I’m sending out the old year with a countdown to my five favorite posts.
5. I never knew a cookbook could inspire so many comments until I wrote about Frugal Foodie Recipes. “What I like best about The Frugal Foodie Cookbook is that to make three different recipes I did not need to buy a single ingredient. Not having to go to the store saved me time and money – plus I got delicious food out of my pantry! The authors’ food philosophy is to keep it simple but not necessarily cheap”…keep reading.
4. Forgive me for indulging myself, but I just can’t believe that my Dad is 63. I’m 31. Guess who’s faster? “I learned how to ride a bike at 3 to keep up with my older sisters. But I really learned how to ride from my Dad, a lifelong cyclist who has covered 300 miles in a day. My Dad’s motto on the bike is “never stop pedaling.” I started riding with him because my public high school offered six classes a day. To squeeze in symphonic band, I skipped P.E. and made up the credits by cycling with him. It wasn’t easy to keep up with him and on most rides I did not. Oh, who am I kidding? I never once kept up with him”…keep reading.
3. Readers jumped on me for going along with the crowd and stiffing a waitress, but in the end I learned my lesson about Money morality: if someone undercharges you…“I was chomping on a tasty BBQ dinner with five friends when – GASP – the waitress undercharged us. The bill was $20 a head – a fab deal for the meaty meal – because she had failed to add another $11 for the booze. The four of us who split the drinks would have owed another $3.50 per, which includes tax and tip on the beer. “Should we tell the waitress?” I asked“…keep reading.
2. I ventured a spending moratorium for the entire month of July, which I stuck to religously. Er, except for the three times I broke my moratorium. “The first time exposed my weakness for coupons. The second time exposed my soft spot for hard-working waitresses. The third time it was the library that did me in.”…keep reading.
1. My absolute favorite post this year was about a reader comment in response to a guest post about saving money in Las Vegas. Not because I like being called a “douche,” but because the comment triggered a heated debate about the difference between being frugal and being cheap. It is a fine line that I strive never to cross. “This week’s reader comment of the week shocked me. When I first read reader Julie’s response to the post, I didn’t understand why she was so upset over a total stranger taking tissues and toilet paper from a hotel room“…keep reading.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Anything with the title Frugal, I’m in. The only thing that beats frugal is free cookbook.
I asked for and got the Frugal Foodie cookbook from my youngest son for a Christmas gift. I needed another cookbook like another hole in the head, but just can’t resist something new and innovative for the kitchen. I’m a true foodie from the word go! Hope y’all had a great holiday, whatever you celebrate, and that the new year brings you all you hope for and need.
I’m new to Bargain Babe and have been loving your advice, but the stiffing-the-waitress story was not even almost a close call. If you haven’t returned to the restaurant to give that waitress the $11, you should. Anything else is just rationalizing cheating someone out of what they’re due, whether it’s the restaurant or the waitress. Had you stood up for the “right thing” at the time, you might have inspired your friends to do the right thing the NEXT time. Please make this right. Your karma depends on it!