I’m not sure what I’m going to do for New Year’s Eve. A part of me would be very happy to stay home. I stayed in the house on Christmas and felt very content.
Some affordable ways to do New Year’s: 1) Visit a house of worship. (Be sure not to get sentimental and leave too much money in the offering plate) 2) Go to a friend’s house. Bring some wine or a dish. 3) Stay home and watch the countdown shows 4) Go to a free party if you hear of one 5) NO NEW DRESSES! Reuse that holiday dress you bought. CLOSET SHOP!
I hope you are having a great day! I’m doing the homebody thing and helping Mama Frugalista cook! She finally trusts me in kitchen! Yay! Thanks so much for reading my blog. I wanted to leave you with this old-school Stevie Wonder song. Afrobella posted this song on Twitter and I fell in love again with the lyrics.Let me know what you’re doing today and let me know your favorite holiday song!
Says the paper: Frugalista is a person who is frugal but fashionable.
Of course! I need to become a modeling agent and book all of this blog’s readers! Swagger abounds!
I’m overjoyed that people are really getting the frugalista philosophy. It’s a hot word but shouldn’t be considered trendy. We are rolling the frugalista lifestyle right into 2009 and beyond!
Have a great Christmas Eve,
Fruga!
*If you are wondering why I have an afro in that picture, I went to a 70s party recently. I spent $20 on the wig, which is reusable. The rest of the stuff is from my closet. SHAZAAM! Foxxy Cleopatra watch out! Foxxy Frugalista is on the prowl!
Are you following
this Bernard Madoff money scam? Madoff was an investment money manager who scammed rich people out of $50 billion, using a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is a swindle offering unusually high returns, with early investors paid off with money from later investors, according to the Yahoo article. Madoff was known as "The Man" in investment circles. He’s the former chairman of the Nasdaq. His hedgefund routinely delivered double-digit returns.
I have been captivated by this story for several reasons: 1) Can you trust anyone? 2) How did his accomplished clients get fooled? Were they greedy? Here is an essay from one his clients, "How I Got Screwed by Bernie Madoff." 3) I’m truly upset that he used affinty fraud to gain the trust of his victims. He preyed on other Jews, knowing they would be more trusting of doing business within their own community. Among Madoff’s clients: movie director Steven Spielberg, New York Daily News publisher Mortimer Zucker and Torah-focused Yeshiva University. The Wall Street Journal penned this article, Madoff Exploited the Jews.
I’m just in awe! These are strange times. I can only imaging losing millions because I trusted a guy who turned out to be a big old fake.
What do you think? Do you know anyone impacted? Were the victims, greedy, naive or human? What do you think about Madoff?
Hello! Christmas is just around the corner and I’m finished with shopping. I’m pleased with what I’ve picked out for my loved ones. If my family had offered to not exchange gifts this year, I would have been overjoyed. But they didn’t, so I bought gifts. The consumerism associated with Christmas is overwhelming. Trust, I love giving gifts. I like making other people happy. I’m known for picking out the perfect piece, but all of that comes at an emotional cost.
Last week, I went to a holiday party that required a $20 admission or a wrapped gift. I opted for the gift, found a $6 Dora the Explorer game and brought it to the party. Still, a part of me felt guilty, like I had shortchanged the anonymous needy kid I bought the gift for. What’s that about? I know there are a lot of parents out there feeling guilty because they can’t give their children as much stuff year. What’s fabulous about guilt? I say make prudent financial decisions if you want to be fabulous. NO MORE GUILT!
If you spend too much money, you will feel ashamed when you look at your credit card statement in January. Between you and me, I’m a little upset with Santa Claus. Why does he get to be "The Man" because he hands out all the toys? Santa’s buying friends and influence!
Frugalistas, buy what you can afford. If you can’t give, big deal. No more guilt of giving. Tomorrow is another day and Christmas is just one day!
Happy Friday! I trust all is well! Recently, blogger FruGal, a hip chick living across the pond asked a few of her favorite personal finance bloggers their savings tips.
Good morning. I’m going to talk to students at Le Cordon Bleu today. And no, it’s not a chat about cooking! I’ve gotten better at cooking this year, but I am not auditioning for Top Chef! I’m going to talk to the class about blogging and life skills. I can’t wait.
In honor of my chat today, I want to share with you a roasted potato recipe that I prepared, last week. It turned out yummy. The good thing about potatoes is that preparing them is easy for singles who cook. One potato for one person. Makes sense, right?
Frugalista’s Roasted Potato Recipe (stolen from her childhood friend, Beth) Ingredients: Small lemon Fresh Oregano pepper, garlic salt, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Extra virgin olive oil Potato
After washing the potato, cut into wedges or slices Put potato slices on a foil-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle extra virgin olive oil, light garlic salt, pepper and Lawry’s Seasoned salt on the potatoes. Slice the small lemon, and place it strategically on the baking sheet. After rinsing the fresh oregano, pull the leaves off and place on top of the potatoes Cover the potatoes with foil
Place in the oven at 450 degrees, more if you like Let bake until tender. Check on potatoes every 10 minutes.
Take out and chow down!
What’s your favorite recipe that’s easy for a single person to make?
Hello Everyone! If you are on twitter, can you please nominate geezeo.com, a financial website, for a Shorty Award? The Shorty Award goes to twitter users who write the best posts. Geezeo is part of my e-family, so I know it’s deserving! I am the frugality/savings expert at geezeo.com. If you haven’t signed up for my group at geezeo.com, you are MISSING OUT.
So you can either tweet @shortyawards I nominate@geezeo#finance because (give a reason), or nominate Geezeo using this form. It’s for the finance Shorty Award.
The Frugalista is Natalie P. McNeal, a seasoned journalist who created and launched personal finance blog, The Frugalista Files, in 2008. She spent a month without getting her hair done, eating out or getting a manicure or pedicure. She saved $400 and took a "vow of frugality." Read more...
