Frugal Lunch #1: Salad

Most of my work lunches are repackaged leftovers of a dinner the night before. Sometimes though, I eat something for dinner (scrambled eggs? cereal? hot dogs? chocolate cake? yes, embarrassing) that just doesn’t package and/or reheat well. When that happens, I have a growing arsenal of other ideas that are easily made with things we usually have in the house.

Yesterday and today? my salad, special blend.

Ingredients:
Lettuce
Leftover meat (chicken or turkey)
Dried cranberries
Nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Cheese (optional)
Dressing (Briana’s Blush Wine for me)
Side: bread (pecan raisin, Italian, crostini, crackers)

Directions:
Grab a tupperware container and put in freshly washed lettuce (I especially enjoy romaine). Top with chopped leftover meat, nicely chopped as you like it. Add the berries, nuts and cheese; then top with dressing. Snap on the lid, and you’re good to go.

I usually also pack some toasty bread, along with whatever sides I can scramble up.

Enjoy!

Christmas Gifts under $5

I thought this recent post at Wise Bread was one of the most practical ones I’ve read about Christmas gifts. It lists 25 different ideas for quality, useful items–each one at under $5. So inspiring!

And really: wouldn’t you rather get a brand-new Pyrex measuring cup than another bottle of Bath & Body Works lotion or another sweater you’ll never wear?

Just another example of how thoughtfulness more than compensates for cost.

on having a car

I love my 2001 diesel VW Jetta. It’s economical and attractive, giving me 50+ miles to the gallon and looking super cute while doing it. It has survived far northern winters with me in undergrad, city parking in grad school, a terrible accident that almost destroyed both of us and everything in between and since. It’s a good car.

So when I say this, please know that I do it with a heavy heart: my car–my been-there-for-me, saved-me-money, usually reliable and isn’t-it-adorable car–is slowly, methodically driving me crazy.

Since the days have turned colder, it’s been stalling a little at the end of my work day. Friday, it had had enough, it seems. I put the key in the ignition, and rrr, rrrr, rr–dead. I tried again. Again. Again. Finally the noise degraded to a little more like rr-dead.

Brand-new car battery: $140.

Today, I drove home from a doctor’s appointment and pulled my car into the garage. The minute I got out, I knew something was wrong. The pungent smell of burning machinery almost knocked me over. I got my mom to come smell it, and she said something was burning.

My dad is looking at it now, hopefully so he can find an answer that doesn’t involve more money or more problems. Times like these, I think how nice it would be one of those people who walks to the train, rides to work and never needs to enter a automotive vehicle.

Sigh. But on the plus side: I did have the car problem Friday just when a faithful friend was a mere 5 minutes away. And the problem today did only come up when I was safely home–not still at work and not still at the faraway doctor’s office. My parents offered to loan me a car if I need it, and my dad is giving up his free time to try to help. Silver linings.

Awkward Situation: Restaurant Etiquette

If this were you, what would you do?

We were out for dinner Friday night, at a new Chinese restaurant we’d read rave reviews about. It was classy, elegant, with streamlined decor and square white plates. The neighborhood wasn’t the greatest, but the food made up for it: delicious, super-fast, beautiful.

Our waiter was available, but not pushy. He gave advice honestly, not in that way where you know they are just saying it.  We liked him, we liked the food, we were very satisfied.

The check came: $28-something. We paid in cash (two twenties), and they brought us back change: a $10 bill a $1 bill and change.

We had no other cash to tip with.

We went up to the counter, asked if we could get the $10 broken, and they said no. I don’t remember why now. So what could we do?

$2 is a very small tip, and $10 is ridiculously high. I mean, the food was good and we liked our waiter, but $10 on a $28 meal?

Before I tell you what we decided, tell me: what would you do?

Happy birthday, Dad.

Today’s my Dad’s birthday, and we’ll be taking him out for lunch after church. My brother and I will split the check, and we’ve gotten him a book and some snacky food (he’s a big muncher).

My dad is an incredibly wise, financially savvy investor. I’ve written about him before, but especially on his birthday, I’m reminded of how blessed I am to have him. Happy birthday, Dad.

A Cure for the Shopaholic within

If you walked into my bedroom, you would see a neatly made bed with a white and red down comforter, complete with matching throw pillows; a glass-paned case with color-coded bookshelves; a dresser with just a lamp and candles on top; a nightstand with another lamp, lotion and an alarm clock; a stand-up mirror; a teeny-tiny desk with my laptop; and a chair.

The point is: you would see no clutter. I have a total paranoia of the cutesy, knick-knacky way that people live. I like things to have a place and stay there.

But. I also have an attic storage space off my closet that is filled with boxes and plastic containers. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve saved: An entire rectangular box stuffed with years and years of journals. Bridesmaid dresses. Candles. Old clothes. Old bags, purses, slings. A leopard-print pillow, a pillow an old roommate made me that doesn’t match my room’s decor. There are school books and class notes, syllabi, even a poster someone made about Ezra Pound. I want to go through this stuff and get rid of a lot of it. I’m sort of brainstorming about it right now, determining if I want to purchase containers, if I want to just get rid of most of it, if I want to continue hoarding old letters that go back at least 10 years.

I’m pretty sure this is going to be a New Year’s resolution, as strange as it says to predict that for oneself in November. I just know I won’t have the time to get to it before then. I might plan to take out one thing every day–that’s a start.

One very positive side affect of looking at this task ahead of time is how it makes me not want to shop now. I don’t want to go out and buy more stuff to have end up in the storage space, you know? When did I become a person with tons of junk?

Sigh.

tagged: 7 things

Emm tagged me for the 7 random things meme. For my version, I’m going to share 7 of my good financial habits (I’ve written about bad ones before):

1. I bring my own lunches to work.
2. I never pay full-price for a movie ticket (if I do go, $3 budget theater or $5 matinees).
3. I drive a diesel car that gets over 50 miles to the gallon.
4. I always put money into savings from every paycheck.
5. I keep track of my purchases and budget my money.
6. I supplement my regular income with part-time work.
7. I let myself buy something if I really, really want it and it’s within my means.

Christmas Shopping

For as long as I can remember, I’ve gone shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, we’d go downtown and it was more about the experience than the spending: seeing the holiday lights, checking out the Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s) windows, eating out, feeling festive.

Then three years ago, a friend got married that day at 10 AM. This inspired my brother and me to hit the mall at 7 AM, shop and come home before attending. I still remember going to H & M and buying three or four sweaters (that I still wear) in a luxuriously uncrowded mall. We got Panera, enjoyed the whole spirit of the day and still finished before the wedding.

This year, I’m working. I’ve contemplated my options: taking the day off, shopping before work, shopping after work, neglecting the day altogether. And I’ve decided to opt for the last. I will be leaving a little early to pick up flowers for a co-worker’s birthday (the company reimburses me, believe it or not), but that’ll do.

As far as my holiday spending, I’ve managed to knock out one or two items, have been completely inspired for others and am still toying around with ideas for more. If you have any tricks for saving money on Christmas gifts, I’d love to hear them.

Happy Black Friday!

I’m thankful for a holiday.

When you have a small family, and when you only get one day off for a big holiday like Thanksgiving, the day becomes more of a day of rest than anything else. I’ll be eating a delicious, home-cooked meal that will rival Food Network fare, and I’ll be staying in my pajamas a little later and just chilling. Frugal Foodie Thursday will get pushed back a week, since I figure most bloggers aren’t playing online today anyway.

Since stores are closed, I don’t have to feel bad about not running errands, and I can just enjoy my home. I stayed up super-late last night cleaning and watching movies, and now I’m deciding whether to get some more sleep or begin organizing my closet or bathroom.

It’s not super festive, but honestly I will enjoy myself so much. Here’s to the wonderful, paid-time-off holidays that give you time when you need it and that remind you to be thankful for your blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I am thankful for my family.

Well, I’m going to try to make this as non-cliche as possible because I hate being cliche. At the same time, is it even possible to talk about being thankful for your family at Thanksgiving without sounding completely trite?I am, though. I’m thankful that my parents are not just my parents but my friends. I’m glad they give me advice when I ask for it but give me space to make my own decisions. I’m thankful they put me through college, both undergrad and grad school, because they wanted me to pursue my dream.

I’m thankful for my younger brother who’s really the best friend I have. I love hanging out with him more than almost anyone: we just get each other. I’m thankful he listens to me go on and on about my latest crisis and calmly gives me his thoughts. I’m thankful he has better taste than I do and helps me pick stuff out.

Most of all, I’m thankful that my family’s not perfect but that they’re perfect for me. I’m thankful they bring out the best—and sometimes worst—in me because I need that. I love them, and I’m glad to share Thanksgiving with them.