Gym Clothes For Less – a Lot Less

{ September 9, 2008 @ 11:36 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Slim - Styles }
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If you have eyes for Nike on a Wal-Mart budget, there’s no need to sacrifice your gym style (and comfort) for a little savings in your budget. Browsing through Wal-Mart for a few essentials, I discovered that they carry Danskin, Hanes, and Athletic Works-brand workout attire. These shirts range from $3 dollars to about $10 and fit perfectly, even after washing and drying these shirts. Shoppers have the option of a variety of colors and patterns. 

My top picks?  

 

WalMart.com

Source: WalMart.com $5

 

 

WalMart.com

Source: WalMart.com $6

 

 

WalMart.com $9

Source: WalMart.com $9

 

 

Shopping is fun, once again!

Fashion Should be Fun on Any Budget

{ September 9, 2008 @ 11:24 am } · { Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Nearing 25, that old saying “once one friend gets engaged, it all goes downhill from here,” comes to life. While I’m not exactly sure that’s a real saying, I do believe that it’s true–to an extent. So, in that respect, I have a handful of engagement parties and weddings on my schedule for later this year into 2009. I will of course let you follow me on my journey through the joys of dress and gift shopping on a budget, but following my first rule, I wanted to revisit my last purchase for a wedding I attended in August. 

I’m a big believer in hitting the ‘net before venturing out into the jungles of shopping, especially when it comes to dresses. This gives me a better idea of typical prices and the latest in styles, helping me to be prepared while in the store. I hate not knowing what I’m looking for. This particular dress that I found at Mandee was originally priced for $49 – a black satin, rouched spaghetti-strap dressed. The ideal “little black dress” with flair. I hesitated before making my purchase, but the moment my coworker got engaged, I headed back to the store where it was on sale – half off. Today I’m happy to report that in my search for a new dress, I found the exact dress, but by designer Nicole Miller, selling for $330! Just knowing that I saved that much on a dress I’d probably only wear once or twice anyway, makes this twenty-something very thankful for stores like Mandee!

This Week’s Hits to Get Fit

{ September 8, 2008 @ 9:16 am } · { All - Styles, Slim - Styles }
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Sundays are the day to not only recoup from the weekend, but recharge for the week ahead. While I pack my Monday gym bag, I’m making sure my iPod is equipped with the songs to keep me motivated after a long day at the office. Here are this week’s hits to get fit:

Sit-ups: Pitbull ft Trina and Young Boss “Go Girl”

Cardio: Fergie “Get Your Hands Up”

What songs are keeping you going?

Why Pay More Than $10 for White Wine?

{ September 8, 2008 @ 9:08 am } · { All - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Let’s be honest. While our tastes are expanding from the cheapest beers to microbrews to now wine (no longer in a box), there are still many ways to enjoy great alcohol without spending a fortune. If you’re a wine lover, I’m sure you’ve come to learn the tastes you like, and well, the tastes you need to add an extra ice cube to, but something to also keep in mind is the cost. My mom always said the best wines aren’t necessarily the most expensive, and so, it’s my turn to prove that theory correct. A couple of white wines you don’t need to spend over $10 on:

Barefoot Pinot Grigio –  $7

Monarchia Pinot Gris – $9

Alianca Vinho Verde – $7

These brands not available at our go-to package or wine store? Take a stroll around as most have tables with specials and sales. Another tip is to talk to the sales reps as they’ll have a few to recommend. One last tip – get techy! With more business establishments catching onto the whole website idea, see if they have a mailing list for upcoming sales and wine tastings, etc.

I guarantee this list will get longer…stay tuned for part II.

3 Places Where Loyalty Pays Off in Your 20’s

{ September 8, 2008 @ 8:51 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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In your twenties, judging by our less-than-desirable-budgets, many might overlook themselves as likely candidates to become “regulars” at select establishments (other than local bars) to reap in some added benefits at times when we don’t feel as luxurious as we’d like. Long story short? Being loyal pays off. Here’s what I found:

1. The Local Nail Salon. Sure it may be seen as an unnecessary luxury as we pamper ourselves on a weekly basis, but by contributing our $10 (plus tip) weekly manicure on a regular basis, the salon owner and their dedicated manicurists appreciate it and can offer some convenience and added pampering in their appreciation.

My local salon is within walking distance from my office so we’re pretty much all on a first-name basis, the moment I walk into the door. I typically go during my lunch break on either Thursdays or Fridays, in preparation of the weekend and to help pass the after hours til ‘clockin out. It’s come to the point where they anticipate my arrival. My loyalty has become so predictable that they also pretty much know when I’m due for an eyebrow wax. So…besides being on a first-name basis, how does this help? While it doesn’t pay off financially, it helps save me time. They hate to see their regulars sitting and waiting, so they’ll make sure you get squeezed in and are kept accommodated. What’s more, if you’re a fan of the nail-drying back massages, they will also make sure you have yours. 

2. The Local Deli. There’s a corner deli also located near my office and they, too, appreciate their regulars. While they still have not caught on to my first name, they do remember the way I like my turkey, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato — half meat. Now that they’ve memorized my order, they’re sure not to charge me the extra 50 cents as they would if they didn’t know I wanted half meat. 

3. Your Morning Coffee. In the summers, I’m guilty of stopping by Dunkin Donuts for iced coffees and in the winters I trade my time between Dunkin caramel lite lattes and Starbuck’s chai tea lattes, but for the most part, my loyalty is understood at Dunkies. My obsession got to the point that I’d walk into the door and the sales associate would have my medium iced coffee with skim milk sitting on the counter, simply waiting for me to pay. Again, this may not save great dollars, it does save me time — which, at 24, is sometimes more valuable! 

Where are you taking advantage of our loyal habits?

Generation Broke

{ July 31, 2008 @ 10:31 pm } · { Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Nearing the end of completing my Masters (in Journalism), I’ve come to a few financial stumbling blocks. While it feels amazing to be 1,000 words shy of my required Capstone article wordcount, it was brought to my attention that I needed to pay tuition…out of my own pocket. While I understand many students typically have leftover financial aid from the previous year to cover the summer, this was not the case. And I have to wonder, am I alone in this struggle? Nearing my mid-twenties now, how will I ever be able to save enough money to own a home? Paying my undergrad loans, for my car, and other expenses, I’m on a mission to stay afloat and get ahead. So, while I had initially planned to include money saving tips in my blog – please look forward to an increased mission to do so! And I want to hear ways that you, too, are struggling and succeeding all at the same time. Because in all reality, while we are a generation of technology and opportunity, we’re also a generation that’s broke. Well, some of us any way! Stay tuned!

Girly Bargains

{ May 2, 2008 @ 1:30 pm } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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I have been using Secret Deodorant for as long as I can remember. Starting out with Powder Fresh, I graduated to Spring Breeze and became a devoted user, even following the scent to its Platinum Protection classification. Well my friends, I can no longer find the scent and after months (seriously) of experimenting with others and even defaulting back to Powder Fresh and Unscented, I’ve found a close second. With its summer fresh scent, I thought I’d spread the word about “Dove Go Fresh” in the Cucumber & Green Tea scent. Averaging at the same cost of my Secret deodorant, you can stay dry without breaking the budget or stressing about white streaks!

 

This Week’s Hits to Get Fit

{ May 2, 2008 @ 1:00 pm } · { All - Styles, Slim - Styles }
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With any good workout routine, it’s inevitable that with the same playlist on your iPod, it may get a little stale. So each week I’ll be suggesting hits both old and new to keep you motivated and hopefully smiling through the sweat…Listen closely to the beats and add a little bounce to your routine…

Cardio:

Crazy in Love – Eminem

Sit-ups:

Goodies – Ciara ft. Petey Pablo 

Arms:

Don’t Want to Lose Your Love – The Outfield

Legs/Butt:

Baby Got Back – SIr Mix a Lot (Okay, so I didn’t do legs today. But stay tuned for next week…)

It Can Be Easy Going Green

{ May 1, 2008 @ 12:37 pm } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles }
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It should be an easy concept. Although we grew up as Kermit the Frog fans, singing along to “It’s not easy being green,” things have changed. Not only is it easy, it’s time. It’s as easy as reconsidering your day-to-day activities.

The grocery store. You have your deli meat, your weekly dose of vegetables, and maybe a bottle of wine or soda. But when you get to the checkout, the answer to paper or plastic should be a given. Neither.

There is an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags consumed worldwide. These non-biodegradable plastic bags end up as litter, wind blown into the ocean, and kill turtles and whales that mistake the bags for food.

The latest in trendy stores like Whole Foods and other organic hot-spots, is to BYOB (a.k.a bring your own bag). Specific websites have even been organized with plenty of Earth-friendly fashions to choose from if khaki just isn’t your color. It only gets better from there—many stores today offer a bonus—cash. A reimbursement for bringing your own bag—and helping to save the planet. 

The gas station…or not. How many times have you stopped to pump gas and while you’re on your way towards ‘full,’ you throw out extraneous water bottles. These are the same water bottles that have been rolling around in your backseat floor for a week now. While I personally believe that there should be a law mandating that for every garbage can, there’s a recycling bin right next to it, it hasn’t come into play yet.  So keep one of those canvas bags in your trunk to organize your recyclables until your next run-in with a recycling bin—most likely at your home.

Greening nine-to-five. Similar to my mandate proposal, there should be the blue pail option near every garbage or paper distributor as well in the office. Copying machine? Recycling bin. Printer? Recycling bin. Or better yet, stop printing. Unless you actually have to bring something somewhere that doesn’t have an accessible computer, there’s no need to waste the paper. Either keep it on your screen or e-mail to whomever you need to show.  It can be easy going green.

Seeing the light. According to CBS, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs. What’s more, you save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each environmentally-friendly bulb’s lifetime.  And hey, you also need to recycle them once they’ve shone their last light at cool places like IKEA.  

Teaming up with Fido. Yes, Fido can help save the planet too! And best of all, it’s good for him! Earth-friendly pet-care products are also pet friendly. Check out alcohol and pesticide-free grooming products and when you’re done attempting to bathe your pooch, treat him to toys made with organically grown cotton or natural dyes. These products also help reduce pet allergies and are biodegradable. 

Although you’re allowed to keep your pal Kermit high up on his pedestal, it’s time to face 2008. Everyone’s talking about it, so it’s time to show them how easy it actually can be.

Please consider the environment before printing this column.

Your Mom Does It – You Can, Too

{ April 18, 2008 @ 12:51 pm } · { All - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Cutting coupons isn’t the most exciting Saturday night, even after you’ve admitted to yourself that just nothing is going on. So make it easy on yourself. You’re probably sitting on your couch, watching your latest Netflix DVD with your laptop across your thighs anyway, so why not try something new and beneficial to your wallet (and credit card). Whether you prefer to shop online or in a local store, take a moment to browse some potential savings. Here are three of the many sites to point your cursor for savings:

 -  Look Ma, No Scissors! www.valpak.com - This isn’t your Mom’s coupons brought monthly by the mailman. Here you can get discounts sorted by zip code, and then by category. Need an oil change? Vitamins? Don’t leave the house before browsing. You can even have coupons mailed to your—yes, inbox. Sorry, Mr. Mailman. 

- Clip & Print! www.Coupons.com has the right idea and makes coupon-browsing just as easy as it probably was to create the site’s name. Again, specialized by zip code, this easy-to-navigate site allows you to “clip” then print coupons that appeal to you. The site has a great variety from personal pizzas, to cereals, to diapers, to batteries. Do you realize how much a pack of AA batteries costs? Each coupon may seem mediocre in savings, but pair that with your frequent shopper card at your check-out line of choice and you’ll notice a difference in your receipt. Even their advertisers offer coupons in their banner ads!

- ‘Queen’ of the Coupons. http://shoppingqueen.com. You know something’s good when it has the word ‘queen’ in its name. This site offers coupons and discounts for one and all, including shop-a-holics. From toys to books and clothing (at legit stores like Macy’s, Express, etc.), don’t head to the mall or the website of your favorite retailer before stopping by the ‘Queen. She won’t let you forget as you can also sign up for an e-mail blast filled with savings.

And that’s only the beginning of sites looking out for your bank account’s best interest. Don’t forget those pesky keychain tags that stores give you. They’re more than a decoration. Even with less than frequent trips to CVS, with each visit I’m constantly receiving a long strip of coupons calling my name for products I’d actually buy, or better yet, “extra care bucks” – aka, free money for whatever I want to buy. They think like we think, the more you buy, the more you should save!

Keep an eye out on expiration dates, although, with today’s economy, some stores still view expireds as valid, so it never hurts to ask. Did you know that Linens & Things accepts Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons and vice versa? Expired ones? You bet!

It’s unfortunate that many people think clipping savings is for the frugal. I’d rather spend a few minutes online than extra hours trying to make extra dollars.  The Internet really makes it easy. Ladies (& gentlemen) shopping is fun again!

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