Stingy Students: Cooking up a Festival of Frugality: My Samples From the Menu

With a tasty nod to TV cooking stars, the Festival of Frugality #63 is up at Stingy Students.

Here are a few of my favorite entrees from the lineup:

PF Advice has a super post about getting free plants for the garden.

Savvy Steward: A DIY Resource Guide

QueerCents has a yummy post about shopping for furniture, including a scratch and dint sale.

Tight Fisted Miser has a thoughtful piece: If I'm frugal, why am I poor?

I am honored to be included in the mix. Thanks to the host for stirring up a tasty festival. It's an excellent stew!
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Aldi, Julia Roberts & Her BYOB Shopping Plan for Save Pennies

Every Wednesday, I try to catch celebrities in the act of being frugal. This week, I found Julia Roberts, who takes a frugal approach to shopping and the environment. She is a BYOB --Bring Your Own Bag -- shopper, according to one media report. For example, in this photo from Us Magazine, Julia Roberts is buying flowers and using her own plastic bags to carry away her merchandise. She's in the third photo on the left column in this link.

JULIA ROBERTS picked up stems in L.A. Feb. 15. The environmentalist activist always brings her plastic bags back: "You can get a nickel for every bag!" she has said. -- source: Us magazine.

Many discount stores, especially in Europe, give shoppers a BYOB discount. Others such as Aldi-- a German based chain of steep, steep discount grocery stores, actually charge shoppers money for bags, according to the book Treasure Hunt by Michael J. Silverstein.

"People often bring their own baskets or bags because Aldi charges fifty cents for a paper bag and ten cents for a plastic one." -source: Treasure Hunt

With its cheap, cheap prices Aldi is gradually expanding in the U.S. On the website for its U.S. Operations, the company explains its BYOB strategy:

"ALDI does not hide the cost of grocery bags in our retail prices. Instead, we encourage you to recycle your grocery bags by bringing them back to the store each time you shop." source: Aldifoods.com

Aldi--according to Treasure Hunt --has not quite caught on in America, but it is slowly winning fans in some parts of the U.S. The Star News in Minnesota reports that an Aldi store will be opening in another midwest city.

"Plans for an Aldi discount grocery store in Elk River have cleared the City Council in a 3-2 vote." source: Star News

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Frugal Uses for Cola: Tuesday Tip

I've used cola to settle upset stomachs. But that's just one of several unusual uses for a popular beverage. The carbonic acid in cola is good for cleaning many items, including jewelery. In fact, for a science project my kid's teacher instructed the class to drop different items into cola to watch the change. A dirty penny, for example, was transformed into a shiny coin during the exercise.

Likewise, from beautifying bathrooms to cleaning tiles, cola has a variety of unusual uses. Over the next week, I will test out some of the stranger tips and report back next week during my Tuesday Tip feature. Here are a few of the suggestions, I've collected from First for Women and other sources.

Dirty Floors & Bathrooms:

1. Spill out a can of cola on a tile floor and take special aim at the grout between the tiles. Let the soda sit for about 10 minutes and then mop up the floor with a sponge filled with soap.

2. Apply a half cup of cola to grease spills and oil stains on a garage floor. Let the cola sit for a quarter of an hour. Hose down with warm water.

"The soda's carbonic acid seeps into the porous concrete and dissolves embedded dirt."--First For Women Magazine.

3. For the toilet bowl: Pour a can of soda into the the toilet. Let the soda sit for 60 minutes. Then swirl and scrub the bowl with a brush.

"The soft drink contains citric acid, a chemical compound that filters into the pores of the porcelain bowl and dissolves the dirt and rust that cause ugly spots and stains."
--First For Women Magazine.

4. Anti-Rust

"One unusual use for Coke is as a rust-control substance — the phosphoric acid in Coke converts iron oxide to iron phosphate, and as such can be used as an initial treatment for corroded iron and steel objects being renovated, etc."-- Answers.com

This list also has a variety of uses for cola, including cleanups for the car, the bathroom and greasy clothes.

Likewise, HGTV (Home & Gardens TV) offers it own tips for cola in this list:

"TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham points out various ways to use
cola around the home.

• Substitute cola for water in a cake recipe and in the icing.
• Need a quick and easy marinade? Soak a ham overnight in cola. This will
  leave the meat nice and tender.
• Make a cola fruit salad. Fill a bowl with citrus fruit and pour cola over
  it.
• Use cola as a substitute for one cup water in gelatin mixes. Make cherry
  cola-flavored gelatin by mixing cola with cherry gelatin.
• Fill a spray bottle with cola, and spray on a window or mirror to remove
  grease buildup.
• Crumple a piece of aluminum foil and dip it in cola. Rub the foil on chrome
  to remove rust spots.
• Loosen a rusted bolt with the help of cola. Soak a rag in it, then apply to
  the bolt. It should loosen in just minutes." --source: HGTV

Coca-Cola trivia:

A drugstore owner from Georgia originally sold coca-cola as a cure-all during the late 1800s:

Coca-Cola was initially sold as a patent medicine for five cents a glass. [John Stith Pemberton, the drink's inventor,] claimed Coca-Cola cured myriad diseases, including morphine addiction, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and impotence.--
Answers.com

There are also several urban myths about Coca-cola, Answers.com (linked above) highlights some of the myths.
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Celebrity Mug Shots at The Carnival of Personal Finance

Binary Dollar has created a red carpet line-up of posts for the Celebrity Edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance. The lineup includes celebrity mug shots, great categories and a touch of humor. Excellent job!

Here are a few of the posts that caught my eye:

Million Journey has an insightful post about the cost of having a baby. Very helpful and very real.


My Two Dollars has a great piece about why we save money.

Money for the Rest of Us has a thoughtful piece about the definition of "rich."

"I’ll know I’m rich when I can do whatever I want without thinking about the financial consequences.

This doesn’t work either. I will never be able to just ignore the price tag of something. I will always think about the financial consequences. It’s just my nature."-- Money for the Rest of Us

I'm happy to have a post in the carnival. Look for me in the photo next to Michael Jackson. I think I'm Katharine McPhee from American Idol or maybe I'm Marie Osmond. Help! (see photo above) In the next carnival, I want to be Halle Berry. But in this round, I'm just grateful to be included.

Anwyay, excellent job and congrats to the host for taking the time to create a fun and helpful carnival.

Red Carpet Payola & Other Financial Lessons from the Oscars

Forget the speeches and the statutes. When it comes to the Oscars, it's all about the money. Even the red carpet fashion show is lined with dollar bills. Industry insiders actually have a name for the dollar dance executed between designers and celebrities. It's called Red Carpet Payola and I have learned a lot about personal finance and business by studying the cost of an Oscar.

Here are a few snippets of facts, with the bottom-line lessons that I have acquired from the Academy Awards.

The Name Game
Marketing is important, albeit expensive. For example, the New York Daily News estimates that it costs about $75 million to market a film, including a $25 million kicker for the Academy Awards.

'Movie studios traditionally spend up to $25 million a year per nominated film in an attempt to secure Hollywood's highest honor. This time around, Fox Searchlight ("Little Miss Sunshine," "The Last King of Scotland") and Paramount ("Babel," "Dreamgirls") are leading the pack. With marketing budgets commonly running around $40 million to $50 million for high-profile films, that extra $25 million smarts. But many studios feel it's worth it.' -- Daily News

Indeed, winning an Oscar adds about $60 million to a film's profitability, according to the Daily News.

Bottom-Line Lesson: I'm going to work harder to market my services as a writer. A higher profile can pay handsome dividends. The same strategy applies to other business efforts. Even in corporate and cubicle circles, there's a certain value to face time and self promotion.

Getting Paid
At a Nascar race, the drivers visibly wear endorsements. Likewise, in Hollywood some actresses are getting paid to wear certain labels, according to the Globe and Mail.

'Every Hollywood starlet wants to look like a million bucks at the Oscars. Now some are demanding red-carpet paycheques to match. '

It's rumored that many actresses are paid several hundred thousand dollars to wear a designer's dress to the Oscars and a multi-red carpet contract (repeat wearings of a label) can be worth about $1 million.

'Susan Ashbrook, whose Los Angeles firm pairs up-and-coming designers with celebrities, says no one in Hollywood questions the cash-for-couture system. Her clients simply can't afford to compete with the big fashion houses at the Academy Awards.

“I tell them, the Oscars are like the Super Bowl. There are other football games throughout the whole year, and those are the ones we'll play in. That's my strategy,” she says.

Ms. Ashbrook doesn't think getting paid to wear gowns is as widespread as Ms. Cutrone believes, but she says the trend is growing. “It's just like Tiger Woods has a deal with Nike.” --source: Globe and Mail

Personal Finance Lessons: From the actresses, I've learned that there's an art to getting paid for what you love to do. It's also important to know the value of your work and/or presence in the market.

The Secret Deals:
Designers and stars don't fess up to their dresses-for-dollars arrangements. Why?

"The better to preserve the fantasy image of Hollywood glamour. Designers want the public to believe celebrities have good taste. Knowing the price tag might cheapen the fantasy."--source: Globe and Mail

Lesson: As a consumer, it's important to look past the hype and the fantasies. The world of fashion and finance is filled with a lot of smoke and mirror tricks. I believe in complete transparency.

The Art of the Deal:
Even Donald Trump could learn a few tricks from Red Carpet Payola. The exchange of clothes for exposure began as a simple win-win barter. Stars scored free clothing; designers pulled in free publicity. But the transaction quickly evolved into six and seven-figure contract deals.

'Ms. Cutrone says she has seen celebrities sign detailed contracts for payments from clothing designers. Stars are no longer content with getting expensive couture gowns for free.

“It's a natural evolution,” Ms. Cutrone says. “First, they say: ‘Ooh, can I borrow it?' Then it's: ‘Can I keep it?' Then it's: ‘What else are you going to give me?' And then it's: ‘What are you going to pay me?'.”

Lesson: Contract negotiations for homes, jobs and other perks often resemble a a chess game. It's important, I see, to have a clear picture of long-term benefits and trends.

Also, I can see that the stars aren't afraid to push the envelope. I would have been content with the free designer dresses. But many celebs are getting the hot clothes and getting paid also.


And Finally: Don't Sweat

CBS News also has an interesting piece about the cost of botox (into the armpit as an anti-sweat measure) and other Oscar night economics.

Lesson: I don't do botox and I don't even believe in anti-perspirants. (Not healthy). But on a metaphorical level, I see the value in sweat-free living. I work best when I relax and enjoy the Red Carpet.


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Getting Poor & A Personal Wealth Strategy

_The numbers are out and the picture is not pretty. There are more folks in the poverty line. What's more, if we're really honest, many of us are just a paycheck or two away from financial hardship. A sudden illness, loss of job or other personal problems (G-d forbid) could dramatically disrupt our relative grip on financial comfort and stability. Those thoughts disturb my sleep.


And it's not just a nightmare. The Miami Herald reports that:

'The percentage of poor Americans who are living in severe poverty has reached a 32-year high, millions of working Americans are falling closer to the poverty line, and the gulf between the nation's ''haves'' and ''have-nots'' continues to widen.

A McClatchy Newspapers analysis of 2005 census figures, the latest available, found that nearly 16 million Americans are living in deep or severe poverty.'

Oddly, enough the spike in poverty parallels a spike in corporate earnings, the Herald reported today.

'The plight of the severely poor is a distressing sidebar to an unusual economic expansion. Worker productivity has increased dramatically since the brief recession of 2001, but wages and job growth have lagged behind.

At the same time, the share of national income going to corporate profits has dwarfed the amount going to wages and salaries.

That helps explain why the median household income of working-age families, adjusted for inflation, has fallen for five straight years


....since 2000, the number of severely poor has grown ''more than any other segment of the population,'' according to a recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine' -- Miami Herald

I'm not wealthy, but I live in relative comfort. What's more, I have the safety net of a loving and generous family. Yet, with all those blessings, I feel the pinch of reality in our paycheck-to-paycheck economy. To help me sleep better at nights, I have put together a strategy for maintaining a healthy personal balance sheet.


1. Diversify income sources. A business with just one major customer is vulnerable to the whims and financial fortunes of that customer. Likewise, a worker with just one income stream is overly dependent on that employer, venture or contract.

2. Save, save, save. The importance of emergency funds is often stressed by many bloggers. I'm committed to building a $10,000 emergency fund. I like to go to pfblogs.org to search and study the emergency fund plans of other bloggers. There are so many excellent posts on the topic.

3. Live frugally. Over the last few years, I've cut a lot of excess expenditures from my budget. I will continue to do so.

4. Commit to continued education: I've made a dedicated push to stay informed of major changes in my industry and in the world of finance. I will also continue to upgrade my technology skills.

5. Give to charity. I have enough to share. It's good karma to give. Generosity makes me feel wealthy, even if I only have a quarter or a dollar to share.

6. Hunt for passive income: Days are short and my to-do list is long. I need to find more ways to make my money work for me when I am asleep.
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Off Topic Rant: Leave Britney Alone

There's a growing list of bloggers who are posting Leave Her Alone items about Britney Spears, according to Time. I'm joining that camp. The poor girl is obviously have an emotional breakdown. But we've all had our less than pretty or sane moments. Fortunately, we did not have Culture Vultures documenting every move.

Bottom Line: The Britney meltdown coverage is a waste of time, money and energy.

So here's my off-topic list of 5 reasons why the photogs & the press need to leave Britney Spears alone.

1. The girl deserves to get better in peace.

2. You've all made enough money snapping her pictures. Take your profits; put the money in a 401k and make money on real interest.

3. There's a growing number of people who don't want to see more photos of Britney melting down & don't want to read the details of her rehab. Get This: I don't want to see another photo of Bald Britney, Bawling Britney or Bashing Britney.

4. The coverage is just mean.

5. We're getting bored with the drama. We have a life. Hey Stalkers: Get your own life.
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Making Our Way Hosts Carnival of 30s and 40s

The Third Edition of the 30s and 40s Personal Finance Carnival is up at Making Our Way.

Here are a few of the posts that caught my attention:

Silicon Valley Real Estate Blog : Real Estate Myths that home owners fall in love with.

Debt Free: How to protect yourself against job loss: 5 Tips

Brian C. Fleming: How to Open an Online Savings Account.

The Carnival also includes two posts from me. I'm honored to be included in the field. Thanks to the host for taking the time and effort to put together the carnival.

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Appealing to a Higher Shopping Power: Call the Manager

During a recent shopping trip for work supplies, a sales clerk initially challenged my right to use a professional discount. His argument: 1) I had to apply online first, 2) It would take a few weeks for my discount card to arrive and 3) I should buy the merchandise at full price and then apply for a refund later.

My argument: Thanks and where's the manager?

Conclusion: I found the manager. He handled my online application for the professional discount, printed out my enrollment form and in less than three minutes, I had my discount papers.

Lesson: Be polite. But appeal to higher powers -- managers and supervisors-- when the initial customer service staff fails to address your issues. I've used the art of polite complaints when dealing with utility companies, hotel staff and retail stores.

We must find "The Yes" person, according to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Winning Through Negotiation by John Ilich.

"Most employees lack the authority to give you the satisfaction [for dealing with a store-related problem]....Insist on dealing directly with the "yes" person --usually a store manager or owner.-- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Winning Through Negotiation .

Rules of Engagement:

1. I try not to be overbearing. If I use a loud voice or broad gestures, I could come off as a "crank or crackpot," according to Winning Through Negotiation.

2. Make sure the manager knows that you are a loyal customer.

3. Clearly and calmly provide a time line of your purchase and problems.

4. Layout the paper trail.

5. Make a request: Sometimes I just want my money back, a replacement item or a rain check. Sometimes, I just want the advertised discount or a resolution of the conflict.

6. Get the manager's name.

My Best Frugal Friend Melisa Neuman also has an excellent strategy for resolving customer conflicts. Here's the link.
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Carnival of Money Stories

The field of Carnivals included The Carnival Of Money Stories #5, hosted by The Digerati Life. The lineup includes very engaging stories about folks and their money. The host has done a great job of screening and categorizing the different posts. I like the story snippets that follow each link.
Here are a few of my favorites posts from the Carnival:

Money, Matter, and More Musings provided a thoughtful tale about his motorcycle, his lunch and his commute.

The Money Blog Site posted an insightful piece: What To Do With a Bonus

I'm happy to be included in the crowd. Thanks to the host for taking the time and energy to compile the Carnival!

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Frugal Supplies: Office Depot's 50-Cent Bin, Coupons & Professional Discounts

In search of a padded bag for my laptop, I went to Office Depot yesterday. I saved a lot by tapping into assorted discounts. And while we were there, I hit the 50-cent bin near the front of the store.

To compete with dollar stores, many mainstream stores are offering steep discount bins. For example, Target, Walgreens, Toys R Us, and other national chains, now have sections where merchandise is only a buck or less. (I once found the cutest flip-flops at Target for 25 cents.) Some of the stuff is just junk, but there are a few finds. (I noticed this trend on my own and I also read about the concept in the book Treasure Hunt by Michael Silverstein (with John Butman).

The dollar bins at Target are located toward the front of the store. Office Depot's 50-cent bin is near the front of the store also. Here's what we found:

1) A telephone charger for my oldest son's phone. He's a teen and his charger frequently disappears. For 50 cents ( versus about $25 full price), we have a frugal backup.

2) School supplies: report covers (50 cents) and an elegant mechanical pencil for my husband.

We picked up and put down other items for 50 cents because the merchandise was nice, but not needed.

Meanwhile,we saved on the laptop case by:

1) Using a $10 off coupon that we received in the mail.
2) Enrolling in a special discount program for teachers. I teach two writing classes at a local school and qualified for the additional 5 percent off from Office Depot. If you teach (volunteer or otherwise) in a local school, you may be eligble for the discount, which is good for your personal purchases.

While at the store, I noticed other discounts and promotions, including a frequent shopper program, which is ideal for those of us with home offices.

"Star Teacher Program++: Teachers who participate in Office Depot's Star Teacher Program receive everyday discounts on qualifying in-store purchases and are included in a variety of special events and promotions during the year. Sign up for the Star Teacher Program by visiting your local Office Depot store." --Office Depot

Applications are also available online. I applied in the store at the customer service desk and received a printout of my discount enrollment number. The process does not take long, (less than a minute) and I instantly used the discount.

Star Teachers receive: a) an instant 5% discount on qualified in-store purchases, which excludes purchases from www.techdepot.com and purchases of Gift Cards, computers, postage stamps and wireless, satellite, Internet, mailing and shipping services; and b) an instant 15% discount on all qualified Copy & Print Center services, which excludes mailing/shipping services and postage stamps. Star Teachers can also receive Rewards, a maximum of $50 per Reward Period or $200 per year, granted on qualified purchases, exclusions and minimum purchase levels apply. Rewards accrue based on Reward Period purchase level and are distributed quarterly in the form of an Office Depot® Reward Card. See the Star Teacher Program

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Insurance 101, Anna Nicole Smith Coverage Overload: Random News Wrap

I wish the Miami Heat had a special insurance policy on Dwyane Wade, who was injured in last night's game against the Houston Rockets. Insurance is part of my daily random news wrap, which includes a report about Wade, the Anna Nicole Smith news overload and more details about the spike in medical costs.


1. Do you have the right insurance? A great how-to from MSN

"Nearly 60% of U.S. homes are inadequately covered. But it's not all about adding costs; sometimes life changes can save you money." --MSN

2. Medical costs jump in January and push up Consumer Index.

"[M]edical costs rose 0.8 percent, the steepest increase since a matching 0.8 percent gain in August 1991. The rise in medical costs was responsible for 60 percent of the gain in core prices, the Labor Department said.-- Reuters"

3. Miami Heat Guard Dwyane Wade suffers shoulder injury.

"Dwyane Wade flew home from Houston early Thursday, his season in limbo after he dislocated his left shoulder in Miami's game against the Rockets. The prospect of Wade's extended absence left in jeopardy the Heat's bid to repeat as NBA champions."--AP at Forbes.com

4. Consumers protest Anna Nicole Smith coverage

"Coverage of former Playmate Anna Nicole Smith's death has gone overboard according to U.S. consumers, but media experts warn there is more to come." --Reuters

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Lazy Man Scores With Festival of Frugality #62

Baseball is the theme of 62nd Edition of the Festival of Frugality, which is hosted by Lazy Man, who pitched extra innings to put together a fun festival. With organization and commentary, the FoF is a grand slam. But hey? Where was Hank Aaron in the lineup?

Here are a few of my favorite posts:

Money Under 30 had a great post about buy nothing year.

"Before dismissing a buy nothing year as insane and unachievable, consider the fact that the premise does not preclude buying the things you need for survival such as food, and actually allows to buy used or barter for anything you may desire. A secondary goal of buy nothing year is to encourage you to support local farmers and merchants in buying the foodstuffs you do need."

A Silver Lining has a cute piece on putting old calendars back into circulation.

And We're in Debt has a very helpful piece about saving money while vacationing.

I was quite happy to be featured in the lineup. Thanks to Lazy Man for creating a fun playing field. Congrats!


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The Poetry & Drama Queen
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Britney & Celebrity Economics: The Perfume & Cents of Fame

My son -- who likes hip-hop, but not pop music -- is not a Britney Spears fan. But he's tired of the jokes --on the Internet & on the radio-- about Britney's shaven head and public meltdown. He switches stations when the latest gossip about the pop princess is broadcast.

"It's just sad," he said. And I agree.

The nonstop celebrity industry has hidden costs --emotional & financial -- for performers & consumers. But from celebrity perfumes to signature clothing lines, we all pay a lot more for consumer products endorsed, created or promoted by our favorite celebrities.

Look at the perfume industry. Celebrity scents from tennis players, movie stars and singers cost significantly more than comparable products because of higher marketing and production costs. Donald Trump even has his own high-end scent. The celebrity scent industry represents about $2.9 billion in sales, according to an AP report. When we buy into the fame game, we pay more.

"A skin-deep brush with fame is now just a spritz away.

You can douse yourself with eau de Britney, Paris or JLo, as stars jump on the lucrative fragrance bandwagon by creating their signature scent." -- Associated Press

Here's a price list of celebrity scents:

Paris Hilton: $39 to $49
Fantasy from Britney Spears: $45 to $55
Carlos Santana for Women $42.50 to $58.50

And it's not just adults. Our kids are also vulnerable to the allure of big names and big contracts.

"Eighteen-year-old actress and singer Hilary Duff and 13-year-old twin actors Dylan and Cole Sprouse aim to mimic the success of the mary-kateandashley brand, with plans to bombard stores with a host of products from clothing to home decor."--Show Buzz/CBSNews.com

A survey of 4,000 teenagers by NPD, a market research company, indicated that 35 percent of the boys surveyed wanted to purchase a fragrance from The Rock, (actor/wrestler with the raised eyebrow), and 29 percent of girls surveyed wanted to wear a fragrance by JLo. The NPD survey was reported in the New York Times and Ladies Home Journal.

The celebrity marketing system enables the Britneys of the world. We indirectly bankroll the meltdowns, the tantrums & the rehab visits by buying into the product-endorsement system. I like to shop; I like to smell good. But I don't want to spend extra to finance exploitative fantasies.

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8 Signs of a Wealthy Woman, A YouTube Wannabe: My Random News Wrap

What common traits are shared by wealthy women? How much more will we pay for medical care over the next year? Those are a few of the questions addressed in this midday wrap of random news.

1) 8 Flags of a Wealthy Woman:

"What keeps women from achieving the financial security they -- and their families -- deserve? I believe the root of the problem lies in the dysfunctional relationship women have with money."-- The 8 Qualities of a Wealthy Woman by Suze Orman

2) Health care costs are expected to climb.

"U.S. spending on prescription drugs, hospital care and other health services is expected to double to $4.1 trillion over the next decade, up from $2.1 trillion in 2006, a government report released on Wednesday found."-- Reuters

3) Corporate giant buys rival of You Tube

"Viacom, the parent of networks like MTV and Comedy Central, which produce the types of programs that are ideal for watching on the Web, said today that it had reached a deal with the Silicon Valley start-up Joost to distribute video online.

The agreement came a little more than two weeks after Viacom demanded that YouTube remove more than 100,000 clips of its programming." --NYT

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Taking a Tip from Bruce Willis & His Doggie Bag

Bruce Willis does not believe in wasting food. That's the message from a recent photo of Willis, who left an upscale restaurant with a huge doggie bag.

"After dining at Beverly Hills celebrity restaurant Spago, Bruce Willis is more than happy to take home leftovers on Tuesday." -- Source: People

Jumbo-sized portions result in a lot of leftovers at many eateries. For example, last week during a date-with-mom cafe meal, my middle son and I shared a large garden salad. Packed with a variety of vegetables, pine nuts and other extras, the salad was served in a large bowl. It was my main course and was priced at $8

Even after we shared the salad, there was still enough to take home in a large container. The following day, my husband, daughter & I all had large plates of the salad.

With the doggie bag, the jumbo salad yielded five servings for $1.60 a serving or slightly higher if I factor in tax and tip.

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My New Take-Out Menu

Restaurant meals are my downfall. From the quick pizza slice to the full-course meal, take-out and eat-out treats consume a large share of my extra dollars. I've made peace with my fondness for elegant sit-down meals, and I have different strategies for saving money while dining well.

But I'm taking action against mindless convenience meals driven by lack of time or energy. As such, I've redefined my concept of take-out food by opting to frugally take-out frozen food items from my freezer. This menu includes prepared and boxed frozen snacks and soups from the grocery store.

This heat-and-go menu costs more than DIY meals from scratch. But when I am in a hurry, spending $2 to $3 on a frozen entree is a lot cheaper than the $5 to $10 tab for a tuna fish sandwich and soup.

Teri Gault of the Grocery Game stressed the money-saving benefits of frozen foods when I interviewed her for a newspaper column. She pointed out that a family of four might spend $10 on four frozen meals ($2.50 x 4) versus about $30 to $50 at a restaurant.

Caution: Not all frozen food items are a bargain. Here are our numbers from a recent shopping trip:

Good Deals:

Potato & Cheese Dumplings $2.29 (about 57 cents a serving)
Toaster Pizza Pockets $3.49 (about 58 cents a serving)
Frozen Vegetable Soup $2.19 (about $1.10 a serving)

Not Good Deals:

Mexican Casserole $4.59 for a single serving.
Gourmet Pot Pie $2.69 for a single serving.


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The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store
Book Shop of Fear
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Money Myths, Home Depot Slump & My Random News Wrap

We all have our myths and there are an abundance of urban legends in financial circles. Bankrate.com has an excellent rundown of the money myths that circulate. Some are real no-brainers (email scams), but others -- myths about hotel room keys -- are a little more obscure.

That's just one of several stories in my random midday news wrap, which also includes an excellent piece from the Washington Post about women & heart disease. I've also included an update on the tainted peanut butter story.



1. Red ink on checks, unsigned credit cards and other urban legends in finance.

"Myth No. 1: You can float a check longer if you write in red ink. The theory is that a bank's equipment can't scan red ink, so it takes longer to process the check." Source: Bankrate.com/MSN

2. Home Depot's stock price fall based on disappointing financial news.

"Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, fell 0.7 percent to $41.15 on the New York Stock Exchange and was the third biggest decliner on the Dow. The company posted a 28 percent drop in quarterly profit as the weak U.S. housing market depressed sales at its stores." Source: Reuters

3. More on the Peanut Butter health scare.

"[T]he Food and Drug Administration is urging families to throw out all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter bought since May." Source: ABC News

4. Experts urge improvement in heart disease prevention for women.

The American Heart Association has updated and sharpened its guidelines for preventing heart disease in women.

The focus now is on a woman's lifetime risk for heart disease, not just her short-term risk, as was the case in the 2004 guidelines. Source: Washington Post

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Money-Saving Tips at the Carnival of Family Life

Earlier today, I posted my Tuesday Tip about unusual uses for bubble wrap: good for a cheap burglar alarm & frig protection for fruits/veggies.

I also recommend The 42nd edition of the Carnival of Family Life, which is now up at An Island Life. From stories about hiring dumb real estate agents to hand-me down clothes, the Carnival of Family Life has an excellent line-up.


The Carnival features KSuccess, who wrote a great post about priceless gifts parents can give their kids.

"As parents, we all want our children to have the best things in life. But in our quest to give them the best “stuff,” we sometimes forget about some of the other more important gifts we can give them." --KSuccess

Little Mummy has a very helpful list of frugal tips for parents, featuring advice about hand-me downs, and DIY baby food.

Aridni has an informative how-to about buying a first home. I like her tips, including the one about hiring a real estate agent.

Hire the dumb guy. The top agents want to make money from the top houses. You’re more of a hassle with your small budget. But the dumb guy? He’s not making as many sales. He wants to work for you (especially if he knows you want to upgrade in a few years and will need someone to sell your house and take you out to find a new house). Yet the greatest reason for hiring the dumb guy? He’ll have the inside story on everything--Aridni

I am grateful that my post was included in the line-up. Thanks to Island Life for putting together an excellent carnival!
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Frugal Burglar Alarm & Other Practical Uses for Bubble Wrap: A Tuesday Tip

My new Dell laptop arrived yesterday. (Thanks M&D for the interest-free financing!) I was pleased, but faced one major disappointment. The packaging did not include any bubble wrap for my amusement.

Bubble wrap has a wide assortment of unusual uses. The authors of the Bubble Wrap Book feature these suggestions:

"Bubble Wrap Burglar Alarm
Make a burglar alarm for your home. Lay Bubble Wrap on the floor inside your doors and windows. When a thief breaks in and walks across the floor, the "pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop" will alert you to the intruder.

Bubblehead
Improvise a football or motorcycle helmet. Wrap massive quantities of Bubble Wrap around your head and seal in place with clear packaging tape (or duct tape). If Bubble Wrap can protect a hand-painted egg shipped from Czechoslovakia across the Atlantic, it can protect your head when it hits asphalt.
CAUTION: The specific amount of Bubble Wrap required to provide adequate protection has not yet been determined.Bubble Wrap Insect Repellent Prevent mosquito bites on arms and legs by covering your extremities in Bubble Wrap. When mosquitoes do try to bite you, the Bubble Wrap bubble will pop and the tiny explosion of air will send the mosquito spiraling through the air.

Sweet Dreams
Sleeping while camping can be a real pain in the back, unless you are carrying a lightweight six-foot roll of Bubble Wrap as a mat to place under your sleeping bag. Or fold a twelve-foot-long piece of Bubble Wrap in half and duct tape the sides to make the padded sleeping bag of your dreams.
CAUTION: If you are sleeping on the beach, high tide may cause you to float out to sea.


Bubble Wrap Instead of Cash
Impress your date by padding your wallet with a piece of Bubble Wrap behind your money. It will look like you have a lot more money than you actually do. Or just impress your date with the fact that you always carry around a trusty piece of Bubble Wrap. source: The Bubble Wrap® Book, from HarperPerennial. It is penned by those geniuses of alternative uses for everyday products: Joey Green, the Spam Guy and Tim, the Duct Tape Guy.)"

A recent issue of Woman's World (WW) Magazine:

1. Pack or Wrap Clothes: Folded in bubble wrap, clothes stay wrinkle free.

2. Pottery Protection: Pottery and china dishes get dinged up when plates are stacked or unstacked from the cupboard. But we can create layers of protection by placing custom-cut sheets of bubble wrap between each dish.

3. Anti-rolling materials: Shelves lined with bubble wrap keep sports balls from rolling away.

4. Fruit Screen Saver: This is my favorite tip from the magazine. WW recommends lining the refrigerator fruit/veggie bin with bubble wrap. The plastic bubbles will keep the fruits and veggies bruise free. Change as needed.


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My 25 Frugal Habits & 5 Spendthrift Confessions

I've enjoyed the lists of 25 frugal habits from Dawn of Frugal for Life, True Luxury and others. By the way, Frugal for Life has a great list of other Top 25 thrifty tips from various bloggers.

Here's my list of money-saving habits with a short list of fiscal confessions.

The Best of Me: 25 Frugal Things I do

1. I dilute dish washing soaps, shampoos and liquid soaps with water.
2. Rinse my hair with organic apple cider vinegar (great low-cost conditioner).
3. Split meals in restaurants with my children and husband.
4. Bring my own food to theme parks.
5. Drink filtered water from my kitchen sink.
6. Rarely order drinks in restaurants.
7. I complete many errands by walking. It's a 2-for-one exercise.
8. Use public transportation.
9. Rip paper towels in half.
10. Use inexpensive hair-grooming products that are also on sale.
11. Style and cut my own hair.
12. I often stay with friends and relatives while on vacation.
13. Combine coupons with weekly sale promotions & only buy items I would have purchased at full price.
14. Purchase organic vegetables through a food co-op.
15. Stock up on non-perishable sale items.
16. Buy generic or private label products.
17. I make cards for birthdays and holidays.
19. Recycle gift bags and wrapping paper.
20. I have streamlined my makeup and skincare routine. (less foundation, powder & chemicals)
21. Take advantage of end-of-season garment sales.
22. I shop in used book stores and thrift stores.
23. Purchase cosmetics in drugstores.
24. I crush my own beans and make my own gourmet coffee.
25. I try to avoid shops and malls as much as possible.

5 Spendthrift Confessions

1. I eat out too much.
2. When I'm busy and multi-tasking, I have periodically called 411 & have even paid the extra fee for the automatic dialing service.
3. Due to disorganization, I've paid more than my share of late fees.
4. My wardrobe is large enough to dress a large cast in a high school production spanning several fashion eras.
5. I buy replacement pieces ( batteries, phone chargers, etc.) because I have lost items that I have needed.

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Puppy Economics, A Fool's Budget & Tiny Houses: My Weird & Frugal News Wrap

Today's weird & frugal news wrap includes a piece about puppies, an easy budget from the Motley Fool and an item about downsized homes. Here's my daily digest of random news.

Should you adopt a puppy? There are hidden costs and issues.

My story: An animal expert recommended that we adopt a full-grown dog. But we did not listen and selected a puppy instead. It's been a lot of hard work. Plus, we will have to pay for puppy training classes. And yes, we have lost a few pairs of shoes, including an expensive pair of Italian hand-made leather shoes that I purchased at a discount.

We love our puppy, who is now a year old; but our friend was right. It would have been cheaper and easier if we had adopted an older dog.

"Cuteness and puppy playfulness are two of the benefits of adopting a puppy. But, as Dr. Becker points out, raising a dog from puppyhood is a challenge. Puppy playfulness can mean high-energy hi-jinx, so be prepared to lose some shoes."
--source: MSN

From the Motley Fool: Budgeting 101 for Couch Potatoes:

"A survey last year by FindLaw.com found that 61% of Americans surveyed either don't have or don't stick to their budget.

Slackers? Hardly. Have you ever tried to stick to a budget?

If you have or haven't (hey, no one's judging here), read on for a streamlined cash flow control plan that even couch potatoes like me can follow.

Our Couch Potato Budget concentrates on everyday spending. We're leaving out housing, insurance, and the all-important savings categories for now. Source: Motley Fool"

Chasing free web names.

"Entrepreneurs have been taking advantage of a five-day grace period to sample millions of domain names, keeping the relative few that might generate advertising revenues and dropping the rest before paying. It's akin to buying new clothes on a charge card only to return them for a full refund after wearing them to a big party." --AP

Smaller homes; fewer dollars: Forget the McMansions; there's a new trend in smaller homes.

"A wave of interest in such small dwellings — some to serve, like the Shepherds’ home, as temporary housing, others to become space-saving dwellings of a more permanent nature — has prompted designers and manufacturers to offer building plans, kits and factory-built houses to the growing number of small-thinking second-home shoppers. Seldom measuring much more than 500 square feet, the buildings offer sharp contrasts to the rambling houses that are commonplace as second homes." -- New York Times

Poor Britney. This child needs help. This piece and related links provide a warning for parents: Don't put your kids in show business. Let them make money later.
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Stock Market Beat Hosts Carnival of Personal Finance

Would you sell a valued possession to finance your child's education? That question and others are debated at the latest edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance (#88), which is up at The Stock Market Beat. The weekly roundup includes some excellent posts.

Here are a few of my favorite posts in the carnival:

I enjoyed the piece from My Financial Awareness about what to do when you don't have enough money. The post featured a great mix of practical and mental exercises.

"You may choose not to take a vacation or may decide putting off making the car repair because you do not have enough money. Yet, making the choice from alternatives gives you control over your finances." -- My Financial Awareness

I also liked The Coin Jar's story about difficult financial choices. The post features an account about a woman who sold a painting to finance her daughter's education.

"Mom faced head-on what may have been an emotionally difficult choice: Part with a painting that hung on the wall for years in her grandmother's home in Italy? Or strap her child (or the family overall) with a debt-load that might take years and years to pay off?"-- Coin Jar

The lineup includes my own post about the intellectual value of counting pennies. I'm happy to be included in the carnival. Special thanks to the host for taking the time and effort to read, organize and sort through the lineup. The narrative and transitions between the posts create a good read.


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Lessons from a Friend's Memorial

Bernice had a beautiful home, an elegant wardrobe and an international travel schedule.

Bernice was a clear snapshot of wealth. But her wealth can not be measured by traditional balance sheets, designer clothes labels or frequent flyer miles.

Finite accounts of wealth lack the sufficient funds to measure and define the wealth of Bernice's years and the depth of her generosity.

I learned that lesson on Feb. 18 during an event arranged in memory of Bernice. The gathering of faces, memories & words provided the most accurate measure and testament of Bernice's personal balance sheet.

Here are some of the lessons that I learned from Bernice:


Take Reliable Notes: Bernice was an avid learner and attended a variety of community classes about the Torah, ethics and history. During the memorial gathering, several speakers commented on Bernice's wealth of notebooks filled with detailed lecture notes. Her daughter recalled how at the dinner table, Bernice frequently offered thoughtful comments about the topics she had learned.

Send Thank Yous & Personal Letters: Rucha, an educator and a friend, commented on a wonderful note (and cute reminder) that she once received from Bernice. Clearly, small letters make a big difference.

Keep Learning: Bernice, a grandmother, acquired a wealth of knowledge by religiously attending classes and constantly reading. In honor of her scholarly efforts, Bernice's family gave out gifts of books during the gathering.

Do It Yourself: From learning to leadership, Bernice was a doer. Many special projects and large community events were touched by her expert hands. "She didn't expect people to do things for her," her friend Caroline said.

I once heard Bernice arranging the purchase of a large wedding present -- a joint effort -- for a bride. I was impressed with Bernice's generous use of time and money. What's more, she often discussed my frugal newspaper columns with me and from our chats I learned that no matter how much we have or lack, we have an obligation to use our resources wisely.

Or as our friend Rucha says: Make every moment count!
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Favorite Post-its: Links I Like From Last Week

I wish that I had more time to read blogs. Some posts really educate and entertain me. This week, for example, I picked up insights about fortune-shaping childhoods and mind-shaping public libraries. Here are just a few of the posts that I have enjoyed reading.

One Money Dummy has a cute post about recent shopping finds at an estate sale. I appreciated the shopping reality check featured in this post. Before making a purchase, this blogger asked a very smart question about the merchandise.

"Since I had nothing better to do this morning, I hit a couple of estate sales. It was the second day of each, so of course the really hot stuff was gone, but I still got these dishes (combined from different sales) for 2.75 and the necklace for a buck..."

I loved the Simple Dollar's recent post about libraries. I enjoyed this item because it features some of my favorite uses for the public library: free Internet service, garden cafe, DVDs & CDs. It's a great resource.

"A good local library is worth its weight in gold. It’s a place where you can check out thousands of books for free and read them to your heart’s content. Yet most libraries offer much, much more than that also for free."

Get Rich Slowly has a very engaging conversation about parents, childhood and lessons about money. I loved reading about Sparky & Stew. I value this post because it provides insights into how our parents & childhood experiences shape our views about money.

"I had dinner with two friends from high school last night. We shared good wine, good food, and, especially, good conversation. Much of our discussion focused on our shared history: the things we did twenty years ago (or 25!) that now seem as if they might have been done by a stranger. (Yet those strangers were us.) We talked about how we perceived money when we were younger."

One Frugal Girl has a thoughtful post about her frugal classes at a university. I liked reading this post because I've also enjoyed several inexpensive classes at universities and colleges, including different poetry seminars and other workshops.

"So far the classes have been a fairly inexpensive way to learn something new and meet new people."

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Britney's DIY Haircut & $500 Emergency Funds: My Weird & Frugal News Wrap

Britney Spears puts a new spin on homespun haircuts; retirees face heavy debt load and MSN weighs in on $500 financial cushions. Those are a few of the stories in my random news wrap.

Britney Spears DIY hair cut:

"A tearful Britney Spears defiantly shaved her head at a Los Angeles hair salon after the owner refused to take part in the embattled pop star’s latest extreme makeover, news reports said on Saturday." -- Source: Reuters

Why we should have at least $500 in the bank:

"Most of the talk about financial cushions centers on the importance of an emergency fund, that stash of cash that's supposed to equal three to six months' worth of expenses.
A $500 pad, by contrast, is something that just about everyone can scrape together with enough determination. And it can make a real difference." --By Liz Pulliam Weston

Retirees battle personal debt:

"Across the nation, seniors are becoming the face of the indebted.
In Austin, Ronald and Carol Godwin, 65 and 63, depleted their savings years ago and have since turned to credit cards and home equity to pay medical bills. They're struggling in retirement to pay off loans they took out years ago for a grandchild's college education." -- USA Today

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Bargaining for Dollars: How to Get the Best Salary Deal

I've been a victim of the Grateful Job Syndrome. For example, my professional career started in television news, where I worked as a news assistant. It was a great opportunity and I was so grateful for the job that I accepted the salary ($15,000) without a second thought.

That was in 1981 and even back then, $15,000 did not stretch far. Since then, I've gotten smarter about getting paid. My Number #1 Tip: Be patient. Don't be the first to chat about numbers. Hit the pause button when numbers are finally discussed.

With that tip and others, MSN has a very helpful piece about self-worth and salaries.

Here are my favorite tips from the article:

3. Research the normal salary range for this type of position. If you have close contacts at the hiring company, they may be able to provide you with the actual salary guidelines for the job grade or position. Otherwise, you can find out what other companies are paying individuals with your skills and education by checking out third party salary research. You can access a variety of salary surveys and reports by going to www.CareerBuilder.com and clicking on the Advice and Resources tab.


4. Don't be the first to give a definitive figure. Ask for the range of salary for this position before offering any figure you have in mind. (In some cases, the manager may have discretionary power to go 20 percent above the highest figure he or she mentions to get an exceptional candidate.) source: MSN

Likewise, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Winning Through Negotiation by John Ilich has terrific suggestions for success in getting a pay raise.

These are a few of the tips:

1. Select a time of day when you are at your best.
2. Make the pitch to your boss on your turf (your office) or on neutral territory.
3. Use the good mood factor. Pick a time of day when your boss is feeling good.
4. Be concrete: Have a specific target. Clearly explain why you deserve a raise.
5. Have a menu of perks. If the salary pitch does not work, have alternative non-financial bonuses to discuss: a new office, a flexible schedule, a new title.
6. Practise your pitch. Rehearse.
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My Spot Check: Frugal Duchess in the Popularity Polls

With interest, I've noted my appearance on several rankings of Personal Finance bloggers. There are about 800 bloggers who write about personal finance, according to Your Credit Advisor based on data from Technorati.com . Here's a roundup of where I stand in that crowd based on different measures. Thanks to those who crunched the numbers and posted the data.

By the way, I've seen similar roundups at Single Ma and other bloggers that I admire. Congrats to all who have appeared on assorted lists.

From Flexo at Consumerism Commentary
Top 10 Blogs on pfblogs.org by Clicks per Post

10. The Frugal Duchess: 3.61 cpp (368 clicks on 102 posts)
9. Get Rich Slowly: 3.89 cpp (498 clicks on 128 posts)
8. Lazy Man and Money: 4.07 cpp (374 clicks on 92 posts)
7. Binary Dollar: 4.17 cpp (296 clicks on 71 posts)
6. Blueprint for Financial Prosperity: 4.27 cpp (517 clicks on 121 posts)
5. Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge: 4.69 cpp (352 clicks on 75 posts)
4. Consumerism Commentary: 5.09 cpp (656 clicks on 129 posts)
3. Penny Foolish: 5.12 cpp (435 clicks on 85 posts)
2. Single Ma’s Fabulous Financials: 5.36 cpp (482 clicks on 90 posts)
1. Blogging Away Debt: 5.52 cpp (580 clicks on 105 posts)

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Blueprint for Financial Prosperity created this ranking based on Alexa data (as of Feb. 6)
Alexa’s Top 60 Personal Finance Bloggers

39. Young and Broke - 361,541
40. Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge - 399,533
41. The Frugal Duchess - 402,420
42. The Finance Journey - 413,330
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The Sun’s Financial Diary has created the Top 65 PF Blogs
Based on Technorati rankings as of Feb. 6-7.

33. The Frugal Duchess: Rank: 28,711 (530 links from 119 blogs)
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Hustler’s top 100 Personal Finance bloggers (His favorite posts of the week)

83. The Frugal Duchess posted Spouses Who Sneak to Shop How I Stopped
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Special Mentions:

I was mentioned under the Babes, Chicks & Divas section of the Top 100 Personal Finance Blogs from Your Credit Advisor


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