NOT SO THRIFTY!

So I put a lot of money down on this fabulous condo today! :) I should close before November 1st. Wowzers! I am a little nervous..but oh so excited to decorate!

But this week I did cut my own bangs, went out to dinner and only got an a-la-carte item, found a cheaper auto insurance company, and I have not been talking on the phone because I only have 45 minutes to last me until October 8th...BOO!

So even though I spent a great deal of money today...I am making up for it in other ways! Here's to living life on a budget!

BYU FOOTBALL

Yesterday I went to my very 1st BYU game with some friends. It was a blast and a half, and was such a fun game to watch!

SUPRISE FROM MTN

This week has been kind of a crazy week, because I am making some crazy decisions in my life! I made an offer on a condo this week, and I am getting a steal of a deal! It's 3 minutes from school, and it's something that I believe will be a great investment.

Right now it's such a buyers market, and I am way excited to keep this condo as an investment property. The location is so awesome, and I will qualify for the $8,000 tax credit...woo hoo! Not only that, but interest rates are unreal right now, so it's a fantastic situation.

Anyhow just thought I would share my crazy news! I am signing papers probably today! I am way nervous, but I think in the long run it will be a lot of fun!

BITTERSWEET BLUEGRASS

So I totally took these off Ang's website, but I wanted to show off our little photo shoot. Angela is such a great friend and an amazing photographer. We had a ton of fun!

We are Bittersweet Bluegrass, and pretty much we're the most auspicious all women bluegrass band in Utah. The band has been together for about 3 years, and I have been a member for about 6 months.

Anyhow so if anyone needs a band to play at anything let us know. We love doing ward dinners, family parties, old people functions, sweet 16 parties....pretty much we are here to entertain you! We are working on recording an album, and were starting working on Christmas music with Diane on banjo....he he...band joke! Anyhow send a yeehaw my way if you want to see some great stuff!

DAY 91 MTN

Wowzers everyone! This whole experience is changing my life for good, and today was an incredible financial day! Well here's what is going on... I swear I believe in the Secret!


Tonight I had a performance with my band, and after it was over I decided I wanted some new clothes...or at least I wanted to remember how it felt to look at new clothes. I walked around the mall with a big frown on my face, and an hour later I left the Mall empty handed.

When I got home my roommate informed me she was taking some clothes (4 bags to be exact) to the D.I., and since we are the exact same size except her legs are even longer than mine I asked her if I could look through her piles. Well after going through the heaping piles I am now the new owner of 7 new pairs of work khakis that are in great condition, 2 new skirts, 20 new shirts, and 3 new belts....woo hoo!

I also found the best website to buy tickets....WWW.Onlineseats.com...here's what I bought.

#1-) 2 tickets to the pre-season Jazz vs Denver Nugget game @ 3 per ticket- also got a discount on shipping.
#2-) 6 tickets to the BYU football game on Saturday for $4.00 per ticket - got free shipping.

Also it sent me a coupon for $35.00 to go towards a future tickets I buy....I love onlineseats.com!

DAY 93 OF MTN

Hello fellow savers!

The last couple of days have been pretty great as far as saving money is concerned. Today a couple of great things happened...

#1- I got a new guitar student, and he is fantastic. I love getting new students, and I love the fact that when he left he told me how excited he was. He has a gorgeous classical bright red guitar, and it seriously makes me want to go buy one...too bad i'm on a budget! Anyhow I am super excited to teach a guy my age, and super excited for the extra money that I can slip into savings.

#2- My friend Tifani called and said she wanted to give me a massage. My shoulders have been in hunch mode, so I thought it would be totally worth the money. Anyhow she surprised me with a belated birthday present of a free massage, and a $25 gift card to Pier 1! What a sweetheart! If anyone is looking for a way cheap massage she charges $30 per hour...which is practically unheard of. Hit me up and I will get you her number. Pretty much she is amazing! This is a Thrifty Nickel's favorite!

Anyhow I hope everyone is being super thrifty and saving more than their nickel's!

MISS THRIFTY NICKLE DAY 98

Greetings from Miss Thrifty Nickle!

Today I have been thinking about a huge lesson in life: Finding joy in the simple things! We live in a world today where people think to have fun or enjoy life you have to spend money. I must say that this is a FALSE belief! I think this is such an attractive quality to find joy in the simple things!

"The greatest things in life aren't things"- quote by another thrifty nickle

This week my Brother asked me if I wanted to go on a double date with him, and if I could set him up. I told him sure, and we started planning. Since I am on a budget, planning a Friday night date makes you take out your creative jeans and put them on.. I started looking for all the free things to do in Utah. We came to a conclusion that we will be having a picnic and painting beautiful watercolor pictures in a SLC park, and then going to see the Joseph Smith movie at Temple Square!

Does anyone out there have any other cheap date ideas?

Anyhow as far as money goes today it hasn't been that bad. I finally went grocery shopping, so I can maybe avoid 7-11 runs and eat breakfast before I go to work. I also transfered $150 more into savings, and I have $130 worth of guitar checks from today to take to the bank tomorrow!

Anyhow here's to the simple things in life!

MISS THRIFTY NICKLE DAY 99

I must admit I am a huge fan of a hardy breakfast, and every morning I usually eat like a hungry Queen. This morning I realized that I was out of every kind of breakfast food imaginable, and before my 8 AM class that I needed to run to the Wal-Mart. While I was there I was looking at my options. Usually when I buy food in the morning it consists of a beloved Naked Juice. Well today I was looking at the $3.49 price on the Naked Juices, and decided I needed a cheaper option. I noticed some Acai Berry juice that was only $1.50…that’s $2.00 in savings! I also noticed that this juice helps hair, nails, and skin….PERFECT…I’LL GET IT! I also bought a case of water for my food storage for $3.50( which is okay considering it was the most popular Dasani), Clorox wipes that were on sale, Purex laundry soap- not on sale but definitely on the cheaper end of laundry soaps, some granola, and 4 nectarines that cost less than a buck.

On my way to school I drank the Acai berry juice, and it was nice and thick just like my first love-Naked juice…so yummy- good purchase. Anyhow so I go to class, and after all was said and done I went to the ladies room. While in there I noticed that I had an Acai berry mustache….too funny, but so embarrassing. I just sat through an entire Music Education class with a purple handlebar framing the sides of my red lips, and no one even told me that my $1.50 purchase would last longer than necessary.

At work we did walk over to 7-11, but instead of getting my usual expensive bag of nuts, jerky, and protein bars- I got steamed milk. I know I should have not gone (oops), but I did spend only $1.37 compared to my usual $5-6 purchases. Maybe one day I will get out of my bad habit of my morning excursions to 7-11.

Anyhow on a better note I had one of my guitar student’s call and ask me if I am taking more students, in which I said YES I AM! Even though I am one of the busiest people I know, and I don’t know where I am going to squeeze him in I think that little extra income will boost my savings, and help out with project Miss Thrifty Nickle even more.

While thinking of ways to save money today I decided that I would lower my phone minutes, and change from the 900 minute plan to the 450 minute plan. This shouldn't’t be a problem considering most of the time I am in school, work, and band or teaching guitar, but this will cut my phone bill in half and save me about $480 a year- not a bad deal! So if you don’t have a Verizon plan please call me after 9 pm (I’m always up), or on the weekends! But to all my friendly Verizon friends feel free to call me anytime due to the free Verizon to Verizon minutes.

As you can probably tell this budget thing is a little harder than planned, and pretty much I have no idea what I am doing! Yesterday I had visions of shopping for beautiful things from Pier 1 run through my mind….but don’t worry instead of running to the store- I actually just hit pavement and went running! It’s FREE!

DAY 100 of MISS THRIFTY NICKLE

So today I made the following financial decisions:

#1-) I bought some low fat cottage cheese that was on sale
#2-) I bought an apple that was the cheapest in the store.
#3-) I transfered $400 to savings.
#4-) I bought a v8 at 7-11....not a good decision!
#5-) I went out to dinner with Cassidy to Zupas....again not the best decision.

So I'm not off to the greatest start, but maybe tomorrow will be better!

PROJECT MISS THRIFTY NICKLE!

So I have been noticing lately that I buy whatever I want, and I don't think twice about it. I think I have tried budgeting before, but then I get a call from friends saying they are going to Lagoon, or a fun night out...and the budget goes out the window.

Well I have decided for 100 days starting tomorrow I am going to be Miss Thrifty Nickle, and blog about my adventures of living on a budget! woo hoo! Here are some things I will be doing!

#1- I will not buy any new clothes....heck I have enough!
#2- I will not go out to the expensive movies any more...more like Movies 8!
#3- I will use coupons
#4- I will take my smart sister Wynter's advice and shop at the Sunflower Market and take advantage of their low prices on meat, and produce.
#5- I took out my hair extentions...to avoid the pricey upkeep costs....they might be back in in 100 days!
#6- I won't go out to eat, but strive to cook meals that will have leftovers!

Anyhow this isproject Miss Thrifty Nickle! If anyone has any ideas let me know! If anyone knows good places to get coupons le tme know! Its going to be a long 100 days! Anyhow let's see how much I can save in 100 days!

STILL DOING THE SAME THINGS!

Well I haven't blogged for ages so heres what is going on in my so called life:

#1-) Work- I am still coding for the clinic....woot woot!

#2-) Guitar- I am still teaching...love it!

#3-) UVU- I am still going to school studying music education

#4-) Bittersweet- Still the lead guitarist for bittersweet bluegrass.

#5-) Boys- Yep still single!

#6-) Church- Still a strong memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ!

#7-) Provo- still live here.

#8-) White-Summer has come to an end and I am still white!

#9-) Mustang- Still driving my 2003 Mustang.

#10-)Yelyah's Corner- still blogging from time to time!