Frugal Phone Cards : Cheap Service?

What's the deal about phone cards? For $20 to $40 a month, one reader purchases pre-paid telephone cards from a small grocery store. Tapping into the phone card network, her overseas telephone calls cost about 4 cents a minute, she told me.

But phone cards are a mixed bag. Here's the 411:

Pre-paid phone cards typically sell for $5 to $15 (and higher) for a fixed amount of telephone service. For long distance calls in the U.S., phone card rates range from a penny to a nickel per minute. But low rates aren't everything. A few low-cost carriers offer poor service. Others are a good bargain.

Newsstands, travel agencies, convenience stores and many mom-and-pop grocery stores typically sell phone cards. Other vendors include the neighborhood post office and national retail chains such as Walgreen's. It's a big business with many pros and cons for consumers.

On the plus side, phone cards provide convenience. After paying in advance, you can eliminate bills for long distance or international calls on your home or cell phone. And various, distributors offer additional time-saving features, including speed dialing for your favorite numbers or activity reports. To use the service, outgoing calls are routed through either a toll-free number or a local exchange.

Saving money is the main attraction for Cecile Richardson, a Florida resident, who has family throughout the U.S. and in Jamaica. For $2 to $5 a card, Richardson purchases pre-paid service for all of her long distance and international calls.

"I don't have long distance on my home phone, so I use the phone card to call my sister and brother in Queens (New York) and Washington, D.C.," Richardson said.

With the $5 card, she receives about 90 minutes of international calls to Jamaica or 100 minutes of long distance service within the U.S. for calls made on her home phone. However, if she uses her cell phone to dial into the toll-free access number, Richardson receives a dramatic drop in available minutes. For instance, when routing calls through her cell phone she receives only 30 minutes of international service versus 90 minutes for calls routed through her home phone.

And indeed, I noticed a similar pattern when I studied phone cards sold at the little bodega near my home. One $5 card, for example, fixed a surcharge of 99 cents on calls from a payphone and "higher" (but not specified) for cell phone calls.

Other companies charged comparable fees. I also noticed that some cards have a very short expiration date, with a time clock that begins running with your first call. I also spotted a "semi-monthly fee" of 59 cents on some cards. I called the company's 800 number for more details. After a long holding period, the customer service representative explained that the 59-cent fee is actually a weekly fee. But since there is no charge for the first week of service, the company uses the term "semi-monthly."


Therefore, it's important to read the fine print when buying a phone card, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission, a government agency. The list of potential pitfalls is long.

*Disreputable card issuers, who cease operations and leave you with a worthless card.
*Higher-than-advertised rates.
*Charges for incomplete calls (busy numbers or no answers).
*Low-quality connections
*Ineffective or unresponsive customer service lines.



>

Frugal Philosophying: Ms. Overstocked

Sometimes I get overstuffed
from wanting so much stuff.

For example, I now have nine bottles of hair conditioner around my house. Of course, it's all sale merchandise. But how much do I really need? I can only use a handful at a time. But every week, there I am, hunting for hair conditioner deals on the printed pages of the seven-day flyers from CVS/Walgreens/Target.

More, more, more. And that's a problem. Wanting stuff -- trinkets, trophies and truimphs -- can be an expensive and obesssive passion.

I fear that I've wasted too much of my life (and money) by shopping, shopping, shopping and always, always wanting more.



frugal
money saving tips

Frugal, But Quality Deal-of-the-Week

So how does a former spendthrift and an addictive shopper like me get therapy? Honey, you gotta re-direct that energy.

In the spirit of reformation, I use my shopping skills to save money for my family. This week, I've done well. Cheap prices and great quality!

For example, my husband needed shampoo. We had lots and lots of hair conditioner products, (an absolute must for curly, wavy, nappy-happy hair!) But we were running low on shampoo.

I went to Walgreens and purchased White Rain shampoo for $1.00. I had a coupon for $1-off, but the savings only applied to two bottles. So I picked up a bottle of conditioner, also $1. Bottom line: two bottles of hair products for 50 cents each. Not bad.

And the White Rain conditioner actually worked well on my hair. I was pleasantly surprised. Shocked. I'm a snob about hair conditioners.

Of course, while I was at Walgreens, I couldn't resist the special on water. Three cases of bottled water for $8 (less than 18 cents a bottle.)

I wasn't thinking about Hurricane Wilma. It was Sunday and Wilma was still in Bedrock. Now that the Hurricane is approaching Southern Florida, where I live, I'm glad that we have the extra water.

I hoping that Wilma blows away out to sea, where it'll disappear and not harm anyone. That's my prayer. That's my Wrap!


ciao!

Desperate Housewives & Payless Shoes

I love it whenever I stumble on news about frugal celebrities or news of frugality in Tinseltown.

A number of frugal fashion choices help to create the style scene at Desperate Housewives. In addition, to a few eye-popping expensive accessories and gear, the stylists for the hit show also hit the racks at Claire's and other low-cost stores.

That's the word from the pages of the Oct. 26 special issue of People Extra magazine: Secrets of Desperate Housewives

The magazine asked Cate Adair, the show's costume designer, where she shops for Desperate Housewives:

Her answer: "Everywhere and anywhere. Swap meets, secondhand shops, boutiques, little shops, big shops, some designer labels. We'll buy stuff at the Gap."

Clothes for the character Bree (played by Marcia Cross) are collected from Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus, Armani and other high-end names. But the magazine also highlighted a few Bree-like items from Payless shoes, including a pair of fake suede, teal-colored shoes for $17 and a Faux, croc purse (also from Payless) in green for $21. (p.77)

The costume team also shops at Claire's, where they reportedly buy dozens of hoop earrings (gold-colored) for $5.50 a pair. Those earrings are for the character Lynette, played by Felicity Huffman.

Meanwhile, Teri Hatcher provided the magazine with a great quote about her thrifty approach to life:

"I'm a very conservative person. I drive my cars for 10 years until they have 100,000 miles on them. To me, feeling comfortable means having way more than I need in the bank."

But here's my favorite part. The actress saves money to enjoy the luxuries that really mean a lot to me.

"I don't spend my money on sports cars or new million-dollar houses," she told People. "But being able to go on the trip of a lifetime is pretty special."

Wow. Hey Teri, that's totally my philosophy.

Save well to live well and spend money on the stuff, the people and trips that really mean the most.


Note: I am a free-lance reporter for People magazine. From time-to-time, I will offer celebrity profiles from a wide variety of magazines. But this blog is independent.

Saving on Makeup and Skincare

My makeup bag is downwardly mobile. Before parenthood, I was well-stocked with cosmetics and skin-care treats from expensive beauty spas and high-end department stores. But after parenthood, I gradually traded down the commodities chain and my makeup table is now stocked with goodies from national pharmacy chains.

And quite, frankly my skin has actually thrived on this discount diet. But based on the you-get-what-you-pay-for doctrine, I’ve been puzzled by my skin’s positive response. But the experts have ready answers, namely: When it comes to cosmetics, high cost does not always equal high-quality care.

“There are very good products at CVS and Walgreens that are very effective and very affordable,” says Dr. Helena Igra, a cosmetic surgeon and board-certified dermatologist based on Miami Beach. “The most expensive products are not necessarily the best.”

So there’s no need to feel deprived, if you can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars a month on skincare products. Nor should, you feel compelled to purchase the high-end over-the-counter skincare products that some dermatologists directly market, says Igra, who does not sell skincare products in her office. Indeed, she’s happy to suggest a number of “very good, very dependable,” drugstore products –from publicly traded household names — that will pamper your skin at a fraction of the costs.

Of course, if you have serious skin problems, prescription-only pharmaceutical intervention may be necessary. But many of the inexpensive, over the counter products work just fine for the every-day nuisances wrought by sun and stress (fine lines, small eruptions and brown spots), Igra says.

And while, some expensive skin-care products live up to their billing, packaging, research/development costs and marketing budgets can also boost lofty price tags, the doctor says.

That same lesson was personally delivered to me, by a local television personality, who discovered the beauty of pharmacy cosmetics after losing her luggage — including a bag of expensive cosmetics — while traveling. In a pinch, she purchased inexpensive cosmetics at a pharmacy counter and was pleased with the results. Other women in corporate circles have shared similar discoveries with me.

Stephen Farrar, a television and video makeup artist, agrees with their insights. As a beauty industry professional, he has peeked into the makeup kits of peers from around the country. Their tools of the trade typically include many inexpensive cosmetic products, including Max Factor, Almay, Covergirl and Maybelline, Farrar says. In fact, when it comes to mascara, the old pink-and-green Maybelline mascara wand ($4.99) ranks as an industry staple.

“It doesn’t have to cost a lot to look good,” says Farrar, who provides makeup services to WPBT (Channel 2), the local PBS station.

And if you’re addicted to one of the expensive department store or designer brands, Enjoy. But learn to streamline and shop for value, the makeup artist says.

“There are some good products at the high-end of the market, but you don’t have to buy the whole line,” Farrar says.

Frugal Review: Oct. Issue of Money

Yup. I read a lot! And on a regular basis, I will review and summarize some of the magazines, etc. that catch my attention.

Here are 10 reasons I enjoyed the October issue of
Money

10. Great (and) short piece about saving gas by Donna Rosato and Lawrence Ulrich. Good tips and not just DUH! information (p. 23)

9. Insightful piece about IBM professional who becomes public school teacher by Donna Rosato (another winner from Rosato.) Engaging details about how Susana Temprano downsized her life from that of a $200,000+ IBM sales executive to a NYC public school teacher ($40,000 salary) Can you say OUCH! (p. 35)

8. From that same piece: Great sidebar with info and websites for professionals seeking to jump from the office suite to the classroom. (p. 36)

7. Generational feedback about spoiled kids. In the "Your Money & Your Life" section, columnist Jean Chatzky interviewed senior citizens at two retirement communities in New York. The question: To Spoil or Not To Spoil (the grandkids.) Great answers. p.32

6. The Do it Now Plan: I've seen lots of information about how to get your free credit report, but this feature has one of the best rundowns on what
to do with the credit report. Great graphics and short blurbs in this 2-page feature: (p.45)

5. "Living on the Edge," by Tara Kalwarski. In the "Fix my Mix," feature, the writer offers a good snapshot of a young couple, with baby, seeking to retire early. This is news you can really use and a good read. (p.70) Hint: The couple needs to beef up their "meager" rainy day savings account.


4. I loved, loved, loved the piece called "Fear Factor" by David Futrelle. Here's the 411: This piece is a rundown of some of the worst-case financial scenarios (Early Death/Disabling injuries/Your job moves overseas) that keep you up at night. It's not just a trailer of your worst nightmares. The article provides triage. On the spot! p.85

3. The "How I did it Feature." The spotlight is on a Sept. 11 widow Dening Lohez, who tells how she is launching an educational foundation (scholarships) in the name of her husband Jerome, an engineer who worked at One World Trade Center. The piece was told to Janet Paskin and is on page 152.


2.Believe it or not: I loved this ad: "The Secret to Living Your Dreams." It's the opening ad for a special advertising section co-produced by the Financial Planning Association. The tips for targeting your real goals (page 2 of the ad) are succinct and cover the same ground as some of the popular self-
help books that cost $20 and up. This ad appears after page 138.

1. "A Long Way to the Goal" by Paul Keegan, This is a solid feature about a professional soccer player (Andy Williams), who has his eye on the ball. He's thinking about life after sports. This piece is helpful and entertaining. (p. 123)


There's lot more, but that's enough for now.
I read lots of mags, I'll review them as I get time.


www.money.com


Take care. Be Frugal and Have Fun

Free Samples and Coupons!!!!

Every week, I write a column for the Miami Herald. Sometimes the ideas come easy; but sometimes in a dash of desperation (and creativity) I do weird and wacky things.

For instance, once I poured cold black coffee over my head. I heard that coffee was a safe and cheap way to darken hair. It worked (somewhat) well!

Then for my latest column, I just started dialing for dollars.
I called the manufacturers of some of my favorite products and offered feedback. They provided coupons and samples.

The result is the column that appeared in the Saturday, Oct. 15 edition of the Miami Herald:

Get on the Phone for Coupons and Samples!

Feedback is a profitable tool. Tapping into toll-free consumer lines can create a pipeline for coupons and free samples. For example, after a few quick phone calls to various manufacturers of my favorite products, I have received valuable coupons for some of my favorite products. Some of the coupons offered savings of $2 to $3 per purchase, with most offering $1 off the retail price.

It was quick, easy and very profitable. I’ll save even more when I combine the coupons with weekly advertised specials. Both CVS and Walgreens, for instance, encourage consumers to combine store offers with manufacturer’s coupons. Using a combination of store specials and manufacturer’s coupons, I recently paid $1.75 for a bottle of conditioner that normally sells for $4.45.

With my phone and a friendly word, I have earned free samples and/or coupons from Viactiv, a vitamin supplement that tastes like soft chocolate squares, Tylenol, Celestial Seasonings (tea products), Vicks NyQuill cold syrup and Eight O’Clock coffee beans. My biggest haul was a package of coupons worth $13.75 from Unilever for a wide range of products, including Dove and Pond’s skin care treatments, Q-tips and a $1 off coupon for laundry detergent. I received that packet when I called to compliment Uniliver about its Dove hair care line.

Don't think of it as begging for dollars. Most companies enjoy the opportunity to receive consumer feedback, especially if you provide honest insights about the value and the use of their product. Think of the process as a fair exchange: Your insights for their coupons. "That's why we're here," said one consumer rep. But don't abuse the process by calling the same company repeatedly.

My system works like this. Make a list of products that you like or would like to try. Locate the toll-free number on the side of the package. Then multi-task: Use your speakerphone or hands-free headset and undertake a mindless chore. (Washing dishes, paying bills or some other easy task.)

If you have not already used the product, express a desire to try it. But if you already use the item, offer a compliment about the product and a mini-review. Be honest and be prepared. That’s because, savvy consumer service representatives frequently ask questions about the formula or version of the product that you have claimed to use.


For instance, Kelly, the customer rep from Vicks NyQuill inquired about the specific formula, I had recently purchased. Likewise, Asam, a rep from Eight O’Clock coffee, peppered me with a list of questions about the brand: Did I like pre-ground or whole bean coffee? How large was the package and how often did I buy the brand? She even asked for the bar code number on the package. But her enthusiasm kept me engaged in the conversation.


“I’m so glad you like the coffee,” Asam said. “Honestly! Thank you for calling. Would you be interested in a coupon?”

Meanwhile, Marissa Reyes, a consumer affairs representative for Pharmavite—maker of OLAY Vitamins — sent me an especially nice letter with about $5 in coupons.


“Dear Ms. Harvey,” Reyes wrote. “We recently received you phone call regarding OLAY Vitamin Products…As a valued customer, we would be pleased to offer you some coupons which you may use toward your next purchase. We thank you for contacting us.”


Of course, some of the companies used the phone call as an opportunity to obtain data about me with requests for my email address, daytime phone number and other tidbits. Depending on my mood, I obliged with the inquiries or I graciously declined to comment.

Not every company responded to my unsolicited phrase with freebies and discounts. “I’m glad you liked it,” said a perky consumer representative for a national bottled water company. “May I get your zip code so I can pass it on?”

And so the conversation ended. She didn’t offer coupons and I didn't ask. However, a recorded message directed me to promotional offers on the company’s website. I was too busy to log on. I had already overspent my time allowance.

Not all "Sales" are Sales!

It was a wake-up call. Buzzing with enthusiasm, I called my friend Ellen about a terrific sale at a national chain. With every purchase of $50 in merchandise, shoppers received $25 in free clothing.


Who could resist such a deal?


I couldn't, but Ellen could: "I'm saving," she said. I should have followed her example.

But needing a bit of "retail therapy," I headed to the sale where I purchased top-quality clothing for bargain prices, such as a cute $100 jacket for less than $15. But I learned a valuable lesson: A sale is not always a sale.

Consider the evidence: Armed with my register receipt, I looked forward to collecting the free clothing as I had earned coupons worth $50. But the discount didn't work quite as I thought.

The $50 discount applied to a future purchase, the sales staff politely told me.

I smiled back and looked forward to my next shopping trip, with the promise of $50 in free merchandise.

But not so fast, I learned on my follow-up shopping trip. To collect on the advertised deal, I would have to spend another $100.

At that point, I really saved a lot. I left the store, with the merchandise remaining on the shelf.


Clearly, a sale is not always a sale.


The shopping aisles are filled with fellow shoppers,
who, like me, have failed to read the fine print. One of my newspaper editors, for example, recently stood in line at a major retail store, hoping to save dollars with a discount coupon issued by the chain.

Her savings turned to dust as she promptly discovered
that many brand names and products, including items on her shopping list, were excluded from the coupon savings.

Based on that example and many other hit-and-miss shopping exploits, I've put together this warning list of shopping pitfalls.


* Buy one-get-one half off: Don't fall for this promotion, unless you really need an extra pair of shoes, another sweater or an additional pair of frosted sunglasses.
Otherwise, it makes more sense to buy just one item.


* Rebate offers: To save money from this type of promotion, you really need organization.

That's because collecting rebate savings often depends on tracking deadlines, receipts and other documents. If you can't maintain the cumbersome paper trail or find stamps by the postmark deadline, it's best to look for specials where the savings are immediately delivered at the cash register.


* New wardrobe/alterations required: A deal is not a deal if a new garment requires either expensive alterations or a new wardrobe. With that principal in mind, I've recently saved a lot of money by limiting my wardrobe to a small range of colors.

A new garment,therefore, has to match or compliment my existing selection of clothing. And if it doesn't fit, I drop it.


Of course, retail therapy, (I love that term), provides a buzz of good feeling, aka: New-stuff Happiness!

But if your pleasures from shopping are short-lived, consider this a wake-up call. I did.

Java Woes & Small Change Savings

It was an innocent cup of coffee in a disposable cup. A nice jolt of cream, caffeine and sugar in my daily routine.

But that disposable cup of coffee really took a bite out of my disposable income. Consider the math:


Three Dollars a day, plus tip is roughly $20 a week, or $120 a month or $1,440 a year or $14,400 in ten years. And that's without the daily muffin for $2.50 (12.50/wk...$50/month...$600/year... $6,000/10 years)


Ouch! That small change of $5 to $6 a day for a coffee and a double chocolate chip muffin really took a big bite out of my life.

And that's fine! If I really, really enjoy my coffee and muffin. And if that morning kick-start of coffee and sugar really, really makes my day, FINE!!! Enjoy, the luxury.

But if I'm just mindlessly standing in line at the gourmet coffee shop and then just sipping coffee with half a taste bud while surfing the net, then I'm really wasting money.

Consider the frugal options: It only costs a few cents a day to make your own coffe and frankly, I would rather spend $1,500 to $2,000 on a great vacation, a new wardrobe or a series of spa treatments. And still have enought coffee money to give to charity.

Of course, you'll still catch me every now and then at the world's favorite coffee shop (wink) getting a tall latte light or something. But it's an occasional perk that I really, really enjoy and not a daily fix that drains my monetary veins.

So take care and have a frugal day.
Don't forget to live well and enjoy the Five-star treats of life!

Frugal Reader Roundup

I've been busy reading and writing. My ever-growing pile of magazines and newspapers yields lots of good tips.

Please walk all over this shoe-saving advice!

From Quick & Simple (Sept. 13, 2005 issue)

Problem: Dinged up leather
Cheap Fix: Use a matching "sharpie" or some other permanent marker to hide scratches on dark leather. Cover up the scratch and then buff the shoe or boot with a bit of polish and a soft cloth.

Problem: Soaked with water
Cheap Fix: Stuff damp shoes or boots with newspaper or place the item on a shoe tree. Avoid heat while drying out the shoe or boot.

Be proactive: Spray suede shoes with a weatherproofing spray and if you are still blindsided and blind-spotted by rain, take these steps: Dry out the shoe and then use an emery board or basic towel to rub out rain spots.

*****

From Real Simple

This magazine runs a regular feature called "Solutions," which is just great!

Problem: Leather or suede shoes with salt stains
Cheap Fix: Stir up a mix of water and white vinegar using a 50-50 ratio of the two liquids. With a cotton cloth or a brush with nylon bristles, gently rub the solution all over the shoe. Allow time to dry.

First Magazine Oct. 17, 2005 issue

Problem: Inconvenient scuff marks on leather party shoes. You're almost at the party when you notice the ugly scuffs.
Quick Fix: Lip balm to the rescue! Apply a small amount of lip balm (a penny-shaped dap) to the back, front and sides of your shoe. Reach for a white-tissue and rub in the balm for an instant shine. (The wax in the balm sparks the sheen).

Take care, stay frugal and live well!

Walk to School! Save Money; Get Fit!

I have fond memories of walking to Pennell Elementary School through thick piles of autumn leaves in Philadelphia. The route to school was well-marked and lined with uniformed crossing guards and badge-carrying members of the student safety squad.

I am reminded of those memories whenever I see the Barasch family walking to and from school on weekdays. Their daily drill is an exercise in saving money, gas and health, says Stuart Barasch, a lawyer and father of students of Mollie and Jacob.

Unfortunately, the once-popular stroll to school is a rare event for most families. Due to safety concerns and time constraints very few students walk to school. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) estimates that walking or biking trips account for only 15 percent of student commutes.

However, due to the double threat of childhood obesity and rising gas prices, some parents are re-thinking the carpool. (Gas prices are north of $3 a gallon and the percentage of overweight children has tripled over the last 30 years.)

Fortunately, the “Walking School Bus,” has become a popular pedestrian vehicle in some communities. Government agencies, non-profit groups and informal networks of parents are re-claiming the streets through “Walking School Bus” campaigns.

A walking school bus works just like a car pool, and consists of “ a group of children walking to school with one or more adults,” according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, one of several organizations that promotes walking school bus programs in the United States.

At a very basic level, a walking bus or bike pool involves two families, with adults assigned to different day. On a more involved level, ambitious groups establish an elaborate system of structured routes, meeting points, volunteers and timetables. But regardless of the structure, adult participation and supervision are the keys to the car-less carpool.

The CDC recommends a ratio of one adult participant for every six children aboard the walking bus, with an option of fewer adults for students age 10 and up. However, for children ages four to six, experts recommend a one -to-three ratio.

Of course, walking your child to school requires time and organization. But busy parents can carve out extra time through substitution of work-out hours. For example, once or twice a week, a walking bus workout can take the place of a gym circuit or a tennis match.

And if your family lives too far to walk, consider a partial workout. Park your car at a healthy distance from school, and then walk the remaining blocks. Keep in mind that walking will also help you skip past lengthy and time-consuming carpool lanes at school.

Take baby steps. Begin with a limited walking schedule of once a week or even once a month. But above all, have fun.

Time spent walking with your children (and their friends) is valuable. In the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to walk with my older sons and I have really enjoyed their company. Walking is good for the heart and we’re saving on gas.


*****
Every Saturday, I have a column Making Ends Meet that runs in the Miami Herald. The above piece is my latest column.

Write it Down: Be your own Frugal Pen Pal!

B"H

Okay, as a writer, I'm really into words. Of course. But writing can save you money!

How so? Consider this bit of expert insight. Nutrionists and professional trainers urge dieters to keep an eating log.

It's a no-brainer: Write it down and you'll eat less.

Likewise, professional organizers and therapists offer the same advice to clients seeking to break bad habits: Keep a journal of missteps and triumphs and you'll conquer offending habits.

Money mavens preach the same gospel. Write down every penny that you spend and you'll spend less.

Keep a log for at least two weeks, preferably one month or even two. And be honest. An authentic record of your cash flow will reveal the truth. Most of us nickel and dime away our money on silly stuff.

It's not the new skirt or the big-ticket blouse that rocks the budget. Nooo. The real budget busters are loose change leaks:

Here's one of my loose change leaks:

Last week, I purchased three packages of red licorice twizzlers for 99 cents. ($1.05 with tax). Now that's one sale at CVS that I should have passed up. Did I really need to eat that much junk? NO! NO! NO! Did I need to give that junk to my kids? No!
Could I have done something more meaningful with that $1. Yes!!

For example, if I could save a dollar a day for a year, I would have an extra $365 a year, excluding interest. And I would save money on dentist visits also by skipping candy sales.

So...in an effort to leak less loose change: I'm going to start the New Year of 5766, the Hebrew month of Tishrei and the month October with a plan to use my writing skills to track my daily expenses.

I hope to have more money to save, more to share and more to spend on the things and people that really matter.

L'chaim (to life)!!!

From the Frugal Reading Rack (FFRR)

I'm a big reader and I love finding great tips in magazines, newspapers and books. On a weekly basis, (usually Sundays), I'll offer a round-up of some of the frugal tips, I've stumbled on.

Harper's Bazaar (October, 2005 issue)
Jennifer Lopez Beauty Picks

In this feature, Jennifer Lopez provides a rundown of her favorite beauty products and application tips. Of course, her list includes some eye-popping, BIG-ticket items, such as Creme de la Mer ($195 for a small jar of skin moisturizer!)

But, JLo also provides an eye-opening insight about a cheaper --and effective -- skin care routine used by her mother. Using Pond's (about $9), Mom Lopez covers her skin "from head to toe," Jennifer Lopez says in the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar:

"Maybe that's why she [Mom] looks so good. I'm using Creme de la Mer at $200 a pop, and I could just go to Wal-Mart and get Pond's."


Lucky Magazine

Get your free Tweezerman tune-up! In the latest issue of Lucky magazine, the editorial staff reports that the Tweezerman company will sharpen your Tweezerman tweezers for free. By the way, Tweezerman products are on sale this week (Oct. 2 through Oct. 8) at CVS for a 10 percent discount off the normal retail price.

To get your used pair sharpened for free, mail your older Tweezerman tweezers to:

Tweezerman Service Center
235 Blue Bell Road
Houston, Texas 77037

According to Lucky Magazine, the Tweezerman company will sharpen and ship back your tweezers in two weeks.

First
New life for old magic markers.

This money-$aving tip comes from the Oct. 17 issue of First, a women's magazine.

Revive old magic markers with nail polish. That's the word from the October 17 issue of First magazine. Just soak a dried-up, used-up magic marker in a bit of nail polish remover (about a half of an inch of nail polish remover)for a half minute. Allow five minutes for each marker to dry. Voila! Those old markers will brighten up the page again, according to First magazine. The secret: moisture is restored by the acetone in the nail polish remover. This restoration happens without diluting the color, the magazine reports.
You can save about $18 annually on markers with this trick.

Ciao! Shalom!
Sharon hr

The Frugal Luxury Junkie

I am soo into luxuries. Five-star spas, gorgeous skirts and time with my family. Those are my ideas of high-end comforts. But perks have a price tag and in my calculating mind, frugal choices subsidize my expensive habits and meaningful choices.

Here's my math: A weekly French manicure with a tip for the specialist would cost me anywhere between $18 to $25 per visit. On an annual basis that equals $936 to $1,300 for a bit of polish. Hmmmm?

But with one of those french manicure kits from the drug store or beauty supply store, I can do my own manicure for about 50 cents a week or $26 a year and my nails look great. What's more, I don't have to obsess about washing dishes or opening car doors and ruining my nails. I can fix it myself. No pain, lot's of gain!

I'm saving $900 to $1,200 a year on nail salon visits. And that savings enables me to enjoy periodic guilt-free massages or high-end spa treatments ($250 and up) at resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton or the Sonesta on Key Biscayne. Or I can go to South Beach and get a really, really beautiful manicure and pedicure at Seven Sisters Salon for about $120. Every six months, or whenever. The results are fantastic, long-lasting and worth every penny.

But here's the caveat: My private luxury tax only works if the treats are periodic. Better yet, I can spread the wealth by using my $1,000-plus manicure savings to take my kids to Disneyworld and I can give some of the money to charity.

Bottom line: Live well; save high and share the wealth.


I'm having so much fun. Life is an adventure. Keep the Faith and thanks for checking in.
ciao!

ps. If weekly manicures are really, really important to you, spend the money. I would if that was a high-priority perk for me. It's all about choices. Spend where it means the most and if weekly manicures/pedicures put you in the right space. Enjoy the moment and save somewhere else.

Squeezing a lesson out of hair conditioner

My middle son loves L'Oreal Vive Smooth-Intense Conditioner. It's the stuff in the orange bottle. His curly/wavy hair responds well to that conditioner. (Does nada for my happy-nappy hair! I have other favorites, but that's another story.)

Normally, a 13 oz bottle of L'Oreal Vive costs $4.49 at Walgreens. Not a lot of money, but if I can save a bit, why not? So when we ran out of the L'Oreal, I encouraged my son to sample the other conditioners around the house. My goal: Wait until the next sale on the L'Oreal Vive. The sales are always in cycles. Time the cycles and you can save big!

Now mind you, if my son needed medicine, food, or any other basic necessity, I would have spared no expense. But hair conditioner?!? I'm sorry, we can wait for a good deal.

Well, our weeks of waiting paid off this week. L'Oreal Vive went on sale on Sunday at Walgreens: 2 bottles for $5. PLUS, we clipped two 75-cent-off manufacturer's coupons from the Sunday paper. (One coupon for each bottle.) Our total price: $1.75 a bottle vs. the regular price of $4.50 per bottle. I used the extra money to buy my son a treat.

So you see, it's not just the money. The real deal is my effort to teach my kids a valuable lesson about delayed gratification. It pays to wait.

Ciao!

Have a fun & frual day.

Hey it's the frugal me!

Hi!

Thanks for checking out my new blog.


So I'm the Frugal Duchess. I love to shop, but I love to save money. In short, I like to live well, but pay low. I even have my own column in the Miami Herald. It's call Making Ends Meet and it runs on Saturdays.

I have fun writing it. It's like being paid to shop and look for bargains.

My latest obsession is buying new skirts on eBay. For only $30 to $40, it's possible to purchase through eBay, new-with-tags (NWT) skirts that usually sell for $200 in many cool stores. Sellers are offering skirts from Anthropologie, Banana Republic, the Gap and other stores. So I'm having fun bidding on new skirts on eBay.

But it's not just about things. I care about the environment, ethics and plain old decency. I love public transportation.

And I care about education, especially for my kids. Being frugal is a way to pass on real family values. But that's enough for now.

Coming soon: How I saved $$$$ on hair conditioner (L'oreal) and taught my ten-year-old son a great lesson.

See you later. Thanks for checking out my blog

Shalom Y'all