tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:33:43 +0000frugal livingperspectiveMadofffinancially savvyfrugalpainutilitiesbillionaireclothingdiscountenergygrocerieshealthhomelessmoneyresource allocationrichthriftCouch SurfingDo unsettling emoMaslow's HierarchyObamaPavlovianPonziadvertisingangerbalancebeautycoffee filtercoupon queencustomerdecisionsexecutive compensationfamilyfinancegenerositygiveawaygreedhotelhouseholdinheritanceinvestmentsjudgmentlaundrylossesmarriagemealsmedicalmiserlymoviespimppovertyrecessionrecycleresaleretailsalesavingshoppingsoulstoresuicidetaxesthe bachelortradertravelwisdomSome rich, some poor; all happy. Keep it dialed here 'cause Broke Girl knows a thing or two about a great relationship with all things monetary.http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/noreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)Blogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-6004384940859620897Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:18:00 +00002015-04-19T10:30:37.590-05:00 This week I'm meeting with a lunch group who invited me to talk about "frugalness." So I've drafted this questionnaire of Markers You Will Find Along the Road to Financial Freedom. It's funny how you (well, me, that is) can be so inspired to take steps for good changes in your own life, when your initial plan was to teach what you know to others. I'm compelled to set to work on these: don't http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2015/04/speaking-to-ladies-who-lunch-about_19.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-7763237317739532961Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:17:00 +00002012-01-13T00:33:45.449-06:00 I love me a "remarkably frugal" half-billionaire. And turns out this guy lives a few blocks from me! President Obama attended three huge money-making funders in Chicago yesterday, one of them near my house (I know this because of the traffic cops swarming every intersection for hours before he arrived. The President's convoy never slows for red lights, nor observes speed limits. It is a sight http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2012/01/i-love-me-remarkably-frugal-half.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-4862499073696359564Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:25:00 +00002011-10-04T14:32:26.565-05:00 I'm telling you, it's all about the stuff you can't have. I opened an email five minutes ago from my friend Krista who is in the Philippines with her husband and four children for a few months. She writes, "We are all dreaming of cheese. There are no cows here and dairy products are nowhere to be found!" In his weekly radio show This American Life, "#446: Living Without," released 26 September http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2011/10/its-stuff-you-cant-have.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-4072786278670652601Thu, 12 May 2011 19:33:00 +00002011-05-13T15:52:32.718-05:00Hey folks, this proves just how very cheap I am--were it not previously obvious. (And another reason that I am actually very far from broke, so probably should go about changing my moniker from Broke Girl to something like Rich Girl, except for I'm not that, and that brings to mind the real Poor Little Rich Girls such as the original: Barbara Hutton, then Gloria Vanderbilt, the late Christina http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2011/05/im-calling-myself-out-cheap-starbucks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-329790132080825066Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:21:00 +00002011-02-04T10:36:42.027-06:00Today's Groupon features $10 for $20 worth of toys an games, books and more at Barnes & Noble. The fine print: Expires Apr 10, 2011 Limit 1/person. Limit 1/trans. Valid in-store or online. Valid on sale items. Groupon value reduces by $10 on 4/11, except where prohibited. Groupon issued by Barnes & Noble Marketing Services LLC. What will you buy? I snagged a Zagat restaurant guide and a http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2011/02/10-for-20-of-items-at-barnes-noble-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-3117340573734779943Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:28:00 +00002010-12-14T14:28:25.876-06:00Broke Girl loves a good Christmas Carol or seventy-nine. She (little known factoid), is a music composer and arranger herself, and knows a thing or two about wanting to collect royalties on her musical works. But when Amazon.com has a bevy of composers and performers who are giving complete songs and mini-albums of Christmas music away--gratis--Broke Girl leaps. [Okay, switching now from third http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/12/79-free-christmas-music-downloads-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-2887030256066510202Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:34:00 +00002010-10-31T21:24:49.003-05:00We're not certain whether neighbors (in a rather upscale co-op building) in Chicago's Gold Coast are looking for ways to cut back on their food bill; whether aliens or high winds planted corn seeds in random little spots of soil around town, or if the phenomenon we've noticed is a real slow-occurring Internet flash-crowd event by cornstalks. Whatever it is, we've seen random stalks of corn http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/10/random-corn-stalks-in-city.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-5535857837588875029Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:06:00 +00002010-10-27T23:49:26.663-05:00Broke girl knows value when she sees it. A neatly-dressed man mumbled something in my direction as I stepped up to the door of a 7-Eleven store tonight. "What did you say?" figuring him for a beggar wanting cash. He spoke louder, "Do you have a cigarette?" "No, I don't," I said, and went into the store. While the clerk rang up my caffeine-free Diet Coke, I looked up at the prices posted over http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/10/i-paid-100-for-one-cigarette-tonight.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-6593411150193749083Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:57:00 +00002010-10-05T22:08:31.042-05:00In a sketchy stretch of northwest Indiana where Gary kind of grinds down and the road stretches into mile after mile of closed-down businesses, shuttered shrimp-shacks, and the occasional liquor store, there is a little spot where a bit of renewal appears. A few slightly upscale vacation getaway homes appear as the Indiana dunes near. Anyway, I recently chose to take the roads less traveled to ahttp://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/10/somewhere-on-route-12-or-route-20-in-nw.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-6812580584399666853Sun, 03 Oct 2010 03:27:00 +00002010-10-03T13:14:39.571-05:00Facade |fəˈsäd| (also façade) noun: • figurative -- an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality : her flawless public facade masked private despair Like a gawker at a bad accident, I've been a little bit overly curious (er, fascinated?) about the evolving story of a "perfect" suburban Chicago family whose facade was horribly sheared off this week. http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/10/facade-things-are-not-as-they-seem.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-117673956487591244Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:23:00 +00002010-09-29T22:27:57.538-05:00Recent news, if you read the riff-raff stuff below the fold, included reports of an actor in The 40-Year-Old Virgin under trial for stabbing his girlfriend twenty times. "...he wrongly thought that she was somebody else going after him in the dark." But Shelley Malil's defense appeared lame. He testified, still confused, of the chaos that broke out when he arrived at his girlfriend's house and http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/passive-behaviors-shirking-blame-knife.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-8350487805868365335Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:46:00 +00002010-09-22T21:51:34.366-05:00Yes, yes, yes. I did indeedy recently speak at the "Women's Night Out" event hosted by Aspiring Women host Shirley Rose at the Total Living Network studios in Aurora, IL, per my previous post. It has been some time since I was a more frequent speaker at women's conferences, seminars and such on all topics monetary. I appeared for but a few minutes at this event, so got right to it: the root of http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/problem-of-eve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-5699503140649946036Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:52:00 +00002010-09-15T10:56:52.803-05:00Strolling through the leafy Chicago neighborhood of Bucktown this past Sunday afternoon, I spotted a lovely renovated house with a "For Sale" sign posted on it. Stairs led to the front door, and a second set led about six steps down to a garden level entrance as well. That's where I spotted a swirl of the season's first fallen leaves. Crumpled up within was a dollar bill. I looked closer. Yes, http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/sharp-eyes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-791773650383278308Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:46:00 +00002010-09-09T14:46:27.534-05:00Broke Girl is speaking tonight in Aurora, IL at the Total Living Network studios. The function is in conjunction with the long-time Aspiring Women television program, and is a Girls' Night Out event with the theme "Let's Talk About Money." Keynote speakers are Michelle McKinney Hammond and Shirley Rose. Sharon Durling, a.k.a., Broke Girl, will be giving her two cents, er, million dollars' http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/broke-girl-speaks-out-aurora-il-7-pm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-5671834106117288481Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:53:00 +00002010-09-02T23:53:12.230-05:00Well, yesterday's Nicest Guy Ever award winner may have a competitor lurking in the wings. I don't know how I got started in conversation with a dude on my block, but next thing you know, he said he'd get information from his girlfriend about a great spot where I could purchase a replacement for my bicycle that was recently stolen. I say "dude," because he was one. He had more tats per arm thanhttp://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/nicest-guy-ever-next-in-queue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-2097135580797071109Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:53:00 +00002010-09-01T17:08:24.493-05:00I post this photo in no way to mock the flowery-attired and hatted lady ahead of me at the CVS Pharmacy store this afternoon. I instantly liked her look and stepped in line behind her with my caffeine-free Diet Coke purchase. She opened her large pocketbook and fished around for what became long minutes in her search for a mode of payment for her purchase. I, being in no hurry, actually http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/i-spotted-my-future-self-today-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-5621961789807248567Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:59:00 +00002010-09-01T17:15:25.383-05:00Go here to get $5 off purchase of five Kraft cheese or dairy products. Btw, I freeze cheese for later use in cooking and stuff. So it's worth stocking up, in my opinion. If Velveeta doesn't suit your palette, perhaps Parmesan, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, string cheese and more will. Broke Girl is not above a little couponing action. Lately I've not entered a grocer without $5 to http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/09/500-off-kraft-products-youll-probably.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-6257494515177919147Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:51:00 +00002010-08-29T22:51:35.117-05:00Steve, a Chicago reader, sent us a link about a new service: a sort of Consumer Reports, but for cheaper stuff. Blogger Jennifer Saranow Schultz tells of journalist Max Levitte: All Levitte simply wanted an inexpensive (let's just say cheap) vacuum to clean the solitary rug in his apartment. His took a pass on costlier $150 - $250 vacuums to settle on a $60 vacuum--that turned out not to do http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/cheapismcom-cheaper-sort-of-consumer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-6654446667096953004Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:49:00 +00002010-08-29T22:49:32.903-05:00Here's a quick and cheap idea from the blog of a professional wedding photographer whom we like: "If you’re ever having a rough day & need some encouragement try donning wedding attire and walking around Chicago. Spontaneous applause everywhere we went." Your ideas?http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/cheaper-than-prozac.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-4779375275495639057Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:28:00 +00002010-08-24T16:29:11.447-05:00Is there a Qdoba Mexican Grill in your neighborhood? There is just yards from my front door, and I have come to really appreciate their salsa verde and poblano pesto. There is a Chipotle about equidistant in the opposite direction, but I tired of their menu and quality of food. Methinks Qdoba is a bit better. Anyway, I just created an entrée on their website and then printed a coupon to get the http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/free-qdoba-mexican-grill-entree-in-your.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-3837838883311541386Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:58:00 +00002010-08-23T00:11:42.227-05:00Yesterday I asked rhetorically that, if one were to live in a trailer park, and all your friends and everybody you knew lived in a trailer park, wouldn't you be relatively satisfied with that? Which is one of the ways the "Smart Money" knows how to live well and happily--that is: below their means. I've often said I might one day decide to retire in one of those neat, trim little trailer parks http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/billionaire-and-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-4561082883318610605Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:37:00 +00002010-08-22T02:23:26.850-05:00I'm telling you folks; it seems every day that the Broke folk have it over the Rich folk... Ever since Adam and Eve strolled out of the Garden, it's not so much that we want stuff, so much as we want the stuff that other people have. For example, if you lived in a trailer park, and all your friends and everybody you knew lived in a trailer park, wouldn't you be relatively satisfied with that? http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/what-we-want.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-7759916605696844562Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:05:00 +00002010-08-21T00:50:43.851-05:00You already know there's an app for everything except getting your back scratched. Like today, I avoided a trip to the bank by depositing a hard-copy paper check at home via my Chase Bank app. It's the first time I did that; I thought, how cool to do right at my desk, at home. Although I'll read this six months from now and think--that's so nothing. 'Cause I remember the thrill of making my http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/how-iphone-4-can-is-aving-me-buck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-1456823101892516268Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:48:00 +00002010-08-18T16:17:46.719-05:00I've been getting free photo things from Walgreens all week. Every day this week, there is a new one-day-only offering for a free or reduced-price photographic thing. Yesterday, I picked up a free 8" x 10" photo --to be a gift for my mother. It's not so photogenically sensational so much as the story it tells. It is of a family birthday dinner on the farm in Michigan, an activity we've done http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/free-11-x-17-photo-cling-act-quickly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6377510773124207714.post-7533498598571900436Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:46:00 +00002010-08-17T22:46:20.906-05:00Author Victor Hugo wrote of his protagonist Jean Valjean in Les Misérables: "Poverty, we must insist, had been good to him. Poverty, in youth, when it succeeds, is so far magnificent that it turns the whole will towards effort, and the whole soul towards aspiration.http://www.bebrokebuthappy.com/2010/08/wealth-that-is-poverty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Broke but Happy)0