GAH. I have so much to do and say and ponder and react to, today. Manic Monday indeed – cue the Bangles. On second thought, don’t. I freakin’ hate that song, and I don’t want to spoil my happy, albeit FRANTIC, mood.
First order of business, the results of last week’s Weekly Challenge. For those of you in the know, one of the things you know (amongst the many) is that I went without by ‘treats’ last week. No quick stops for a magazine, fast food, coffee, IPod tunes*, etc. How did I do? Hmmm. Okay. I managed to use up the rest of my Starbucks card on freebie goodies, I didn’t buy a single magazine, and nary a drop of fast food past my lips.
However, I did make multiple trips to Cub Foods for snacky ‘treat’ foods (granted, most were for a get-together I hosted, but still). And I had to cave in on Wednesday and buy on-the-go food as I did not have time to pack a lunch. Granted, it wasn’t fast food, but Chex Snack Mix and M&M’s are NOT a healthy, well-thought-out meal.
Here’s what I learned – which is the entire point of these weekly challenges. I CAN go without fast food, if I set a very firm goal for myself. I can also live comfortably without magazines (I guess I don’t need to read about how the Bachelor isn’t really going to get married. Shocker.). But I do want the flexibility to buy a cheap lunch and a cup of coffee if I’m trapped out in the field without supplies. A hungry, de-caffeinated Cheap Chick is a deeply unpleasant Cheap Chick. And NOBODY WANTS THAT.
You know what people DO want? A chance to shine, to speak their piece, to have their say and a moment in the (Internet) sun. To assist you with this endeavor, I created (okay, my Web Designer created) the Links page you see above. See it? It’s right there.
And on this Links page, I, well, link. To other bloggers, online stores, and web sites in general. If you don’t see your favorite site on that page – namely, your own – please let me know, toot sweet. I will gladly link your site to my site. The only thing I ask? You return the favor, and place a Cheap Chick Empire link somewhere on your site. Share and share alike, people.
Speaking of sharing, it’s now time to share with you, my constant readers, this week’s Weekly Challenge. It’s not going to be a ‘going without’ one, like the last two challenges. Instead, this week I’m focusing on what I actually do correctly, and sharing it with the group:
Week Three’s Challenge – I will keep track of the money I save on purchases, and the money I save by NOT buying stuff, and share those savings with the group. If I think about buying crafting supplies/clothing/yet another pair of black shoes, and instead of caving, I resist? I’ll tell you what the item cost and why I didn’t buy it. When I go grocery shopping, I’ll tell you what I bought on sale, and how much I saved. If I find a sweet deal on something, I’ll tell you what it is and what the discount was.
This Challenge was created as response to a few readers’ requests – instead of telling you what I spent each week, I tell you what I saved, and how I saved it, when I was doing the spending. And because I am a giver, I’m giving those folks what they want. Or at least, I’m going to try. We’ll see how this Challenge actually turns out…
*Sad, but true – the minute my ‘no IPod tunes’ ban was up, I bought Bad Romance. I lurve Lady Gaga. What did I work out to before she existed?
I’ll be drawing names tonight for the Comments Contest. If you haven’t yet, today is your last chance to comment, and be entered in our prize drawing for a $20 gift card to Target. So start talking!
14 Comments
I avoided fast food last week too! (Expect for chinese takout on Friday night, but since delivery took 45 minutes it was not really fast food!). It was not as hard as I expected, since I hit up the walmart grocery last week and stuffed my freezer with $1 microware Lean Cuisine meals. Between that and my produce purchased (tangelos, clementines, peaches and apples) I was stocked for snacks and workday meals. i think this will be easy to keep up, I hope it sticks for you too (as much as is practical of course!)
I admit it- for the first time in a while I went to BK on Thursday. I was trying to avoid going, but I was leaving early for my daughter’s eye dr. appt. and I just got too starving. But then on Friday I stocked up on lunch items for work at Safeway and I have enough to last me through next payday! I did go to Mickey D’s for breakfast this morning but I have a yucky cold and didn’t get to the grocery store yesterday.
LOL! I have purchased exactly 2 CDs in the last maybe 10 years – Jack Johnson a couple months ago, and Lady Gaga just today! Gotta have some new car music. Not what I thought she’d be at all. I totally had “Paparazzi” in my head since watching the Grammys and finally caved. She’s not your average pop-y artist, she has some real talent!
I’ll eventually cave into getting some Lady Gaga songs myself. Probably on Friday when I get paid.
BTW, kudos on getting through the week as well as you did. And a one of the partakers of the ‘treat food’, I thank you. And really cute photo of you on today’s blog.
I like these weekly challenges. I may institute a few a my own and start blogging about them. Great idea!
I second the congrats on the challenges, avoiding fast food and all. For me, it’s trying to lure myself *away* from places like Half Price Books (I’m a book fanatic, ack!). It’s really hard sometimes to self-impose limits or bans (temporary or not). But it CAN be done, as you have illustrated, Erin. I confess, it’s still hard for me to drag my keester away from any store selling books (and even the sale rack at the library — come on, fifty cents for a paperback?? Dude!! *sigh*), but it’s getting easier. Continued good luck with your challenges! Thanks for the inspiration.
I too may have to cave on some Lady Gaga, my 3 daughters are totally into Bad Romance (and they’re 4, 6 and 10!). Not sure if that’s good yet! I admire your no fast food plan for last week. I too am trying to bring lunches to work instead always eating out. Besides it being so expensive, it also gets boring and I know not the healthiest! Can’t wait until spring and can find a part near my new work in Stillwater to go walking!!!
I feel totally out of it. I have to check out Lady Gaga (how did I get to be such an old lady?)
Sarah
I know you’re currently in a self-imposed band from our favorite store, but you have to remember to take your own bags the next time you go to Target. Saves 5 cents for each one! I saved 15 cents last week! It’s not much but with my other coupons and over a year, I could average 5 bucks in savings!
I have a Target habit too. Its amazing what I end up buying that I didn’t even know I “needed”. Hmmph.
Well, good luck on this week’s challenge.
I like that someone else can do the “dirty work” of finding the deals for me.
Best of luck! I look forward to the help!
oooh ooh for the Half Priced Books junkie: try bookmooch.com! you swap books for free (just pay shipping, and since you can use media mail the rates are even lower!) My boyfriend and I do that for most of our reading material. And you can create a wish list so you get emails when a book you are looking for becomes available. Especially helpful for students with reading lists adn not a lot of disposable cash.
Hey – as another partaker of the party food, I also say thank you. You are THE BOMB.
Also? MULTI-PASS.