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6 Ways to Save on Your Everyday Purchases and Afford Something You Really Want

SavvySugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:30:45 -0800

In this economy, little treats, like my weekly gossip mag and a latte are my no-fail pick-me-ups, even when I can't afford the new handbag I really want. Still, living on a budget doesn't mean splurges have to be totally out-of-the-question. In fact, even finance experts, Ori Schnaps, co-founder and manager of Thrive, and Aaron Patzer, founder of Mint.com, wouldn't recommend not shopping at all.

They advise that going cold turkey can have a negative affect on your finances, and vowing not to splurge can lead to overspending later on in the month. Instead, both financial experts have real-life advice and small spending tips that will help you to spend more wisely day-to-day. Who knows - that splurge-worthy item might just be affordable after all. Read on to get all of their great tips and find out how you can save.

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Bella Interview: Cristina Samuels, Co-Founder of Mode Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:02:36 -0800

When you're raised around the family business, it only makes sense that you'd follow suit. And for Cristina Samuels and Jennifer Isaac, doing so has been a beautiful endeavor. From the time they were girls, they learned by watching their father, a cosmetic-industry veteran. Now, they're the co-founders and co-owners of Mode Cosmetics, a line of cruelty-free (and reasonably priced!) makeup made in New York.

Just a few minutes with the sisters is inspiring - they're incredibly passionate about their work, and they know their business. If you're interested in a cosmetics-biz career, get some advice from Cristina when you read more.

Let's Tackle that Hairy Question: Are Brazilian Waxes Necessary?

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:27 -0800

Do you really need a Brazilian wax these days? That's the question a woman posed to the Times of London, after a new beau was "shocked" by her presence of pubic hair. In her letter, she says, "I don’t think that a permanent tan and Brazilian wax should be dealbreakers in a relationship. Or am I just hopelessly outdated?"

Long story short, advice columnist Suzi Godson tells the woman to let 'er rip. "Grooming down there is now considered to be normal, on a par with manicures, blow-drying, and eyebrow waxing," she says. "There is something hugely irritating about being forced to conform to an aesthetic ideal instigated and perpetuated by the porn industry, but, like keeping one’s armpits and legs smooth, it is now expected."

Oh brother. You already know that I hate, hate, hate the whole "wax, or else you are gross and undesirable!" standpoint, but I wanted to get a professional opinion on the matter. So I turned to sex educator Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., MPH, author of Because It Feels Good. Her advice is about 10 times better than Godson's, so read more.

Tech Dating 101: Help! He's E-Stalking Me

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:45:53 -0700

Electronic communication can both help and hurt a relationship. On one hand, it encourages constant communication and may make you feel closer to one another. On the other - this constant communication may make you feel suffocated.

This happened recently to one of my friends. She started seeing a new guy, and intentionally only gave him her phone number - no email address, no Twitter handle, no AIM screen name. She wasn't trying to hide anything, she was just trying make sure things progressed slowly. After a few weeks and a very brief exchange over Gmail - bam! - there he was in her list of Gchat contacts. She didn't think about it until the next day at work when, with the familiar "ding" that accompanies a new message, a "hi!" from her guy.

"I am not ready to Gchat!" she complained to me (via, of course, Gchat). I told her to ignore the Gchat window long enough that her name would display as idle, and then to either log out or turn on the "invisible" option - a quick fix for the moment, but by no means a permanent solution.

She's not the only friend of mine this has happened to. After including her instant messenger name (that she uses for work) on her Facebook profile, one friend was attacked with a flurry of instant messages from someone she was casually dating. So, how do you prevent a new date from e-stalking? That's what I'll cover on this edition of Tech Dating 101. To read the advice I gave to her, read more.

As silly as it may sound, I think it's better to set boundaries early, especially if one or both of you has a job that requires you to be available via phone, IM, email all day. So set rules, boundaries, whatever you have to do. Just because you're available to your boss and co-workers all day doesn't mean you have to make yourself available to everyone else in your life. If you prefer he doesn't chat you up via Gchat or AIM throughout the day, tell him that. Just explain your decision, and make it clear you're not hiding anything - you prefer to talk at certain hours of the day (like when you're off the clock), or you'd rather limit your communication to phone calls and text messages, with the occasional email. (If he's really not getting the message, you could always try adding this link to my advice on how not to virtually stalk someone as your status message, though I recommend that only as a last resort.)

Initially, my friend set her status to "invisible" so he couldn't find her online, which worked fine until she messaged him one afternoon and he responded with, "You're online?" She was totally busted - which is why I'd advise someone in a similar situation to address it, not ignore it.

Do you have a Love 2.0 questioned you want answered? Join the Tech Dating 101 because we understand that ove and dating are stressful and the Internet and social networking sites can just make things worse. You never know, your question could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Website of the Day: Bulbstorm

GeekSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:50:17 -0700

You've got an idea burning up your brain right now, I can feel it. If you're obsessed with shows like Shark Tank and American Inventor because you keep thinking "my idea is way better than his," then take note: Bulbstorm allows you to ease in to the product development arena by uploading your idea safely and securely to their site, and then get feedback from your friends.

After all your pals weigh in on your invention or product, you can open the door to the Bulbstorm community for their two cents, which has been known to lead to production deals, partnerships, and advice on how to polish your product before you look for financing. Not to mention giving you some street cred and serious word-of-mouth advertising. But Blubstorm isn't just a place for inventors. Find out who else can use this service when you read more.

Industry professionals and consultants can log in and give advice to new and budding inventors to help them with their product. You can also find legal advisers with profiles on Bulbstorm, looking to find new clients to take on. Just think as Blubstorm as one big Rolodex filled with contacts to help you along.

Have an interesting website you want to share? Here's how you can post your site in our Website of the Day group:

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the GeekSugar homepage!

Would You Hire a Guru?

TresSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Yesterday's New York Times Style Section dove into the lives of NYC's lifestyle gurus. According to the paper, trendsetting women in the city are finding enlightenment through veganism and meditation rather than a diet of cosmos and roof bar parties, and they're calling on "spiritual cowgirls" to show them the way.

These gurus charge around $100 an hour for their services, which often include distilling advice from the many self-help books they used to turn their own lives around. Gabrielle Bernstein, a former tequila-lover-turned-sober-advice-dispenser, helps women reduce anxiety they might have about their relationship and career goals. She tells women to visualize how they want their lives to turn out. For example, Gabrielle advised one client, who is nervous about her boyfriend moving in, to:

“Write the story the way you want it to happen. Re-read the story every night until he arrives.”

Apparently that is enough to make it all work out! Would you ever turn to this type of modern guru for help?

Ask an Accountant: Should I Let My Boyfriend Smoke Pot?

TresSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:46 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. This week, an accountant advises a woman who's having a tough time with her boyfriend's pot smoking. Want to throw your hat into the ring? You can submit questions here.

Today's Question:
My boyfriend of over three years has been smoking pot since he was a teenager. I knew this before we started dating, but really thought he would quit by now. He is now 32 years old and still smokes multiple times a day. I've already talked to him about how I don't like it at all and wish he would quit. He then argues that it is better to smoke pot than to drink alcohol or do other heavier drugs. I see his friends that have families and they smoke around their babies and toddlers, but I do not want our kids (if we ever have any) to be exposed to it. Should I put my foot down harder or just let him have his "hobby"?

Signed,
Feeling Low

To see the accountant's answer, read more.

Dear Feeling Low,

It may be true that someone who smokes a lot of pot is no worse than someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, but you are wise to consider your future.

Now unless you are really warped, having kids usually makes you grow up and become responsible to some extent. But since you and he hang around others that haven't changed, my guess is that you can't count on a baby to stop the drug habit.

Now consider some really hard facts. Having kids will cost a lot, and smoking pot will really cut into your diaper budget. Since weed doesn't come with a filter, he is wrecking his health. Not to mention, lung cancer kills! So do you really want your boyfriend to increase his chances of contracting this nasty disease in the future? And don't forget about paying for all that extra medical attention. I don't know about you, but I think that insurance companies take our medical premiums and then tell us it isn't covered when we get sick. Besides, when was the last time you paid less when you went to the doctors? Cut out the weed and you can plow that money into a 401K so that when you retire you won't have to work a part-time job as a Wal-Mart greeter!

The bottom line, as we accountants like to put it, is that you need to find a new boyfriend and hang around with folks that get high on life. Ask yourself the question: how much do I love myself? Take it from a CPA, if you value yourself, the choice to move on with a new guy should add up and pay you many dividends in the future. Good luck!

Signed,
The CPA (Certified Pot Adviser)

Perk Up Tired Eyes With These Four Tips

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:00:31 -0700

When you're feeling less than perky, those dark under-eye circles that show the telltale signs of fatigue sure don't make it any better, now do they? Celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman is here to help. He's already shared with us his tips for perking up those tired eyes with concealer - and a chilled spoon - and now, he's got some more ideas for creating an instant "face-lift." Check them out when you keep reading

Ask a Rambling Storyteller: How Do I Get Out of My Rut?

TresSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. This week, a rambling storyteller advises a woman who is in a major life rut. Want to throw your hat into the ring? You can submit questions here.

Today's Question:

I'm in a rut. But it's worse than that, I'm stuck because I realized that I have no goals. I am 30-years-old and in my twenties two things happened. The first thing is that I worked dang hard to get two university degrees. I picked a field that I did well in academically (journalism), but when I entered the work force I realized I couldn't hack the competitive atmosphere and the lack of creativity. The second thing that happened was that I got sick. I was diagnosed with a painful autoimmune disease that left me in pain and frequently bedridden.

When I was sick I was miserable, but the drug that I was prescribed made me CRAZY. And it made me gain weight. I was depressed and anxious and didn't want to see friends or family, I felt like a loser because I didn't want to see anyone, didn't feel attractive, and felt like a failure because I gave up stressful journalism for a super boring marketing job. So fast-forward a couple of years to today.

Today, I'm healthy. I'm off the prescription that made me nutty. My mood is great. I feel more like myself than I have in YEARS. But the thing is . . . I've spent so much time with my health as my number one priority that everything else has been stagnating. I'm in a job that I find boring, I still have friends - but now that I've poked my head out of the sand I'm feeling out of step, especially as many are now in serious relationships and have seriously good careers. I feel like I'm behind, but the thing is I don't know what to do. I'm drifting, and I'm starting to get anxious! Can anybody help me figure out how to get my confidence back and get a plan together?

Signed, In a Rut

To hear what a Rambling Storyteller has to say, read more

Hi In a Rut:

The answer to your problem lies at Ponderosa. Stay with me. I want you to picture yourself at Ponderosa. You go there because everyone says steak is very delicious, and you like delicious things, so you’ve been planning to order a T-bone. In fact, you have been preparing to eat a steak for so long that you’re sweating A-1. So you go to the restaurant, but then you realize that - oh crap! - someone has pickpocketed your wallet. So you chase the crook, and it’s exhausting, but you finally nab her and get your wallet back.

With that ordeal over, you want to sit down, but a bunch of other customers have snagged tables - and most of them are already on to dessert, those jerks. FINALLY you get a table and order the steak you’ve been craving. But when it comes out, it looks like braised mouse and tastes like a sweaty toupee. You stare at it and think, “Ugh, I don’t want this at all.”

Now, is it your fault that you were delayed by a stickyfingered crook? Or that the tables were filled by customers who started eating way before you did? Or that it turns out that steak isn’t delicious to you? I bet you can easily realize that no, none of this is your fault. So why are you being so hard on the Ponderosa that is your life?

Let’s review what you’ve told me: You were diagnosed with a painful disease, and the recovery process was not easy. Yet you managed to triumph. You thought you wanted to be the next Helen Thomas, but actually, you don’t, and that’s okay. How about giving yourself some compassion and credit for being handed more to deal with than most and handling it well? Of course other people are doing other things with their personal lives and careers. That’s because they’re not you. They didn’t beat back a disease, and they didn’t realize that they want to do a different kind of work. Different situations, different places in life, so ditch this “I’m behind” talk.

If you keep comparing yourself to others, you will never be satisfied. Ever. Stop doing that and start living each day like you’re going to kick ass - because, honestly, you’ve been given a second chance at a healthy life, and you’ll thrive by focusing on the opportunities ahead of you rather than ones you’ve missed in the past.

So, how do you regain your confidence and get going again? Whenever you start comparing yourself to others, stop those thoughts in their tracks and remind yourself that you’re on your own path. Focus on your personal situation, your experiences, and your goals. Start with what you do know: You don’t want to be a journalist, and you don’t want to do the snoozeville job you’re doing. So what things interest you? What is your passion? Could you add some volunteer work to your schedule, take a class somewhere, or otherwise follow what you like to do? Doing that will help you figure out what to do for work, and it’s bound to boost your confidence and self-esteem. That, in turn, will help you get ready for a great relationship when it happens.

Going back to the Ponderosa allusion, you might not want steak, but hey, look, there’s a huge all-you-can-eat salad bar! Approach the salad bar of life, dear reader. Sample a little of this, a little of that, and you’ll start figuring out what does taste good to you. (Just stay away from the croutons. Stale bread helps nobody.)

Signed,

A Rambling Storyteller

Girl-Grooming Trend on the Rise in India

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:50 -0700

In our image-obsessed culture, girls are grooming at younger and younger ages, making youth-targeted bikini waxes and toddler beauty pageants more and more common. Now, it looks like the disturbing trend of underage grooming is impacting the youth of India, as girls, and even boys, are making stops to the salon and spa more frequently. In fact, recent marketing studies imply that the hottest Indian beauty trends involve services targeted towards teens and tweens. (As if puberty wasn't already difficult enough.)

"Young children should not use beauty products at all, because their immune system is not fully developed," dermatologist Ajita Bagai told Mint. On the beauty industry side, however, some salon professionals would argue that body wraps on 11 year olds and minifacials using natural products on preteens are all right. But when it comes to the practice of juvenile primping, just how young is too young, and what is deemed appropriate by the medical side? Find out some guidelines from doctors interviewed in this article