Happy Valentines Day! This is my present to you - the free LOVEveryday eBook :) But only read if you're in an awesomely loving mood! haha...that's your warning V-Day haters.

But seriously, 25+ of us bloggers joined together to create it and I really think it came out well. It hits up all facets of "the relationship" (caring for each other, time management, finances, living together, etc etc) and you can't help but feel GREAT afterward! Major congrats to all participants:

The Generous Husband, 48 Days, Make Mine Happen, The Simple Marriage, My Super-Charged Life, Marriage Prep 101, Love Talk, Project Happily Ever After, DamienRiley.com, Smart Passive Income Blog, The Generous Wife, Mama Notes, Organizing Your Way, Enemy of Debt, Life Gems, It Might Be Love, Project M, Feeling Flirty, Practical Manliness, Budgets Are Sexy (me - woohoo!), The Marry Blogger, Change Therapy, Zen Family Habits, Serene Journey, Affair Care, Engaged Marriage, One Extraordinary Marriage, She Just Got Married

Enjoy! Download (PDF): LOVEveryday: Thoughts On Loving Amidst The Chaos Of Life

Labels: holidays, life, love

Every year I put out a "10 Ways to Woo" post around this time (although once I did it in October?), but it seems like I've already given out most of my romantic secrets already.

So this year, I thought I'd round up some of my all-time favorites, and then sprinkle in a few new ones to give you the best of the best. I doubt most of you have seen what I brew in the WOO department anyways ;) So if you're scrounging around this Valentine's day, be sure to give one of these some thought! Here we go...

The Top 10 Ways to Woo on Budget:

1. Set up camp in your living room! This is one of my favorite ideas cuz you get the best of both worlds :) Pop up a tent, gather a few sleeping bags and blankets, and enjoy some peace and quiet in the comfort of your own home. Could probably even do s'mores depending on your stove.
2. Replace the Hershey Kiss tag thingies w/ your own words.** Cut up some small paper strips, pick up a bag of Hersheys, and swap out the tags w/ your own creative ones!
   
3. Make her/him a mixed CD! This is a classic all the way from high school my friends ;) And you KNOW chicks love it. You don't necessarily have to go w/ all romantic songs either - hook it up with those that remind you of each other, or just your favorites.
4. Pick up two matching goldfish, and name them after yourselves. Cutest/cheeziest thing I've ever written, but def. a fave.
5. Put some naughty into your board games. Like Jenga? Try out "lovers" Jenga by writing down some punishments on each of the blocks. That way, EVERY turn is fun!
6. Hook your other half up w/ a massage!** And a decent one too, not your 2 min. quicky she's probably used to ;) (sorry, the Mrs. made me put that...guess she's trying to tell me something)
7. Get all lovey by putting a "Just Married" poster on your car. You'll have to drive around for a bit to get the effect, but it's still cute.
   
8. Place Post-It notes all over the place.** As the link suggests, I've actually done this one before ;) And it wasn't even on Valentine's Day! (Awwwww). That's the beauty of this one - you can rock it any day. Just jot down some lovely memos and then plop 'em throughout your home. On doors, closets, mirrors, cabinets, tv's, anywhere.
9. Cook dinner WITH each other. Find a good recipe, go shopping together, and spend some good quality time together. Whip out the fancy silverware and never-opened candles if you want! Anyone can PAY for a fancy dinner, but making it yourself is sometimes better.
   
10. And my all-time favorite....the whipped cream birthday suit! A la Varsity Blues (sfw, but barely). I swear, you pull this one off ladies and it's a done deal.
    

Whatcha think? Got any better ones to add? We'll be rocking the "make your own dinner" deal ourselves, and then maybe a dabble of #6 and a I-totally-wish-but-it'll-never-happen #10 ;) But as long as we spend it together, it doesn't really matter what we end up doing.

----------------
Previous Woo'age: 2008, 2009
** These are fail-proof, baby!

Labels: awesomely awesome, bargains, holidays, one of my lists

And just like that, J. loses an entire decade. But my damn if it wasn't a good one! Graduations, marriages, travels, blogs, (beers) - I suppose we can close it out ;) Although the "30's" sure don't sound as nice, eh?

Oh well, I won't sit here and proclaim my elderlyness right now. I'm sure half of you can beat me in that department any day! (ooooooohhh) I got mad love for all y'all, though. Your comments, emails, tweets, visits to this blog - it's like my birthday every day ;) And I thank you immensely for it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find my hearing aides... I heard we're going to the cinemas tonight! Right after Golden Corral. And Walmart.

PS: Wish Studenomics a happy one too....that lucky youngin'.

Labels: holidays

May God bless each and every one of you sexy little budgeters ;) We hope you're able to spend lots of time with your friends and family!

Do's today: Open lots of presents. Be thankful. Eat lots of cookies. Enjoy some "you" time. Be merry!

Don'ts today: Be upset that you didn't get ___. Curse God, Jesus, or any other religious figure. Be sad. Do anything naughty (unless it's the *good* kind). Forget to relax.

Labels: holidays

Guest post by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval

As the authors of THE POWER OF NICE and THE POWER OF SMALL, we know first-hand how our small, kind actions can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others, and consequently our own. And contrary to what you might think, things as seemingly trivial and simple as making small talk with a stranger can have life altering consequences.

Don't believe us? Just listen to Sandy and Annamarie tell their story:



From holding the door for a coworker, to making casual conversation with the cashier at the corner store, the opportunities to effect positive change are all around us, and you can discover them, too. The key is to shift your outlook and retune your focus from the big picture to the small details... and the holidays are a perfect time to start.

Sure, hitting the mall and loading up your shopping bags full of fancy toys, designer clothes, and high-tech electronics is fun and feels good, but we believe that making small, kind gestures as a token of affection can feel even better. In fact, by harnessing the power of small, you can make a little go a long way and discover that sharing holiday cheer with friends and family doesn't have to cost a thing. So, whether or not you're pinching pennies this season, why not try these tips for a SMALL, NICE holiday?

Write a letter.

When we were reading this month's Real Simple Magazine, we came across an idea from a reader that really hit home. Each year, in lieu of a store-bought gift, she writes a heartfelt letter to each of her relatives, expressing her feelings of thanks, love, and respect. Although inexpensive, the looks on each of the recipients' faces year after year show how valuable the letters really are.

Offer your services.

If you're a great cook, why not become a personal chef for the day? Love kids? Channel your inner Jo Frost and become a "supernanny" for the night. To make it more festive, design your own "gift card" on your computer or by hand, redeemable any time. Giving your friend or relative (especially a busy mom or dad) a bit of time to relax is a gift you can be sure they will appreciate!

Call an old friend.

With the popularity of online social networking, reconnecting with your long-lost friends is as easy as clicking "search," but once you've found each other, why not give him or her a call instead of writing on his or her wall? The opportunity to catch up over the phone will raise both of your spirits.

Make a donation.

Show your loved ones that you care about the issues that matter to them by making small donations in their honor to charities you know they support. With just a few dollars, you can make a real difference to non-profit organizations of all kinds while letting your friends and relatives know you're listening.

So this year, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of blowing your budget on lavish gifts for all of your friends and family, remember that there are other less expensive yet just as meaningful ways to show your generosity. By harnessing the power of the little things, this holiday season and throughout the year, you'll find you're well on your way to creating a nicer way of life for you and all of your family and friends.

-----------------
Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval are the CEO/Chief Creative Officer and President, respectively, of the Kaplan Thaler Group and the co-authors of the bestselling books Bang! and THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness. Their newest release, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, debuted on the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestseller lists and is available in stores now. You can catch up with them on their blog, follow them on Twitter, or find them on Facebook.

Labels: charity, holidays, life, saving, shopping

Oh yes. And then, when you get there, you should ALSO have to pay for all your beers and liquors and wines. Yup, if you don't spend at *least* $50 at your company party, you are a total embarrassment.

I mean, why should THEY have to pay for you? Did you come in at least 5 days a week? Work 'till 5 every day - maybe even to 7 or 8 or 9 at times? Did you put up with all those cranky customers? And/or co-workers who you *still* can't believe got their jobs? Who are actually your superiors? I didn't think so.

You see, as the holiday memo clearly states, the budgets are tight this year. You wouldn't believe the trouble it was to even BOOK the conference room we're squishing into. Sure it's in our own offices, but how often do we really get to spend quality time together? If management could, I'm sure they would have totally paid for it. After all, it IS in our honor.

I don't know what you're complaining about anyway. Look, none of your twitter friends are getting free rides:

• @pmmaldonado: Um, yeah. As a former NYC employee, I can tell you that we paid for all of our holiday parties ($50/food/open bar was norm)
• @yousuckatkijiji: Same deal at my company, 'til the "staff association" helped fund it. $25 per, plus cash bar. Times have changed...
• @JoeTaxpayerBlog: Same here. $30/head plus cash bar.
• @3princessesmomm: Our work party this time is a lunch in our break room and the company is supplying cold cuts for our potluck sub sandwiches
• @nicoledixon: Wow, that's wrong - isn't the point of a holiday party to reward employees for their hard work throughout the year...GEESH! (Editor's note - @nicoledixon doesn't know what she's talking about)
  

So be thankful, fellow co-workers. Not everything's "about you." If we don't support each other, you can say goodbye to the Christmas bonuses too. Wait...what's that? Oh, I see...Christmas bonuses have also been cut. Okay, well you know what that's not really the point. The point is, we're a team. And as a team, we have to make sacrifices together. Now go get dressed. If I don't see you in the copy room dancing, you won't have a job next year either.

-----------
This post was inspired by my father, who, if you couldn't have guessed, had to recently pay for his holiday party. $30 for the ticket, $40 for a gift, and $XX for the beers he drank. The sarcasm was an added bonus, courtesy of Stanley Bing whose FORTUNE columns inspire the dickens outta me.

Labels: crazy economy, holidays, in the real world

This was by far one of the funnest posts yet for me :) Giving away money is cool, no doubt, but it was all your ANSWERS that made it so enjoyable! There is so much negativity out there, and reading through all your comments and love being shared was really refreshing. Thank you everyone for being a part of this!

And now, the winner of this year's 1st Annual Christmas Stimulus - and proud new owner of a $150 Visa gift card is ...Maria (#2)! Who is thankful for her family pulling together during tough times this year. Congrats my friend! I hope this helps out you and your family :)

For everyone else, make sure to check in w/ Brad to see if you won HIS $150 stimulus giveaway!

Labels: giveaways, holidays

Are you ready for the biggest giveaway yet?! The most awesomest festival of love, ever?! Well today's your day lucky badgers - Welcome to the first annual Christmas Stimulus!!! A special $300 cash giveaway just for YOU, courtesy of your boys J. Money & Brad Chaffee :)

Yup, we're emptying our pockets to help 2 lucky winners get a boost this holiday season and we couldn't be more excited! This is an absolutely no-strings-attached deal and our way to give back to YOU - the beautiful & engaging readers of both our blogs. Every day you show up with open arms and you inspire us to keep on going, and we appreciate that. Every last comment, email, and tweet from you guys helps us to keep on blogging & spreading the good word. Without you, we'd just be two random ramblers typing away into a void of interwebs ;) So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

The Christmas Stimulus starts today, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your answers by Saturday @ midnight. We'll then select the winners via Random.org on Sunday, and post up the winners of both contests next Monday - the start of the Christmas week! (and subsequently the same week of a certain person's 30th bday! yikes... ) Ready to roll? Here we go...

What are you thankful or this holiday season? Your friends? Family? A debt-free year? Tell us in the comments and you'll be entered to win a $150 Visa Gift Card from Budgets Are Sexy! Again, entering is easy:

1. Tell us what you're thankful for.
   
2. Leave some way for us to contact you.
3. Check back next Monday to see who won!
   

Then when you're done with that, head on over to the Enemy of Debt and answer Brad's question of the week - What are two financial goals you resolve to complete in 2010? You rock that out and you'll be entered to win yet *another* $150 Visa gift card! Compliments of the guy who thought up this whole giveaway himself ;) (and someone I admire very, very much)

We're really proud to be a part of all your lives, and we sincerely hope this helps with some of your bills or present buying this season. We've all got things to be thankful for, and we hope to continue this new tradition of ours for years to come! If all goes as planned, next year's will be even bigger!!!

So get to it! Drop the comments and enter to win TWO $150 Visa Gift Cards!

-------
UPDATE: Thanks for participating everyone! The contest is now closed.
UPDATE 2: For some reason all the entries from SATURDAY are not posting here, but I assure you I DID get them emailed to me (all comments get to me, even if they don't post correctly here at times). ***We had a total of 215 entries!!!*** Most. Ever. Stay tuned for tomorrow's winner, and then the winner over at Enemy Of Debt too ;) Best $150 I've ever given...(only $150 I've ever given actually! haha...)

Labels: giveaways, holidays, thank you

And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, take the day off anyways! Aren't you feeling sick or something?

Do's today: Eat a lot. Drink a lot (beer, milk, whatever). Sleep a lot. Hang out with your family a lot. Play & watch football a lot!

Don'ts today: Watch hours of tv (unless it's football). Stay hidden from all friends and family. Play around on the internet all day long - like you're doing right now ;)

Labels: holidays

For all you slackers out there (myself included). Last year I went as a rockstar, but I'm thinking of going as a Blogger this time around. According to a friend though, that means I have to put on a pair of nerd glasses and hike up my pants like Urkel?! I think my friend is confused. We're more like this guy, I mean come on ;)

Actually, I have no idea how to dress as a blogger - I'm just being lazy. More than likely I'll paint the black nail polish back on and sharpen me up some rocker tattoos again. I already wear ripped jeans and t-shirts anyways so it'll cost me a big fat $0.00. And I don't have to worry about any props getting stolen by drunkards! Haven't picked a costume yourself? Check out some of these clever ideas from friends around the net (thx everyone!):

Cheap & Last Minute Halloween Ideas:

1. Christmas Tree: I once saw this guy dressed in all green with nothing else but Christmas lights wrapped around him. It looked kinda stupid at first, but when he plugged himself into the wall he had the whole party's attention! (and he got a lot of chicks that night)
2. Random Hook-up: My brother won a contest with this: Just drape a lot of colored extension cords around you. You're a "Random Hook-up" - @MoneyMateKate
3. Tanning Bed: Tape glowsticks up and down your arms and then trap people in them as a tanning bed. - @hollyjunesmith
4. Wolverine/Freddy Krueger: Just put silverware on your fingers! - The Digerati Life (pics!)
5. Kissing Booth: I took a picture of this dude a few years back and it still cracks me up to this day :) All he did was put some cardboard together with some red velvety stuff, and labeled it "Kissing Booth". From what I remember, it really worked.
6. Smarty Pants: Tape smarties candies to your pants - SMARTY PANTS! (I did this last year.) - Jennifer Bruyette
7. Gold Digger: Gold colored dress + shovel. - @beskeie
8. Martini Glass: Saran wrap around me as the stem, and a big dog medical collar as the glass, my head in green tights for the olive!
9. Road/Highway: Black t-shirt yellow tape down the middle, then glue/tape dollar store toy car/trucks to the shirt - super easy and inexpensive - Kim
10. Drunken College Students: Just wear a college shirt (w/ buffalo wing stains) & drink lots of Natty light! Cheap, easy & fun! - @Matt_SF
11. A "Cool" Guy: You know, trucker hat, popped collar, fancy facial hair, and boxers hanging out. Like this - Nicole @ Breaking Even Inc.
    
12. Sasha Fierce: A leotard will run you about $15. Throw on some heels, fake eye lashes and put on a fake bling ring. You can get the fake bling rings for about $2.99 in the wedding section of costume/party shops. - The Frugalista
13. DC Tourist: You know the kind: fanny pack, I heart DC tshirt, metro maps, high-waisted long shorts, camera :) - @myprettypennies
14. A nudist: Price free, or adam and eve for couples :) - @pffirewall
15. Skunk: Black tights with a while stripe down the back - @pffirewall
16. Bunch Of Grapes: Purple tights with purple balloons glued on - @pffirewall
17. Cheap zombie costume: Just need tissue paper, glue, makeup & some old clothes. (click here for some help) - @creditgoddess
18. Job Seeker: Wear an old suit from your closet. Tape a pink slip of paper to a "Hello, My Name Is" sticker that you can buy from an office warehouse store for about $4.97. -The Frugalista
19. 70s disco queen: You can either buy a ready-made outfit from a place like Party City or you can hit up thrift or vintage stores for discount bell bottoms. Wear your hair in a flip or buy and afro from a beauty supply store for about $25. -The Frugalista
20. A Domino: I used black clothing & white paper circles to make myself a domino. Kinda lame, but I was in Japan & had 10 mins' notice. - @MoneyMateKate
21. Penguin: I am going to be a penguin! Black hoodie with orange felt beak with giant styrofoam ball eyes! Adorable, yet frugal! - calquist
22. Spider: Hefty bags stuffed with newspaper, legs made of foam pipe insulation, and a vintage black pillbox hat with veil. - Money Mate Kate
23. Charlie Brown: Got a t-shirt off some website and bought a pair of long(ish) black shorts.
    
24. Ghost: (sheet) - @centsiblelife
    
25. Baby: (pajamas) - @centsiblelife
26. Spy: (walkie talkie, dark glasses, sly glances) - @centsiblelife
27. Cat: (all black, paint on whiskers). - @centsiblelife
28. Waiter: White shirt and black pants. Add an apron and a note pad for ''taking orders'. To really jazz this one up print a menu up of the night's special for them to carry around. To take it to the next level, make a waiters tray glue a couple of drinking glass on to the tray. Fill the glasses with Jello to give the illusion that drinks are being served. - Converting A Spendthrift
29. Special Agent/FBI/Secret Service: Build on the waiter costume by adding a black jacket, black leather-like wallet for the badge, and a pair of super cool shades. Jazzing this one up is easy as well by adding the 'ear piece' and a wrist communicator. - Converting A Spendthrift
30. Old School Wrestler: Colored pantyhose or tights, briefs and bare chest. A Cape, mask or prop personalizes this costume. - Converting A Spendthrift

Cheap Halloween Costumes for Couples:

1. Jim & Pam from The Office: You couldn't ask for an easier and cheaper costume... - My Life ROI (click for more info and a picture)
2. Bonny & Clyde: You should both dress nice in an early 20th century way, carry fake guns, and get a cloth sack with a dollar sign on it to represent the money you just stole... - My Life ROI (click for more info and a picture)
3. Clark Kent & Lois Lane: The costume is much like Jim and Pam's - except with more professional clothes & a superman t-shirt underneath.... - My Life ROI (pictures & info)
4. Cleopatra & Marc Antony: To dress as Mark Antony, try and dress as a Roman would. For Cleopatra, you can wear a white dress with gold embroidery. Get some fake gold jewelry to make yourself flashy... - My Life ROI (pictures & info)
5. Tarzan & Jane: Just go to any store that sells fabric and you can make a skirt and shoulder strap for Tarzan. For Jane, you can go in two different directions: 1) You can dress as an English person who is on a safari in the jungle, or 2) You can dress like Tarzan in a skirt and bra...- My Life ROI (pictures & info)

Cheap Halloween Costumes for Kids:

1. Kid Robots: All you need is boxes & sharpies :) - The Digerati Life (click for pics!)
   
2. Mario Brothers: Getting some caps and pasting on some letters on them (which you can have your children do themselves), painting the moustaches on your kids, picking up oversized gloves, having your kids wear overalls. - The Digerati Life (click for pics!)
3. Stuffed Animal: You know those huge stuffed animals you win at a carnival or fair. Tired of them laying around the house? Cannibalize it. Take out the stuffing, poke holes and let them wear the outer shell. - Converting A Spendthrift
4. Lilo from "Lilo & Stitch": My daughter was Lilo from Lilo and Stitch, one of her favorite movies, TV shows, etc. - Hit up "Converting A Spendthrift" for details & directions!
   
5. Athlete: Have a kid who plays a sport? Football, basketball, soccer, cheer leading, tae kwon do, and on and on. Let them wear that uniform that you paid a lot of money to own or rent/lease for the season. - Converting A Spendthrift

Happy Halloween all!!! May your weekend be full of beverages and candy.

Labels: holidays, money hacks, one of my lists

I'm back from the beach, baby! A long week of beaches, books, beer, and family time :) It's never long enough, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my "normal life." There's something about home and regularity that sits well with me. Plus, I can now put in place all the ideas that a week off has helped create! But more on that later...

Today, I'm happy to host The Carnival of Money Stories! A carnival where bloggers share their stories and experiences with money, making it easier for most of us to relate. We had over 60 entries, but after all the spam and non-stories out there (which sucks as some of these posts were AWESOME!), only 25 made the cut. On the plus side, it'll make reading/skimming these much more easier for ya ;)

Favorite Stories:

1) Man Vs. Debt inspires us with Couchsurfing New Zealand: Airport Debacles, Muslim Prayers, & A Triple-Dose Of New Zealand Hospitality - As if you didn't already know, Baker here is a bad ass when it comes to story telling. So if the title interests you, read on! It just might get you up and traveling.

2) Debt Free Adventure! hooks us up with Grocery Hacks - How To Save Money on Groceries - A story of how Matt & his wife reduced their grocery budget from $400/month down to less than $250/month! A quote on why I find this intriguing: "I am the eternal optimist - the visionary - the idea guy - the spontaneous one - the encourager - the free spirit. My wife is the responsible one - the realist - the finisher - always keeping things on track - always grounded." EXACTLY like the Mrs. and I ;)

3) The Little Dough Girl proudly shares Save money by switching to a local bank - A very cool and down to Earth story on how local banks might be better for your financial peace of mind. I liked this one because it was super easy to read, and it kept my attention the entire time ;) Plus, there are some really valid points here.

4) Cash Money Life reminds us that A College Degree Does Not Guarantee a Job - A *very* interesting take on that alumna who is suing her college because she couldn't find a job! Remember that gem from CNN the other day? Cool summary with some valuable things to keep in mind.

General Finance:

For any of you familiar with the Delaware/Maryland beaches, you KNOW you've gotta hit up the Dogfish Head tour! Not only is it free, but you learn a helluva lot about the brewing process (and in this case, how to run a decent company). And at the end, you get to taste a mighty fine sampling of beers ;)

• Jeff Rose hooks us up with How To Become a Certified Financial Planner.
• KCLau's Money Tips presents I achieved financial freedom at 38.
• The Happy Rock presents DD's Monthly Expenses - July 2009.
• Suburban Dollar presents Never Underestimate the Value of Friends and Family.
• M Is For Money presents Suddenly Feeling Vulnerable.
• Bible Money Matters presents Manage Money By Living From Heaven Backwards.
• Ask Mr Credit Card presents True Story Of A Guy Who Beat Debt.
• Money Blue Book presents Net Worth Update and New Home Buying.

Credit Stories:

We also took a trip to Historic Lewes, Delaware. Love LOVE love that place. Great architecture, beautiful scenery, and really friendly people - a nice break from some of the craziness DC brings us every day. I heard they have a pretty wicked ghost tour there too!

• The Smarter Wallet: How To Manage Debt: Credit Management Tips For College Students.
• Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You?: AmTrust Canceling my HELOC. Goodbye, safety net! (wow that's a long blog name, but interesting!)
• The Dough Roller: Freecreditreport.com vesus myFICO.com: Do you know the difference?
• Taking Charge presents 'Carguelo a mi cuenta!' campaign redux (Love me some Spanish)
• Christian Personal Finance presents Removing errors from my credit report.

Business and Investing:

Later in the week, we hopped on the Cape May - Lewes Ferry en route to Atlantic City! Not only did it save us 3 hours of sitting in traffic and blowing through gas, but it was a wonderful way to spend a morning :) I was able to catch up on some pf reading for an hour or so, all the while smelling that salty ocean breeze!

• Silicon Valley Blogger presents Cheap Web Hosting Services For Those On A Budget.
• Bargaineering presents How to Enjoy a Tax Free Vacation.
• Free Money Finance presents My Jobs, I Get My Dream Job.
• Personal Finance By The Book presents Is a College Degree Necessary For Success?
• Old School Value presents Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation | Old School Value.
• The Sun's Financial Diary presents Practice Stocks and Options Trading with optionsXpress's Virtual Trade.

Shopping Stories:

Now, technically our family beach week was over by this point, but there was no way we were coming home w/out hitting up Atlantic City. It may be smaller than Las Vegas, but there's still trouble to be had ;) Between gambling, drinking, eating, shopping, and dancing, I was lucky to make it out with only a $250 tab in the 24 hours. "only" right? haha...

It broke down like this: $60/person for a kick ass room at The Chelsea (ONE room @ $360 split between 6 people. ONE room!) $60 for many a beers on their upperdeck pool - which, btw, makes you feel like you're a part of the hit show Entourage. $50 for dinner to celebrate a friend's 30th bday, $100 for gambling money which I promptly lost in 1 hour, and then $40 or so in random fees, snacks, anything else I can't remember (I was drinking, remember? ;) ). $250 in 24 hours isn't the most frugal thing I've done lately, but as many of you know I have no problem spending it on Life Experiences.

• Miss Bankrupt presents Analysis of Kindergarten School Supplies.
• My Dollar Plan presents Stacking Financial Incentives at Costco.

That's it for this week, hope you guys get inspired! Almost Frugal will be hosting next week's Carnival of Money Stories so stay tuned...now I gotta figure out how to get back to reality...at least I have a tan ;)

Labels: carnivals, holidays

Yup, the bff iPhone along with my wife, my fam, my grandmothers, and my adorable baby nephew. It's been a while since I've taken off an entire week like this before and boy is it needed - all this excitement around here has worn a brother out ;)

I encourage you to stick around and continue commenting/reading though! I'll be on and off throughout the week (esp on twitter and the iPhone) and I've lined up a killer week of guest posts to entertain all those financial minds of yours. We'll be featuring all different sorts of bloggers, but one of my favorites comes from a friend of mine who's a full-time professional poker player! That one's for all you guys out there. And you too Annie Duke.

In all honesty, you might not even know I'm gone. I'll be checking in on my baby the whole time whether you want me to or not because I'm *that* addicted ;) So have a great weekend everyone and keep those dollars in your pocket. I don't wanna hear about any crazy splurges while I'm gone unless they're on me! We'll be in touch hookers...

Labels: holidays

Happy Memorial Day! You all spending some quality time w/ the friends and fam? Well, if not (or if you're bored and/or just sneaking away to get your finance on) here's a freakin' BRILLIANT video courtesy of ABC's upcoming 1 hour special - "Un-Broke" (Friday, May 29th @ 9pm EST):

Un-Broke: The Seth Green Cribs Edition - watch more funny videos

Via ABC's site: "Schools teach us almost everything, but not "Money 101." For the basics on finance, turn to UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money. It's an unconventional look at the fundamentals of everyday finance with all the facts about credit cards, mortgages, stocks and bonds, investing and 401(k)'s, in a fresh new format combining information and humor."

Hell yeah! You gotta love that. About time people realize mixing entertainment w/ financial education is a smart move ;) Happy Holiday everybody, God bless. (Big thx to Mrs Micah for finding this gem!)

Labels: awesomely awesome, holidays, home ownership, money management

Just a quick pop in and pop out to wish everyone a Happy Easter! Hope you're all enjoying the weekend and making nice w/ your families :) I'm outta town schoolin' my brother in Trivial Pursuit, but I'll be back shortly. And I've been saving up quite a few complaints for ya! So be sure to tune in a little later...Happy Easter Everyone.

Labels: holidays

Can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeves good sir! (Perhaps world peace?) Here are a few tips for those witnessing history in person:

Do's today: Stay warm & use a lot of body heat - ow ow!. Drink lots of fluids. Be alert. HAVE FUN!

Don'ts today: Try and get Obama's autograph. Say any stupid terrorism words (like "terrorism"). Drive within a 50 mile radius of the city. Wait to hear the word "nuculer".

Labels: holidays, politics

Can you believe it's been 10 years since then? yikes. I remember hitting up a college party and staying up 'til the wee morning talking and sipping on stuff ;) Man those were the good ol' days...Well, whatever your plans are this time around, just be sure to get out there and have some fun! Cuz remember, it's a New Year and a New YOU baby! Now go out and make poppa J. proud...

Labels: holidays

Yup, def. won't be splurging around if i can't leave the house. Not that it really makes a difference though considering i couldn't even muster up enough courage to blow a little $ on my bday! I wonder if i'm cured of this so called "splurge" virus now? i hope not...i like giving in every now and then.

Of course, it always helps when you actually FIND something you like though :) That was my problem on Friday (my bday) and then Sat. when out shopping w/ the family - i didn't come across anything i really wanted. You usually get most of the things on Xmas anyways (or at least i do since i only put small things on there), so unless you're really dying for a new flat screen - cough, cough Clever Dude - you're pretty much set before you even venture out.

AND, randomly inserted here, you'll be happy to know that i came pretty close to my Holiday Budget this year!!! I spent an extra $41.66 to be exact, but much better than previous years. It was the baby nephew who put me over really - too many cute things out there for kids! You think i can NOT buy a Redskins jersey for that little rug rat? pshhhhh, no way no how. But it all worked out nicely, he was able to open up something nice AND get the grandpa savings bond at the same time w/out hating me! haha....good times, good times.

I must have behaved too this year as i didn't get any coal in my stockings ;) Here were a few of my favorite presents i'm thankful for this year:

1. Framed copies of our family crest! I'm HUGE into family history and antique like stuff from the start, so these were welcomed with big arms for sure :) hot damn.
2. Artsy Shoe box! Yup, my brother pulled out the big guns on this one and spent time decorating a big shoe box for each one of us in the family - so creative! He drew pictures, sayings, doodles, and anything else from our past alllllll over it. And then he even put a cple presents inside! haha.. BEST present he's ever given by far, I salute you sir!
3. Pile of art supplies - Canvases, paint brushes, paints, you name it! All so i can produce another one of these bad boys - although this time without the $48 extra dollars ;)
4. Vampire Weekend CD - My new favorite album! These guys are soooo freakin' talented.
5. $350 in cash - this is mostly bday money since i couldn't pick anything out while shopping...but now i can slowly pick things up over time when i come across them! It's like having a free debit card attached to someone else's bank! haha....3 rules of cash gifts here i come ;)
   

So besides getting sick in the midst of it all, i'd say Xmas/Bday time this year was most excellent! Especially spending all that quality time w/ the fam - always good for the soul.

How did you all make out? Get anything SUPER crazy/odd/just plain weird this holiday?

Labels: gifting, holidays

Awww yeahhh! Not only is it Boxing Day (although not really sure what that is?), but it's also a day of mad discounts and sales all over town :) And what better time to shop than when your pocket is full of present money?

Of course, having your birthday right after the man upstairs DOES have its drawbacks, but there are a lot of pros too: You're always around friends and family, everyone's all chipper and in a good mood, and you have like a kajillion days off of work!

I really wouldn't change it for the world....although funnily enough i do remember changing it to November 26th growing up. This way people would actually ATTEND my bday parties, and i never got gypped on the old 2-for-1 present deal and all. Hey, you gotta be crafty when you're a kid, right?

So yeah, i've really come to enjoy this shopping tradition over the years. It's pretty sweet because i can pick up anything that i didn't get the day before - and at usually a lower cost! We usually hit up my favorite stores first- TJ Maxx, Rugged Wearhouse, Target, the mall - and then take a time out and share a nice family lunch together downtown. It really does come close to a "perfect day" :)

And on that note, i leave you all to a very merry Friday! May your weekend be full of love, and your pockets full of the blingy bling. J. Money.......OUT!

Labels: awesomely awesome, holidays, shopping

We here at Budgetsaresexy.com love ya! And we only want the best for our awesome as hell readers :) Here are today's Do's & Don'ts - you listen up:

Do's today: open lots of presents. be thankful. drink a lot of beers. hang out w/ a lot of family. be merry!

Don'ts today: be upset that you didn't get ___. curse God, Jesus, or any other religious figure. be sad. do anything naughty, unless it's the *good* kind of naughty ;)

Labels: holidays

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (and a happy "just take the day off anyways if you're NOT a U.S. person" day!)

Do's today: eat a lot. drink a lot (beer, milk, whatever). sleep a lot. hang out with your family a lot. and play/watch football a lot!

Don'ts today: watch hours of tv (unless it's football). stay hidden from all friends and family. play around on the internet all day long - like you're doing right now ;)

Labels: holidays

Anyone come across some fun & cheap costume ideas? (and yeah, hooker is my new favorite word to call people....except those who actually ARE hookers. not sure what i call them.)

And don't say you're going as Sarah Palin or Obama as we all know there will be 1,000,00,00,000 + of those around this season. Unless you really LOOK like them - that would be just plain awesome!


If you need some fresh ideas, check out Broke Grad Student's costumes for college students - lotsa great ones there. You can also find awesome ones by googling hilarious halloween costumes....it really amazes me the things people come up with! Some of them have to be literally insane.

As for myself, i think i may have to be lame yet again and go w/ my "Rock Star" fall back outfit. This comprises of a cool tee, ripped jeans, diamond bling, mascara eyeliner (i always forget which is which), black nail polish, and a mohawk. Luckily, i already wear all but 2 of these on a daily basis (i'll let ya guess which), so it'll be hella cheap! I have to save all those dollars for the drinks ;)

On a side note, does anyone know where, exactly, to find black nail polish? i found some! i'm fresh out, and i CVS doesn't cover it...which surprised me at first, but then i realized that not many people actually wear black all that much...and all my Goth friends are not longer Goth anymore, so i'm outta ideas.

At any rate, holler back w/ the costume you'll be rockin'! Or even those you WISH you were brave enough to where ;) I could use a good laugh before going out tonight... I might even award a prize. A cool, flashy, invisible thing-a-ma-bob! haha...Behave yourselves homies hookers.

Labels: holidays, randomness 3000

Can you believe it?! How Sexy! To be honest, I'm just amazed that i'm a) still going with it! and b) just as excited, if not more so, than the day i first launched this!

My A.D.H.D. usually kicks in and pushes me off track, but i guess i have finally found my niche :) And it doesn't hurt that i always have something to say.

Soooooo much has happened since the launch on Feb. 12th, and i really do feel like i'm growing and learning each month that passes. And wanna know who i have to thank for that? All of you crazy mother f'ers :) I do it all for you baby! (and for myself, i won't lie, but mostly for the sport of it all)

And just like i did back in April, it is my complete honor to award each one of you frugal ba$tards the beloved "Sexy Saver" Certificate! Thaaaaaaaaat's right, you've earned it friends. Print it, post it, staple it, frame it, upload it, eat it, it's yours to do as you please!


I was thinking of posting the all-time "top posts" of mine here, but they're already on the sidebar to the right :) Soooooo, I thought it would be cool to see how my writing style/presentation has adapted over time. I pretty much just talk straight from the brain here, but you'll notice some differences. I remember writing each of these so vividly!:

• Operation HELOC: The Good :) (one of my first posts)
• Pray tell, is this possible? (one of my first "challenges")
• Gas at 33 cents - Can your conscience handle it?
• Check this - a Funeral Home is now serving Coffee!
• Dear Psycho Stock "Investors"...

Throughout this time, my stats have also changed IMMENSELY! By no means am i taking over the world or even close to becoming a full-time blogger, but it's def. nice knowing all this hard work is paying off. Here's a few statistical nuggets for you:

• Current subscribers: 324
• Total EVER page views: 51,933
• Total EVER unique visitors: 33,067
• Avg monthly unique visits (last 3 months): 6,858
• Avg monthly page views (last 3 months): 8,445
• Number of times i've said "bad boy" since blogging: 25
• Number of times i've written about wanting to punch someone in the face: 3
• Number of times i've drivin the wifey crazy w/ all my blog talk: 1,000,000,005

I'd also like to thank EVERY SINGLE ONE of you sexy beasts for reading, commenting, linking, and anything else you've done to help this blog become a success! Here are the top ALL-TIME referrers to this site:

1. krystalatwork.blogspot.com
2. mymoneyblog.com
3. cleverdude.com
4. chickyfinance.com
5. dinksfinance.com
6. singleguymoney.com
7. fivecentnickel.com
8. changecanbeagoodthing.blogspot.com
9. frugalupstate.blogspot.com
10. alwaystheplanner.blogspot.com
11. bargainbriana.com
12. financialramblings.com

And now for the top search terms put into the internets ;) I've taken out "budgets are sexy" or anything having to do with "sexy" which funnily enough knocks out numbers 1-4!:

1. "average net worth"
2. "starbucks"
3. "million dollar club finance blog"
4. "grow a pair" (hah!)
5. "my salary"

And these are the funniest/awesomest/and just plain weirdest ones:

• "ninja"
• "things that go up"
• "candy monroe" (this came in like 15 billion forms and i had no idea who this was...so i googled her...and then had to avert my eyes)
• "non matching bridesmaid"
• "cool characters" (why thank you!)
• "bankruptcy law sexy"
• "decicively" (i always misspell that!)
• "sexy sexy sexy.com"
• "you had potential" (sad)

And now unto the top 6 countries/territories hittin' up the site:

1. United States
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. India
5. Australia
6. Saudi Arabia (rad!)

And Lastly, here are the top 6 countries/territories of which i cannot point out on a map - not something to be proud of btw:

• Tunisia
• Romania
• Cyprus
• Bahrain
• Malta
• Slovenia

I think that's about it! Was it fun to read? It took a while to compile it all, but it really does feel great still being in the thick of things. And for once I feel like i'm actually contributing something to this world of ours! Hooray :)

So Happy Birthday dearest Budgets are Sexy, and thanks to each and everyone of you for reading!

Labels: awesomely awesome, blogging, holidays, link lovin

Like driving all day and night for a wedding. Yessirrrr, we will be celebrating this Labor day by waking up super early and driving 5 hours to a wedding. Opah! But i've been told it's going to be a pretty fancy one, so i'm looking forward to some tasty cuisine...esp. since i've never met the 2 getting hitched ;) (friends of the Mrs.)

And unlike that last disastrous bachelor party trip we thought we had frugal'd ourselves out of, this one should work a bit better as we'll be driving back the same day, thus FOR REAL avoiding hotel expenditures. It'll just be unfortunate that we'll have to skip out on the best part of weddings - the all you can drink for free fest! haha...but at least it'll be a day for joy and celebration, and that's all we can ask for during these hard economic times, right?

So as you're sitting by the pool today, or bbq-ing out w/ your friends and family, be sure to drink one for us. We'll be wishing we could join ya!

Labels: holidays

This goes out to all mothers, grandmothers, and baby mama's ;) Thanks for making all of us!

Labels: holidays