An artist created a mural of Michael Jackson using 1,680 soda cans. I think this piece of art looks lovely. A pop can tribute to the King of Pop is fitting. The artist had to buy the cans new (he’s not a soda drinker), but I think it could be done with recycled cans. What do you think?
I hope you all are ready for a wonderful Fourth of July. I’m doing the family thing, hanging out with relatives and kicking back. Independence Day is a beautiful thing.
So anyway, here are few random links for fun:
1) Check out the Independence Day freebies found by Free Sample Freak.
2) Here’s a post I did on affordable air travel. Check it out!
3) Brittany, from the blog Clumps of Mascara, gave me a frugal shout out.
What are you doing this weekend?
So, last night’s #dealchat on affordable alcohol was just spirited! We had Twitter rocking about the best kinds of wines for Frugalistas to drink. We’re too classy for Wild Irish Rose, but selections from Trader Joe’s, big box stores and discount warehouses are easy on the wallet. Also, value wines from South Africa, Chile and Spain are perfect for our palate and pocketbook.
Special invited guest was Nannette from Wine Harlots. As the #dealchat started heating up, two other wine aficionado bloggers from Wine Watcher and Dirt Cheap Wine shared their expertise also. Frugalistas love the Cali bloggers! So authentic…and frugal! 
In the transcript from #dealchat, you’ll get yourself drunk on savings! Cheers!
Hey! Tonight I’m hosting a Twitter chat on affordable adult beverages. I thought it would be timely with the holiday approaching. I’ve written about the subject before, but I wanted to bring in a true expert! I have Nannette, who runs the site Wine Harlots : The Virtue of Vice lending her expertise. I’m super excited. Nannette is most charming and her site is so hilarious. She knows her stuff. She is known for having the best arsenal of appropriate quotes. Here’s one she discovered and sent out on twitter for me:
“Frugality without creativity is deprivation.” — Amy Dacyczyn
Love it. See you at 8 p.m., est on Twitter. Follow @frugalista for all the goods!
What affordable wine/alcohol do you like?
I didn’t believe when I first heard it, but colleges are discounting their prices.
The average private institution is slashing its college tuition by 53.5%. So a school with a tuition sticker price of $30,000 would actually cost $13,950, writes Lynn O’Shaughnessy (author of The College Solution) on her Money Watch blog.
Also, colleges are offering discounts for summer school.
I’ve often read that college costs were on the rise, but a new study says that the private schools are slicing prices to compete for students. I went to a private college (happily) , but if I were a high school senior now, I would probably consider seriously the state college route. Student loans aren’t as sexy as we thought they once were. LOL
Community colleges have really beefed up their programs and are dirt cheap when you think about what they offer. Many people question if college is worth the expense.
What do you think about the college discounts? Is it about time? Do you think private schools are feeling competition from state colleges? Do you think college is over priced?
Talk to me!
Happy Monday! So, the way to tell if the economy is improving is by looking at the length of skirts, according to a new study. The shorter the skirt, the better the outlook on the economy.
It’s been a minute since I’ve purchased a mini skirt. They aren’t the most practical for my line of work. Is that telling? I did buy a romper short set to wear during the weekend. Does that count? Is this the leg economy?
Yay! I had so much fun last night chatting on Twitter about ways to save on credit cards. I hope you enjoy reading the transcript as much as I enjoyed our guests, Ondine Irving of Credit Card Connection, Card Analysis Solutions (and often of the Suze Orman Show) and Erica Sandberg, a columnist at creditcards.com and author of the book, Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families.
I really loved the point of views in the chat. Irving is a big fan of finding RIGHT credit union credit card for your needs. Her site, Credit Card Connection, gives a report card on the best and worst credit cards for consumers. Sandberg is a big fan of American Express’ card. All of us say that paying off your balance at the end of the month is the best thing to do. None of us is overwhelmed by the retail credit cards with their stinky rates. Frugalistas unite!
Do you use credit cards? Do you pay them off at the end of the month? Do you use credit unions?
Hey, pretties! So, there are more credit card reforms underway, so I wanted to highlight a few of them today in this blog post. Also, later on today, I am hosting a #dealchat at 8 p.m. est on Twitter about credit cards. I have experts from creditcards.com and Card Analysis for everyone to ask questions about credit cards.
A new set of credit card regulations will take place on Aug. 22. Recently,the government nailed down what the new regulations will be:
New Rules from the Feds:
*Your credit card company cannot charge you a fee of more than $25 unless:
One of your last six payments was late, in which case your fee may be up to $35; or your credit card company can show that the costs it incurs as a result of late payments justify a higher fee.
*Your credit card company cannot charge a late payment fee that is greater than your minimum payment. So, if your minimum payment is $20, your late payment fee can’t be more than $20. Similarly, if you exceed your credit limit by $5, you can’t be charged an over-the-limit fee of more than $5.
*One-fee limit. Your credit card company can’t charge you more than one fee for a single event or transaction that violates your cardholder agreement. For example, you cannot be charged more than one fee for a single late payment.
*If your credit card company increases your card’s Annual Percentage Rate (APR), it must tell you why.
*If your credit card company increases your APR, it must re-evaluate that rate increase every six months. If appropriate, it must reduce your rate within 45 days after completing the evaluation.
What do you think about these changes? See you at #dealchat tonight!
Uber penny pincher, Jeff Yeager, has an article on healthy foods for under $1 a pound. Gracious.
Here are some of Jeff’s recommendations:
Apples – One a day keeps the cheapskate away.
Asparagus – HUGE store special at 99 cents a pound during Easter week. I bought 10 pounds, blanched it, and then froze it.
Bananas – Potassium for pennies.
Barley – A tasty alternative to rice and potatoes.
Beans – Canned or dried. Kidney, pinto, navy, black, red, and many more.
Bok choy – Steam and serve with a little soy sauce.
Broccoli – Yes, a store special. Usually closer to $2 per pound.
Bulgar wheat – Try it in pilaf or a tabouleh salad.
Cabbage – Green and red. I like mine fried.
Cantaloupe – No, sorry, I can’t; I’m already married.
Carrots – Raw or steamed. Rich in carotenes, a healthy antioxidant.
Celery – Stir-fry it for a change.
Chicken – Whole or various parts, on sale.
Chickpeas – AKA garbanzo beans — mash ‘em up as a healthy sandwich spread.
Cornmeal – “Polenta” is all the rage these days, but I loved it 40 years ago when Mom called it “cornmeal mush.”
Hmm. He makes some points. I’ve tried bok choy. Not too shabby. What do you eat that’s less than $1 per pound?
