Yipit.com Yup, that's it. Just yipit. I have found this to be very nicely organized. When you sign up, you are asked to indicate what sort of merchandise or services interest you. Then you indicate a major metropolitan area near you if there are local deals to be included. It is wide ranging, just about anything that you could buy on the internet or at a local restaurant or store. Wine, shoes, gifts, electronics, etc... It should consolidate all of the living social and groupon deals so your e-mail inbox will be less jammed.
The only drawback I can see is if you live in an area that is not near a major metropolitan burg, you may not be able to use all of the vendors. I still think it is worth watching for a while to see if it consolidates your online sales shopping research. Or I may decide to move to Dallas or Seattle. Let me know what you think.
Happy Hunting.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hair Glorious Hair
Hair. Next to our faces, for most of us, it is the feature of our persona that we care about the most, especially for the ladies. I grew up in a generation where we had live theater and music about that subject alone: hair. When it was in, it was long, messy and a sign of youthfulness and rebellion. Hair has always played a major part in how we evaluate the appearance of others. It is felt that thick, healthy hair is a sign of virility and reproductive potential. The way we choose our mates on a primal level. The bald men and women who are thinning would tell you that they wish it wasn't so! We need to take good care of our hair for all sorts of social and psychological reasons.
I want you to be sexy and healthy and proud of your hair, whether you have thick or thin locks, short or long. It needs to be beautiful, flattering and functional for your lifestyle. Period. We don't want cheap to harm your follicles. Never.
That being said (sounds like a politician doesn't it?) you can have lovely, healthy hair at value prices.
I would love to know what others think about this subject. Please feel free to add your own comments.
When my sons were little, I invested in a set of hair clippers and assorted guards. I got fairly skilled at the buzz cut, short and tapered on the sides, a little longer on the top. And they were very handsome boys no matter who cut their hair. One evening, just before the fifth grade class pictures at school, I was tidying up my oldest son's hair. The plastic guard fell off as I firmly buzzed right across the top of his head. Without a guard on it, the clippers are nearly as close as a razor. I sucked in my breath sharply. My son hadn't felt it, but he heard me and asked "Mom, what's wrong?" I'm looking to see how much it might show in the lense of the camera from eye level.
Honestly, I don't remember what we did after that, but I do not have any bald-spot pictures of this handsome boy, so it must have turned out alright. I was traumatized and I bet he was too. Moral to the story is check your attachments for security, buy a quality instrument that won't get loose on you. You will make back the purchase price over and over again on a simple boys haircut. Unless you are very talented, girls and long layered styles are a lot harder. Go to a real salon. It is the price we pay for being the pretty things that we are, gals. I don't know too many fellows that want their females to walk around in a homemade buzz cut.
1. Check out discount salons who have younger beginning stylists who can be quite talented and motivated to please you.
2. See if there are beauty schools in your area for more discounts.
3. Wear your hair longer. You can extend the time you go between trims.
All of the "Products"
This to me is an area very similar to makeup. There are ingredients that are very effective. You can find the same things in very inexpensive products that you find in the high priced designer varieties. This is an area where marketing is constantly changing the way things look and smell and it is hard to keep up with. Just remember: hair is a length of dead cells. It is only alive at the root. It picks up dirt and oils from your skin and the environment. It is stressed by chemicals and heat, but it is dead cells that you are just coating with whatever is left after you shampoo. That is the logic of what you need to pick. It isn't going to make your hair any better than what has grown out from your scalp. Clean, condition and a good cut is all most of us need.
So you want clean. You want not too dry. You want shiny. You don't want tangles.
OK. Depending on what your hair is like, you can select a knock off shampoo and conditioner that will do the trick 99% of the time. I currently love the new SAUVE products and would put them up against any salon product. They are very nicely affordable and GOOD. If you have color or special skin conditions that need a medicated variety, that is another discussion, OK?
Don't buy your shampoo at the grocery store. It is most expensive there. Go to the Wal Mart or Target or similar discount store for your toiletries. The grocery store is for food.
Try to discipline yourself to use up what you have on hand before you splurge on the neatest new hair goo. I think my daughter has $200 dollars in unused hair products stacked up around the shower. It does add up over time. Use it up and then move on to what you would like to try next, if you need a change.
Finally, let's talk about CONDITIONERS. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. If you are anything like me, you use up the shampoo before the conditioner. So after a time, you have half full bottles of conditiner that are actually going to grow something creeppy before you can use it all up.
DID YOU KNOW THAT HAIR CONDITIONER IS A GREAT MOISTURIZER FOR SHAVING YOUR LEGS? It really works, and it feels as if you just put lotion on after a shave, very soft and nice and smooth. So there you go. You can skip buying the leg shaving junk, use your hair conditioner and keep it all fresh.
So there you go folks. Have beautiful hair, don't fall for the advertising hype and enjoy a good crown on your head.
I want you to be sexy and healthy and proud of your hair, whether you have thick or thin locks, short or long. It needs to be beautiful, flattering and functional for your lifestyle. Period. We don't want cheap to harm your follicles. Never.
That being said (sounds like a politician doesn't it?) you can have lovely, healthy hair at value prices.
I would love to know what others think about this subject. Please feel free to add your own comments.
When my sons were little, I invested in a set of hair clippers and assorted guards. I got fairly skilled at the buzz cut, short and tapered on the sides, a little longer on the top. And they were very handsome boys no matter who cut their hair. One evening, just before the fifth grade class pictures at school, I was tidying up my oldest son's hair. The plastic guard fell off as I firmly buzzed right across the top of his head. Without a guard on it, the clippers are nearly as close as a razor. I sucked in my breath sharply. My son hadn't felt it, but he heard me and asked "Mom, what's wrong?" I'm looking to see how much it might show in the lense of the camera from eye level.
Honestly, I don't remember what we did after that, but I do not have any bald-spot pictures of this handsome boy, so it must have turned out alright. I was traumatized and I bet he was too. Moral to the story is check your attachments for security, buy a quality instrument that won't get loose on you. You will make back the purchase price over and over again on a simple boys haircut. Unless you are very talented, girls and long layered styles are a lot harder. Go to a real salon. It is the price we pay for being the pretty things that we are, gals. I don't know too many fellows that want their females to walk around in a homemade buzz cut.
1. Check out discount salons who have younger beginning stylists who can be quite talented and motivated to please you.
2. See if there are beauty schools in your area for more discounts.
3. Wear your hair longer. You can extend the time you go between trims.
All of the "Products"
This to me is an area very similar to makeup. There are ingredients that are very effective. You can find the same things in very inexpensive products that you find in the high priced designer varieties. This is an area where marketing is constantly changing the way things look and smell and it is hard to keep up with. Just remember: hair is a length of dead cells. It is only alive at the root. It picks up dirt and oils from your skin and the environment. It is stressed by chemicals and heat, but it is dead cells that you are just coating with whatever is left after you shampoo. That is the logic of what you need to pick. It isn't going to make your hair any better than what has grown out from your scalp. Clean, condition and a good cut is all most of us need.
So you want clean. You want not too dry. You want shiny. You don't want tangles.
OK. Depending on what your hair is like, you can select a knock off shampoo and conditioner that will do the trick 99% of the time. I currently love the new SAUVE products and would put them up against any salon product. They are very nicely affordable and GOOD. If you have color or special skin conditions that need a medicated variety, that is another discussion, OK?
Don't buy your shampoo at the grocery store. It is most expensive there. Go to the Wal Mart or Target or similar discount store for your toiletries. The grocery store is for food.
Try to discipline yourself to use up what you have on hand before you splurge on the neatest new hair goo. I think my daughter has $200 dollars in unused hair products stacked up around the shower. It does add up over time. Use it up and then move on to what you would like to try next, if you need a change.
Finally, let's talk about CONDITIONERS. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. If you are anything like me, you use up the shampoo before the conditioner. So after a time, you have half full bottles of conditiner that are actually going to grow something creeppy before you can use it all up.
DID YOU KNOW THAT HAIR CONDITIONER IS A GREAT MOISTURIZER FOR SHAVING YOUR LEGS? It really works, and it feels as if you just put lotion on after a shave, very soft and nice and smooth. So there you go. You can skip buying the leg shaving junk, use your hair conditioner and keep it all fresh.
So there you go folks. Have beautiful hair, don't fall for the advertising hype and enjoy a good crown on your head.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Eight ways to entertain yourself and pocket the savings
When you add up what you spend for entertainment, it can be a large chunk of change. If you saved what you already have budgeted for things in this category, it could easily be as much as $1,000 or more! We really are creatures of habit; it is easier to pay more than to keep abreast of less expensive alternatives. Here are a few ideas for you:
1. Ditch premium cable or satellite services. Try pulling up the regular network programs that you enjoy on your computer at the network sites, such as nbc.com, fox.com, hulu, etc. For movies, rent what you want to see at Redbox, or keep a good list of titles on order with Netflix for less than $10.00 a month. Many Netflix offerings can also be viewed instantly online, so you don't even need to wait for the DVD in the mail. You can get high definition signal now with old fashioned rabbit ears! Unless you are a junkie for a specific sports channel and live games, I don't think there is much that you can't find online for free or nearly free. You can also hook your computer up to your television screen, so you have the large screen option, not limiting you to your desktop for viewing. Here is an article on exactly how to do this. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-How-We-Cut-Cord-ac-4204109190.html?x=0 This one tip is worth hundreds of dollars in savings per year.
2. Use an e-reader. I think anyone who travels must have a Kindle or similar e-reader for the weight savings and convenience. But if you want to cut additional costs and save trees, consider getting your periodicals delivered to your device, many books and newspapers and magazines are delivered for less cost and nearly instantly. I love my library and I do miss the feel of real paper, but unless it is something I love enough to keep dusting on the shelf or I can't get otherwise, it goes into my neat little reader, which easily fits into my briefcase or purse. My Kindle alllows me to underline, write notes and save clippings. The only drawback I can see is it is hard to loan to a friend.
3. If you need to have a real "get out of the house date" and go out for a nice evening, check what is playing at the discount movie theater. Then check the moneysavingqueen.com blog for discount food coupons for the nicer chain restaurants. Don't see one you like? Go to the web site of your favorite eatery and see if there is a coupon there waiting to be printed out. Also, be aware of early diner specials.
4. Drop the gym membership. You can run in the hood, dance to your favorite music and enjoy a yoga routine right in your own living room. Trade workout DVDs with your friends so you won't get bored. Have fun with a walking buddy.
5. Go to your favorite restaurant, order one large meal and two plates. My nephew and I used to do this with our favorite Mexican place. The servings were plenty large enough for the two of us, plus the free chips and salsa would top us off if we were really hungry. Be sure to tip big if you do this, though. It is not right to cheap the wait staff who work just as hard for you regardless of how much you order! (My daughter is a waitress. She is only paid $2.00 an hour, so those tips are really important.)
I often dine out with a group of friends, maybe eight or ten of us at a time. We all order our own meals, but ONE dessert and ten spoons. Friendly to the waistline and the budget!
6. I love live theater and musical performance. Giving up my Friday night orchestra section broadway season tickets was like loosing prime real estate. Here are some ideas to feed your love of live entertainment: Watch out for local high school and college productions. Some of the schools in my area seem to have nearly professional talent. You might see a future super-star starting out. Go to park performances that are sometimes offered during out door arts festivals. Be aware of restaurants and clubs that have live performers, usually on the weekends. Check with your local college music department to see when performance students are giving recitals. You won't be disappointed and you are encouraging a young artist. You might also check into volunteer ushering (RSVP). That way, you can see the big shows for free!
7. Cell phones are not only for communication but entertainment as well. Check with your carrier to see if you really are using the package you are paying for to its fullest. You might be able to cut down on your plan. Speaking of phones, how much are you really using your land line? Time to cut the cord? Consider going cellular only or adding vonage or ooma as your home alternative. Phone plans are very competitive now, so doing frequent research here should pay off, as they continually get cheaper and cheaper.
8. Vacations can be a very costly part of the budget, but we Americans need to take them. We work much longer hours than most other nations and it is harmful to your health, your family and actually makes you a less effective worker. How about having a "staycation"? Look at the area where you live as if you were a visitor. What would you like to go see? Where would you like to explore, hike, photograph or paint, right in your own back yard? I have several good museums in my city that I haven't visited since I was a girl. Bet they would be as much fun now as they were back then! The only rule is you can't work just because you are at home. You really have to act like it is a vacation. Special meals, visiting places, sleeping late, getting a mani/pedi or massage, going for a tour of a historic site... ENJOY and REFRESH YOURSELF.
Happy Hunting.
1. Ditch premium cable or satellite services. Try pulling up the regular network programs that you enjoy on your computer at the network sites, such as nbc.com, fox.com, hulu, etc. For movies, rent what you want to see at Redbox, or keep a good list of titles on order with Netflix for less than $10.00 a month. Many Netflix offerings can also be viewed instantly online, so you don't even need to wait for the DVD in the mail. You can get high definition signal now with old fashioned rabbit ears! Unless you are a junkie for a specific sports channel and live games, I don't think there is much that you can't find online for free or nearly free. You can also hook your computer up to your television screen, so you have the large screen option, not limiting you to your desktop for viewing. Here is an article on exactly how to do this. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-How-We-Cut-Cord-ac-4204109190.html?x=0 This one tip is worth hundreds of dollars in savings per year.
2. Use an e-reader. I think anyone who travels must have a Kindle or similar e-reader for the weight savings and convenience. But if you want to cut additional costs and save trees, consider getting your periodicals delivered to your device, many books and newspapers and magazines are delivered for less cost and nearly instantly. I love my library and I do miss the feel of real paper, but unless it is something I love enough to keep dusting on the shelf or I can't get otherwise, it goes into my neat little reader, which easily fits into my briefcase or purse. My Kindle alllows me to underline, write notes and save clippings. The only drawback I can see is it is hard to loan to a friend.
3. If you need to have a real "get out of the house date" and go out for a nice evening, check what is playing at the discount movie theater. Then check the moneysavingqueen.com blog for discount food coupons for the nicer chain restaurants. Don't see one you like? Go to the web site of your favorite eatery and see if there is a coupon there waiting to be printed out. Also, be aware of early diner specials.
4. Drop the gym membership. You can run in the hood, dance to your favorite music and enjoy a yoga routine right in your own living room. Trade workout DVDs with your friends so you won't get bored. Have fun with a walking buddy.
5. Go to your favorite restaurant, order one large meal and two plates. My nephew and I used to do this with our favorite Mexican place. The servings were plenty large enough for the two of us, plus the free chips and salsa would top us off if we were really hungry. Be sure to tip big if you do this, though. It is not right to cheap the wait staff who work just as hard for you regardless of how much you order! (My daughter is a waitress. She is only paid $2.00 an hour, so those tips are really important.)
I often dine out with a group of friends, maybe eight or ten of us at a time. We all order our own meals, but ONE dessert and ten spoons. Friendly to the waistline and the budget!
6. I love live theater and musical performance. Giving up my Friday night orchestra section broadway season tickets was like loosing prime real estate. Here are some ideas to feed your love of live entertainment: Watch out for local high school and college productions. Some of the schools in my area seem to have nearly professional talent. You might see a future super-star starting out. Go to park performances that are sometimes offered during out door arts festivals. Be aware of restaurants and clubs that have live performers, usually on the weekends. Check with your local college music department to see when performance students are giving recitals. You won't be disappointed and you are encouraging a young artist. You might also check into volunteer ushering (RSVP). That way, you can see the big shows for free!
7. Cell phones are not only for communication but entertainment as well. Check with your carrier to see if you really are using the package you are paying for to its fullest. You might be able to cut down on your plan. Speaking of phones, how much are you really using your land line? Time to cut the cord? Consider going cellular only or adding vonage or ooma as your home alternative. Phone plans are very competitive now, so doing frequent research here should pay off, as they continually get cheaper and cheaper.
8. Vacations can be a very costly part of the budget, but we Americans need to take them. We work much longer hours than most other nations and it is harmful to your health, your family and actually makes you a less effective worker. How about having a "staycation"? Look at the area where you live as if you were a visitor. What would you like to go see? Where would you like to explore, hike, photograph or paint, right in your own back yard? I have several good museums in my city that I haven't visited since I was a girl. Bet they would be as much fun now as they were back then! The only rule is you can't work just because you are at home. You really have to act like it is a vacation. Special meals, visiting places, sleeping late, getting a mani/pedi or massage, going for a tour of a historic site... ENJOY and REFRESH YOURSELF.
Happy Hunting.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Minimizing your car's Gasoline cost
The price of gasoline is rising rapidly. Some predictions forcast a rise of several dollars a gallon by years end. As much as we depend on our personal vehicles for living in much of America, running a minimum of fuel through your favorite set of wheels is money that stays in your pocket. Check this list out to see where you can tweak your fuel consuming habits:
1. Modern engines do not need a long warm up before driving.
2. Empty the junk in your trunk. The more weight you carry around, the more gas you burn. (I was carrying a large box of books in my trunk waiting to donate so I would have it handy if I was in that part of town. I wonder how much that cost me until I realized what I was doing!)
3. Don't put in a higher grade than your car manufacturer reccomends.
4. Buy 100% gasoline, rather than the ethanol added blends, if you can find it. You will get better milage.
5. Car pool and combine errands if you can to minimize the miles you drive.
6. Smooth out your accelerations and stops. A slow steady glide burns less than a heavy-footed punch up to speed.
7. Support sidewalks, public transportation, bicycling and walking in your community. We all would use these healthier options more if our city planners add features that allow is to leave our cars parked! Then we are living well - on less!
1. Modern engines do not need a long warm up before driving.
2. Empty the junk in your trunk. The more weight you carry around, the more gas you burn. (I was carrying a large box of books in my trunk waiting to donate so I would have it handy if I was in that part of town. I wonder how much that cost me until I realized what I was doing!)
3. Don't put in a higher grade than your car manufacturer reccomends.
4. Buy 100% gasoline, rather than the ethanol added blends, if you can find it. You will get better milage.
5. Car pool and combine errands if you can to minimize the miles you drive.
6. Smooth out your accelerations and stops. A slow steady glide burns less than a heavy-footed punch up to speed.
7. Support sidewalks, public transportation, bicycling and walking in your community. We all would use these healthier options more if our city planners add features that allow is to leave our cars parked! Then we are living well - on less!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saving on prescription medications
It seems that the cost of prescriptions is going up much faster than any other purchase that is on my regular budget. One script, an "old-time" medication that has been around for at least 50 years, went up from $100 to $150 per tube in one year. We do feel trapped, because in many cases there is no other choice than to pay the price or go without the medication or something else. If you have a prescription benefit with your health care insurance, then thank the Lord. For the rest of us,here are a few ideas:
1. Ask your Dr. if there is a less expensive medication that might work for you.
2. Of course, you are buying generic whenever you can.
3. Many pharmacies has some type of "club" card that will give you a discount.
4. Ask for a ninety day prescription refill if you can get it from your doctor for routine medicine that you take. This is usually the cheapest way to get refills.
5. Ask your doctor to prescribe a larger dose of your medication. For example, you need 100 mg, but your medication also comes in a 200 mg form. You cut your pills in half to get to your proper dose. The price of the higher strength forms is usually less than double the lower dose, so you are saving money this way.
6. CAUTION: Do not lower your doses yourself with out asking your prescribing health care provider. It can be dangerous to get too little. You need a therapeutic dose or else you are totally wasting your money taking anything at all.
7. See if an over the counter remedy might not work just as well as an expensive prescription. Sometimes, less is more. For example, for some migraine pain sufferers, an over the counter NAISD such as naproxin works better than a narcotic, such as codiene.
I wish you an extra penny in your pocket and good health, my friends.
MORE DETAILS ON DISCOUNT PROGRAMS
Many consumers have yet to take advantage of the low prices for prescription drugs offered by many retailers. For example, some American consumers still pay an average of $50 a month for the generic drug pravastatin to lower cholesterol. But you can buy a 30-day supply for $4 at Target or Walmart and pay even less per dose for a 90-day supply.
Retailers such as Kmart, Target, Walgreens and Walmart, and national grocers such as Kroger have been steadily expanding their discount-drug programs. To offer such low prices, retailers often purchase the medications in bulk.
Before you enroll, check the fine print. Also:
1. Ask your Dr. if there is a less expensive medication that might work for you.
2. Of course, you are buying generic whenever you can.
3. Many pharmacies has some type of "club" card that will give you a discount.
4. Ask for a ninety day prescription refill if you can get it from your doctor for routine medicine that you take. This is usually the cheapest way to get refills.
5. Ask your doctor to prescribe a larger dose of your medication. For example, you need 100 mg, but your medication also comes in a 200 mg form. You cut your pills in half to get to your proper dose. The price of the higher strength forms is usually less than double the lower dose, so you are saving money this way.
6. CAUTION: Do not lower your doses yourself with out asking your prescribing health care provider. It can be dangerous to get too little. You need a therapeutic dose or else you are totally wasting your money taking anything at all.
7. See if an over the counter remedy might not work just as well as an expensive prescription. Sometimes, less is more. For example, for some migraine pain sufferers, an over the counter NAISD such as naproxin works better than a narcotic, such as codiene.
I wish you an extra penny in your pocket and good health, my friends.
MORE DETAILS ON DISCOUNT PROGRAMS
Many consumers have yet to take advantage of the low prices for prescription drugs offered by many retailers. For example, some American consumers still pay an average of $50 a month for the generic drug pravastatin to lower cholesterol. But you can buy a 30-day supply for $4 at Target or Walmart and pay even less per dose for a 90-day supply.
Retailers such as Kmart, Target, Walgreens and Walmart, and national grocers such as Kroger have been steadily expanding their discount-drug programs. To offer such low prices, retailers often purchase the medications in bulk.
Before you enroll, check the fine print. Also:
- Make sure you’re covered. Many discount-drug programs don’t include high dosages, and the list of drugs can be limited.
- Ask about restrictions. Some programs are offered only to people without insurance or are for medications that are not covered by insurance. And some are not available in certain states or their prices might be higher.
- Note that some programs carry an enrollment fee, which might make them less of a bargain.
- Check with your independent pharmacy. Some will match those deals when possible.
- Review the discount lists frequently. More generics are likely to be added to the lists as many major drugs, such as Lipitor and Plavix, become available as generics over the next 36 months.
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