Thrifty Thursday – Getting a big bang with half the buck on Half Off Depot

Paying full price for anything is so last decade. You all know I’m a fan of discount sites, especially those with deals that don’t expire after 24 hours. I introduce you to Half Off Depot! Don’t get me wrong, I still love Groupon and Living Social. But sometimes, I need more than a day to decide whether I want a deal or not. Half Off Depot is a one stop shop for fabulous frugal living all over the U.S., Europe and Australia. So go ahead! Browse, buy, and benefit from the good life without breaking the bank!

♥ - The Bougie Budgetista

A Budget-Friendly Birthdaycation Extravaganza

This past weekend, my best friend Shawntel of SOA Event Concepts came to visit me here in Orlando for her birthday weekend. I was forewarned that the budget was going to be tight for the weekend, so I had to prepare my budgetista skills to squeeze a dollar out of a dime and have a FANTASTIC time. Here is the breakdown of our fabulous BFFcation, and some of the killer deals we scored.

Friday night, we went to a swanky restaurant in Winter Park. I liken that area to Buckhead in Atlanta, back in the day. Some of the entrees on Luma’s menu were a little on the exotic (and pricey) side, but the ambiance was well worth it. So what do you do when you want to experience poshness, but don’t necessarily have a posh budget? Order off the appetizer menu, of course! When I was in high school working at Plato’s Closet, my co-workers and I would get together for appetizers and desserts, to a) not spend a lot of cash, and b) have a quality girls night out. Think about it - Appetizers are normally large enough to share and reasonably priced. Typically, you’re not going to find an appetizer over $20 on any menu. We opted for the fancy pizza. It was delicious! We saved our splurge for their incredible wine selection. A glass ranged anywhere from $6 to $12, but the selection was astounding. The first night was a great success.

Saturday, we attended a class at Vixen Fitness, which I will elaborate on tomorrow’s edition of Work It Out Wednesday and enjoyed lunch at Crave, an American fusion bistro. When I tell you this place is awesome, it’s an understatement. The décor is chic, but welcoming. The staff is by far some of the best I’ve ever come in contact with. And the food is to die for! Try the lamb burger. I promise you, you won’t regret it. The best part of it all was that we had an ODeals Daily certificate for $30. I only paid $15 for it a few weeks ago. The key to a great trip is preparing in advance with the deal sites. Let THEM decide where you’ll be dining on your vacation and save up to 50% on your tab. Just be nice to your server and tip on the full amount for the service you receive. Our server Blake was worth 40%. Just saying…

No BFF rendezvous is complete without a shopping trip. But not just any shopping trip. We hunt for super sales, deals and steals, and a gem of a find. By the looks of it, it was a great success. Check out her Max and Cleo dress, purchased from Dechoes for $14.99 and my Charlotte Russe romper for just $9.99. 

Max and Cleo Dress

Charlotte Russe Romper

Sunday should have been a beach day, but it was cold and rainy, so we did some window shopping instead (but still managed to come away with some loot). What? Come away with look when you window shop? Who does that?!?!? We do. No, it’s not illegal by any means. I’ve been reading about a store called Lush for what seems like ages. It’s cosmetics store with products made of all natural ingredients. After walking in and basking in the natural fragrances floating around the room, I totally understood the reasoning behind the company name. These simple products make you feel good – literally. The associate demoed Buffy, a soap with granules in it that exfoliate on our hands along with Flying Fox, a body wash with an interesting back story, and our hands felt like silk afterwards. We played in Mermaid Water, a mix of the Big Blue Ball bath bomb and Sunny Side bubble bar and became mesmerized be the waters beautiful colors and skin softening effects. And, our favorite part, they gave us tons of samples! Not just a tiny, one time use packet, but enough for a handful of applications. I didn’t have to purchase anything to get them, even though I did (I’m treating myself to a bath in Mermaid Water for Valentine’s day, but that’s neither here nor there). And the associates were so kind and so helpful that there is no way anyone would leave that store and not come back to purchase something. Great sales tactic, if you ask me.

We ended the weekend at our favorite bakery in town, Sweet by Good Golly Miss Holly for Mini-Mania. Every Monday, they sell their delicious mini cupcakes for $1 each. As a birthday gift to the best friend a girl could ever ask for, I bought her a dozen, and ended up saving $6 on the pack.

Yeah, I saved us a lot of dough this past weekend, and we scored big, but spending time with my Bestie in celebration of her special day was priceless.

♥ - The Bougie Budgetista

For the past few nights I haven't had a clue what to write. Writer's block is the worst. I could tell you about some of the great deals I've found, like a $30 gift certificate to Twist Asian Fusion Restaurant for $15 on Groupon. I could talk about the free pole dancing class I'm going to tomorrow night at Vixen Fitness here in Orlando (thanks to Groupon). I could talk about the Zumba class I'm heading to on Saturday that cost me $2.50 (Groupon of course)... It's amazing how my daily Groupons have become a part of my life. I wake up and look forward to the daily deals. Groupon really understands my plight. I want to enjoy amazing restaurants. I want to be pampered at spas and salons. I want to booty shake my booty off. And Groupon allows me to fit that in my budget. It is by far one of the best Budgetista tools I've ever found. Enjoy the best your city has to offer. Soon, I'll share how to use this same sites to plan your next amazing vacation, Budgetista style.

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Staying Financially Fit with Freebies

The best things in life are free. As a matter of fact one of the basic needs of life SHOULD be free, but we somehow manage to pay $2.00 per bottle for it. I was sent this video today and thought I should share it with you all. I'm all about being financially fit, so when I saw that Yahoo Finance has a section dedicated to just that, I was super stoked, to say the least. There are some things you just shouldn't pay for. Save your money for something far more fabulous!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Time is Money, So Save Some in the Kitchen!

A friend of mine once told me that he spent $600 per month on eating out. Ponder on that for a minute - $600 PER MONTH! Do you know how many Jimmy Choo's and Christian Louboutin's I could buy in a year with the amount of money he spends on FOOD?!? In short, tons. A really easy way to save both money and time is to plan meals and cook at home.

I know that cooking can take some time, but you'd be amazed at how many delicious, healthy meals can be made in 30 minutes or less. In half an hour, you could prepare food for at least two days (lunches and/or dinners), sometimes more. You'll need a few things to get started:

• Recipes - I love browsing the clearance section of bookstores for cheap cookbooks, but then again, I love browsing for books. If "free" is more your style, then check out AllRecipies.com or Food Network's site for boatloads of delicious fare. You can narrow down recipes by ingredients, method of cooking, and cook time. Try new fare. Be adventurous. Invite friends over for a potluck and swap recipes. Any excuse for a shindig sounds good to me!
• Crock pot - Slow cookers are a time cruncher's dream. You throw everything in, set the timer, and forget about it until it's time to eat a few hours later. Have you ever walked in a house that was just fragrant with herbs and spices that have been simmering all day? Well, once you have a slow cooker, welcome home! Those things make everyone a top notch chef. Maximum flavor and minimal effort. You can't beat that.
• Food containers - Once you've cooked up a huge batch of food (trust me when I say it's super smart to do this), you'll need to store it somewhere. Ziploc containers are easy to come by, come in several sizes and are truly inexpensive. After you're all done cooking, separate your delicious meal into individual servings and toss them in the fridge and/or freezer for quick and easy meals. It's so much cheaper than spending $10 per day on lunch and you know exactly what you're putting into your body, which makes for a healthier you and a healthier budget.

Every minute of your day is valuable, but so is every penny in your pocket. Save a little of both by throwing on your chef's hat every once in a while. As one of my favorite Food Network star, Paula Deen says, "Best Dishes," lovies!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Extreme Couponing - A Habit We Should All Pick Up

Holy Crap! I totally didn't get a chance to post today because I was planning my gosh darn grocery shopping adventure. And an adventure it was. Two different stores, price matching, the only thing that was missing were coupons. So, the two big contenders were Publix and Walmart. Publix had great deals on healthy food (I mean, let's face it, it's resolution season; everyone's trying to get healthy) with their BOGO (Buy One Get One) sales, but Walmart is always known for their low prices. I think from here on out, I'm going to have to adopt some tips from the Krazy Coupon Lady and start my stockpile. Why should I have feminine products, body wash, toilet paper, and canned foods on every shopping list and pay full price for them when I could be getting these things for free if not close to it by using coupons? But extreme couponing is no joke! Take a looksie at TLC's special on people who obsess about saving money. But who said that was a bad thing?

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Let's Get Physical

I’m willing to bet my most recent pair of Guess pumps that most people have resolved to lose weight and get in shape this New Year. Am I right or am I right? Here’s the problem, gym memberships can be pretty costly, especially if, heaven forbid, you break your resolution and forget to cancel your membership. Paying for something you’re not using regularly is no bueno. So how do you get jump started on a fun fitness routine without breaking the bank or making a commitment you’re not ready to make? Now is the time to take advantage of some sweet deals at places you wouldn’t expect to focus on fitness.

I’m a huge fan of group fitness classes, especially ones that don’t feel like you’re working out. I secretly hate working out, but I’ve found some really cool workouts that trick my brain into thinking it isn’t working out (read: Dance classes). There’s a sense of camaraderie and accountability in those classes. If I were left to my own devices, I’d probably quit whenever I got tired, but having an instructor motivating me to keep going, reminding me that I’m almost there, and a group of individuals cheering with me until the end pushes me harder and ultimately gives me better results. For those of you who share my sentiment and enjoy a group workout of any kind, several studios and smaller gyms across the country that specialize in those types of workouts are offering exclusive deals that most people don’t know about. Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time to sign up for Groupon, LivingSocial, and OdealsDaily emails. Have you ever wanted to try a Mui Thai class? How about a pole dancing class? Is kickboxing more your thing? Here’s your chance to try out different fitness classes in different locations, giving you the opportunity to find a fitness home all while burning boat loads of calories and keeping your muscles confused (for those of you who have heard of or done P90X, you know all about how muscle confusion boosts your weight loss goals). Some recent deals that I’ve gotten include 10 dance aerobics classes for $25 ($80 value) and 4 female fitness classes for $30 ($84 value). Different locations, different instructors, different classes, same goal – sweating my butt off!

My other go to work out is simple and relatively inexpensive – Running. Think about it: all you need are a pair of running shoes and the open road. Most of us have iPods or a phone that can be loaded with mp3s, so load it up with your favorite fast paced songs and hit the track! But before you get started running, go to your nearest specialty running store (In Atlanta, I recommend West Stride and in Orlando, Fleet Feet and Track Shack) and have them fit you for the right shoes. Experts at these shops are going to help you find what works best for you, and the best part is that the fitting is free! I’m not going to lie, a good pair of running shoes will cost you between $70 to $125, but your knees, back, shins, and nearly every other part of your body will thank you for the investment. Once you’ve found the right shoes (and, ladies, the right sports bra), you’re all set to start running! When I decided to pick this up, I had never run more than 10 seconds in my life. Come to find out, there’s an app for that! For those of you who don’t have an iPod Touch or iPhone, there are guides online to help you get started. All of them will encourage you to alternate between walking and running, increasing the amount of time you run from week to week. Eventually you’ll be able to run 30 minutes without stopping – your first 5K!

Be proud for making this commitment to yourself. It’s a huge one to make, but you’re worth it! Here’s to getting physically fit while staying financially fit!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Big Ballin' (On A Budget) Is My Hobby

Over the past few weeks, I've shared with you my personal path to enlightenment. We've also discovered what it truly means to be bougie. Now all that's left is to answer the one question everyone's been asking me: "What on earth is a budgetista?"

I'll admit, I made this word up (don't judge me), but no other word in the English (or Urban) language could embody who I am and what I'm trying to convey. I live a lifestyle. I love to travel, I love fine dining, I have a passion for fashion, and I need to be able to do it all on an entry-level employee's salary. And I'm sure all of you know how dismal the dollar figure on one of those checks can be. But what we all must internalize from this moment on is this thought that a wise woman once shared with me - It's not how much money you make, it's what you do with it.

What are you doing with your money? Have you actually taken a look at the items listed on your bank statement online (or for the less green, on your paper statement) or do you just check to see how much money is left? I'm not going to lie, I would do it too. And then I'd wonder why I was living paycheck to paycheck. Quite frankly, that never felt like living. I'd feel a rush when I saw that my direct deposit had cleared. I'd excitedly pay my (read: past due) bills, treat myself to a little retail therapy, eat out everyday for a week, then after a while, I'd take a peek at my account. Suddenly, I was drowning in a wave of panic. How was I going to to pay the rest of my bills? What was I going to eat? Is what I have left in my gas tank going to last me until the next paycheck? Then, once the next deposit cleared, I was back on Cloud 9. I lived for payday and nothing else. One day, it hit me. I realized that the vicious cycle had to stop if I ever wanted to do more than "just get by." So little by little I began making changes. Now I challenge all of you who can relate to my plight to do the same by following a few easy, albeit a little time consuming, steps.

First, really take a look at your spending. Every day for a whole month, collect all the receipts for the day and write down the business name and the amount spent in a notebook. If you paid a bill or rent, write that down too, but highlight it since it's probably a fixed amount you must spend on a monthly basis. Make a few notes about the day's transactions (what you bought, why you bought it, how you feel about the purchase, etc.), staple the receipts to the page, date it and move on to the next day. At the end of the month, categorize your spending. Did you eat out a lot? How much did you spend on clothing? How much of your income went to essentials versus non-essentials? Believe you me, I won't judge you if you felt those nude patent leather Jessica Simpson pumps were essential to your wardrobe. Just be honest enough with yourself to differentiate between your needs and your wants.

Next, once you've categorized the month's expenses, plug the numbers into a budget calculator. Take a look at the results. Are you over or under for the month? How do you feel about the total? Now take a look at all of your entries for the month. Where can you cut back? Restaurants? Shopping? Drinks at the bar? Really think about where you can tighten your purse strings without feeling like you're sacrificing too much. Do you like to cook? Make your favorite meals in advance, pack them in containers and put them in the fridge. You'll have lunch AND dinner for a few nights. Don't know how to cook, but want to look like you know how? Invest in a slow cooker and check out All Recipes for some amazingly delicious meal ideas (and yes, iPhone users, there's an app for that!). Don't know where the kitchen is and quite frankly don't care to find out? Find a friend who likes to cook, provide them with containers, and chip in to their grocery bill!

There are so many ways to cut back without sacrificing too much. Take your cable package, for example. I'm a HUGE United States of Tara fan. Amazing show on Showtime. Get the premium channel for the season, then cancel afterward. Let's face it, the premium channels play the same eight movies over and over and over again. If I wanted to watch Twilight seven times in a 24-hour period, I'd hit up a Redbox, and get it for $1.00. Are you good friends with your next door neighbor? Split the cost of a super-duper router, password protect the network, and go half on the internet bill every month.

Once you have your spending in check and you're making cuts here and there, you're going to see the results of your budget calculation go up. Now, the final step is to learn what you're going to do with your new-found expendable income. If you're coasting through life, getting up in the morning, fighting traffic, clocking in to work, busting your tail for the duration of your shift, clocking out, then fighting traffic to get back home, do you give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the the fruits of your labor? Now's the time to create your lifestyle. You may be a little nervous about splurging a little too much on yourself, but fear not! Here are a few of my Budgetista secrets to help you "live the champagne lifestyle on a kool-aid budget."

For my fellow foodies, culture lovers, and pampered princes and princesses, bookmark Groupon, LivingSocial, and ODealsDaily (for those in Central Florida). You'll find ridiculously wonderful deals for at least half-off gift certificates to some of the best restaurants, the symphony, and even the spa. I highly recommend signing up for their email lists so you'll never miss a chance to treat yourself to the finer things in life. Jet-setters, Priceline and Travelocity should be your best friends. Stay tuned to find out how to become negotiating professional! What? You didn't think I was going to give away all my secrets, did you? *wink*

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista