Katie Tegtmeyer/Flickr
I’m taking the rest of the week off and Monday to move to the biggest little state in the union. Yep, I’m headed for Rhode Island. I never thought I’d live on the East Coast again, but my life has changed dramatically in the past 12 months. I’m taking advantage of my very portable job – I can work anywhere there is a high-speed Internet connection – to be closer to someone I love.
I will still write BargainBabe.com, with fantastic contributions from Yazmin and Bobbi, and blog for WalletPop.com (check daily for new coupons). What will change is my perspective. I expect to write more about stews and comfort food in the winter, for example, and pay closer attention to mitten sales.
I’m going to need your help getting through the summer, too. I’ve never lived in anything but a mega city, and I’m worried living in my new, smallish town is going to be a shock – culturally and financially.
Adjusting means getting to know my local thrift stores, finding the nearest farmer’s market, looking for a discount movie theater, bookmarking the bus and train schedule, and applying for a library card.
What do you look for in a new place to adjust and save money?
If you’d like to watch a news video from the 1980s about my soon-to-be home state, click below. The theme song is catchy. Rhode Island! Rhode Island!
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. 
What!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re leaving? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
What about frugal fest next year?
I was a fan because you had such good deals in L.A. but oh well, I’ll need to search for another good site.
Well good luck!
One of my brother’s lives in Rhode Island and he’s a HUGE fan of a farmer’s market in Pawtucket. They have it indoors during the winters and outdoors in the summer. I love the fiddlers who are there during the winter!
I get to see my brother and I get to buy my produce, coffee, tea, body lotion and honey. Here’s a link for information on farmer’s markets in Rhode Island: http://www.farmfreshri.org/
Good luck on the move!
Good luck and congratulations! I’m certain most readers will still update you on deals in LA (that are often valid nationwide), and vise-versa.
YAY!!! I hope this means more of a general frugal spin on your blog and less that is LA centric. I like reading your personal stories, but the LA bargains do nothing for me living in Canada.
whoa, a totally new weather patterns, hope you like snow! yes, would like more info not just LA centric…because a lot of that did nothing for me either, I did send some on to LA family. Can’t wait to hear about your new home.
Best of luck to you!
Well done – I would love the cool summers or perhaps they are not always so cool. Smile.
Bummed out! Followed you from the DAILY NEWS to being independent…and despite what non-LA’ers are saying….your first followers want and need those LA helping ideas….because we pay a price for 365 days of good weather (no snow!!! very few humid days, etc.). Hope this works out for you!!!! All the best!
As one who lives and works in the San Fernando Valley I will miss your local eye on bargains (I began following you thanks to your great Lincoln Lunch ideas!) But look forward to a new view from the East Coast.
Much luck and happiness in RI.
Travel safely!
How exciting for you!!
You will be missed, for sure.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life, I am sure we will see this reflected in your writing.
Thank you for all you do!
Take care, Julia 🙂
How exciting for you!!
You will be missed, for sure.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life, I am sure we will see this reflected in your writing.
Thank you for all you do!
Take care, Julia 🙂
How exciting for you!!
You will be missed, for sure.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life, I am sure we will see this reflected in your writing.
Thank you for all you do!
Take care, Julia 🙂
I moved from RI to LA about a year ago, and having grown up there, I can part some wisdom.
1. Unless you’re moving to Providence, the bus and train schedule is pretty limited. RIPTA does make the rounds in some of the larger towns like Warwick, Cranston and Pawtucket, but it isn’t the most reliable way to get around. And the train station is useful only if you’re traveling to Boston.
2. Dunkin’ Donuts will be your coffee addiction best friend. There aren’t that many Sbux’s out there, but there is a DD about every 2 miles. Their iced coffee is delicious, and huge for a much more discounted price.
3. Consult Yelp, because there are a bunch of great thrift shops in Providence, but avoid anything around Thayer St. That’s where most of the college students in Prov congregate and the prices at those stores reflect it.
4. Look into purchasing a car. Though it is a VERY small state, it is very spread out.
5. Invest in an automatic starter for your car. Come the winter time, you won’t regret it.
Have fun in my homestate! And congratulations!
I will miss you being in LA, but understand you wanting to be near someone you love 🙂 I wish you best, and know you will be a success no matter the city.
I wish you all the best but will miss you! I hope you come back next year for Frugal Fes. I loved helping you!!!!
Ahhh….bummer. Followed you from the Daily news too. You’ll be missed her in LA. Good luck in RI.
Babe,
I’ll miss you dearly.
–BargainHubby (retired)
I’m looking forward to your new perspective, east coast instead of west, cold not warm, small town versus LA, and waiting for your personal stories!
Good Luck, Julia
Welcome to RI! Lauren gave you some great advice but here are the particulars for things you mentioned:
Thrift stores: Totally agree about avoiding Thayer St. in Providence. Savers is an awesome place just across the river in East Providence.
Farmer’s Market: If you’ll be in Providence, you’ll find a wonderful one at the end of Blackstone Boulevard every Saturday. There’s also a farm outside of Providence that has a great stand 9 months of the year. More reasonable than the farmer’s market. (Four Town Farms in Seekonk)
Discount Movie Theater: The Patriot Cinema in East Providence is $1.99! You can’t beat that!
Our local library (Rochambeau branch) is awesome and the interlibrary loan program is great. If it is in a library in the state, they can get it for you.
Good Luck!
Sam in Providence
I live in RI and hope you enjoy it. Cold water lobster, Waterfire in Providence and easy to get to the ocean. There are many farmer markets thoughout the state and weekend festivals.
Good for you! I am an East Coast girl originally but now live in a relatively small town in the midwest with the love of my life. It doesn’t matter where you live, only with whom you are sharing your life.
Dear Bargain Babe, I too moved with you from the Daily News; I too started my “friendship” with you through Lincoln Lunches. I too love the Frugal Fest! But you’re right, you can be Bargain Babe anywhere, and I will continue to look forward to your posts. Your news (and Bargain Hubby’s post) makes me want to know more of your story, but if we can’t get that, I’m satisfied that you’ll still be in my “in” box every week day, with great deals and a huge amount of perspective. I’m thinking the “you should get a car” idea (above) is a good one, esp. b/c it’s hard to ride your bike in the snow. Blessings to you! xoxo
@Sad The Frugal Fest will go on! Well, who knows what will happen next year but I’d love to continue holding it. I don’t post too many LA-specific deals anymore, so keep reading me for saving strategies that work no matter where you live!
@Jennifer at befrugal Thanks for the farmer’s market tip. I love it when local bands play so you can listen to great music while you select tomatoes. 🙂
@Lauren Thanks for the Rhode Island tips! I will look into an automatic car starter and the Providence shrift shops (but not on Thayer St)
Thank you Janet, Susan, Jenni, Diana, Junie, and all my readers for wishing me the best of luck on my new home. And a special thanks to Sam and Cindy for welcoming to their home state – 3% bigger at low tide, or so the locals say!
I’ll keep you all posted, for sure.
Best of luck to you, Julia! L.A. will miss you!!
I was able to express to you in person how much I’ll miss having you here in L.A., but totally understand following your heart to RI. It’s a beautiful state. When my family moved from the Midwest to Santa Barbara, the population was only 30,000! Enough people to make many good friends, but not so many that everyone knows your business. As your longest-reading fan from DN days, I wish you nothing but the best in the new chapter in your life. Hugs ~ E :O)
I was a faithful reader of your column in the Daily News and continued with Bargain Babe. I, too, will miss your tips for Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
There are great historical and artistic activities to do for free and cheap on the East Coast. Since you don’t say exactly where you’ll be living, I don’t know how close you are to Providence and Boston. Take advantage of the wonderful university museums, libraries, and gardens – mostly free. Also, the universities have many student productions of music, theater, and film that are free or cheap. Filene’s Basement in Boston is still one of the greatest places for bargain hunters. Since there are so many students in your new area, there are lots of cheap places to eat as well as inexpensive clothing. Hope you and your hubby have a smooth experience with moving so far away.
Much success to you and your family!
I’m excited. I found you also at the DAILY nEWS, BUT i HAVE SINCE MOVED TO THE SOUTHEAST. i READ YOU ALL THE TIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO MITTEN SALES AND EAST COAST BARGAINS. i LOVE nORTH cAROLINA, BUT SPEND TIME IN Georgia and sometimes Michigan, Chicago and Florida. Took a year or so to be over LA, but am glad to have you out east.
BargainBabe, your a person with a vision, your bargain skills will be appreciated on the east coast. You will always have a loyal following.
Manny
Best of Luck to you!!! I will continue to read and support your great bargain ideas. I live in a small town in Oregon, and love finding bargains, I don’t think it matters where you live…there are bargains to be had. Congratulations!!!
From the Daily News to Bargainbabe, you know we’ll follow you wherever you go. Good luck and keep us forever enlightened.
Dear Bargain Babe,
Your #1 fan welcomes you to the east coast!!
Yay!
Love,
your NY sis
As a transplanted So. New England gal living in So. Cal., I miss the seafood, but not the humidity or the long winters! Make the best of the good stuff, and enjoy your new life!
YAY! Welcome to our little state – whenever you get here! 🙂
You didn’t mention where you would be living, but if you’re looking for info about Warwick/West Warwick – feel free to contact me and I’ll do my best to help!
What city????? Daughter went to college there, we can send you some pointers if we know the town. Welcome back East again!