The Frugal Duchess: Recovering My Frugal Groove

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Compulsive Shopper Detection Test

I like a good bargain. Recent find: an Anthropologie skirt for $9.99 down from its original price of $99. But when does bargain hunting become an addiction? Bankrate.com features an interesting "Compulsive Shopper Test," designed by a mental health expert.

Here is the test:

Are you a compulsive shopper?
Answer "often," "sometimes," "rarely" or "never."

* Do you buy things you want, whether or not you can afford them at the moment?

* Do you have trouble saving money? If you have a little extra available to save or invest, do you tend to think of something you'd rather spend it on?

* Do you buy things to cheer yourself up or to reward yourself?

* Does more than a third of your income, not including rent or mortgage payments, go to pay bills?

* Do you juggle bill paying because you always seem to be living on the edge financially?

* Do you tend to keep buying more of your favorite things even if you don't have a specific need for them?

* If you have to deny yourself or put off buying something you really want, do you feel intensely deprived, angry or upset?

If you answered "often" or "sometimes" to four or more questions, you're probably a compulsive spender, especially if you answered "often" or "sometimes" to the last question.

Here is the link to the complete compulsive shopper article.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

New Colors in Fall Scams

Like dry Autumn leaves, financial scams are falling onto our front lawns. The top of the latest pile: bogus medicare discount drug offers, staged-car accidents and, of course, all-weather phishing scams.

Tips for Avoiding Scams:

* Vet all business and service offers. Get referrals from people you trust.

* Review your credit report at least once a year

* Guard your financial digits. Don't leave purses, checkbooks, wallets or credit card receipts in cars.

* Shred credit card offers. Don't treat unsolicited credit card pitches like the rest of your junk mail.

For more details here's a report from Consumer Credit Counseling Services:

In the last 12 months, more than 9 million Americans were victims of Identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $680 million dollars in losses in 2005 due to fraud; many victims never file a complaint. Internet related complaints, including on-line auctions, foreign money offers, and business opportunities have continued to rise, and email or internet contact was reported in more than half of all fraud complaints.

"We lock our car doors when we go into a store and we store our valuables in a safe place, but most consumers don't take the necessary basic steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud," said Jessica Cecere, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. "It is much easier to avoid becoming a victim of fraud than it is to repair the damage done by thieves."

One of the most widespread areas of fraud is identity theft, where a person uses another's financial information to apply for loans, credit cards or leases, and can cause that person great financial strain. Florida ranked sixth among states for the number of identity theft cases reported in 2005. Another well-know scam includes deception by abusive lenders who target homeowners and can put their homeownership status in serious danger. CCCS cautions consumers to be award of payday loan scams and Nigerian money offer scams that often sound too good to be true, and are often facilitated through emails.

Senior consumers are often vulnerable to fraud. A common type of insurance fraud involves staged car accidents. Predators may be charismatic salespeople who utilize door-to-door sales tactics to bilk people out of their life savings. The selling of phony Medicare drug discount cards has also been on the rise.

"The key to protecting yourself is being diligent about knowing who you share information with," said Cecere. "Don't be swayed by offers that seem too good to be true-they usually aren't."

CCCS offers some tips to help consumers resist falling for a scam:
Know what's in your credit report. Consumers have free access to their reports through www.annualcreditreport.com. Review your report regularly and dispute incorrect information.

Protect your personal data. Be careful about who you share information with and be sure you know who you are talking with. Refrain from sharing your social security number or other financial information with someone over the phone, especially if you did not initiate the call. Don't print your social security number on your checks. Never leave your wallet, purse, checkbook or credit card receipts in your car. It is not difficult for a determined their to piece together information to assume your identity. Shred offers for credit cards and other mail with personal information.

Get referrals from friends and family for businesses. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on record before you do business with a company for the first time. And don't pay in full up front for a job-it is customary to pay a deposit prior to the job starting and a final payment upon satisfactory completion.
Never respond to email requesting you to verify information. These often look like legitimate emails and may even have the logo of your financial institution, but they are not. Thieves are "phishing" for information they can use to steal from you.

Report any suspicious activity. Some consumers are embarrassed that they fell for a scam and don't report it. If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, contact the three credit bureaus: Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742); and Transunion (800-680-7289) and ask them to put a fraud alert on your account to protect you if anyone tries to use your name to get a line of credit. Also notify the Social Security Administration (800-269-0271). Report the fraud to your local police department and also to the Federal Trade Commission.

Kirstie Alley's Garage Sale & My Top Yard Sale Buys

Plastic fruit, a rooster, and a dining room chair. Those were a few of the items at the curb side market when Kirstie Alley --Jenny Craig Diet queen and actress -- recently held a garage sale at her LA home, according to reports and photos in at least three magazines. Check out this Kirstie Alley photo from a link to Us magazine.

She also sold: a huge sculpture of french fries, silver tone bar stools and a spotted dog statue.

I didn't make the coast-to-coast trek to her yard sale, but I've found great stuff at other sales.:

Here's a list of my Top 5 Finds

1. Little Space Aliens:

A bucket of little rubber action figures for about $2 on Pine Tree Drive—near a fabulous golf course-- on Miami Beach. This great find came in especially handy when my house was hit by the chicken pox. While sick, my oldest son (about 4 years old at the time) played with the space aliens for hours. And the little rubber toys held up well in the bath tub.

2. Zeniga suit.

A beautiful Italian wool suit (typically sells for $1,200) for my husband for $15. On a little island across from the Port of Miami, my husband and I pulled into a garage sale that was winding down. During a friendly chat, the garage sale operator sized up my husband, then ran into his home and pulled out the Zeniga suit—which happens to be my husband’s favorite suit label.

3. Little Tikes Car:

List price: about $60. Gently used model at garage sale: $5. the Little Tikes Car -- hard plastic vehicle in primary colors, is the hottest selling car in world (Really!!). We had wanted one for our children for some time and were elated to find this toy car at a garage sale. Yard sales are great places for picking up children’s toys—especially durable plastic items from Fisher Price and Little Tikes.

4. First Edition Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Long before the Hobbits hit the big screen, we stumbled across a first edition, boxed set of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien for $10 at a yard sale. Avi was a big fan of the series and I quickly became enamored with the Middle Earth tale. Our version includes a super pull out map and the author’s annotated notes about the text.

5. My Blue Suit:

Two-piece light wool suit, with an A-line skirt: $20. The suit belonged to an older woman, who — I believe — had Alzheimer’s or some illness that demanded 24/7 care. The contents of her Miami Beach home were sold through her daughter. As a tiny woman, I have trouble finding clothes that fit. So I was amazed when I tried on the suit jacket—over my clothes on the front yard of the home. The suit was tailor-made for me. No alterations necessary!

Monday, October 09, 2006

Favorite Quotes from the Carnival of Debt Reduction

"There is even a Hummer commercial where the mom and son get caught off from going up a slide by another child, thus the mom things she needs to go to buy a new Hummer to be more powerful so that her son doesn’t get bullied again."

--Those word are from My Financial Awareness in a post about separating wants from needs.

****

That's just one of my favorite quotes from this week's group of posts for the Carnival of Debt Reduction # 56, which I had the honor of hosting this week. Here are the others:

"Many of us know what to do but are not acting to our full potential."
--Scott on Money addressing the need for financial goals

"Actually, I'm not anti-credit card. I'm anti-debt and anti-not paying off your credit card bill every month. But as far as cards themselves go, I'm fine with them."
--Free Money about smart use of credit cards.

"Keep track of every penny that enters or leaves your life….This process paints a picture of your spending habits as they actually exist, not as you think they exist"
—Get Rich Slowly on the importance of tracking pennies

"It’s very hard for people to spend wisely when they receive a windfall."
--My Simple Trading System on how to handle sudden cash.

"Marketing mavens everywhere are cursing my name."
--The Debt Blog on the importance of avoiding brand name products.

"In my attempt to get out of debt, I am trying to create passive income."
--Getting out of Debt with five blog-based strategies for creating additional income.

Updated Carnival of Debt Reduction: New Links!

Carnival of Debt Reduction: Latest Round!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Covering Soccer Fees & Other Afterschool Costs

A non-profit group recently ran a contest for ideas about paying for after-school activity costs. The winning tips, from a mom in Arizona, are interesting. Here is the news release:

"Parents Offer Budgeting Tips for Covering Kids' Extracurricular Activities

Consumers with tight budgets have developed creative strategies for stretching their funds to pay for their children's extracurricular activities. For The Freedom Point's August Share the Wealth contest, consumers were asked, "How do you make room in your budget for your kids' extracurricular activities?"

The winning response came from Nancy T. in Tucson, Ariz. Nancy wrote, "We have a "Squeeze the Turnip" fund in our house. Everyone tries to think of at least one innovative way to make money from nothing each week. Any money made from these ideas is put in a fund for extracurricular activities. Some examples are: a change jar in which we empty our change each day, using coupons at the grocery store, volunteering to help church members clean out their garages and basements and taking the unwanted items for our pay and then having a yard sale, house and pet sitting, and taking clothes to consignment shops.

"Our last trick is to buy popular items on closeout at Lowes or Home Depot and resell them on e-bay. These money making schemes include all members of our family, and the children know they can only do whatever we have been able to fund from them. It works very well!"

The Freedom Point's Share the Wealth contest poses a new question each month to its customers and its online community members. The goal is to share practical examples of ways people are managing their money while paying off their debts, making ends meet and having fun in their lives - real things that real people are doing that others could benefit from.

"By working together to make money for those fun, extracurricular activities, my kids have gotten a sense of the value of money," said Nancy. "They've developed a strong work ethic and are very cost conscious. They always make sure the items they purchase are on sale. They've learned that they can't always do what 'everyone else' is doing or have what 'everyone else' has, which is an important life lesson for everyone."

Winning entries are selected based on combining a no-nonsense approach to managing money while still pursuing fun and practical activities that don't sabotage their efforts to pay off debt and save money. These entries as well as other great money-saving tips are featured on The Circle, The Freedom Point's online community located at www.thefreedompoint.com. Winners receive a $250 gift card to spend at various popular retailers.

To participate in The Freedom Point's monthly Share the Wealth contest or to sign up to receive Share the Wealth contest alerts, please visit The Circle at www.thefreedompointcircle.com and register for free as a community member.

About The Freedom Point
The Freedom Point is a financial fitness company providing a breadth of financial services, including advice, coaching, peer connections, education and access to resources that help individuals gain control of their personal finances. To reach a Freedom Point Financial Fitness Coach, consumers can call 1-800-4-FREEDOM. Headquartered in Columbia, Md., The Freedom Point is a member of the Ascend One Corporation and its family of businesses. For more information, visit www.thefreedompoint.com."

Carnival of Debt Preview

I'm hosting the next Carnival of Debt Reduction.

Please submit posts w/links on the Carnival page by 5 pm Sunday for a Monday morning launch.
Thanks!

Fri. Spotlight: DINKS Check in with 3 Financial Rules

How many couples blog together and remain on speaking terms? Dual Income No Kids is a joint-effort blogging team with thoughtful and pedigreed posts. From married finances to get-out-of debt strategies, the DINKs--James and Miel--offer a good read with insightful tips.

This week, half of the blogging team --James -- checks into the Frugal Spa with this guest column! Thanks Jim.

The DINKs Top Three Personal Finance Rules:

Spend Less Than You Earn:

This is an absolute must. Everyone who thinks seriously about this, Suze Orman, Bob Kiyosaki or Warren Buffet, will say that to be financially healthy, you need to spend less than you make. The logic behind this is simple, if you make $100 dollars, but you spend $105, then you’re 5 dollars in the hole. Spending more than you make will buy you a one way ticket to the poor house.

That said, it’s harder than it might seem. We DINKs are currently spending more than we earn, but we’re working on dealing with this challenge. The story is that my wife and I are both attending graduate school, so we have a budget shortfall of approximately $1,800 that we’re dealing with. Feel free to visit our blog to find out how we got in this mess, and what we are doing to get back in the positive.

Do Goal Setting and Planning:

Success requires vision. What this means for people interested in personal finance is that you should have a picture in your mind of where you want to be in the future. Once you have this, you can set goals to achieve your vision. Goals should be written, measurable, and achievable. Once you have goals, you can develop a plan to achieve them. Planning in a personal finance context usually involves a combination of saving, investing, and finding ways to generate extra cash.

While this may seem like a matter of course, goal setting and planning is effective. I’m a financial expert by no means, but my wife and I were able to scrape up $30,000 for the down payment on our apartment and $17,000 for our wedding. We set these goals, planned and raised the cash in the space of a year and half. Engaging in goal setting and planning as a couple is not only healthy for your bottom line, but also for your relationship.

Get A Financial Education:

Finally, you should learn the basics of finance. Literacy has huge benefits. If you know the basics of accounting, tax law and macroeconomics, then your ability to plan, to properly choose investments and maintain an empowered state of mind are far, far easier.

When I was finishing up my M.A I ended up with about $18,000 in credit card debt. As part of the process of paying off the cards, I read up on investing, IRS deductions and worked through a couple of books on basic accounting. Just getting to know the basics has paid off and I’m happy with how my financial life has turned out.

While not for everyone, I am a firm believer that these rules can help most people become financially independent.

Good luck to you!

Best,

James of Dual Income No Kids

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Taxtoberfest: A Tax-i Carnival

The Tax Carnival is up and running and hosted by Don't Mess with Taxes, who has done a terrific job of creating an Oktoberfest mood. There's even beer, with great summaries of a wide range of tax stories, including posts from Queercents, Scott on Money and others.

I'm honored to be included in the roundup. Kudos to Don't Mess with Taxes for putting together the carnival.

Flipping Houses: Reality TV Disconnects on Real Estate

House Flipping -- as portrayed on reality TV -- is not plugged into reality. Here's a list "Five Reasons Why Real Estate "Reality TV" Isn't So Real," based on the book: Buy Even Lower: The Regular People's Guide to Real Estate Riches by Scott Frank and Andy Heller

Here's the release:

"The reality TV view of house flipping—that you magically find the right property, buy it, fix it up, sell it effortlessly, and enjoy a hefty profit—is misleading at best. It conveniently leaves out the time, the risk, the stress, the headaches . . . and the failures.

To help new investors, Frank and Heller have put together five reasons why buying and flipping property isn't usually the cakewalk portrayed on TV.

1. Flipping can be extremely time consuming.

Many people aren't prepared for the large amounts of time that go into house flipping, particularly during the buying phase. To profit, you will need to purchase at a deep discount (often 25 percent or more). Because the pool of properties with this type of discount is usually small, you'll usually have to work extra hard and invest significant time to find them.

2. Costs can get out of hand.

Big discounted properties are discounted this way for a reason. Most of the time, it is because they will require significant repairs before they'll sell for a profit. What's more, many misguided, first-time investors come in looking to make the dramatic changes they see investors making on reality TV—unaware that their goal should be to make the property comparable to surrounding properties, not better than them.

"There is a difference between remodeling a property and making necessary repairs," says Heller. "Often the houses you see flipped on TV go through dramatic changes: new kitchens, changes to the exterior, extravagant additions, and so forth. Those investors are often spending big money on changes that aren't necessary in real life but make for good TV."

"These extra repair and improvement costs can take a big bite out of your profits. Focus on the necessary changes. Repair broken windows and fix a leaky roof, but don't put in a new swimming pool simply because it will make the house more valuable."

3. House flipping is a stress-filled business.

Because profits are actually realized after the sale of the property, every day that goes by—and that the property goes unsold—eats into your profits. You'll want to sell the property as quickly as possible, which at times can cause many headaches.
All of this stress can be overwhelming for first-time flippers. If you know what to expect, you will be better prepared for real estate success.

4. You may end up with a property that is hard to sell.

Occasionally, you will buy a property at a discount because it needs more than simple repairs. It may even have problems that can't be repaired at all. Is it in a bad neighborhood? Too close to a busy street? Was it built on a steep hill? These factors will allow you to pay a discounted amount for the property, but they may make it difficult for you to sell when the time comes.

"You don't want to end up with a property that is too difficult to sell at a profit," says Heller. "You need to make sure that you understand the issues and get enough of a discount when you buy, so that you can address the problems and still profit when you sell. If that just isn't the case, it may be in your best interests to move on to the next property."

5. Unexpected costs could ruin your profits.

To ensure there are no surprises when the property becomes yours, make an appointment with an inspector while the contract is being finalized. The inspection report will spell out problems with the property that you're already aware of, but occasionally it will inform you about a new problem. This process helps ensure that you identify and assess all problems, understand repair costs, and line up workers to make the repairs.

Most importantly, it provides an opportunity to reopen negotiations and ask for additional discounts to cover unexpected repairs. When you bring these problems to the seller's attention, they may choose not to fix them, further discount the property, or compensate you in another way. In this case, unless there is still room under your maximum purchase price (the most an investor should pay for a property to obtain the appropriate profit) to cover these extra costs, you may have to walk away from the property."

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

7 Yrs/7 Figures: Find Mentors; Find Millions (Pt. 3)

Mentors can provide a fast-track to millions, especially for those of us who have been slackers about retirement savings. That's the word from Seven Years to Seven Figures: The Fast-Track Plan to Becoming a Millionaire by Michael Masterson.

All this week, I will feature one of the 7 strategies from the book. Here are his tips on mentoring and wealth:

"Use the power of mentors to help you avoid common mistakes and create profitable shortcuts to success. Your mentor should be your learning coach—someone you can talk to and trust, someone who provides advice, feedback, and support. More to the point, he should help you learn the secrets to success in your field. Here are a few tips for finding a good mentor:

* Look around your industry to find five successful business leaders who retired within the past two to five years. This two-to-five-year time frame is important. If they've been retired for any longer, they could be out of touch. Any sooner and they're not yet bored enough with retirement to miss thinking about work.

* Write each of these five people a short letter expressing genuine admiration for their careers. Compliment them on specific achievements. Then ask for advice on your own career. Offer an invitation to lunch. Or, if they're located out of your local area, ask for a fifteen-minute phone call. Odds are at least one of the five will respond positively to your invitation and give you a little of his time. If you find that you get along especially well, you've got yourself a mentor!

* Once you've found your mentor, make a list of the goals you want to work on with him. What do you want out of the relationship? What do you feel you need to learn? What can this person best teach you?"

Steven Tyler Dates Number-Crunching, CPA-Style Chick

At age 58, rocker Steven Tyler has gotten really smart about dating; he's merged with a bean counter. His new love is Erin Brady, his tour accountant.

"I like that she counts my money at the end of the night and makes sure I get paid," the Aerospmith lead singer says in the Oct. 9 issue of OK magazine.

From Wikipedia to People Magazine, reports about the couple have been in heavy circulation.

My favorite report is a You Tube video of Tyler and Brady walking down the streets of New York. Brady has a firm grip on the revenue-producing star. And clearly, she's had a fiscal impact on him. Check out the end of the video in which Tyler looks at the camera with a bottom-line demand:

"Where the hell are my royalties," he demands with a sneer on his famous lips.

Nevertheless, by the end of the video, the couple obliges the camera with a kiss and a smile.

Tyler hits pay day in other ways. He's on the Got Milk commercial circuit. Check out the behind the scenes shot of Tyler's Got Milk commercial.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

7 Figures/7 Yrs: Chicken Entrepreneurship 101

"Chicken Entrepreneurship 101: A few simple ways to start a side business."

Is it possible to find a quick track for retirement savings? That's the premise behind Seven Years to Seven Figures: The Fast-Track Plan to Becoming a Millionaire by Michael Masterson.

All this week, I will feature one of the 7 strategies from the book. Here are his tips on building a side biz:

"Masterson suggests that you start small and build gradually to limit your risk. There are all sorts of ways to supplement your income:

· You can increase your income by selling your services to the business you work for—going freelance.

· You can sell your services to other firms while you're still working for your current employer. If this is the way you choose to go, be sure the firm is a non-competitive firm. You don't want to get yourself fired.

· You can try out a different financially valued skill. Consider becoming a salesman, advertising copywriter, graphic designer, or any of dozens of other freelance professions that cater to the direct-marketing industry.

· You can start a part-time local service business. If you don't have the time to do the actual work yourself (as a handyman, housecleaner, landscaper, etc.), hire a friend or relative.

"If you have a financially valued skill, you can expect to earn between $100 and $500 an hour," says Masterson. "At $100 an hour, you would have to work 250 hours—an extra five hours a week—to make $25,000. At $500 an hour, it would take you only about an hour a week to reach that goal."

Earlier today: I featured How to Get Rich while Punching the Time Clock

Quick Wealth: 7 Figures in 7 Years (Pt. 1).

Is it possible to find a quick track for retirement savings? That's the premise behind Seven Years to Seven Figures: The Fast-Track Plan to Becoming a Millionaire by Michael Masterson.

All this week, I will feature one of the 7 strategies from the book. On the agenda today: How to Get Rich while Punching the Time Clock

Bottom-line summary: It's possible to earn a fat salary by becoming an integral part of the sales or marketing team of a growing company. Push for an equity stake or profit-based bonuses that will translate into a lucrative pay-off for you.

Here's the text from the news release:

Tip #1

"You can get wealthy as an employee.

Most people who achieve fast-track millionaire status do so by starting their own company or investing cold hard cash. However, as Masterson's book makes clear, you don't have to go that route.

Four-step plan:

1. Get a marketing, sales, or other key job with a company that has growth potential. Opt for a smaller, faster-growing company over a larger, staid one. Look for a job that gives you complete control over the selling process, from inventing the product to closing the sale and going back to the customer for more sales.

2. Make yourself invaluable to that company by helping it grow. In fact, make your new motto, "Grow, grow, grow." In order to reach your goal of financial success, you will want your importance within the company to grow, and you will want to ensure that the company itself is growing.

3. Make yourself known as a dependable, trustworthy moneymaker. Show your boss or bosses that you are good at making money, and publicize your progress.

4. Convince the stockholders that the company will be more profitable if they give you profit-based incentives. Don't waste your time listing your responsibilities, summarizing your track record, and recounting all the projects you've completed.

To earn equity in the company, you will need to do one of two things: 1. Find out what the company's biggest financial problem is and solve it, or 2. Discover a new way to increase sales and put it into action."

Seven Years to Seven Figures: The Fast-Track Plan to Becoming a Millionaire (Wiley, October 2006), by Michael Masterson, who also wrote Automatic Wealth: The Six Steps to Financial Independence, Power and Persuasion

Tues. Tips: Alternative Uses for Lemonade Mix: From the Dishwasher to Greasy Hair.

Two of the entrepreneurs were in nursery school; two (my kids) were in elementary school. With a 20-something mom – a friend of mine — as their cashier, the quartet earned about $35 in one hour with a lemonade stand. Their secret formula: cute faces, a hot day in Miami and lemonade powder.

But beyond iced drinks and quick money, lemonade mix has some surprising uses. Here are a few tips that I’ve found from Woman’s World and Mrs. Fixit, which has some great cleaning tips using lemonade mix.

Lemonade can be used for:

• Diswasher cleanup. Periodically, (maybe monthly) substitute lemonade mix for standard dishwashing power and then run the mix through your empty dishwasher. "The citric acid will dissolve gunk and hard water buildup," according to WW magazine.

• Barbeque prep. Tenderize meat with a lemonade mix before grilling.

• Hair clarifying mix. Rinse your hair with water mixed with lemonade powder to remove dirt and grease…Follow up with a standard shampoo & rinse.

• Stain remover: Make a thick paste from lemonade mix and water. Apply the paste to your hands in order to eliminate berry stains from hands.

--Tips from Woman's World.

Meanwhile Mrs. Fixit also has some great tips for alternative uses with lemonade.

"Citric acid is a great cleanser; you probably have some in your home. Do you know where? Powdered lemonade mix!

1. You can get dingy toilets shiny again with a scoop of this mix, dump it in the bowl and let it sit for fifteen minutes or so while you clean the rest of the bathroom. Then just come back, swish and flush!

2. Clogged showerhead? Dissolve a scoop of lemonade mix in some hot water and soak the fixture overnight to rid it of mineral deposits and build-up. Just a side note, do not use lemon-based cleansers on brass fixtures.

3. That same citric acid will clean the inside of your dishwasher. Fill the soap cup and run the machine through a cycle with no dishes. It will clean the racks, the jets and walls with ease!

4. Lemon juice will remove berry stains and garlic odors from your hands. Wet your hands, rub a scoop of lemonade mix into them and scrub. The gritty powder will scrub your hands clean and the citric acid will remove stains and odors from your skin!

5. Lemonade mix will also come in handy in the laundry room. Make it into a paste with some cool water and spread it over stains like coffee, tea, red wine and rust. Just remember to test your clothes for colorfastness."
--Tips from Mrs. Fixit

Monday, October 02, 2006

$400 Robot vs $14 Mop-and-Bucket

We live in a world of iPods, multiple e-mail accounts, DVDs and PCs. But sometimes old school, low-tech tools save more time and money than newer gadgets.

A $14 mop-and-bucket pair outmaneuvered ''Scooba,'' a $400 floor-cleaning robot, during a recent performance test undertaken by Consumer Union, a nonprofit consumer watchdog organization. In nearly every category, the mop and bucket raced past the robot, according to results published in the fall issue of ShopSmart, a new guide from Consumer Reports/Consumer Union.

The robot cleaned 83 percent of the floor in 40 minutes, compared to 100 percent clean-up results in only 10 minutes from the mop and bucket.

Scooba demanded less manual effort than its low-tech counterpart. But, given the $384 price difference, I'd rather burn calories than money.

Inspired by that price and performance difference, I hunted down other examples of frugal, low-tech solutions to modern life.

• Exfoliating, skin-care products. Products in this genre can cost anywhere from $10 to $1,000 per ounce to slough off old cells that leave our faces looking dry and lined. But skin experts and supermodel Christie Brinkley recommend textured washclothes and shower mitts ($1 to $2) to gently remove rough dry skin. I've tried this tip and it works.

• Baby Wipe case versus the sealable bags: Drugstores and baby accessory boutiques sell various types of portable containers for baby wipes. I've tried a few of the pricier options, but Ziplock-style plastic bags have my vote.

• Individual servings versus do-it-yourself packages. Plastic bags or re-usable hard plastic containers -- stuffed with snacks -- are cheaper than snacks sold individually wrapped.

• ''Light'' juice versus regular juice. A container of so-called ''light grape juice,'' my husband recently purchased had less sugar and fewer calories. But the ''all-new'' formula for this particular ''light'' brand was just regular grape juice with 30 percent more water. We would have gotten more for our money by buying the regular formula and adding our own water.

• Teeth whitening products versus peroxide. For less than a dollar per bottle, a toothbrush dipped in a mix of half peroxide and water is an effective teeth-whitening solution. Dental floss dipped into the solution targets hard to reach spaces.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Weekend Wrap: Favorite Post-its

From laptop lunchboxes to 25 Ways to Save, this week’s menu of Personal Finance posts had some great items. Here are some of my favorite post-its from other blogs.

Financial Freedumb provided a great guest post on the value of cheapness and the hazards of Crapville.

A Path to Simplicity offered an insightful post about laptop lunchboxes. This post contains the pros/cons and potential savings of a fancy lunchbox.

Seattle Simplicity features a cute book review on novel about a London-based corporate lawyer who ditches her career for a simple life. Title: The Undomestic Goddess.

Momma and the Boys Living on a Budget has a great post about frugal ways to have great skin. I loved the ideas offered.

Based on a concept from Dawn at Frugal Living, Getting to Enough offers 25 ways to save.

Miel of Double Income No Kids has put together a thoughtful post about the emotional ties of money, pointing to her wedding ring and home. Super item!

Sally of Through a Glass Darkly has written some insightful posts about love, couples and money, with helpful links on the subject.

Word Economist: Treating My Aching Wrist

I’ve been dealing with aching wrists — an occupational hazard for writers, bloggers, journalists or anyone who spends lots of time on the keyboard. I’ve found a few alternative solutions that have helped to really reduce the stress on my hands and the pain without surgery.

I'm sensitive about this issue because so much of my livelihood depends on the health of my hands. This is serious: I know of at least one journalist who had to leave the profession because of the injuries in her hands and arms (OUCH! to the body; OUCH! to the pocketbook.)

I’ve had success with several yoga poses that stretch the tight muscles in my hands and wrists. These poses include: Down Dog, Up Dog, Plank , and yoga-style pushups. I practise yoga on my own and I also attend two group classes each week.

Massage (wrists, arms, hands) also helps a great deal. Rests also works wonders. Once a week, (sundown Friday to an hour after sundown Saturday), I completely unplug from the electronic world in honor of the Sabbath. That low-tech retreat rests my hands for 25 hours and is very therapeutic.

Frequent rests and exercise during the work day also reduce the stress in my hands, wrists and arms. I also adjust my chair and key board so that my wrist are parallel with the keys.

Here is a link to some of the wrist exercises I have used to prevent further injury.

I've also learned to use the computer mouse with both hands. I'm a right-y, but watching me operate the mouse with my left hand has made some people assume that I am a lefty. Being a switch hitter really gives my hands and wrists a break. One of my newspaper editors also uses the same strategy to limit injury.

I’ve avoided expensive and time consuming wrist surgery with my regimen. Please keep in mind that these strategies work for me.But see your doctor or medical expert for treatment.

Here’s a quick rundown of wrist pain from MedlinePlus,
an online resource affiliated with a few government agencies. (see below)*

“Common Causes
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of wrist pain. You may feel aching, burning, numbness, or tingling in your palm, wrist, thumb, or fingers. The thumb muscle can become weak, making it difficult to grasp things. Pain may extend up to your elbow.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when an important nerve (called the median nerve) gets compressed at the wrist because of swelling.

Such swelling can occur if you:
• Do a repetitive motion with your wrist like typing on a computer keyboard, using a computer mouse, playing racquetball or handball, sewing, painting, writing, or using a vibrating tool.
• Are pregnant, menopausal, or overweight.
• Make sure that your keyboard is low enough that your wrists aren't bending upwards while you type.

Suggestions:

• Take plenty of breaks from activities that aggravate the pain. When typing, stop often to rest the hands, if only for a moment. Rest your hands on their sides, not the wrists.

• An occupational therapist can show you ways to ease pain and swelling and stop the syndrome from coming back.

• Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can relieve pain and swelling.

• Various mousepads, typing pads, split keyboards, and wrist splints (braces) are designed to relieve wrist pain. Some people find these devices help their symptoms. You may wish to try a few different kinds to see if any help.

• You may only need to wear a wrist splint at night while you sleep. This helps reduce the swelling. If that alone is not working, wear the splints during the day and apply hot or cold compresses periodically."

About Medline

*" MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news."

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Diamonds & Cards: Sports Quote of the Week

Simple Living -- a goal of many frugal folks -- led to today's game-winning bases-loaded, 8th inning triple for the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The deciding hit was delivered by a pinch-hitter in a horrible 1-for-20 slump.

“Before Saturday, Scott Spiezio's numbers as a pinch-hitter from the left side were just as futile as the St. Louis Cardinals' record the last few weeks,” the AP reported, noting that the Cards had “lost eight of the previous 10” games.

But simplicity led to a diamond run for the St. Louis Cards, who are in a feverish wild–card race for a baseball playoff spot. Spiezio powered in the game-winning score by just staying in the moment.

"I just go up there and try to keep everything simple, and that's what I did," Spiezio said

He also succeeded by blocking out past failures and grim stats.

"Numbers to me don't really matter," Spiezio said. "Anything that happens in the past doesn't matter, and if you start thinking about your numbers it can affect the future.”

I have that same theory about personal finance:

1) Keep it simple
2) Don’t obsess about past failures. Just step up to the plate and try to score a diamond-run.

full game report from AP

Friday, September 29, 2006

Happy Birthday, Aunt Norma! Frugal Party Favors from My Aunt's Purse.

Retired and relocated to the deep pockets of Georgia, my Aunt Norma is frugal and lives well. She clips coupons, shops at thrift stores and gives generous gifts. Most importantly, Aunt Norma saves money in order to share, my mom says.

How frugal is Aunt Norma? Check out these Party Favors from Aunt Norma’s Purse. Special thanks to my parents (retired to educators living in Florida) for their brainstorming help. I love you guys!

Aunt Norm’s Frugal Purse:

• She finds all-you-can-eat buffets with the most food and she knows the menus of the best buffets by heart, my mom said.

• Aunt Norma takes full advantage of senior citizen and AAA discounts.

• She has shopped at thrift stores and clipped coupons way before those habits were popular.

• She’s developed a close network of friends of different ages, who help her with chores, menus and other day-to-day quality of life issues: “It’s important to nurture cross-generational ties,” my mom said.

• Aunt Norma has been a pioneer in the area of bulk buying. As a little girl, I remember my Aunt Norm’s big long freezer in her basement in Pittsburgh, Pa. “She was one of the first ones to have a deep freezer one and it stayed loaded,” my mom said.

• As an interest rate shopper, my Aunt has also been far ahead of the curve. Back in the day when banks gave away toasters, casserole dishes and other perks, she shopped around for either the best interest rate or the best gifts whenever she received unexpected financial gifts or faced maturing funds. “She shopped around at all of the banks,” my mom said.

• She married smart. In an era, when African-American college-educated professional males were quite rare, my Aunt Norma married my Uncle Ike, a tax accountant, with educational pedigree and a real estate portfolio. Above all, he’s a great guy and they have been happily married for decades. I love you Uncle Ike.

• Aunt Norma is generous. "She’s always believes in sharing," my mom says. Like my parents, she always remembers birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. With Aunt Norma: The check is always in the card; the card is always in the mail. And the package arrives on time.

We love you Aunt Norma (and Uncle Ike, too). On behalf of Barbara, Ben, Ben Jr., Karen & Debra, Frank & Avi and the third generation kiddies:

We wish you Happy Birthday. We say thank you for all of the gifts and the coupons also.
May you live in good health for at least 120 years: Happy Birthday.

Here's the Code for Extra 60% Discount at Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com --which sells discount coupons for a wide variety of eateries --is having a 60 percent off sale that ends on Saturday 9/30/06!

The discount code is 65639. After you purchase your coupon, type in that code to recalculate additional savings. On this website, most restaurant coupons or certificates cost $3 to $10 for discounts of $10 to $25 or higher, depending on the deal.

I've used this service and recently purchased a $25-off coupon for $10. With that promotion, I would have saved more.

Of course, it's cheaper to just stay home, but as a rare treat, I like to go out to eat. A coupon stops me from leaving even more money on the table.

Spotlight: Financial Freedumb Takes Cheap trip to Crapville

Call him Cheap, but don't strand him in Crapville. That's the word from Financial Freedumb, who writes one of the hippest, smartest & funniest blogs on PFblogs.org.

From sports to advertising to ethics, Financial Freedumb delivers the stories behind the numbers. Check out the cute picture of his dog Brownie.

This week, FF checks into the Frugal Weekend Spa with this guest column. Thanks FF!

Welcome To Crapville, USA!

by Financial Freedumb

Welcome to Crapville, USA! Crapville is a mid-sized city filled with beautiful houses, cars, and people. Fashion is in! Posh restaurants are the fad! And of course, "buy 3 get 1 free" sales a plenty! People in Crapville love to shop...on credit. Who cares if you don't really need it. It's nice and shiny. Plus everyone will be sooooo jealous! Monthly payments you say? I'll take it! What was that, 0 down? Yes, I want it now! Don't you want to move to Crapville? Everything can be had here on credit! Hey, you only live once right? Live it up!

Credit rich and asset poor are these people I'd say. I know, I know...you're thinking, "Geez, can you exagerate the problem anymore? Americans aren't really that in debt."

But really take a look around you...how many people you know can really afford that brand new BMW? Or how about that fancy home with less than 5% down? Maybe even 0 down if you work some magic on the numbers. Sure people can "make it work," but is that really financially responsible? Is that really affording something?

The problem with debt and credit is rooted deep in the psyche of American mentality. Spend, spend, spend!

What's that? Terrorist bombed the World Trade Center? Americans, go out, live your lives! Spend like there's no tomorrow. Terrorists will not shutdown our economy. Spending is supporting America! Don't be un-American and save! How awful you unpatriotic American.

Consider, on the first date, how impressed would you be if your partner took out a couple of coupons or decided to go and eat at your local, fairly nice, but casual diner. I bet you'd think: cheapskate!. From a moneywise perspective, that's great! Isn't it a good thing? Then why would everone be aghast with embarrasment at the thought? Spending tons of money on the first date, on the other hand, is not bad at all.

Or consider, you're with a bunch of friends and you head on over to McDonald's. You're looking at the dollar menu deciding between an ice cream sundae or a fruit parfait, and your friend says, "Just get both, it's only a buck more." To that you respond, "Nah, I'll just get a sundae." And your friend responds, "Jeez, you know you want it, don't be a tightwad." Why? I don't want both, but I should just buy both because it's a "cheap"?

Or imagine the Frugal Dutchess being called the Cheap Dutchess. What negative connotations come along with "cheap?" Society will almost definitely say, "cheap" is not a compliment, but it should be!

I like being cheap. Being cheap is good. Being called cheap is a compliment. Being cheap is smart. I'll be happy when people realize skimping on the fancy smancy features on that new car is SMART, not cheap. So the next time you want to insult someone, go ahead and call them a loosewad.

And the next time someone calls you a tightwad, just say, "Thanks for the compliment!"

Just a few minutes away from Crapville is paradise. Let's all meet there...

--The link to Financial Freedumb

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Zero-based Budgets & Retirement Plans

Dilema: Retiremment is around the corner and you haven't saved a cent. MSN Money has a great piece on catch-up savings strategies. A useful tip: A zero-based budget how-to.

"A zero-based budget means you start with the absolute essential expenses, and then add expenses from there until you run out of money," acording to the MSN article by Ginger Applegarth.

Budget priorities.

Stage One
*retirement contributions.
*mortgage
*debt obligations
*fixed costs for living essentials

Stage Two: Discretionary Perks
*entertainment (make drastic cutbacks as funds dwindle)
*creature comforts.

Other Catch-up Strategies

*Consider working for a corporation with a better retirement plan
*Start a part-time business
*Delay retirement
*Downsize your residence

Regulators: "Facts of Life" Insurance Tips

September is a busy month: First it was Coupon Awareness month and now there's talk about "Life Insurance Awareness Month." Conveniently, a group of state insurance regulators have put together a helpful tip sheet on life insurance.

The following info is from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) with some interesting stats and profiles based on a survey.

"Three Basics: What All Consumers Should Know About Life Insurance

1. Start by considering how many people are financially dependent on you, what their major expenses are likely to be and whether you're likely to leave them with substantial debts or taxes to pay on your estate. Life insurance can help on all of those fronts.

2. Evaluate the two main types of life insurance: term and permanent. As its name implies, term life insurance pays a death benefit if you pass away within a specified time period (typically a term of one to 20 years).

In contrast, permanent life insurance (which comes in many varieties such as whole life, universal life and variable life) includes both a death benefit and the
ability to build up cash value over your entire lifetime.

2a) Term vs Life
In general, term life insurance is much less expensive than permanent life. In fact, term life premiums have decreased markedly during the past decade due to the fact that Americans are living longer on average. Consumers who purchased their policies more than a few years ago should check out current rates. Also, consumers should ask whether the policy they are considering charges a surrender or cancellation fee if they decide to drop the policy or switch to another one.

3. Understand the major factors that can affect life insurance premiums. Some are uncontrollable, like the age at which one purchases a policy or a serious pre-existing medical condition,
like cancer or heart disease.

Other factors are much more dependent on an individual's behavior, like poor health habits (e.g., smoking and excessive drinking), driving record (e.g., accidents
and Driving While Intoxicated citations), engaging in dangerous hobbies (e.g., sky diving, car racing or rock climbing) and even where one lives, since mortality rates in a geographic region may be used by life insurance companies to help establish premiums.

Life Insurance Tips for Each Life Stage

The NAIC's consumer Web site, Insure U, provides focused tips to consumers based on their likely needs in different life stages. For example:

* Young singles who want to be sure that they can get life insurance later in their lives when they may develop health problems should consider purchasing term life insurance that is guaranteed to be renewable.

They may also want to consider a term policy with a conversion option, which enables them to switch, for a set fee, to a cash-value policy at a time when they have
more money. Those serving in the military should consider Serviceman's Group Life Insurance, low cost term life insurance available to all those in active duty.

* Young families should consider purchasing life insurance for both spouses, even for a non-working spouse, to help pay for child care and other domestic services.

At this life stage, term insurance may be the most cost effective when their salaries are still relatively low and they're paying off a mortgage. Some parents purchase small life insurance policies for their newborns to
guarantee that they'll have some insurance if they develop health problems.

* Established families should consider the probable costs of their children's college education when determining how much life insurance they may need.

* Empty nesters/seniors should evaluate whether they can reduce their life insurance coverage based on such factors as whether their spouse is alive, their home is paid off, their children
and/or grandchildren are financially independent, or if they anticipate high estate taxes that would be a burden on their heirs.

Some older individuals with significant financial assets may choose
to keep their life insurance in force because they view insurance as an estate planning tool that enables them to leave their loved ones money that is exempt from income and estate taxes.

"All consumers should remember to review their life insurance policy every year before paying their premiums and update it to reflect any major changes in their lives - like marriage, the birth of a child, divorce or the death of a spouse," said Catherine J. Weatherford, NAIC Executive Vice President and CEO.

"Before signing up for any kind of insurance, consumers should check with
their state insurance department to make sure the company offering the policy is legitimate, solvent and authorized to do business in their state."

For more information about insurance, consumers can visit the NAIC's consumer education Web site, Insure U.

The Survey

Consumer research conducted by the NAIC earlier this year indicates:

* Only 35 percent of young singles have life insurance. Furthermore, few young singles (28 percent) express high levels of confidence in knowing the difference between the two basic types of life insurance, term and permanent, and a similar number (27 percent) are highly confident that buying life insurance when they are young will guarantee their coverage later in life.

* Among young families, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) believe it's "very important" for both spouses to have life insurance. Yet fewer than half (48 percent) say they actually have purchased life insurance for either spouse.

* Across all life stages, a significant number of consumers (around 40 percent) fail to review their life insurance policies on an annual basis.

ABOUT THE NAIC
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

Formed in 1871, the NAIC is the oldest association of state officials."

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Oprah, Jean Chatzky & Debt on the Radio

OPRAH & FRIENDS made its radio debut today at 11 am EST on XM SATELLITE.

Money Guru Jean Chatzky was part of the O-friends menu with “The Jean Chatzky Show.” Chatzy --a financial coach and money expert-- offers talk about debt control, financial discipline, credit score improvement, and milestone money moments.

The interactive format includes calls and emails from listeners. Donald Trump is expected to appear on Oprah & Friends in the next few weeks.

JEAN CHATZKY BIOGRAPHY

*award-wining journalist
*featured in the "debt diet" television segments on "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
*financial editor for NBC's "Today"
*author of: You Don't Have to Be Rich and Pay it Down! From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day and Make Money Not Excuses.

Other Oprah & Friends show hosts: "legendary poet and bestselling author Dr. Maya Angelou; interior design expert Nate Berkus; renowned exercise physiologist and fitness expert Bob Greene;

O, The Oprah Magazine Editor-At-Large Gayle King; noted cardiologist and award-winning author Dr. Mehmet Oz; distinguished psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Robin Smith; and spiritual teacher and internationally acclaimed author and lecturer Marianne Williamson."

Complete programming information, including show descriptions, air dates and times, is available online at Oprah on xmradio and Oprah.com.

Spoils of Life: Brad Pitt& Angelina Jolie Give Back

What do I envy most about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? The perks of wealth, including large homes? hot cars? designer clothes? exotic travel? No thanks. My envy has a higher benchmark. My parents raised me better. Of course, I like nice stuff --check out my closet of great bargain clothes!

But let's be real, it's all just closet clutter: future thrift store materials, gargage sale currency, and landfill. I like trinkets, toys and take-out meals (without the e. coli). But my real goal: Share the Wealth! (Take some and pass it around!). In fact, I'm living frugally, saving up dollars and generatng cash in order to have the luxury of giving back to others.

On that basis, the Frugal Duchess Giving Back Club includes Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who recently created a new "Jolie/Pitt Foundation." The first item on the agenda of the new foundation: "$2 million to the humanitarian organizations Global Action for Children and Medicins sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders," according to a recent Entertaiment news report.

Other donations from the Pitted Pair:

*$300,000 to state hospitals in Namibia for equipment and supplies.

*$4.1 million to charity from the proceeds of the sale of photos of their daughter Shiloh.

*$200,000 for hurricane repairs in New Orleans.

*$500,000 for the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children in Washington D.C.

*Up to $5 million over the next 15 years for wildlife refuge in Cambodia.

I'd make different charitable choices, but the process and giving-power are something to envy and emulate.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A Ticket to the Carnival of Personal Finance

Canadian Capitalist has done a great job of hosting the latest edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance.

It's a diverse menu of posts. Topics include library books & credit scores, Mortgage Underwriters 101, Good debt vs. Bad debt, How to Achieve Savings Goals and lots more.

I was impressed with the line-up and grateful to be included.

7-Year-old Guru Delivers Energy Lesson

Jared, a 7-year-old neighbor, offered profound advice as we shared an elevator ride.

''Some people just evaporate their fun,'' Jared told his mother and me.

The adults in the elevator exchanged glances, laughed, then sighed. His comment stayed with me: Fun and funds are often mindlessly squandered in our fast-paced world.

I began thinking about the ''evaporations'' in my own life. My list included costly, last-minute shopping for birthday gifts, late fees on overdue videos and a higher energy bill, reflecting higher rates.

Yet each household could shave hundreds of dollars from utility bills a year through careful consumption of power.

For instance, even when not in use, many appliances still consume energy when plugged into a wall. ''The concept is called standby power,'' said Jill Notini, director of communications and marketing for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Standby power is the energy needed to run built-in, ongoing features such as timers, lights or remote censors in many appliances.

Standby power costs about a penny a day per appliance, according to a consumer rep from Pacific, Gas and Electric Company. Real Simple magazine estimates that consumers can save $175 annually by unplugging idle gadgets. The biggest culprits: DVD players, cable-TV boxes, television sets and microwaves. Additionally, wall warts (plug-in islands that contain multiple outlets) should be turned off or disconnected from the wall when not in use.

It depends which is more valuable in your house -- time or money. Or, as Notini says, ``The consumer really needs to balance the need to be energy conscious with the need for convenience.''

Bankrate.com, a Florida-based consumer website for finance and savings, estimates that consumers could save more than $200 annually by turning off the tube when no one is around to watch.

You can save up to $500 annually by upgrading your central air with a more fuel efficient system. Older refrigerators (pre-1993) cost about $140 to operate annually, compared to $60 for newer models, according to Real Simple.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers estimates that on an annual basis, late-model room air-conditioning units cost an average of $26 less to operate than units built in 1980. The savings can be dramatic if there are several units in your home.

Sally, who writes the consumer blog, Through a Glass Darkly, told me she and her husband have put in a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. ''Can't tell you about the savings yet, but it definitely is more accurate at keeping our house a constant temperature than our former (probably 1950s!) thermostat,'' she wrote in a comment. ``It's better to keep [the system] at a stable temperature. It doesn't have to work so hard to reach the desired temperature.''

Meanwhile, if you need help cutting your energy bill, FPL offers a free online evaluation of your home. The ''Online Home Energy Survey'' is available at FPL.com and generates a personal analysis of your energy use, with specific suggestions for cutting costs.

Or you can just take a cue from Jared and conduct your own reality check. The next time I see him, I plan to tell him I've stopped evaporating fun and money from my home.

Tuesday Tips: Olive Oil for Wood, Skin & Hair

I love olive oil, which is great for wood, skin and hair, as a salad dressing (with lemon and salt) and for my nails. Compared to the expensive beauty products that I've sampled over the years, olive oil is cheap & effective, plus I don't have to worry about the side effects of horrible chemicals.

There are actually a number of alternative uses and health benefits for olive oil, which contains: "polyphenols, tocopherols, antioxidants and Vitamins A, B, E and K," according to one olive oil company's website.

For additional info, I checked out the Filippo Berio website and here are some of the tips posted on the company's website about beauty and home uses for olive oil:

Olive Oil Tips

"Rub extra light olive oil into butcher-block surfaces (including cutting boards and tabletops) for a beautiful finish. Repels marking, too!

Dip fingernails into extra light olive oil before manicuring; rub oil into nails.

A little extra light olive oil makes an excellent hair conditioner. Apply after shampooing and rinse well.

After polishing copper or brass, rub it with olive oil to retard tarnish.

Use extra light olive oil as massage oil for silky soft skin."

The Bertolli website also has lists of helpful tips and recipes using olive oil.
These olive oil kitchen tips were my favorites.

A website from an Israeli olive oil company also offered about 40 olive oil uses, ranging from manicures, furniture polish and a butter replacement recipe.

Monday, September 25, 2006

L'Shana Tovah & The Real Bottom Line

L'Shana Tovah (a Good New Year) to everyone. Fall represents a new beginning of many cycles: the new academic calendar (Back to School), renewed investment activity (Wall Street's Post Labor Day trading season) and autumn.

So Happy Rosh Hashana, which literally means "Head" of "The Year!" May we all begin a new cycle with fewer debts, more capital and real happiness.

"Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot." --Ethics of our Fathers (Chapter 4:verse 1)

Friday, September 22, 2006

Fri. Spotlight: NLL Pilots Path to Freedom

Erin of NLL (No Limits Ladies) takes charge of the Frugal Spa with a well-timed flight towards fiscal management. With attitude, fashion and business smarts, NLL provides a hip voice of reason in the personal finance universe.

Big Thanks to NLL for serving as the Friday Spotlight Guest Columnist.

--------------------------

Frugal Duchess Air Flight #190: NLL Managing Risk

(To be read in a quick but calm higher pitched female voice...)

Welcome aboard Frugal Duchess Air Flight #190. My name is Erin, and on behalf of NLL, I'll be serving you today on your journey to financial freedom.

You may have been a little nervous to get on this flight; the seats you bought trying to save money are close and uncomfortable; what can be said about the sip of soda and peanuts we’ll throw at you, except the price is right (free); and yes, that guy next to you will smell and complain the whole way. I'm going to be running you quickly through some investing safety guidelines to help ease your fear and manage risk, making for a more enjoyable ride.

First make sure that all checks and balances are in their proper place, and that all numbers are in the upright position. In the unlikely event that something should not go as planned, know all your possible exit strategies. You may need to use savings as a floatation device, or you may find yourself bouncing out the door on the inflatable slide to cut losses (never bringing on board more than you are willing to lose).

Make sure you place the financial oxygen mask over your own face first, before attending to the needs of small children (grown children college tuitions, weddings, parents, and other people's financial 'needs'). For more information refer to the card located in the seatback in front of you (or blogs, books, advisors, etc.).

Keep your seat belt fastened until the captain has indicated otherwise, sit back and relax, and please try to unclench the death grip you have on the arm rest.

There may a bump or two, but one thing is for sure... you're going to arrive at your financial destination a lot faster than if you had only saved, focused on becoming debt free, tried to live as cheaply as possible, or focused on job security (all of which interestingly enough can put you more "at risk" than learning to manage risk and invest).

We here on Frugal Duchess Air realize that you have a choice in how you spend your money. Being frugal may be uncomfortable for a little while, however, it doesn’t have to be your goal. It should serve the purpose of funding investment vehicles that help you reach your financial goals more quickly, and allow you to enjoy your stay even more once you arrive!

We hope you’ll come and see us again real soon! Buh Bye!

--Erin of No Limits Ladies

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Forbes: Best & Worst-Paying Jobs

Forbes and MSN have profiled, the "Best & Worst-Paying Jobs."

Top-Dollar jobs: Surgeons ($181,850 per year), Anesthesiologists ($174,000), CEOs ($140,880), airline pilots ($134,000,) Computer/Info systems chiefs ($100,110). Lawyers and marketing gurus also make fat salaries.

On the other end, Low-Dollar jobs include: "Fast-food cooks ($15,230), followed by busboys, dishwashers and waiters." The average annual pay for all positions (high and low) is &37,440.

The MSN/Forbes feature offers a link to an informative slide show with details about the best pay per job based on region of the country (top paying state/top-paying metro area). The demographic information is ideal for anyone coming out of college, switching jobs or relocating.

What is your frugal style? Pick an answer that best describes your fiscal style
	Simple living
	Green living
	Frugal but fashionable
	Hardcore Cheap
	Latte frugal: more froth than frugal
	Number-crunching control freak
	Not really frugal
	Frugal by default
	Former-addictive spender
	Bargain triophy hunter

Free polls from Pollhost.com