Ode To Ramen

Oh Ramen, Oh Ramen
You dear, dear friend of mine
Oh Ramen, Oh Ramen
You've made my cheap life divine
You've always been present
Through good times and bad
Especially right before a payday
When my wallet has looked very sad.
I've never paid more than a quarter
for your warm, comforting taste
and you've always left me full-
not a noodle gone to waste!
Even when I've graduated
and moved on to bigger tasks
Your memory will always bring a smile to my face
Something that will last and last.

I do love Ramen!

I thought of this today when I was browsing in Publix for something to have for lunch. I could have bought sandwich meat, but turkey is way too expensive, and frozen dinners have bored me enough this week. As I was on the canned goods aisle, I saw a glimmer of something shiny in the corner of my life. Lo and behold, my favorite standby, Ramen, was beckoning to me with its creamy chicken flavor - and $0.20 price tag. With tomorrow being payday and today being broke day, I opted for the Ramen, which has never let me down.

Some Ramen - loving websites:

Rameniac a worldwide journey in the world of Ramen

Go Ramen - a blog that explores all types of Ramen - it dosen't all come in the "instant" section of the grocery store!

The Ramen Blog - for those who just love Ramen.

Cheap Site: Woot.com

So one of my coworkers (Hi, Heather!) is always browsing this spot, and turned me on to this fab site for daily online deals - Woot.com

According to the site, Woot.com is a site where one great deal is posted a day. The objects could be anything - I mean anything - from hoses to book lights (follow Woot.com on Twitter. If you like to find cool objects at discount prices, then this is the site for you. Woot!

What are you cheap weaknesses?

C'mon... we all have them.

For me, it's simple: whenever I walk into Target, I automatically end up browsing the Dollar Spot and end up leaving with something totally pointless (like pocket - sized Sudoku For Dummies... I'm pretty much a master now) or frivolous (ooh - new flats! ) - and all I wanted was some juice and a loaf of bread. Or, when I go to Wal Mart, I automatically get lured into the $5 DVD section. Where else would I find classics like this:



Either way, it's a wallet eater and I should stop!

What are your vices?

Sunday Blogroll

Here's a lesson on cutting back - straight from Japan

Do you use your credit card like it's cash? It may be encouraging you to spend more than you can afford.

If you're graduating in May, chances are you havent't thought about moving to India....yet.

Don't have cable? Catch your favorite TV shows here.

Have you ever found out the value of your social life?

My life right now - in six words

Ready to move - tired of montony.

What is your six word memoir?

I did it!

I did it I did it I did it!!!

*does happy dance*

I, Erin Williams, am now officially a SHAREHOLDER.

That's right, I own stock!

I am the proud owner of exactly one share of J.Crew.

Yesssss!

Ok, so I know it's J. Crew and it's only one share, but I finally bought stock in something!

Here's how it happened:

The other day, I was reading an article about how Michelle Obama's preference for J. Crew was leading to a positive gain in sales for the company. It then went on to talk about how she could resurrect fashion, blah blah... but the story got me to thinking: If Michelle Obama can make prices rise, the their stock will go up, and in four years, they could possibly have shares that are through the roof.

So why don't I jump on this and buy some of their stock???

I immediately went to ShareBuilder and started researching prices and facts and figures, etc. But then that old feeling started creeping back up - the one that says, "What are you doing? Why would you buy stock? You don't have any money, anyway.

Oh, but I did. See, Friday was a payday. And after looking at the price of trading and doing some math, I realized that I could afford the one share, for now, and eventually buy more shares and even invest in more companies.

I was sold!

So, Friday I bought the share and Tuesday morning it was completed - it would have been Monday, but it was a holiday.

Now, I know that this sounds a bit frivolous and fast, but here's the thing about me: if I don't do it when I feel the itch, then it will never happen. The timing just happened to be right and I had the money and why not?

So, there you go.

If you are interested in starting out with just one share like me, try OneShare which is a great place to start.

Also, this USA Today article gave me the confidence to go on and buy it.

What do we have to show for it?

So - random story - Today I saw a picture of TLC on this site and had a flashback to their bio on "Behind the Music." Their first manager took money from them because of bogus contracts they signed. I remember Chilli saying in their "Behind The Music" that "We had done all of this work and hand nothing to show for it."

That quote has always been embedded in the back of my mind and it never had huge resonance with me... until today.

While walking to class, I decided that I would work a few extra hours today in order to have a little more pocket change next week. As I was pondering this, I saw a girl who was dressed cutely for class. She wasn't overly done or looked as if she was trying too hard, she just looked...cute. I didn't know anything about her, but I thought, no matter what she's doing, at least she has something to show for it. That's when it hit me: I've been employed since I was 15. I've worked and worked and worked and I've spent my money on...what? I don't dress particularly well, I don't own a nice car, I don't save like I should...

What do I have to show for all of this work I've done?

If I make money and I do nothing but toss it at frivolous things, what's the point? I feel like I have cheated myself, in a way. I mean, I really have nothing of real worth in my life. I know people who have been able to buy cars, wear designer clothing, have new phones and computer they financed themselves because they were smart enough to want to show off their hard work. Now really, I'm not materialistic, but I feel like I have missed the boat.

Has it all been in vain?

Sunday Blogroll

Tomorrow is President's Day. Remember when that used to be a day out of school? Man...

Did you get any cheap lingerie for Valentine's Day?

Have you ever talked to your grandparents about the Great Depression? Take their thoughts and apply them to food frugality.

Thinking about investing in the stock market? Learn about the obstacles young investors face

Forbes has compiled a list of Hollywood's most bankable actors

Here's a breakdown of life on $7 a day

Happy Valentine's Day!

Go spend time with the ones you love...

Fabulous Financials has tips on how to create a fun - yet frugal - day to be remembered.

Send an ecard instead of a paper one with postage costs.

Create a dinner for two instead of dining out.

Make chocolate dipped strawberries!

Find a great movie to rent for the night

Spread the love!

So, where do you get your music?

I have a confession to make: I haven't always been ... legal... about getting my music.

For a long time, I used LimeWire to get all of my music. I was one of the few computers able to connect to the network, and I was a downloading fiend. That is, until just over two months ago, when my mojo was broken. I came back from Christmas Break and haven't been able to connect to the network ever since. I tried several options: disconnecting and reconnecting the signal, reinstalling, even trying a new program, but to no avail.
This led me to a "Where do you get your music?" unofficial poll. I was hoping people would answer with another free network I had never heard about, but out of about 5 people, 4 of them said they were legitimate buyers.

Say whaaa?


Everyone has been buying their music all this time? Are you kidding me???

And so, after minutes of soul searching and being desperate to download new songs on my iPod, I went on a search for the best music sites to get music from at the lowest price.

Here are my findings:

iTunes:

- Pay about .99 for a song, plus the ability to rent or buy movies, TV shows, and full albums.
- PROS: everyone can download iTunes, which is also a music player, and it's easy to use.
- CONS: every once in a while, they are lacking on their music selection. I went searching for this song and it was nowhere to be found.

Rhapsody

-.99/ song, free 14 day trial
- PROS: You can log in anywhere and listen to your paid selections; the songs can also be downloaded onto any mp3.
- CONS: 12.99/month membership fee. Eek!

WalMart
-.74 - .94/ song
- PROS: Great prices, good variety
- CONS: They only have music. If I could find movies for purchase for these prices, I would be in heaven.

I ended up going with iTunes, mostly because it was so easy to use, but I have used and would recommend WalMart as well.

So, where do you get your music?

Dwindling Dining Dollars...

No, that is not me, but she has the same expression I do when I swipe my ActCard


I don't know about you, but at the beginning of every semester, I become quietly excited. I get a twinkle in my eye, a little pep in my step... i'm pretty jazzed. Why, do you ask? Only because the beginning of the semester means one thing: Dining Dollars.

Oh, how I love Dining Dollars. I use them everywhere - Buffalo Phil's, Domino's, all the convenience stores... I get to try so many things that I normally would shy away from with my regular money. Such as all the organic stuff we now have. And the pastries they serve at Starbucks. $3.50 is less of a pain when it dosen't come out of my pocket (although, in theory, it already did.) And - you can buy other things with it if you are in a place that sells them: toilet paper, detergent, hand sanitizer - you name it, i've bought it. Well apparently my raucous spending sprees have left me a little strapped, and we're not even through the semester - apparently my $300 has somehow disappeared, and now I have like, $70 Dining Dollars left.

Huh? What? How did this happen?

I personally believe it's because;
1 - I'm taken in by all of the different things to try;
2 - I've already paid for it, I might as well use it as I please; and
3 - I feel powerful swiping all willy - nilly.

I remember as a freshman I divided up the number of weeks that we had in a semester by $300 and came out with $18.75, I believe. I was going to stick to that budget, and did for about a week, until I ordered pizza one night, and realized, "Well, I broke my budget, and you only live once..." I was out by Columbus Day. And this semester, I probably won't make it past February.

Oh well... it's my last semester and my pickin's are slim, and ooh! I want to try that tofu - rice - salsa thing...



Wa

Get Shorty

Ok – so raise your hand if you like starbucks.

Raise your hand if you consider yourself a “hardcore coffee drinker”, yet you can never finish a full cup of coffee and instead end up either ordering a drink that ends in –chino or loading your cup up with tons of sugar, milk, or what have you.
Raise your hand if basically, you hate paying that much for a cup of coffee.

Well, do I have news for you!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have cracked the coffee code... sort of.

Starbucks has something that may be able to save your wallet, and still provide you with that much needed caffeine boost – enter “The Short”. Think of it as the Kids’ Meal of Starbucks.

“The Short” is an 8 oz. cup of coffee that Starbucks has, yet they don’t advertise. You can’t find it on the menu – you have to ask for it. I found out about it on a blog and didn’t believe it, until I asked for it one day:

Barista: “Hi, welcome to Starbucks, what can I get you?”
Me(leaning over the counter with an air of mystery): “May I have… the Short?”
Barista: “Sure.” (rolls eyes, probably because I am still leaning on the counter)

The Short is only 1.50, and is perfect for those of us who honestly can’t finish a
full 12 oz without having to excuse ourselves an hour later.
The only drawback is that it is not offered at the Ferg Starbucks (of course). But you can get it at the Target one and at the one in Midtown Village.

Drink up!

Sunday Blogroll

Follow President Obama's stimulus plan developments

Taylor Swift is the 900 billionth celebrity to launch a clothing line.

Learn how letting your possessions go saves money

Give Me Back My Five Bucks shares her February Food Challenge

Consignment shops are having a moment

Cop Out: 25 Random Things About Me

So, in the past couple of weeks, I've been hearing, "Hey, aren't you The Dollar Duchess?" and although it's very flattering, it made me wonder, how much do my readers really know about me outside of personal finance? The answer: not very much. So, with a little help from everyone else posting this, I am listing my version of the new phenomenon, 25 random things about me. Not to be confused with one of my favorite teen movies of all time:

1. I have a weakness for all things food: I love to watch it, eat it, prepare it, read about it, take picture of it... it's pretty much my porn

2. I am obsessed with Flickr. I learned about it in 2007 and can't go very long without visiting it. I have found an image for everything imaginable, and it makes me very happy.

3. I don't eat beef or pork. Beef because I od'd on hamburgers from the age of 13 - 18, and pork because my dad said that black people lack the enzyme to digest it. I took it with a serious grain of (crazy) salt, but after he said that I was never able to look at pork the same way again.

4. I am a huge fan of The Hills and The City. Those who said it's all fake, get real. You can't make this stuff up. ;-)

5. That being said, I am obsessed with all things fashion. Ob-sessed. The magazines, the blogs, the stores - everything. But, due to my constant lack of funds, I am never able to fully express myself in the full fashionable way I crave.

6. I love the airport. I love the hustle and bustle; everyone there is always on the go. It's so exciting because when you are there, it's always to leave!

7. I watch most of my tv online. I'm never home during the day to catch new stuff, and this summer I was without a TV, so I came to rely on sites like hulu.

8. I love 5 gum in mint. It's so refreshing.

9. The best part of my day is brushing my teeth so I can have that clean feeling when I chew my 5 gum.

10. I once had 7 cavities filled in one sitting.

11. I'm in love with my iPhone. I credit Apple products with enhancing my love for technology, mainly music in particular.

12. Music is my mistress. I love all kinds, but I have a soft spot for 80's R&B and 60s pop.

13. I paint my fingernails only to chip them minutes later; but, isn't that everybody?

14. Up until last semester, I was addicted to comma usage. I took my last English class, and realized, that, they weren't, always, necessary, which disturbed me, just a l,i,ttle.

15. Shel Silverstein is my favorite poet. Who dosen't remember Where The Sidewalk Ends?

16. On that note, books pretty much helped to raise me. I learned about most of the big things in life through reading about them. And whenever I have a huge problem, I always have to do a lot of reading on the subject to come to a personal understanding about the issue.

17. During the summer of 2006, I was a barista for 2 weeks at Crimson Cafe.

18. I do a full body stretch at least twice a day.

19. I love writing thank you notes. I feel there is no better way to get a message across than writing an old fashioned one and sending it in the mail.

20. I want to move to DC after I graduate. I interned there last summer, and it pretty much changed my life. But, I don't know if I'll stay forever.

21. My favorite holiday is Fourth of July. No one expects presents, and barbecue is never too far away.

22. I know nothing about interior decorating. All I need is a bed and a computer, and I'm good.

23. I always have to end up having two of everything, because I end up breaking the first one of whatever I had. This generally applies to Apple electronics: I've had 2 MacBooks, about 10 iPods, 3 iPhones, and countless other repaired products. Luckily I have paid warranties, because if not, I would be screwed.

24. I drive a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The radio dosen't work, there's a crack in the windshield, the lights flicker when I drive, and the gears shift without notice, but I love it.

25. This is not my first blog. I've tried to start about 2 PF blogs before this one, but I was never able to keep up. Now is my time!

I tag anyone who's up for it; tell me 25 things about you!

How Far Would You Go: Sugar Daddy?

Aww, who dosen't love Hugh Hefner?

So, in my periodic internet scrollings for the latest news in the world, I came upon this story that ran on Good Morning America on the resurgence of the Sugar Daddy.

Sugar Daddies, as have been popularized by American Culture, are typically older men who are financially independent and have money to spend. They support young girls with expensive clothes and homes, fabulous getaways and a substantial allowance. The girl in question dosen't really have to worry about her life - that is, unless she gets cut off.

Would you be willing to go that far in order to be able to afford the finer things? It has always been one of my personal mantras that when someone gives you money you give them power; I know that all too well from my memories of being a teenager and having to have my paychecks budgeted out by my mom. It was such a personal stab for me to be able to make my own money, only to be told how it was to be spent. But, I digress. Basically, you trade money for power, and as long as you use HIS money, he has power over YOU. Not a good trade, if you ask me.

Just ask former girl next door Kendra Wilkinson , who shared this about her life with Hef:

"Kendra also revealed the girlfriends were not allowed to spend holidays with their families and insists she disliked being paid an allowance of $1,000 per week, and is now totally against Hugh’s way of life.

She said: “I hate putting my hand out, but we couldn't have jobs other than getting appearance fees. Hef was kind of like my best friend, but a sugar daddy at the same time Hef made me feel beautiful."

Not worth it in my opinion. But then again, I'm 99.9% sure I will never be a bunny...

Sunday Blogroll

Have you ever heard of The Scrooge Strategy?

Find out how to get a star's outfit for less than $100

If you are tall, left handed, or have a fondness for Duct Tape, there may be a scholarship out there for you

Find out how people are Cutting corners to make ends meet in these tough times.

A personal finance blogger gives her take on being financially independent

And, here's a clip from a site that that never lets me down


Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard