Hard Times = Back to School or Persuing Dreams

Layoffs. Everyone knows at least five people affected by them. And some of us know first hand. It's clear to most of us that things aren't going to get any better in the job market anytime soon. So what are people doing? Going back to school. Spending the economic downtime to cultivate skills and amass advanced degrees in the hopes that, upon graduation, the market will be optimistic and with better qualifications, a job will not be too far away. Those of us who can get student loans, that is. Kinda sucks when the job market is low and no one's getting approved for credit, no matter how high your FICO score.

For those of you out there surviving in the working world - best of luck. To those of you busy with college applications - best of luck. And for the rest of you, I ask...what is it that you've always wanted to do but never got around to it?

Seriously. Everyone's got some crazy "unrealistic" dream lying around. What's yours?
I feel like now, more than ever is your time to invest in yourself. Not necessarily in your "job-ready" self, but in your spirit. Often times it doesn't cost much to begin to pursue a dream, it just takes a lot of time. And time, many of us are finding more and more of since we're getting laid off. I say take advantage of this time allotted to ourselves and do a little dream chasing.

I promise to keep you posted on ways to make your life enjoyable, and, of course, ways to cut back financially while still being fabulous so that you can be free to hone the talents inherent within.

For now, here's a little inspiration...

Money on the Side Hustle

In case you haven't noticed - our collective economic stability is crumbling all around us. Our world is trying really hard to pay its bills and keep its job. America, in particular has been living way beyond its means for far too long. I hear the chant of my grandmother's pastor playing over and over in my head. "Live within your means, live within your means" he would have everybody repeat three times every Sunday.
And speaking of Christ, there are holidays coming up and all the retailers are crapping in their pants because suddenly, everyone wants to get creative this year and make handcrafted gifts. Even the tech industry is biting the bullet. Talk about a dry spell.
And you can't blame us. Layoffs are the new promotions and aside from gas, not much else is getting cheaper. Have you purchased a carton of eggs lately?!
My point is...how are we expected to live our lives as normally as possible under these ridiculous circumstances? We're not accustomed to living within our means - therefore, we must grow more means.
Here are some examples of ways to make a couple extra bucks. They're simple, require very little effort and can sometimes be interesting. And anybody can do them (no special talents needed):

University Psychology Experiments
Wait, wait. I know it sounds crazy. But I've done these before - there are no needles or other physically intrusive instruments. Mostly these experiments involve a written questionnaire or time spent looking at and responding to images on a screen. This is level A of the 'money on the side' hustle (aka "MOTSH") and can gain anywhere from $10-$50 per hour for experiments that last 1-3 hours, and I've seen returns as high as $500 for overnight sleep studies. More for 'effects of skydiving' studies - plus they pay for your whole skydiving experience (lessons included). Check your local university psychology department walls for posts. Take notes and start making contact. In NYC, I recommend NYU and Columbia.

Get focused
Focus groups. Every smart company needs at least one of these. Basically, companies across the spectrum like to test out the habits of their audiences, and they do this by assembling focus groups of about 10-15 people who they consider to be their "target market". They sit you down and ask you a bunch of questions about...your favorite soft drink...how often you drive during the summer...which shaving cream textures you're most comfortable with. These normally last up to two hours and pay on average $100/hr. And you usually get to walk away with a free product or two.
Check em:
Focusgroup.com
focusroom.com
findfocusgroups.com


This excerpt from the film Focus Room gives an accurate depiction of the focus room experience ;)

There are many other hustles I can list. Tutoring. eBay. Offering various skills and talents on craigslist (not in that section!). But the theme in today's entry is simplicity. Hustles that require very little thinking, cuz face it, sometimes we need to just veg out. I don't know about you all, but my brain is on overload. I don't have a sustainable amount of energy for strategizing and planning for my MOTSH.
If you have some similar MOTSH's, please share in the comments space.

$MH Manifesto

I know I haven't been a loyal blogger these past couple of months and for that I sincerely apologize. Through these "tough economic times" I'm sure we're all struggling to find some sense of clarity and direction when it comes to our own personal finances...our stability...our capacity to maintain fabulousness. Which leads me to this, what I call the $MH Manifesto ($MH = $ave Money, Honey). Read it. Live it. Enjoy.




$ave Money Honey ($MH) is a lifestyle guide. All who follow the beliefs, attitudes and suggestions of $MH are members of a class. This class echoes a standard appropriate to the current times, faithful to the mantras set forth by the ancients, and likely to continue to set the pace in the future.
To take care of oneself - that is the shared goal of the $MH class. One's self is a masterpiece comprised of spirit, mind, body, family, friends, lovers, planet, work, finances, and fun. All must operate at high frequencies in order to achieve fabulousness. And fabulousness we all deserve. But we must respect this notion of "taking care".
Hence, this blog. $MH publishes tips on how to holistically maintain fabulousness, without breaking the bank*. The idea that spending money will bring us to higher levels of freedom is not entirely true. Oftentimes we neglect to realize the simple belief that we create our surroundings. We design our lives. We read The Secret. We pray. We also don't keep our heads in the clouds. We read Suze Orman. We know where our money is going and where its coming from and how to make sure we keep it coming in. We're smart and we seek freedom to travel, to learn, to love and to feel sensational.
We've fought hard enough, we've dreamed big enough, and we've repented where necessary. Not only do we deserve our freedom, we also deserve to be free of guilt. We've all been tricked into believing that in order for us to enjoy, someone somewhere must suffer. We've identified a very unhealthy habit of turning the other cheek on our brothers and sisters working in sweat shops, in mines, and in kitchens for unlivable wages. We've long since turned the other cheek on our environment. Being indirectly responsible for the oppression of others does not absolve us of our responsibility to care for one another. We haven't given up the possibility of creating change. "That's just the way things are" is simply not a good enough answer anymore. The $MH class is creative enough to develop and share ways of contributing to healthy habits of consumption and leisure - while still achieving fabulousness!
$MH encourages all to step lightly, think critically, and be fly.

Take Care,

$ave Money Honey


*By bank, I mean personal checking accounts, banking institutions and the world bank, alike.

Attn: Online Shopaholics!!

Thanks to this service, I have saved at least 7 hours out of every week...time that would normally be spent combing all the great sale sites for boots, handbags, pants, dresses, shirts and coats to express the changing woman I am today...or the clearance bathing suits, shorts, sandals and summer dresses to express the woman I will be on vacation this winter.

Much thanks to my homegirl for putting me on to this site. How it works: you customize your profile by letting shopittome know what items you're looking for, your favorite designers or retailers, your size, price range and whether you're shopping for a woman, man or child. Then, you receive emails from SITM twice a week, or everyday or once a week, however you'd like, featuring sale items tailored to your desires. It's basically your personal online sale shopper -- brilliant!

I just put an order in for an amazing pair of Diesel overalls...70% off. Yeah. Get into it.

www.shopittome.com honey!

It's a madhouse...

...but you need to experience the fun. I'm going this week in search of "the bag". It's my latest quest.
I know I've been MIA this summer. But in my time away, I've discovered for myself that I would very much like to operate at a higher degree of fabulous.
Higher spirituality, higher standards, higher-end fashion. I'm like a drug-free Styles-P. I'm going this week, who's shopping with me?

SpendMoneyHoney

I've been on hiatus. Sorry...I've had nothing to report as I have shamefully been SPENDING MONEY, HONEY!
Aaaggh! I blame the spring - my wallet was like any other perennial, opening it's colorful petals ever so boldly. All shades of green.
By now, the first blossoms are wilting, and the stable green leaves are taking their positions. At last!
So don't ask me how to save on gifts for spring weddings. I didn't. I couldn't even resist the urge to buy new summer shoes, although I did luck out on a buy one, get one half-off sale. Eh.
But this Sunday (Jun 22) I am celebrating the beginning of the summer season in traditional save money honey style.

$10 Vintage. Funky Fanny's @ Brooklyn Flea
I'll be there at 10 am. It's cash only, which is good. I advise taking out a set amount of money (i.e. $50) and leaving your cards at home cuz you're gonna want to buy EVERYTHING! I went last year and here are just a few of my $10 treasures:





@
Brooklyn Flea
Bishop Loughlin Schoolyard-357 Clermont (Lafayette Ave. btwn Clermont and Vanderbilt), Brooklyn, NY 11238 US

...and another pointer...

Shop Now for Winter Gear
Boots, sweaters, long johns, wool socks, coats. They are all on super-duper sale right now. Stock up! Before you know it, baby, it'll be cold out-side.

Renting a Car?

Sometimes you just wanna rent a car. Maybe you want to take a hassle-free trip to the beach, or maybe you're visiting a new place and you want to get around. Or maybe you just have a bunch of errands to run and need to haul big items. Either way, there is one rule of thumb for renting a car:

Tell them you are renting the car because your car is in the shop.
Many car companies offer lower rates to clients who have cars that are being serviced. They don't ask for any proof that you have a car, so just go ahead and bend the truth a bit. It can save you up to 50%. Check www.enterprise.com
And if you have issues lying, you can always say clever not untrue things that leave out parts of your statements like: my car is under repair (meaning your dream car); or my car is in the shop (as in...I haven't actually bought it yet, its' still in the shop ;)

Vacation for the Mind, Body and Spirit...not the checking account.

I'm back from vacation, having successfully lived it up - fab style. Beach. Poolside. Cocktails. Delicious meals. Sightseeing - all under my budget. (Ka-ching!)
I'm telling you, adopting a savemoneyhoney attitude can make your vacation still a vacation when you return home - instead of eating rice and beans until your third paycheck arrives and you can finally afford a trip to the grocery store. You may even be able to buy a hot new dress for those warm spring days that shows off you gorgeous new tan.

Here are some helpful hints for vacay: the savemoneyhoney way:

Get on the Bus
Do you really need to rent a car? Take cabs everywhere? What better way to get to know the area you're visit then by taking the bus with the locals? You're sure to encounter some interesting characters and you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the scenery instead of focusing on not getting lost. Not to mention...you're only spending a couple coins.

Take it to the Grocery Store
Oftentimes hotels in vacation areas come with kitchens. While these units may cost more than units without kitchens, lets really examine what you end up paying for. Let's say a kitchenette unit costs $40 more a night than a unit without a kitchen...and you're on vacation with one other person. You'll need to eat, and will probably end up eating out for breakfast ($10), for lunch ($15) and for dinner ($25 - $50). You're looking at an average of $62.50 a day per person on food x two people, that's $125/day on food alone! On a five day vacation...that can get pretty pricey. Now, let's say you get a room with a kitchen, make a grocery shopping list and spend $125 on food for the whole week - totally possible and in my opinion, very wise. You'll even be able to prepare a delicious meal for your ride back on the plane (so few airlines offer anything more than peanuts and cookies these days).



Bee Flexible - Travel on a Weekday
Ever been to the airport on a Friday, or a Sunday? Crazy, right? It's called peak and off-peak. Ever buy a commuter rail ticket? Generally tickets cost more during rush hour than they do at say 2pm. That's just a transit authority's way of taking advantage of the working public. If you get two weeks paid vacation, don't think these "weeks" have to start on a Friday. There are the same amount of days between a Friday and a Friday as there are between a Wednesday and a Wednesday. And chances are, traveling by plane on mid-weekdays is going to be a heck of a lot cheaper than trying to find a flight that leaves Friday and gets back the following Sunday. You can believe that. Plus shorter lines, less crowded planes...it's just a better way to fly.

Sharing is Caring
Timeshares. Everyone knows someone who has one in their family. And many people do not use their timeshares, or do not use all the dates that are available in their timeshares.
What are timeshares, you may be wondering? The basic idea is: you buy a share in a hotel-like unit (usually with a kitchen) which then grants you the amount of weeks you pay for at an appointed time every year, as in, the last two weeks of April every year. They're paid for, and available every year. Now, of course, life happens and oftentimes people are not able to go to their timeshares, or they can only go for a portion of their timeshare. This is a golden opportunity to make use of these hard earned timeshares. Ask around, bring it up in conversation, you'd be surprised to know how many people have these options available. Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Free Z's
Sleep. Seriously, it saves you money. And you know you need to catch up on it anyway. Take a nap. Get some z's. You can't spend money in your sleep...or can you?

Yes We Can...haggle the big name stores

I tell ya, one of the greatest money saving resources we all have lies within our personal network of folks. Remember back in high school, having that friend who could get you that 40% discount at the Gap? Carry this mentality into your adult life. Friends with jobs at big corporations have all kinds of perks - of which most people do not take full advantage. Whether its 20% off theatre tickets, free entrance to museums, 2 for 1 gym membership -- the perks are there just waiting to be used.

Collect data and share.
Plan a casual meeting with a group of friends. Each is to come with a list of "perks" offered to them through their jobs, relationships to so-and-so, affiliations, memberships and so on. Cull the list. The list will be huge, and the list will belong to everyone who contributed to the list. Seriously, try it. And tell me how it works.

Don't forget the greatest perk!
Everyone secretly publishes a "savemoneyhoney.net". For example, a friend of mine just told me a story of how she haggled a brand new full sized mattress and box spring down 50%. !!!!50%!!!!! Her method:
1. Once you've found the mattress or necklace or HD screen of your dreams, ask the salesperson, "What's the sale price?"
2. Then squeeze in any added perks associated with the store or its competitors, i.e. "I'm a first time buyer, doesn't your establishment offer a first time buyer's discount?"
3. By now you're sure to have established a level of comradery with your salesperson, so why not add, "...and what's your discount? Could you add that, too?"
4. And for the cherry on top, ask if you could make your purchase tax-free. It couldn't hurt.

I'm telling you, especially you city-dwellers out there, we ALL know how to haggle. We do it with street vendors and mom and pop stores. What makes you think major shopping centers are any different?



Happy haggling, honey.

Free Consumption

Is it just me, or is anyone else out there spending money like it's water lately? Maybe it's the burgeoning spring, or the excitement of an upcoming vacation, but either way it's getting a little out of hand and it needs to sloooow down.

In efforts to curb spending, while still consuming, my dear friend and I are hosting...(drum roll, please)...A CLOTHING SWAP!

Yaaaaaay :)

It's on Sunday, April 20th from 3-7 @ my house. If you want the address, just send me an email: honey@wallet.com



What is the Clothing Swap, you ask?
Everyone (men, too! all sizes) brings clothing, shoes, and accessories from their closets, from a few choice items to a shopping cart load. They will be brought into the swap room, organized to some degree, and then the floor opens for shopping a gratis. This is a great way to upgrade your wardrobe, clean out your closet, and know that whatever is left over will be donated to a neighborhood charity.
You coming?

And if you can't make it to the swap, don't be discouraged. You will find that there are swaps happening all the time at an apartment near you. Check out some of these resources:
www.clothingswap.org
clothesswap.meetup.com

Or you could host your own swap! Here are some helpful tips:
www.lifeorganizers.com
crra.com

Happy swapping, honey!

DO NOT TAKE GEORGE BUSH'S ADVICE

Use your tax refund to pay down your debts. Period.

...and another thing about furniture...

Don't forget your thrift/vintage/second-hand shoppes. Yesterday on break from jury duty, I browsed some local shoppes. I found my way to this thrift store that sells everything from gowns to dishes to amazing 6'5" x 7'3" x 1'3" solid wood shelving units, painted a creamy white giving it that rustic country couture look for $50!!!! Yes, $50!!!!
It's big enough to hold everything! I almost bought it, but I first gotta figure out how to get it to my apartment. I took a picture with my phone, but I haven't yet figured out how to transfer that kind of data.
Although, I have been able to send my contacts from phone to computer through bluetooth in the past...hmmm, let me work that out...
As for now, I've gotta board my flight. The flight boarding next to mine just asked for volunteers to take a later flight - with free cab service from the airport to your destination and a $300 travel voucher. You thought I was kidding, didn't you. Man, oh, man, I wish it were my flight that was asking for volunteers....

One Man's Trash...

Bored of those same ole' same ole' furniture and home decor items sitting around your place? Need a change of indoor scenery? Well then why no go and get yourself a brand new set of furniture?

Yeah, a new coffee table might add some jazz, or a new set of lamps, new picture frames, a new sofa. And not to worry, I (of course) know a way to achieve these dreams on the cheap - as a matter of fact, on the free.

freecycle.org is a great place to start your home makeover. On the site, you can search for a freecycle yahoo group near you. Join and search the postings for items you'd like. You can even post items you're looking for in case someone out there has the solid wood magazine rack you've been itching for collecting dust in a closet nearby.
craigslist is another great resource. Just click the "free" link under the "for sale" section - its a gold mine. You can find everything from rocking chairs to pianos to red brick to house plants - all free!

And don't forget to put the word out there. We're coming up on moving season - people changing cities, graduating from school, etc. When people move, there is almost always something they like to leave behind - why not have a look through? People also like to redecorate this time of year - again, more free stuff.

And if you're hell bent on paying money for something you absolutely fell in love with in the West Elm catalogue - take the advice I gave on shoes: google the make and model of your item - you're bound to find it for cheaper on ebay or craigslist or something.

Some free stuff waiting for you right now...
Imagine:

A new living room...





For a retro kitchen (yes, it still works! - and will probably work longer than any stainless steel one you'd spend $600 on today)


A new bedframe to create a new aesthetic in the bedroom...




Then invite me over to check it all out over tea and honey!

Bag Bag Bag

If you're anything like me, you change with the seasons. And with each change in the weather, you tend to lean toward a new color palate, a new set of shapes. For me right now, its burnt orange and bright blues. And what better way to express your current creative state than by sporting a new purse that just says what's on your mind for you?

Ordinarily, that means buying your purse of the season that you wear with pride for about three or four months that eventually ends up taking up space in your closet by the same time next year. Bags can be pretty hefty expenses and let's face it, sometimes you're just over a bag. It's not even that it's "so last season" or anything external like that, but oftentimes its just like a brilliant, beautiful leaf on the grand tree that is you. It shines in due season, and when its ready to fall, it falls. And it dies. Buried in your closet. Here's what I suggest:

Get a rental!
bagborroworsteal.com is the place to be for renting your now bag and returning it when you're done. Basically, you pay $5/month to be a member and they have every kind of bag from Maxx to Fendi.

Set it off at a special occassion with this killer clutch:



Set it off on the daily with this sleek stunner:



Or just show off with:



And the prices just keep going up and up. If you're into having your staple bags that work for you and you're totally comfortable and satisfied with interchanging them over the years then this is not the site for you. But if you find yourself looking at your selection of bags and being totally un-wowed by them, than guaranteed, you can find something to make you happy at this very fun and dangerous site. You can borrow up to five bags at a time so be careful!

Help me out, honey. I have a vacay coming up. Which bag should I borrow?

Fly the Friendly Skies (x2)

A friend of mine brought this to my attention as a possible blog post, and of course I had already taken advantage of this type of opportunity - but, he's right. It's time to share...
Have you ever been sitting around a crowded wait area for a flight that you learn is actually overbooked? Have you heard a flight attendant announce the situation followed by a request for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for a stay in a hotel, a meal ticket and a flight voucher? I have - and I was first in line at MIA to take up the offer on my way back from a vacation in the Caribbean. It was a great buffer between palm trees and snow plows.





...yup, that's me chilling in the *free* hot tub with a $300 travel voucher in my purse! A word to the wise:

Book an overbooked flight!
Chances are, there'll be more butts than seats. Many airlines will gladly offer travel vouchers, a free night in a nearby hotel and meal vouchers for any inconvenience their overbooking may have caused. Just be first in line when they ask for "volunteers" to take the next flight.

Pack Light!
I've heard that some airlines will only accept "volunteers" with carry-on luggage. Also, If you've checked your luggage, switching flights can increase the chance of your luggage being lost - and haven't we ALL been there?

And speaking of airlines...if you haven't already heard, Delta Airlines just gave the severance package to 30,000 employees. Even Bear Stearns bit the dust. Save that money, honey. Cuz soon, you and save-it-all Grandpa may have a lot more in common than you might like.

It's My Birthday (and I'll splurge if I want to)

It only happens once a year. And for the past three years, I've made a tradition of giving myself a much deserved birthday gift. And not just any gift, but the mother of all gifts - the gift that keeps on giving: my dream pair of shoes. Last year it was the ideal sneaker to stay fly on the daily grind (DC Shoes). The year before that it was the much needed winter white fabulous snow boot with fur trim (Coach). This year, I opted to get my grown and sleek on by purchasing these:


ooh, I can't wait to rock 'em. But there's a story that goes along with them (of course)...

I first saw these beauties at a boutique in Brooklyn for $125 back in the fall '07. I thought to myself - I really want those for my spring '08 look (I'm in love with chrome!) but I'll wait for them to go on sale. Besides, chrome is catching on, maybe I'll find a similar pair for cheaper around town. The winter has come and (is almost) gone and I have yet to see an affordable pair that even comes close in flyness. So, the other day I revisited this boutique to find to my delight that this shoe, once priced at $125 was now ON SALE for..get this $29.99!!!
So I asked the woman, "What's the largest size you have these in? (cuz I have supermodel sized feet, ya know -- no comments HaJ!!!)". The woman replied, "Size ten." Perfect, I thought to myself. I asked her to bring me the pair so I can try them on.
I sat down and began undoing my laces when she returned empty handed with that semi-sad face saying, "the largest size we have left is a size eight :("
Then why the hell did you tell me that you had them in a ten?
And of course they're not planning on getting anymore shipments because clearly they are trying to get rid of them. But I, hopeful, took down the make and model of the shoe and proceeded to search the internet for a good deal on them in my size and color.
I searched and searched and searched and searched. I saw them for prices like $37.95 and $64.99 and even $87.50...but again, only up to size 8 or 8.5. I ended up settling on a purchase from shoes.com for $99.99. I feel a little discriminated against. If I had size 8 feet, I would have my favorite shoes for only $29.99. But because I am of a larger metatarsal structure, I have to pay the price...literally.
Lesson learned:

Having small feet can save you money.
Okay, I'm not being cynical here...just making an observation.

Don't be afraid to find the better price.
Even though it didn't work so well for me earlier this week, don't be discouraged. If you see a shoe in a shoppe and you just fall in love with it, but you are really not in love with the price -- try it on, feel it out, then take down the specs, go online and find it cheaper. I mean hey, $99.99 is better that $125, right?

Have Patience
If you really love a shoe, let it go (on sale). If you come back to it, it's yours forever (until the heel falls off).

The chrome lining on my not-such-a-good-sale cloud: I got free shipping! And, of course, I will very soon have a wonderful new pair of shoes that will just help me feel fabulous, honey! Happy Birthday to me :)

Strictly for the Uninsured

Teeth. They are such an integral part of our overall health and well-being. If there's a problem in the grill, it affects the way we eat, the way we laugh, the way we kiss...not to mention the physical damage bad teeth can impose on the rest of the body. Living in a society where almost all toothpastes are infused with "whitening" (what the hell is whitening, anyway??), where photoshop-happy photo editors artificially brighten celebrity smiles and where coined terms such as "meth mouth" exist - there is a lot of pressure to keep them pearlies white.
And you don't need a sixteen minute debate over universal healthcare to know that the healthcare system in these United States sucks. How many out there by a show of hands do not have full dental health coverage?



Join the Masses, Take a Dental Vacation!
Crowns, root canals, fillings, veneers...that stuff can really add up if you're forced to come out of pocket. Do the math, with root canals averaging $800 and crowns going as high as $3100 a pop...why not make the most of your spending by taking a dental vacation? Believe it or not, there are countries out there whose governments actually care about the well-being of humanity and exhibit this concern by providing free or very affordable healthcare.

Some friends of mine just came back from a trip to Thailand...with brighter smiles. It's not a new concept, there's a whole industry surrounding this phenomenon.
Check out some of these options:
dental-offer.com
healthcaretrip.org
medcentrek.com
healthmedicaltourism.org
overseastreatments.com

And if you haven't already, check out Michael Moore's latest film SickO. It highlights Americans who travel everywhere from Canada to France to Cuba in search of affordable (or FREE) healthcare - and it sheds light on the shortcomings of the existing health insurance providers stateside. And what a sad state we are in. Just sad.

But keep smiling! We could all use a vacation anyway.

Dinner and a Movie

It's the weekend. This is the time to catch up with friends, chill, let loose. But we all know how much it can cost us to simply have a good time.

Dinner $20-$40
Movie $10
Popcorn $5

...and don't try and go out for drinks afterward

Drinks $40

You've just spent on average $85. And you've only caught up with one, two...maybe three people. You've still got your "B" friends to hang out with, and it's only Friday.

It's cold outside, and despite what our beloved president says, we are in fact deeply in a recession. Don't believe the hype.

Host a Pot Luck!
Holler at your peoples, tell them each to bring a dish, a beverage, dessert :) You supply the space and the movie from your latest Netflix pick. Your friends show up, there's tons of food, drink, libations and sweets. It's warm and you've caught up with a whole bunch of friends. And when everything's all over, the leftovers go into your fridge ;)

If your place is too small, make the suggestion to a friend with a bigger place. And if they don't know how to host a party, you can always try this technique:



Now go put that $85 in your savings account, honey!

Save Money, Honey: Oscars Edition

DO NOT SHOP IN THE DAY-LEWIS/MILLER CLOSET!!


...now that I got that out of my system, we can move on.
Oscar night is full of glamorous gowns, jewels and little golden men. For some reason, this year, I totally got into it. I usually poo-poo on the over Hollywood-ification of the event, but I dunno, being robbed of the Golden Globes/the Writers Strike struck a chord in me that I didn't know existed. Because even if a year went by and I didn't tune-in to the Oscars, I'd still be bound to come across highlights of the best and worse dressed, who won what and who didn't kiss whom...speaking of course about Javier Bardem, accepting his award from last years best supporting actress, Jennifer Hudson. He just took the statue from her with a firm head nod - no kiss on the cheek, no half-hug, not even a smile. What's up with that? I'm just saying. In my personal experience, the Spaniards don't have the same reputation as the Italians when it comes to the sistas - catch my drift? I don't think the people of Cuba would be very happy that the man picked to portray their native son would have a problem kissing Jennifer Hudson. Maybe I'm reaching, but hey - I'm still traumatized.
What does any of this have to do with saving money? Glad you asked. These celebs we ooh and aah over - they are very wise people when it comes to dressing up for these special events. We can learn a thing or two from them. First of all - they don't pay for their gowns! Now, I know you aren't as lucky as Marion Cotillard to have Jean-Paul Gautier let you borrow one of these,


but if you think about it, there are tons of up and coming designers among us who want to get their names out there...what you need to do is be their friend. And since you've already done the Oscars, consider:

Asking a designer friend to lend a gown for your special event.
Wedding season is right up the block. Graduations, too. Often times as a guest to these special occasions, you have to worry about purchasing gifts, shoes, plane tickets, hotel rooms...who wants to also shell out 80, 120 or even 200 dollars on a fabulous gown (cuz you know everyone's going to be immortalizing you with photographs). So ask a designer friend to let you show off one of her/his wares, and keep your promise to tell everyone who made it and where they can get one of their own. Dry clean it and return.
If you don't know any designer friends, make some! Reach out to your community of friends and acquaintances, host an artists' showcase at your place, befriend owners of local boutiques. You know I know my share of designer friends. How else do you think I got to rock this $500 frock to my dear friend's wedding?



Now about diamonds...

D-d-d-d-DAMN!!!


Nicole took bling to all new heights. We need a new term.
Diamonds are absolutely beautiful, yes...but we all know somewhere deep in our conscience the atrocities tied to diamonds...conflicts over diamonds that are traded for weapons to fuel wars in poor, torn nations affected by the horrors of the imperialists. Indigenous people from Brazil to Botswana, Australia to Canada who have and continue to loose their ancestral rights to their land simply because companies like DeBeers want to exploit the diamonds found on that very same soil. The children in India who cut 70% of all the world's gem-grade diamonds...don't get me started. I'm in the midst of making a documentary about this.
There is no price high enough to pay for the suffering inflicted upon people we cannot hear simply to look good.

If you wear diamonds and don't know where they've come from, I suggest trading them in for a diamond that is truly conflict-free (don't believe the Kimberley certificate hype!!!) Here's a great resource: www.diamondsforafricafund.org
You can donate your diamond to Diamonds for Africa and they'll send you a tax-deductible receipt for its value as an in-kind donation to claim against your taxes. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the diamond jewelry will benefit affected communities in Africa.

Exchange your diamond for a conflict-free diamond, and get a 5% discount from:
www.brilliantearth.com

Or, you can get down with diamonds that have been grown in labs here in the USA. Brief science lesson...diamonds are essentially carbon that has been exposed to heat and atmospheric pressure to then become a diamond. Carbon is carbon is carbon. It is the backbone of all organic life on Earth. It came to us from the stars billions of years ago and has been here ever since - the same amount of carbon just traveling from life-form to life-form. So whether a diamond is grown in the ground or in a lab, it's still the same make-up. It's still forever. Check some of these lab-grown diamonds out:
www.apollodiamond.com
gemesis.com

Then there's always the Diamond Empowerment Fund:
(DEF) developed by Russell Simmons to raise money for the development and empowerment of the people and communities in Africa where diamonds are a natural resource. The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a non-profit international organization established by individuals and businesses in the diamond industry and others who are committed to empowerment for the people of Africa.
Check these out



Now get fabulous, honey. And post your pics for us to see...