Sorry Everyone!

I took a little bit of a holiday hiatus, finished up the school semester, did the holiday thang, and sadly, had a grandparent pass away too, which would explain the lack of posts the last three weeks. However, it's a new year, and it's time to save! So all you Frugal Fannies out there, watch for my next post to come shortly!

New Year, New Goals, New Ways to Save Money

I have an account to Netflix. I know, I know it seems like an unnecessary expense, and it kind of is. What I mean is that it doesn't fall into the "essential necessities" category, such as food, clothing, shelter, etc. However, any Frugal Fannie knows that the key to saving is to allow some luxuries--it's just important you don't go overboard with the spending. It's all about avoiding extremes. Denying yourself even the smallest treat can lead to a binge of spending for most people, which is the opposite of saving, obviously. Which brings me back to Netflix.

We have tried Redbox. It really is a great idea, a great way to get the newest movies without having to pay through the nose and keeping them for five days. However, if you're like me, scatter-brained and rushed most of the time, you can turn that $1.00 fee into $25.00 because you simply forget to take the movie back, and that is not a good thing. Enter mailed movies. For one low, flat rate ($8.99 + tax) you have movies mailed to you, no late fees, and no running to the store at 8:59 pm trying to get it back in time. Now, the $8.99 + tax is for unlimited movies, one out at a time, and you can also watch unlimited movies on your laptop. Now, I can practically hear all you Frugal Fannies shout, "$8.99 + tax?! That could be nine movies from Redbox!" and it could be. However, the luxury of no late fees and the opportunity to watch online make it all worthwhile for me. It's one of those little things that keeps me from going nuts from deprivation in a world of material goods. And that, after all, is really the goal, isn't it?

How to Apply Makeup

So, I've had some questions asking me about how to apply makeup, and unfortunately, that's not my forte. I do, however, follow a professional makeup artist named Kandee Johnson. She is great, and you can check her out at http://www.kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com/ or subscribe to her videos on YouTube.

Five Reasons Why You Should Ride the Bus

“Riding the bus? Like, ew.” Okay, so most people don't actually talk about it like that, but you can't deny there is a stigma to riding the bus. That's for people who don't own cars, or can't drive because they don't have licenses because they're hobos or they live under a bridge or something. But honestly, I ride the bus (and as far as I know, I'm not a hobo and I don't live under brdige) and it's been a good experience for me. I've met some, umm, interesting people on the bus, and I don't have to find a parking spot, which for me equals victory. So, courtesy of personal experience, here are the five reasons why I believe riding the bus is a good idea:

1.You don't have to wait for your car to warm up in the morning
I've gotten this down to a science. I leave the house approximately 3 minutes before my bus comes and by the time I get to the stop, it's rounding the corner down the block. I don't even have time to feel the wind come through my coat since I've been walking and then it's onto the already warm and toasty bus. Sure, the seats aren't leather, but you don't have to scrape any window.

2.You don't have to stress about morning traffic
If you head to school or work in the morning when everyone else does, you will more than likely encounter morning traffic. People shaving as they drive, or using their legs to steer while they apply mascara and talk on the phone (you know who you are). By the time you get to work, you can feel the tightness in your chest that inevitably comes with stress. You run in, usually late, and by the time you get to your desk or class, you're out of breathe and anxious. And that's almost as bad a start to the day as skipping breakfast.

3.If you're late, it's not your fault as long as you didn't miss the bus
Let's face it; these people drive for a living. They're pretty good at it. And, barring some sort of accident (which can happen and in the case of one of them, they have detours memorized) you're not likely to be late. And, if you are late, you can tell them you got on the bus a half an hour before you had to be at work, and the bus was late. Things are good when they're not your fault.

4.You don't have to drive
You can sit back and listen to music, or read a book, or take a nap, or watch the houses go by. The sky's the limit—but be aware and don't miss your stop! If you do, #3 won't work for you.

5.You decrease your geological footprint
By riding public transportation (which drives around anyway) you're using less gas, which creates less pollution, thereby decreasing the negative effects on our environment. And you save money by not having to pay for parking permits, speeding tickets, and gas. And really, saving money is what us Frugal Fannies are all about, is it not?

So, there you have it. Straight from the commuter's mouth. I ride the bus and I enjoy it. Just be careful that it doesn't relax you too much cause then you'll miss your stop. And that's not good for your stress levels either. Take it from me.

Correction

In my last post, I stated that there is a MAC store in Park City; however it is a cosmetic store called Cosmetics Company that sells MAC products, along with other cosmetics. Sorry for the confusion!

Easy-On-The-Wallet Beauty Care: Part II

Wake up, eyes!

Adding some shimmer to your eyes can make a huge difference in looking like you're on your way to the office or you're on your way out for the night. And, I'm not going to lie, I made my own shimmer eye shadow and I just love it. It really brings out my eyes. In fact, when I wore it one time to a Mexican restaurant on a date, the waitress told me that I looked like a TV star. I admit, I was hooked after that. And, it was so easy to make. I took probably one teaspoon of petroleum jelly (I got the tub at the dollar store for $1.00) and smashed up some cheap eye shadow (Wet 'n Wild, Walgreens, $2.99). Then I mixed the two together in a bowl and spooned it into an empty Carmex™ container (the spherical kind with the twist-on lid). If you don't have an empty Carmex™ container, you can order your own makeup containers from http://www.makingcosmetics.com for about $1.20 a piece. And, if you think that's expensive, a comparable MAC ™ product runs $16.50 for a similar shaped pot. And you can make your own for about $5.25. And it lasts forever. The only catch (and there's always one) is that you need to matte your lids with something like a foundation before you apply. I like eyelid primer from E.L.F. Otherwise it can mash all in your crease. But it looks beautiful and really wakes up your eyes.

E.L.F.

Eyes Lips Face cosmetics is a great place to stock up on some of the objects you use everyday. They sell [most] of their cosmetics for $1.00 and, while not the greatest quality, they can be useful if you enjoy mass collecting. I have tried many of their products and find that they are the same quality as most of those that you can purchase from any grocery store. They even provide a mineral line that is high quality and quite affordable. And, you can use the coupon code BEAUTYATALLAGES to get 50% off their next cosmetic purchase up to $15. They have nail polish, brushes, cases, and all kinds of makeup for the (you guessed it) eyes, lips, and face. You can shop for their products at www.eyeslipsface.com and also at select stores, such as the Target store in Orem.

Samples from Manufacturers

Many manufacturers will give out samples of their products as an attempt to hook you and draw you in. It's a great way to try out expensive products before you decide if they're worth investing in. You can find them online by entering the name of the company with manufacturers coupons into your favorite search engines. And, you can get a lot of them at the makeup counters at department stores, which segues nicely into my next section.

Makeup Counters at Department Stores

Many department stores employ makeup artists at their makeup counters, to sell the upscale makeup they stock. And, you can generally get an appointment to get your makeup done there for free or for a very small fee. Usually, you will need an appointment, however, they do this in order to make you fall in love with the products they try out. In fact, there are events happening all the time. For instance, here is an ad for the Nordstrom's in Orem, UT:

Saturday, December 12, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Come learn the latest trends in winter makeup by booking an appointment with our featured artists.
Cosmetics

Coupons—the New Currency of the Times

There was a time when it was considered gauche to clip coupons. Only the lower class clipped coupons—they were trashy and poor. But now, being a Frugal Fannie like me is a good thing, and the currency of the era is coupons. They're everywhere! Like some, you can subscribe to the Sunday paper to do your coupon clipping, but I prefer to do my clipping online for free. One of my favorites is www.coupons.com as well as www.retailmenot.com. They have coupons you can print and codes that you can enter when you're shopping online. And many of them are good for cosmetics.

And Last, But Not Least . . .

Outlet stores. Usually, in every state there are outlet stores within hours drive. In Utah, there is a MAC store in Park City and you can get great deals there! However, there is a trade-off. If you're not going to a city where there are outlet stores, it can not be worth the gas money. So you decide. You can get some really good deals, but is it worth the drive?

Turkey Day

Well, it's that time of year where we begin to think of things we're thankful for. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to discover new things and advance my life in ways that are fruitful. So tell me, what are you thankful for?