Fashionista on a Budget

Overspending on fashion these days is a no-no. In this economy, grabbing that oh-so-red hot Marc Jacobs for bag can affect your financial future, no matter how good it feels at the time. You’re a fashionista on a budget. You’ll have to adapt, all while maintaining your fabulousness. To get the most out of your fashion dollar, try the following tricks to be a fashionista on a budget. Sample Sales If you want designer duds, the best way to get them is at a sample sale. Waiting until they go on sale at the regular retail store will only get … Continue reading →

How to Save Money on Lipstick

Did you know that during the worst economic times, sales of lipstick tend to go up? This is because lipstick can be a little affordable luxury that makes women feel good without having to spend a lot of money. Lipstick has gotten a bit fancy these days, though, and all of the special formulas can come with a special price, making lipstick more pricey than it was in years past. Still there are ways to save money on lipstick, no matter what your favorite type or color. Rescuing a Bad Lipstick Sometimes you buy a lipstick on impulse, you get … Continue reading →

Spring into a New Wardrobe for Less

Putting together a spring wardrobe can be exciting, especially when you have the budget for it. But what do you do if your finances are tight? Get creative of course. Here are several ways to spring into a new wardrobe for less. Use Transitional Pieces Extend your winter wardrobe into spring by using transitional pieces, such as swapping our darker colors for light or investing in an inexpensive scarf that will give you a pop of color. A different shoe may also update a winter look for early spring. Use Trends Wisely Patterns are really big in fashion this spring, … Continue reading →

The Best Frugal Treats

It is okay to indulge yourself a bit and still stay on budget. Here are some of the best ideas for frugal (read inexpensive) treats that will make you smile. Something for the Tastebuds Go ahead an purchase a small piece of an expensive chocolate, an exotic spice, a favorite take out item (such as an egg roll or the best fries in the world) or whatever will make your tastebuds sing. It will feel like an indulgence but costs much less than a dinner out. Something for the Senses Indulging your senses can feel like a luxury, and you … Continue reading →

How to Lower Expenses without Giving Up the Luxuries

Current frugal advice is all about giving up the little things, such as the mocha coffee or the cable television. But what if you could lower your household and general expenses each month without permanently giving up the little things that make your life more fun? It is possible. In order to lower your expenses without giving up the luxuries, you can do one of two things. You can either find a way to get that item or service for less, or you can temporarily suspend it when it doesn’t impact your life. Let us take that last one first, … Continue reading →

How to Save Money on an Engagement Ring

Many couples today are choosing to forego the elaborate engagement ring and put the savings toward starting their lives together, such as toward the down payment of a home, getting rid of debt such as student loans, or saving for future children who might come along. But just because you are foregoing the elaborate part doesn’t mean that you have to give up the ring. In fact, you can use a couple of different strategies to get a nice ring and have your savings too. Generally, it isn’t the setting that costs the bulk of the money on an engagement … Continue reading →

How to Afford Better Quality Stuff

If you are tired of spending good money on stuff that breaks or wears out too quickly, then you’ll want to read this article. I’ll break down the three things that you need to know in order to afford better quality stuff. Buy Used, Refurbished or Last Year’s Model If you would rather have a digital camera with a zoom feature and video but can only afford a basic model, consider buying a used or refurbished model. You may find that you get all of the features that you want at the price that you want just by choosing last … Continue reading →

Why You Should Buy a New Television this Year

If you have been holding out on a new television so far but really want one, this is probably the year to do it. There will be a number of fancy televisions put out as loss leaders in stores very soon. That is right, loss leaders! There will be some great deals out there. Here is why and how you can get the most for you money on a new television. The old economic truth of supply and demand will be hitting the television manufacturing industry pretty hard this year. There are simply more new HDTV and 3D televisions out … Continue reading →

Cash for Gold Mailers

You’ve seen the commercials. Smiling people round up their broken jewelry, pop it into an envelope and then a few days later they receive a wad of cash. “I got $500 for my unwanted and broken jewelry!” a woman exclaims. While turning something unwanted (the jewelry) into something needed (the cash) is a great concept, you have to wonder if it is really worth it. People would naturally be wary of sending gold items in the mail, and the commercials tell you that everything is guaranteed. By law they have to pay you, but they also tell you that if … Continue reading →

Purchases to Make While the Prices are Low

(cc) image by Capture Queen/flickr The economic slump was brought about by overspending on houses, cars, and lots of home goods. It’s kind of ironic now that because of the economic slump, the same items are much cheaper and it is an ideal time to purchase those very same things. Here are some things you will want to purchase before the economy changes. House: You won’t be able to purchase a home in the same way that people have been for the last 7 or so years. You won’t be able to get a loan without a large deposit of … Continue reading →