.

What about you? Do you have an emergency fund set up? How long would it be good for?

*A couple weeks
*1 month - 3 months
*3 months - 6 months
*More than 6 months
*What's an emergency fund?

Leave your answer in the comments below!

Friday Deals

2010-04-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

So so so SO happy it's Friday! What about you guys? Some deals to make your day that much better!

*Last chance for FREE fries at McDonald's. Make sure you bring this coupon with you.

*FREE sample of Eucerin lotion while supplies last!

*Um, New York and Company is having a half off EVERYTHING sale. What the what? Yep! Lasts until Sunday, but hurry because stuff is moving quick!

*Not quite as good of a deal but still nice, The Limited has a coupon for 25% off (use code 300 if you're online). Good through Sunday.

*Macy's is having their Friends and Family discount right now - save 25% off of purchases and get FREE shipping for orders over $99. Enter code MACYSFFS online. Ends Monday.

*Old Navy is having a 30% off "select seasonal styles" (whatever that means) - enter ONBIG30 at checkout. Ends Sunday.

*And this is a deal that's good any time - head to Origins to get a FREE mini-facial! Just make an appointment! I'm getting mine this weekend!

Happy Friday and a wishing you all a good weekend!

Things I Wish I Knew 10 Years Ago

2010-04-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

As I'm in the process of planning my 10 year high school reunion, I've been having flashbacks to 2000 the past few weeks. I've decided a couple of things: there would be music beyond boy bands, Y2K was actually not a big deal, and I had it pretty good as an 18 year old. I've obviously learned a lot this past decade, and I'm in a completely different stage of my life. I can't just blow off work and go to the beach (yes, I did that in high school) or I can't spend my whole paycheck on restaurants, concerts, and clothes (yes, I did that too). And while I've learned a lot, I think coming to adult terms with money and having a happy relationship with my finances has been one of the biggest changes over the last ten years. If I could travel back in time via hot tub or any other way, this is what I would have said to myself to save myself some heartache, stress and scary financial times:

Store credit cards are not free money.

When a store employee tells you that you can save 10% by just signing some thing and then you get such a convenient way to spend money at their store, Do. Not. Do. It. Don't get them for 5 stores. Each time you open a store credit card, your credit score (the number that all lenders judge you on) will take a hit. You'll be more of a credit risk. You'll spend money you don't have on things you don't need.

30-60-90 is not a suggestion.

Companies are not telling you it might be a good idea to pay within 90 days, or saying you really should think about it. They are telling you that they will take you to collections if you don't pay up within 3 months. This will affect your credit score. Don't pay late. You open yourself up to paying more money (at a minimum) and even not being able to qualify for loans because your credit score will be worse.

Opening a credit card to get a free t-shirt is a huge mistake.

There are lots of schemes to get people signed up for a credit card. Free shirts, free flashlight/bottle opener/mp3 player... but no one ever looks at the fine print. The interest rate is ridiculous, there are insane charges for cash advances (don't do that anyway), and fines for being late, leaving a balance on your card, etc. If you're seriously in the market for a credit card, do some research and figure out what card makes the most sense and offers what you're looking for.

Try to save, even a little bit.

It's hard when you're young and/or you don't have any money. You feel like there's nothing you can save. But dig deep. What if something bad happens and you have no cushion? Try saving $1 a day. That's around $30 a month and almost $360 a year. That would be a huge help if an emergency comes up.

Don't spend money on things that won't matter.

It's hard when you're under the influence....of peers. They're getting designer bags. Or new cars. Or fancy jewelry. But stick to your guns. Spend money on memories, not items. That Tiffany bracelet that everyone wears will pay for a weekend trip. The friends that you'll be grateful to have later won't care what your car looks like or what new item you added to your closet. You'll look back on pictures and fond memories for years to come instead of cleaning out your closet a few years later.

What about you? What's something you would have told yourself to do (or not do) 10 years ago?

Friday Deals!

2010-04-23T08:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Who went to Origins yesterday to get their FREE bottle of cleanser as part of their Earth Day trade-in? I did and I used my Checks and Balances foaming face wash this morning - it's amazing! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE small fry at McDonald's with this coupon to celebrate Free Frydays! You still have a chance next Friday to enjoy!

*FREE bagel before 11 AM at Noah's Bagels on Fridays! YUM! Use this coupon over and over until Friday, May 22nd. Drooling thinking about an everything bagel and schmear....

*Next Wednesday, April 28th is Baskin Robbins' 31-cent scoop night! Get a scoop of ice cream for 31 cents! Baskin Robbins is giving $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, so it'll be a time to honor and celebrate that, as well.

*30% off shorts for men and women at Gap. I love these Bermudas, but it has to be above 60 on a regular basis for me to start wearing them! C'mon sun!

*Take 30% off everything at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor LOFT for Friends and Family! Enter FRIENDS at checkout. Expires on Sunday!

*Take an additional 30% off clearance items at Express!

That's all for now! Have a great weekend!

Confession of a Shopaholic

2010-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

My name is Lacy and I'm a recovering shopaholic. And unlike society wants you to believe, it isn't cute or funny to be a shopaholic. It's damaging to your credit, finances and in my case allowed myself to temporarily try and fill a void.
I wanted to share my story because I think it's important for people to know that they are not alone, but to also know at some point you have to stop making excuses and recognize the damage you are doing.
Shopping was always a fun activity for me and I'd always loved clothes. But it really spiraled out of control when I went to college and discovered I could apply for and get approved for a credit card all on my own. And I did. At one point I had about 10 store credit cards plus a Visa.
And trust me, they all got a lot of use. At first it started out innocently enough. I shopped occasionally to get a new dress for a formal or some sweaters I needed. But as I began to encounter and struggle with anxiety issues and depression, my shopping addiction really took hold.
To most observers I probably looked like the happiest person alive. I was getting a new outfit for every party I went to, getting a new designer purse just because. But inside I was not a happy person. I started to find that shopping was like a drug. I would physically get a high walking in the mall. My heart would race, there would be a feeling of euphoria, my anxiety and depression were gone and I was in the moment.
My shopping "fix" could be anywhere from several hours to a few minutes. But I would always convince myself I "needed" these things. And this happened almost everyday. I'd probably say I averaged $75 per shopping trip. Sometimes I might only buy a necklace for $10, other times it was $450. And I didn't blink an eye. I remember one month I spent $1000 on incidentals and couldn't even tell you that I knew what exactly I had purchased.
Even when the mall was closed, my cards didn't get rest. I remember being at the 24-hour Wal-Mart buying shampoo and scented candles at 2am, because you know, they were essentials that I needed. Needless to say I wasn't even out of shampoo. Oh and Internet. I was constantly ordering online.
I was thousands of dollars in debt and that was with my parents sending me money to support my habit. I don't think they realized how bad it was and just thought oh Lacy likes to shop. I felt like if I didn't have new things people would think less of me. I wouldn't be considered stylish. I did anything to prevent people from having to judge me on heaven forbid, my personality.
After finally going into therapy, my therapist and I determined that I did in fact have a shopping addiction. She as a wonderful woman who helped me work through the underlying issues, and suddenly the urge to shop was not as prevalent.
That's not to say it disappeared completely. And I still struggle with this a lot. I go through times where I obsess about shopping and going after the new shiny thing. If I'm stressed, I want to shop, knowing that high will still be there. I have to fight it.
That's not to say I don't have relapses. They still happen. But it's pretty rare.
Now I focus on really thinking about my purchases and talking myself through them. I select clothes that make me feel good. Nice fabrics, great cuts. And I wear those things over and over. They enhance my personality and mood, but I no longer need a closet full of clothes to feel confident or satisfied. It's taken a long to get here and an ongoing process. If you find yourself experiences the symptoms I did, don't be ashamed. Get help. I promise it will make your life so much more fulfilling.

Earth Day Freebies and Deals

2010-04-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

I love saving money - obviously. But I love it even more when saving money goes hand in hand with saving the environment. I honestly don't know why more people don't put an emphasis on going greener - it's good all around! As you probably know, Earth Day is coming up tomorrow, and some businesses are doing their part to get you to think about the environment AND take advantage of awesome deals!

*I found this hard to believe, but bring a beauty product container (empty or full) to your Origins store and get a FULL SIZED cleanser - either the Checks and Balances face wash or the Perfect World cleanser! Awesome, right? And it doesn't have to be an Origins product you bring in. And to think I was just about to go pay money for some more face wash...oh, and PS, any day of the year, bring in ANY cosmetic container to Origins (again, regardless of brand) and get a FREE sample of a skin care product as part of their Origins Recycling Program!

*FREE admittance to over 100 select U.S. National Parks, now through April 25th!

*FREE classes and a plant for kids at Pottery Barn from 11 AM - 3 PM on April 22nd.

*Send a FREE Earth Day e-card from the World Wildlife Fund.

*A chance to win a FREE reusable bag from Earthbound Farms when you answer 9 of 10 questions on a quiz right. Next chance to win is at this morning at 9 AM Pacific Standard Time!

*In a previous post, I mentioned the BBC's Planet Earth "Pole to Pole" episode for FREE, courtesy of iTunes. Download before April 26th.

I like Earth Day because it gives me a chance to refocus on doing good for the environment. I'm going to start bringing my personal mugs to coffee shops - it saves paper cups AND many cafes (including Starbucks) gives you a few cents off your drink! I'm also going to be much better about turning on the heat when I get chilled and reach for a sweatshirt (or Snuggie -ha!) instead.

What about you? What are your Earth Day resolutions?

Saving money on food part 1

2010-04-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

So after a review of our budget my husband and I discovered that the most out of control part of our budget is food. Whether it's buying too many groceries or eating out too ofte,n a ridiculously large portion of money is wasted on food. And I mean A LOT, like we could have a few more weekend getaways a year a lot. We've tried meal planning and pantry clean-out and freezer meals and prepping food on the weekend. But nothing has stuck. Well we do meal plan, but don't necessarily stick to the menu for the week. We're either too lazy or tired, or we forget or some sort of take-out sounds so much better.

We're slowly working on some steps and solutions that will help us tackle the budget issue, yet still be satisfied with our meals. As we work toward this process I will be sharing a weekly update about what has worked or not worked for us each week in an attempt to help others who struggle with this same issue.

This week and last week we implemented a cupboard challenge. Similar to cupboard clean-out, but with an element of competition added in. Each weekend my husband and I challenge each other to see who can come up with the most meals based on what we already have existing with some fresh purchases. Being a game it makes it more of an activity instead of a chore. And playing off of each others creativity makes for some more interesting and delicious creations.

The one thing to be careful of is to not deplete your stockpile. For instance if you have a lot of frozen chicken, don't make 5 chicken dishes. It's boring and you won't have ingredients on hand when you need to whip up something quick.

Friday Deals!

2010-04-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! TGIF! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE reusable bag at Target on Sunday, April 18th to celebrate Earth Day!

*FREE fries at Jack in the Box today (April 16th) - no purchase required! Woo hoo!

*Buy 1 Blizzard at Dairy Queen, get the 2nd for 25 cents! You have until April 25th and you must use this coupon. I'm quite partial to the Reese's Cups Blizzard, but cookie dough sounds awesome....yum!

*Buy 1 Jamba Juice, get one FREE with this coupon through April 25th.

*15% off at New York and Company - enter code 2400 at checkout. Good until Sunday.

*Take an extra 25% off sale items at Ann Taylor - enter code SALE25.

*If you're a DSW rewards member, you can take $10 off a purchase of $49. Online only and with the promotion code APRIL. Good through Monday, April 19th.

*This is kind of wacky, but if you purchase $100 of merchandise at Cost Plus World Market, get a FREE companion fare!! This is good only through Saturday and it has to be an online purchase. How about a trip to Hawaii? That sounds nice...

Happy weekend everyone!

Tax Day Freebies and Deals!

2010-04-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

"Nothing is certain except taxes and death." - Benjamin Franklin

Unfortunately, that is probably true. Luckily, Tax Day has some good freebies and deals so while it's still certain, it's maybe just a bit more fun!

*Taco Del Mar will be giving away FREE tacos! Just fill out your Taco 1099 and bring to a participating location!

*Cinnabon is trying to make Tax Day less taxing, so they're offering 2 FREE cupcake bites from 6-8 PM!

*McCormick and Schmick's is offering a FREE $10.40 gift certificate to every customer on Tax Day (good for your next visit), plus a $10.40 dinner and drink specials! Oh, and if you are a tax preparer, go celebrate there on the 16th - you get a FREE dessert when you present your business card.

*P.F. Chang's is offering 15% off your bill (not including alcohol - I thought that might be important to add).

*Whole Foods will not be charging sales tax on Tax Day.

*Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery will be giving out FREE slices of their ice cream pizza (uh huh - ice cream pizza) from 3-7 PM. Check here for the participating locations.

*And while I think it's more Earth Day than Tax Day, Starbucks is giving you a FREE coffee if you plan to drink it in a reusable mug.

*File this in the Earth Day more than Tax Day category, too: iTunes is giving away FREE downloads of the BBC's Planet Earth Episode 1.

That should make filing your taxes a little less stressful and a lot more appetizing! If you know of any more deals, feel free to post them in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Friday Deals!

2010-04-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

TGIF for sure! I'm looking forward to going to a wedding to celebrate a great couple and having so many good friends in town! I hope you all have something fabulous in store! Here are your Friday Deals!

*FREE knife sharpening at Sur La Table for their annual cutlery event! Goes through April 30th. ALSO, demos on homemade donuts and ice cream/brownies on Saturdays. Can you say yum!? All free, just show up! I'm hoping that samples are involved...

*Sephora is continuing their Skincare Challenge! If you're a Beauty Insider, enter 10FREE at checkout to get a bag full of 10 samples! (psst - it's free to join and you get a ton of rewards). While supplies last...

*Just found out about this amazing FREE resource at Home Depot while I was picking up stuff for the new house - the Home Improvers Club! They have classes and workshops to help teach you the skills you'll need to fix up your home! There's even a Do-It-Herself club for the ladies! I signed up to take a painting class! Can you tell I'm really excited about this?!

*Restaurant.com has yet another deal - get a $25 gift certificate for $3 when you enter DISH at checkout.

*Spring giving you a kick in the pants to get in shape? Donate a pair of your old workout pants to Lucy (love them!) and get $10 off a new pair! In stores only and good until April 30th. I love these Hatha Power Pant...makes me want to break out the yoga mat right now....

*60% off items at Express!

*Are you a wing fan? At participating Buffalo Wild Wings, you can get 6 wings FREE when you buy six wings. Here's the coupon you'll need.

*And a Borders coupon to round things out - 30% off for you and 30% off for a friend!

Happy weekend!

Happy Financial Literacy Month!

2010-04-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

Yay! Time to celebrate! In case you didn't know, President Obama signed a proclamation declaring April National Financial Literacy Month! The government has a website (mymoney.gov) to help you understand basic money management skills, like how to start saving for retirement or how to buy your first home. There's different sections and topics for almost any money question you have. Another great thing - there are links to understand the different government programs, like the Making Home Affordable Act (helps homeowners stay in their homes) and different tax incentives on purchases.

I think it's great that there's a movement to learn more about money, with particular emphasis on saving. In 2007, it was reported that Americans actually had a negative savings rate! With everything that's happened in the last few years, I think it's starting to change. According to this Bankrate survey, most people are planning to use their 2009 refund to pay down debt or to save and invest. Only 7% of people are going to spend it on shopping or vacationing.

Although I'm glad there is some sort of a national movement to learn about money, many people learn when it's too late. Why isn't financial literacy a mandatory topic in schools? I would argue it's just as important as algebra (do you use algebraic equations on a daily basis?) or Shakespeare (iambic pentameter anyone?).

So do your part and celebrate Financial Literacy Month by learning more about your relationship with money! I'm going to start researching a Roth IRA - what's a financial topic you're going to take time to explore?

Living On Groupons

2010-04-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hey all! All last week, my husband and I were moving into our new home! Between packing and unpacking boxes, painting, putting together furniture, and not having internet access for a few days, it was tough to blog. But I'm back and excited to tell you how I did majority of my spending via Groupon!

Groupon (in case you don't know) is a website that offers tons of great deals - from restaurants to activities to stores and more. It's "collective buying power" - every day, a deal is featured on their site, and if enough people buy, the deal is on! Some of my friends have told me they don't even bother checking out Groupon because they feel it would just encourage them to spend money on things they didn't need. But I'm here to show you that when used correctly, Groupon can be a fabulous way to help you save money and do things you love.

I knew I wouldn't have a ton of time last week - even to do things like grocery shop. So I signed back up for my CSA at Full Circle Farm - I had a Groupon for $50 worth of produce for $25! Score! All I needed to do was pick up my basket! I still have one week's worth left for the week after next! This week, I've used my Groupon for spud!, a grocery delivery service (another $50 worth of groceries for $25). Three weeks of groceries for $50 and I don't even have to shop!? I'll take it!

Friday was my birthday, and I wanted to make sure I took some time out for me. So I used a Groupon for a massage from Waking Life - $35 for an hour massage! Next, I won a Twitter contest from Groupon and in return received a $60 gift certificate for Turquoise Boutique! It was a very cute store and I got two shirts and a dress with my gift certificate!

With the 4 Groupons I bought, I saved $145 on things I needed (okay, and things that weren't necessities). Plus, I saved a lot of time and energy by not going grocery shopping. If you haven't signed up yet, you should!

Thanks Groupon!

Beauty on a Budget

2010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

For years I spent a lot of money on buying high end make-up and then equally high-end cleansers to remove said make-up Years and years went by and I never did actually achieve clear skin. I didn't have like full-blown acne, but I always had one blemish, or my skin was too dry or too oily.

A few months ago I realized that the challenge was I wasn't removing a lot of my make-up. Sure the eye make-up came off okay, but my foundation, powder and concealer was hanging on, no matter how many times I washed or what products I used. This of course lead to a cycle of buying ridiculous amounts of make-up removing wipes and facials. Which was a hard hit to my budget.

Then something possessed me to try cold cream (I use Ponds). Yes, I used a product with mineral oil as the number one ingredient and smeared it all over my face. I was sure I had gone mad and that I was sure to have even oilier skin followed by crazy breakouts. But you know what, nothing bad happened, so I kept using it. Then pretty soon I noticed my skin was getting more even with less blemishes. AND I was getting the make-up all off of. My skin was soft, clean and balanced, not dry, not oily. After months of use I can easily say this is the best beauty product I've ever used. And my skin has never looked better. The best part? It's about $3 for a jar that lasts about a month and a half.

The key to the cold cream is to use it properly. Use it liberally and massage all over your face to loosen dirt and make-up. Then use a damp washcloth to wipe it all off. Your skin will feel soft, but not oily. If it feels oily, you need to keep wiping. The whole process takes about 1 minute. And you don't need to follow-up with a moisturizer.

I'll admit that it felt sooo weird to not lather up, but the results have been amazing. As a result I've cut my beauty budget by at least $30 a month for the expensive cleansers, clarifying masks and moisturizes. I do still use a basic cleanser in the morning followed by a lotion with SPF.

Ladies, you must try this miracle product!

GYOP (Grow Your Own Produce)

2010-03-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Let me start off by saying that I have a black thumb. I would like to think that I don't - I've been able to keep a plant alive at my office for almost a year, but that is literally the only plant that has lasted longer than a month. I'm making it my goal (in my new house!) to get some semblance of a garden started, and this article from Women's Health Magazine really helped me get an idea of what to expect.

I really love the idea of growing my own produce and herbs. First off, it saves you a ton of money. Have you ever purchased fresh herbs at a grocery store? For the amount you spend on one plant (typically around $4 for a mature one, significantly less than that for seeds), you get a lousy few ounces at the supermarket. Another benefit is you know exactly where your produce came from, and it is most likely organic. And doesn't it feel good to play in the dirt?!

But I'd love to hear from some of you who have small gardens or windowsill gardens - what do you plant? Has it been successful for you?

Friday Deals!

2010-03-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! So excited for the weekend! The weather will be gorgeous! I hope you all will have some time to enjoy it! Here are your Friday Deals!

*30% off coupon for Borders! Must be a Rewards member (it's free to sign up).

*philosophy is having a sale on select body washes through Saturday - 3 for $33! If you buy philosophy products, you know that's a good deal. Enter code "party" at checkout.

*jcrew.com is having a dress sale - 20% off all dresses (except wedding gowns)! Ends today at midnight so hurry!

*30% off at all Gap Inc Stores (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and even outlets) for their Give and Get Promotion. When you shop through Sunday, they will give 5% of the amount you spend to Big Brothers Big Sisters! Nice!

*FREE CONE DAY at Ben and Jerry's! This year, it's March 23rd from 12 - 8! Woo!

*And although we already posted this on our Facebook page, FREE pastries at Starbucks on March 23rd! Print this coupon and go in from open until 10:30 AM to get a free pastry! Yum! Looks like someone will be gorging themselves on free junk food next Tuesday...

*If you live in the Seattle area, head down to Westlake Center between 11:30 AM and 1 PM today to get FREE daffodils! It's courtesy of Pike Place Market to welcome Spring!

If you know of other deals, feel free to let us know by posting on our Facebook page or writing us an email at leanwithgreen@gmail.com. Happy weekend!

Money Saving Websites

2010-03-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

I just got my April Real Simple this weekend - does anyone else subscribe or read that magazine? I relax just looking at the cover. The minimalist design, nice fonts...but this is not about how much I love that magazine.

It is however about how much I love what they wrote about - the 10 best money saving websites! We've talked about Restaurant.com and Gasbuddy.com on this site before, but here are some great suggestions!

*Freeshipping.org - free shipping codes for more than 2,000 stores

*Retailmenot.com - discount codes for 50,000 stores!

*Priceprotectr.com - register a new purchase at this website, and get an alerts if you're eligible for a refund if the price drops!

*Ecoupons.com - great site for online coupons, free samples and cashback opportunities

Definitely have to check those out! Other sites I love to save you money:

*Mint.com - okay, okay, I'm blue in the face from telling you about how much I love Mint. But not only does it track your budget (having a basic budget is step #1 in having a good relationship with your money) but it shows you other ways you could be saving money with credit cards, banking, insurance and more!

*Ebates.com - go through ebates.com to get cash back on purchases you make when shopping online! As if online shopping wasn't dangerous enough...

*Groupon.com - again, I have been talking about Groupon for 8 months now, but I still love it. It's a group purchasing site, meaning they have to sell a certain amount of groupons (say 75) and once they get 75 buyers, the deal is on! Among the muriad of things I've purchased from Groupon - a massage, two organic delivery service coupons, and a gift certificate for a restaurant. All for at least half off retail! Sign up for their daily emails!

Are there sites out there you frequent to save you some bucks? Leave a comment and let me know!

Friday Deals

2010-03-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Yay Friday! Looking forward to a weekend of packing...okay, not exactly looking forward to it but it needs to get done! Finding all these deals put me in a better mood though!

*FREE sample of Dunkin' Donuts new Dunkin' Turbo coffee. Also at Dunkin' Donuts, FREE medium hot or iced coffee each Monday in March at participating stores!

*FREE mango yogurt at Pinkberry tonight from 5-9! Wish I had one close!

*80% off gift certificates at Restaurant.com when you enter the code BITE.

*More FREE samples as Kashi.com! Yum!

*Take an extra 30% off J. Crew's sale items, plus FREE shipping for purchases over $150. Enter code EXTRA30 at checkout. I'm loving this striped blue shirt...on sale for $55, but take 30% off an it's $38.50!

*Express is ready for Spring - buy one tee or tank, get the other one for 50% off!

Remember to Spring Forward on Sunday! While I'm not thrilled to be losing an hour, I'm so excited for it to be lighter at night! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Sandra's Money Saving Meals

2010-03-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

This isn't usually a recipe reviewing site, but I thought those of you watching your grocery budget could use another good recipe website that makes healthy meals for little money.

Enter Food Network chef Sandra Lee. I'm not a huge fan of her show "Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee". But her new show "Sandra's Money Saving Meals" caught my attention. According to the show's description, the show features incredibly budget-friendly recipes for every day of the week, all based on her triple A factor of accessible, aspirational, and affordable. During the show, Sandra also gives pantry stocking tips and supermarket shopping savvy.

I wanted to try Sandra's recipe for Black Bean Burgers. I needed to buy 2 cans of black beans (89 cents a piece), 1 onion (69 cents), and two Kaiser rolls (75 cents a piece) - everything else I had on hand. They were super delicious and relatively healthy! Black beans are a good source of protein, and much cheaper than meat. Not only was this a cheap, easy and healthy meal, but the other half of my bean mixture will be used in tonight's dinner for Black Bean Enchiladas.

Two dinners for under 5 bucks?! I'll take that!

Does anyone have other good websites or cookbooks they'd like to share for budget-friendly meals?

Saving Money Moving

2010-03-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

As you've seen from other posts, my husband and I are preparing to move into our new home! While we're busy picking out paint colors and new furniture, we are grudgingly acknowledging that we have to actually move. Ugh! Can't we skip that part?

Since 2000, I have moved a whopping 7 times. Eeek! While I moved every year in college, I could fit everything in the back of my Jetta. Now that I'm married with a king-sized bed, I'm lucky to fit my closet in the back of my car. And of course the more stuff you have, the more it costs to move it from one place to the other. No more moving in laundry baskets and tupperwares - it's time for boxes and packing tape. Here's how I've lowered my overall moving costs in the past, and I hope it's helpful for you if you're in the process or will be soon:

1) Look for boxes before you buy them - this may take a little work on your part, but buying boxes can definitely add up (it takes an average of 30 boxes to move a 3 bedroom home). See if any of your recently-moved friends or neighbors have boxes in good shape that you could use. Go to your local grocery store or retailer and ask if they have any boxes. They are usually in great shape and places like bookstores or drugstores usually have a ton of smaller boxes that are useful for packing utensils, books, or other small items that add up to be pretty heavy.

2) Pack with linens - instead of buying newspapers, bubble wrap to protect my delicate items, I pack with towels, t-shirts and sheets. I'm going to have to pack them anyway, and why not have them protecting my wine glasses or my teacups and saucers? It's definitely a greener way to move and it saves money.

3) Forgo hiring movers and ask friends to help - hiring movers can cost a small fortune. If you're lucky enough to have a handful of friends in the area, see if they have a free afternoon to help, and buy them pizza and beer. It's definitely a lot cheaper and more fun to move with friends.

4) Ask for discounts when looking for a rental truck - do you belong to any clubs or alumni associations? Make sure to ask if the company offers any special discounts - you could save 10% or more on your total bill!

5) Sell/donate things you don't want - you know when you're going through all your stuff and you come across that one item that you've never used yet you KNOW you'll use it when you go ice camping in Alaska or when you pick up curling? Yeah, you'll never use it so get rid of it. It's taking up more space in your boxes, and it'll be one more thing to unpack and find a space for in your new home. When you donate your items to a non-profit, you can get a tax write-off. Or you can also try and sell your items on eBay, Amazon, Craig's List or the good ol' garage sale.

Anyone have any other tips for moving without breaking the bank?

Friday Deals

2010-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

It's been a loooong week - I'm desperately in need of a weekend! Who's with me?! Hope you all enjoy some time off and here are your Friday Deals!

*Sign up for Cost Plus World Market's Explorer! There's a coupon for $10 off purchases of $30 or more and buy 1, get one FREE Italian Sodas! (PS - this is a great program that works like a grocery store reward card...totally free and saves you money)

*FREE sample of Purina's Beneful dog food for your pooch from Walmart.

*Buy 2, get 1 FREE skin care products at The Body Shop for their Semi-Annual Sale. Psst - while you're there, check out their specials! They change daily - yesterday, lip gloss that sold for $14 was selling for $3!

*You live around Seattle? Maybe you'd like a three course meal for $30 from renowned restaurants! Go to Dine Around Seattle for details! Thanks Alysia for the head's up!

*Ladies, if you're needing spring clothes, check out The Limited. Get a FREE skirt or pair of pants with a jacket purchase, buy 2 pieces of jewelry get one FREE, and buy 1 essential shirt, get the other one 50% off. Phew!

*Bring in your old denim to Gap, and get 30% off a new pair of jeans! What?! I don't have all the details (I got it via their Twitter page) but that's what it says! Starts today!

Happy weekend!!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

2010-03-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

How much junk do you have around the house that you wish you could do something else with other than take up space in a landfill? This is becoming so apparent to me as I begin the process of packing and preparing to move into our new house! But before you throw things away, I hope you give those items a second chance and head to this website to help you use things that might otherwise end up in the garbage.

I came across How Can I Recycle This? when I was looking for how to use up broccoli stems. Eat them? Well, yeah, but they are kind of tough...anyway, this site suggested all kinds of things from peeling the stems, to stirfrying (duh) to soups. So now my 1/2 pound of broccoli I once thought inedible is sitting in my freezer waiting for Broccoli, Cannelini Bean and Cheddar Soup next week. Yum!

How Can I Recycle This? has tips on just about anything you can think of! How can you reuse small plastic lotion tubes? What about reusing an old ladder?

Do you make good use of old things? I'd love to hear some suggestions - what do you do with old clothes/shoes? What about books you don't read any more? Any fun second lives you give to things around the house?

In This Economy...

2010-02-25T07:42:00.000-08:00

I probably hear someone start or end a sentence with "in this economy" at least once a day, and 9 times out of 10, it's negative. Understandably. Circumstances are still pretty bleak for many. But, being the optimistic person that I am, I thought I'd play Mad Libs with this phrase and talk about how I've benefitted and learned from the recession. Feel free to add yours in the comments!

In this economy....

my husband lost his job, but accepted a new one at a great company.
I have begun paying myself first.
we bought our first house.

In this economy...

I have become an expert coffee maker.
I have learned more about myself.
I am very grateful for what I have.

In this economy...

saving money has meant being better to the environment.
I put a priority on taking better care of my health.
shopping is more fun when there are coupons and sales.

How would you use "in this economy" in a sentence? Have you gained anything in this recession?

The Art of Happiness with Your Bank

2010-02-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

Are you happy with your banking? Have you even asked yourself that question? I did recently, and I'm not. And I'm not alone. Among the consumers who bank at the Big 4 (Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo), most banks averaged around 70% customer satisfaction. Honestly, I was surprised it was that high! Between horrible customer service if you ever run into a problem to fees for everything to very low interest rates (although they aren't entirely to blame), I have a case of the bank blues.

As I was going through my mail the other day, I noticed a letter from ING Direct and decided to check them out. Their interest rates are double that of my current bank for a savings account! ING Direct is purely online - they don't have any branches - so depositing and transferring money is all done via the internet, phone or mail. But the good news is they pass what they don't spend on brick-and-mortar locations to you!

Although I ended up signing up for an account with them, I'm not saying you should. What I am saying is you should think about taking a few minutes to evaluate if your money is working as hard in your bank accounts as you think it should be. How do you know? Well, if you sign up for Mint.com, it automatically shows you how you could be saving money and exactly how much you'd save over the course of a year! If you aren't signed up with Mint, I'd suggest checking out your local credit union, smaller regional banks, or online banks, like ING Direct or Ally. What was the satisfaction with "other" banks (i.e. those I just listed)? Over 80 percent!

Are you happy with your banking situation? Have you recently moved your money?

Discussion: Are You Cheap or Frugal?

2010-02-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

I hear the word "cheap" and I cringe a little. But I ask grocery store clerks to give me a deal if I'm buying something on its due date, I clip coupons, I ask for free samples and I hate paying for parking. Am I cheap?
So I looked up the definition of cheap, and it states what I thought it would - stingy and miserly. On the other hand, frugal means prudently saving or not wasteful. I would say that I'm more of the "frugal" than "cheap" but I love this quiz from Moolanomy - it discusses your dining out habits, your shopping habits, and even your gift receiving habits. I got 25 points - I'm definitely frugal!

After taking the quiz, what was your score? If there's a way for you to save more money, what are your solutions?

Freezing Your Way to a Lower Grocery Bill

2010-02-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

I think it's been well documented in this blog that I really am not a huge fan of leftovers. I don't mind eating them the next day for lunch, but if I eat the same meal for dinner, lunch, dinner and beyond...well, I'm not a happy camper.

Enter my new best friend: the freezer. First off, I do buy most of my meat in bulk and freeze it. Costco has individually wrapped chicken breasts and salmon fillets that are super easy for weeknight meals and are really reasonably priced. But now, I've gone beyond using the freezer for frozen things and now use it to freeze my leftovers for later! For some of you who may already be freezer pros, this is probably not news to you. However, I have a feeling that most of you are throwing away food because it's going bad! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans throw out about 11 BILLION pounds of fruit and vegetables every year! We're not just talking fruit and vegetables - how often do you make something for dinner, put it in the back of your fridge and then you forget about it until you smell it? Yeah, that's gross. Do something about it!

Here's what I do: after dinner, I begin packing my lunch for the next day with that night's dinner. The rest of the meal gets put into a freezer bag, labeled and stored in the freezer. If it's a large quantity of leftovers, I might save it in two separate bags so I don't defrost more than I'll eat (I don't recommend refreezing things - gross). What else do I do to get the most bang out of my buck? I freeze fruit and vegetables that I know I won't eat before they go bad. Last week, I got a 3-pack of bell peppers and couldn't finish the last one. I cut it up into strips and now, I'll use them for chicken fajitas this week.

But is it worth the work? I think so - I spent $20 on groceries for the WEEK. That includes 4 dinners, things for lunches AND Golden Double Stuff Oreos. Uh huh. Yeah. Jealous? ;) Not only that, but meal prep will be as easy as thawing and heating up. I get the best of leftovers and avoid the dreaded "I'm eating that AGAIN" thoughts!

Freezing isn't quite as simple as it looks. I love this article from CBS/Real Simple Magazine that talk about the best way to freeze things.

I'd love to hear if you all have freezer strategies or other ways to make sure the food you buy doesn't go to waste!