Friday, June 20, 2008

Would You Like To Know More?

Today, there will be no pictures on my post, because Blogger sucks.

Tip Of The Day: Follow up(s) on the big Blog Party 2008 Bacchanal, the TV converter box issue, and Most Importantly (to me, at least), my wings! I have discovered a way to get my grubby little mitts on my Raven costume wings, without going over $20 for tax and shipping.

Tip For The Weekend: Here’s a frugal activity for you – house-sit. If you’re lucky, you’ll get paid handsomely, just for hangin’ out in someone’s house while they’re traveling the globe. And even if they don’t pay you, you get to live another person’s life for awhile, complete with exciting new snack options. It’s like a mini-vacation for free.
That’s what I’m doing this weekend; house-sitting in a gorgeous home in the ritziest part of St. Paul. They have a pool, a hot tub, a soaking tub, all the TV channels in the known world, a vast variety of alcohol, and even workout equipment. I may never leave.
The best part? They’re actually paying ME to stay here. Who’s the lucky lucky girl?!?

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: I’m just bursting with updates for you, my fearless readers, so let’s jump right into them, shall we?

1. Blog Party 2008. Based on your feedback, here’s what I’ve come up with. Yes, this is still subject to change, but at least it’s a next step in the planning process.
a. We will meet somewhere centrally located in the TC. Probably Richfield, Edina or Roseville.
b. I’m leaning toward a meeting space where we can bring our own snacks and booze. Like someone’s party room at their condo complex. Any volunteers?
c. If we can’t find a party room, then I’ll look into an inexpensive restaurant with rockin’ Happy Hour specials and a free private room. Any suggestions?
d. You were pretty darned unanimous on this issue – No Boys Allowed. Also? No Children.
e. I’d like to keep it to bloggers only, but for the one or two of you who sweetly asked to be included in the invite, I can’t really turn you down. See, manners DO get you somewhere in life!
However, if you log onto Blogger.com and start your own blog before the party, that would be awesome. Even if you just do the Big Blog No-No and write about what you had for lunch that day. Remember, Blogger is free.
f. Most of you want this shindig to happen, like, next WEEK. However, as a real estate professional, summer is my busiest time of the year. Plus? I’m going to multiple Ren Fests a multiple of times. So this happening may not happen until late September. After the kiddies are back in school.
g. I think everyone should either leave me a Comment, or send me an e-mail about the topics you’d like to address, if any. One thing I would like to discuss is ways to get your blog more widely read. What works for you, and what’s failed miserably?
h. Otherwise, activity-wise, we will mingle, chat, eat, drink, shake our booties, and share our stories. Sound like a plan?

2. The TV Converter Boxes. Many folks wrote me complaining that the boxes don’t work unless they use an antenna. And then, to add insult to injury, they had to go out and buy a really expensive antenna – to the tune of $50 to $100, on top of what they already paid for the box. Just so they could watch TV come February 2009.
I totally agree this is unfair. However, some other readers suggested that the cure is to Just Get Cable Already. It’s only $30 (or some price) a month, after all. And then you don’t need to buy any of that extraneous equipment.
Don’t be fooled by this heresy! Remember, with cable, you are paying EVERY SINGLE MONTH. UNTIL THE END OF TIME. PLUS INSTALLATION. And from what I’ve heard from cable owners, their cable bill randomly goes up, their cable randomly goes out, and their cable customer service ALWAYS sucks.
For me, I think it just makes sense to pay $150 one time, as opposed to $30 a month (which is $360 a year), for the privilege of watching mindless entertainment. Of course, the cheapest thing would be to have NO television at all. But that’s just crazy talk.

3. No, I Didn’t Have To Ring A Bell. I figured out a way to get my wings, and it doesn’t involve stealing, begging, or having a movie character shake a Christmas tree ornament at me.
As I wrote about here
, I wanted these wings here. However, they cost $29, at the very least. So what’s a Cheap Chick to do? Change her costume? By lesser wings? Get over herself?
Ha! None of the above! I am bartering for the wings. You know what bartering is, right? You do something for someone, and then they do something for you. Okay, technically the definition is “the exchange of goods and/or services for other goods and/or services. Whatever.
So, I’m doing a service, and the person I’m servicing (Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter This Instant) is paying for the $11.99 shipping.
Here’s how it will work. My friend HaC is the not-so-proud owner of a Pampered Chef chilled serving piece, and she wants to get rid of it. It’s just one of the many things she’s sacrificing in her whole “simplify my life” household purge. Her plan was to donate it, along with half her children’s toys.
I pointed out she could probably sell it on eBay. She pointed out that eBay was a pain in her ass, plus, not free, like donating. I offered to sell it for her, on one condition – she would take the money I earn for her, and put $12 of toward my wings.
Ahhh, but there IS a potential fly in my bartering ointment. What if the piece doesn’t sell for $12 or more? No worries. HaC has oodles of other Pampered Chef things lying around that she’s never used. I plan on selling them, as well.
With this plan, we both win. She gets the unwanted stuff out of her house, with no fuss AND with the chance of getting cash money for it. I get my (ridiculously exorbitant, but whatever) shipping paid for. And that, my friends, is how a Raven gets her wings. The End.

As a coda to my wing saga, Larue has also procured for my use a 10% Off eBay Coupon. That’s right, eBay has coupons. Who knew?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who is your coupon dealer? That's right, its me. Uh-huh.

Blog party: I want to eat chocolate and fried food and discuss Hollywood hotties with nice abs. Really, just simple stuff.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on canoodling a way to get your wings! :) And I wish I was local so I could come to your blog party. If you're ever in Florida, you know you have a place to stay (for free!).

Anonymous said...

I don't care what we do as long as we don't have to mind our children or shave our legs. I will shave under my arms, but only if I wear a tank top. September? Unlikely.

I am extremely proud to have been one of the people who told you to lie about the wings, but glad that you've found a way to get them without said lying.

The App Goddess said...

Wow, just found your blog. This $20 thing is how I try to live my life!

I'm done with this whole TV converter thing.

Guess who's gonna get a new TV next February?

Michelle said...

I think September would be a great time for the blog get together. Summer is way too busy.