Name: The Cheap Chick
Location: A townhouse in an undisclosed suburb north of St. Paul.
What’s My Deal:
For years I wanted to write a blog about something, to get my writer yah-yahs out and express my endless opinions. However, I didn’t want it to turn into one of those “today I had a sandwich for lunch,” kind of sites. This was an actual concern for me – as a child, my diary entries consisted of what my mother made me for dinner. Truly.
Then one day, after reading one of those “I did X for a year” books on the market, it dawned on me; I needed a year-long challenge that I could blog about. Of course, this brilliant idea was followed by an immediate brain-fart as I couldn’t think of a single challenge idea.
The VERY NEXT DAY, my BFF Lou announced from that moment on, she would only spend $20 or less on everything she bought. Which was a total LIE, because she has totally spent more than $20 on stuff since then. But what she did do was give me the very best idea for my challenge.
From August 28 of 2007 to August 27 of 2008, I did not spend more than $20 on any single item I bought. There were obvious exceptions – mortgage payments, utilities, health care, my highlights – but in general, I spent $20 or less on all my food, drink, clothing, shoes, accessories, entertainment, books, etc.
There were some highlights, like discovering the joy of Steve and Barry’s (which has since, sadly, closed its doors for good), and the thrill of thrift store finds. There were also some definite lowlights, like not buying any home goods for my poor townhouse, or passing on the most perfect shoes. All in all, I learned to stretch the thrifty skillz my Mama gave me and find the very best deals.
Along the way, the site and I began to get attention from the local media. Probably because I was shoving my blog down their throats via weekly e-mails. Starting with my first visit to the Kevyn Burger Show on FM107 (Thanks, Kevyn!), I now have weekly gigs on Fox 9′s Morning Buzz and The Cooper Lawrence Show. Next stop? OPRAH. Can you hear me, O?
Cheap But Not Easy Now:
In July 2008, my web developer launched the new and improved Cheap But Not Easy site. And in August 2008, my first challenge came to an end. What then? Should I rest on my thrifty laurels and coast through my spending life? I didn’t think so.
On September 1, 2008, I began my newest challenge (how else would I stay your frugal living expert?), 3 Reasons Why To Buy. I have to have three good, practical reasons for every purchase I make. Only one of the three can be a mental health (i.e. it will make me happy/less depressed/not want to throw myself in front of a bus) reason. None of the reasons can be “because I want it.” And yes, Lou came up with this idea, too. I should really pay her or something.
And that’s where I am today – trying to curb my impulse buying, trying to spend less in a very bad economy, and trying to figure out three reasons why I need one more purse. Or pair of shoes.
The Cheap Chick, Revisited in 2009:
Yeah. About that 3 Reasons Why To Buy challenge. That… kind of sucked. Great idea in theory, but in practice, it made for a most boring blog. Therefore, I switched to a new and improved challenge – for one full year, I have to blog once a week about every single purchase I made during the previous week. Every bottle of water, every roll of toilet paper, every Totino Party Pizza, every everything. It’s kind of like a food journal, but for spending money. The theory is, if I have to share with the world what I’m buying, I’ll buy less. And so far? It’s actually working. Sort of. I still have to cut back on my Totino Party Pizzas.
Another big change around here occurred when some jerkwad person bought my URL out from under me. No longer could I be Cheap But Not Easy.net. So my developer made the executive decision to change the overall name of the site to just The Cheap Chick. I also FINALLY landed me a dot.com name – The Cheap Chick.com. Woot! However, that does mean there is no more Cheap But Not Easy. May it live forever in our hearts, if not in the blogosphere.
What You’ll Find Here, And What You Won’t:
Yes to – thrifty deals, frugal how-tos, reader tips, stuff to do in the TC and beyond, product reviews, book and movie reviews, rants for/against Target, love notes to Totino Party Pizzas, endless questing for perfect hair care products, nerding out about the MN Ren Fest and costumes, bad date tales, love to the people, and world peace.
No To – politics, religious discussions, bad manners, slamming on others (except for Target when they piss me off), and children’s issues. Because I have no kids of my own; therefore, I have no room whereof to speak (and not because I don’t love kids. I do – from a distance).
14 Comments
FOOD COUPONS ARE MY FRAVORITE COUPONS SAVE LOTS HAHAH
I think you are doing a great job on Fox 9 in the a.m.
Keep it up.
Was that Angie Kinser in the Ren Fest Pic. that you showed this a.m.?
Any clothing or shoe and boot rental places in Mpls/St Paul ?
“I still have to cut back on my Totino Party Pizzas.”
I would say “me too” but the truth is, I will never cut down! NEVER!~
Hi Cheap Chick,
My name is Kristen Humphrey, and I work for Hadley Media, the marketing agency in charge of all partnership & event marketing for Cirque du Soleil’s big top shows currently touring the U.S. One of these shows, OVO, will be hitting Minneapolis this spring beginning May 26 at the Mall of America. You can find out more about the show at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo.
I am reaching out to you because in all markets we like to partner up with strong, local websites and blogs. I have had much success with bloggers like yourself in several different markets, and would love to work with you as well. Basically, I would be able to provide you with exclusive discounts on tickets to the show as well as some complimentary tickets for giveaway contests. Are you available later this week to hop on call to further discuss anyways there may be to work together?
Thanks!
Best,
Kristen
415-274-2552
I wanted to let you know about a FREE alternative sports & music tour that will be hitting the Twin Cities on May 28. The Journeys Backyard Barbeque Tour will feature top extreme sport athletes including XGames/VH1 star Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, flying through the air in gravity-defying demonstrations of the best of skateboard, BMX and freestyle motocross in a 60,000 square-foot “alternative sports playground” set up outside Maplewood Mall. Free headliner concerts, a Battle of the Bands for local acts, and an interactive “FunZone” with free giveaways will be part of the fun. For more information, visit: http://www.journeysbbq.com
Thanks, and enjoy!
Beth Pursley
Journeys Backyard Barbeque Tour
I am a fan of Erin (The cheap chick) very fun additude and very sexy !!!
Hi Cheap Chick,
Just wanted to say I love your blog. I am one that can sure use some frugality tips and your sense of humor is a blast. You make me laugh out loud. Keep up the good work.
I am selling the domain name “www.frugalexpert.com”
If you are interested in owning this domain, please contact me.
Thanks!
Toni
Greetings Ms. Chick: I travel a lot and like to tune into local news when possible. I surfed accross Fox 9 and have become addicted to the Friday “dance off”…I’ve never seen anything this funny on a news program…ever! I do not know if you are a regular on the “dance off” or not, but if not, you should be…you are by far the best dancer on it…Ever consider “Dancing with the Stars”?
Gregg
u seem so much likable (??) and yet smart for keeping and getting the spot on “9″. I’m a fan of yours because i like all natural american girls that go for it! The rest will lie with u whether a response comes from post or not. I am in NE metro, single with puppy ( pain in u know what ), living on water and very busy with an enermous load of family obligations…. I’m single, no kids, never married…
If respond…. somewhere of your choosing and wow! could be cool??
probably sounds wierd, however I’m going for a longshot never taken before.
Sure would be awesome to find out either way!!
However if this stuff works, let me know, I’m not used to it.
Thanks…..
Hi,
Do you need “Guest Bloggers” for your blog? I represent a large community of writers who are trying to get their unique family friendly content published on sites such as yours. My writers are just looking for exposure so there is no charge to you for the content.
The writers I represent are professionals and are not churning out garbage content that reads like a sales ads. Each piece takes time to create and is usually 700 words or more in length. We hope to establish a long term relationship with you. You can also feel free to monetize the articles with banners ads or Google Adsense etc.
PS. I am sure you will want to see some writing samples so just let me know and I can show you several.
Thanks,
Paul White
Inventory Manager
(913) 837-3055
pwhite.blogger@gmail.com
Although, I really enjoy the advice you share with us, I was disappointed on your recent halloween tours on Fox 9, that you did not mention the “Ghosts of Anoka” tours that are offered each year as a fund raising event for the Anoka County Historical Society, in Anoka, Minnesota, the Halloween Capital of the world. It is a great value, and an experience no one soon forgets. We tell actual stories of happenings in downtown Anoka, along with some interesting local history. You would really enjoy it. Gary Greb volunteer docent ACHS
Hi, CC.
Just saw you’re comments on The Fox9 Buzz about using rice to dry out a wet cell phone. Rice is good as a drying agent, but if the cell phone stops working because of “sweat-wet,” that may not work by itself. Two years ago, my cell phone stopped working when it was in my shirt pocket, and I sweat A LOT that day. When sweat dries, it leaves salt deposits (like the white lines in the armpits of a dark shirt), and that can conduct electricity. Not much, but enough to short-out some connections. To fix it, I soaked the phone 1 day in distilled water (it MUST be distilled), rinsed it out (again in distilled water), then did it again. After the second rinse, I put it under a fan, and that’s it! I’ve been using the same phone since then without any problem!
Now, I’ve got to go and put salt in my coffee…