budget
A Call to Reverse the Charges
February 1st, 2011 | 4 Comments
Tags: budget, Health & Fitness, Shopping
 Restaurants, doctors, hair salons and other service providers often ask for a credit card to hold your reservation and will bill you for a late or missed appointment. We appreciate the hazards ‘no-shows’ present to a business, but when a business or service provider attaches a penalty for tardiness or cancellation the charge should go both ways. If they are late or cancel they should be compensating you for your time.
If your physical therapist cancels an appointment due to illness without giving the same 24 hour ‘no-excuse’ notice they demand of you, then your next appointment should be gratis. In a recent snowstorm, a friend was stuck in horrible traffic and arrived fifteen minutes late to a dental appointment. Not only did they cancel her appointment, but they charged her for it. Often, though, this very same dentist runs late and our friend has spent thirty-forty minutes waiting.
Familiar? Yes. Outrageous? Yes. Should she get a new dentist? Yes.
What of the snooty restaurant that demands you show up within fifteen minutes of a reservation or you lose your table and trigger ‘no-show’ charges on your card, yet they think nothing of keeping you waiting for 45 minutes to an hour to seat you?
A special circle in hell, perhaps.
Ok, we know they can’t ask people to leave, but often we find they have overbooked or not allowed enough time between seatings. They should be bending over backward to be accommodating, at the very least, comping part of your meal for the inconvenience. And, if the wait has been outrageous, the entire meal.
Everyone has an emergency now and then, but equal rules should apply to you and the stylist, masseuse, psychiatrist, trainer, the airlines….
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A New Year Thought: Blissful Budgeting- The Power of 50/30/20
January 4th, 2011 | Comments
Tags: budget, Shopping
From time to time we invite guests to write for us. We’re honored to have Manisha Thakor, Founder of the Women’s Financial Literacy Initiative, share her thoughts on budgeting with us today.
by Manisha Thakor
For most people, the thought of saving and budgeting is right up there with getting a Brazilian wax… one hair at a time. To me, saving and budgeting are power tools that help increase your life bliss. As I like to say, saving is all about spending. It’s just spending that you’ll do down the road as opposed to today. And budgeting, well that’s just the process of making sure that your spending is optimized to take into account both what makes you happy and your current income level.
The two critical questions to ask of this process are: (1) Exactly how much should I strive to save? and (2) How much is reasonable to spend in the key areas of my life – home, car, education, food, clothes, etc.?
Here’s how I think about it. You earn an income. Uncle Sam takes a bite out for taxes. What’s left is your take-home pay pie. The single best rule of thumb I’ve ever encountered for how to divide up that take-home pay pie comes from Elizabeth & Amelia Warren’s delightful book ALL YOUR WORTH: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% saving. Simple, powerful, and smack on. (more…)
No Funds for Fresh Frocks? Fake-It
December 9th, 2010 | 1 Comment
Tags: budget, Shopping
More parties this weekend? Tired of the same old, same old in the closet and no funds for fresh frocks for the festivities? Don’t worry your pretty little head.
Remember this sage advice:
Smart women have been faking it forever.
But it’s the really talented ones who pull it off without anyone ever guessing.
Special events like a wedding, a Christmas party, a New Year’s eve party, even a State dinner (by the way, we’re still smarting over being left off the list) come around and normally sane women go crazy buying new expensive clothing and accessories.
It makes us want to get on a chair with a megaphone and scream:
“Those of you on the charity or State dinner circuit, stand up and identify yourselves, please. We all know you can’t wear the same dress over and over again. And, for the rest of you, it’s called a special occasion for a reason–it only happens occasionally. Why blow the wad on what is likely to be a one-night stand? Worse, what if you blow the wad and then get a stain?”
Since every savvy gal on a budget must amortize her costs, we stick by a steadfast rule of putting money into ‘keeper’ pieces that get frequent wear. Besides, since we are contrary by nature, the fancier the event, the bigger the thrill of a bargain ‘fraud’.
A modern woman takes matters into her own hands.
Haunt consignment stores, eBay and friend’s closets for dresses. Haul out ancient, but faithful, investment grade all-purpose black dresses, and tart them up with the latest passing fads like studded pumps, monster pearls twined with motorcycle chains and bows, sequined leopard bags. CruiseTJ’s, Target, the street guy at 72nd and Broadway for accessories. The bolder the better.
We covet our little secret bargain buys: A favorite evening jacket -purchased a decade ago on the streets in Shanghai for $7 bucks. Our most admired earrings- big, faux and flea market. Best of all, a pair of comfy killer stilettos- priceless, but bought on sale at Nine West.
The true climax of every good fake.
Trust us, there is nothing more thrilling than giving the real swells a big phony smile when they stop and admire your precious pretenders.
We first published a version of this story in the Huffington Post.
Potato Latkes
November 30th, 2010 | Comments
Tags: budget, Food & Spirits
In celebration of Hanukkah we’re sharing our simple, yummy and budget friendly Potato Latke recipe.
Hanukkah Potato Latkes from Bitches on a Budget
-2-3 cups peeled potatoes
-3 tablespoon grated onion
-3 eggs, beaten
-2 tablespoons flour
-1/2 cup safflower oil
-2 – 3 tsp salt (or to taste)
Grate the potatoes. While you can use the attachment on a food processor, there is something about hand grated potatoes – maybe the blood, sweat and tears– that always seems better.
Place the grated potatoes in paper towels inside a strainer and press down to squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible. We find we go through several batches of paper towels; you can also use cheesecloth.
Mix together all the ingredients in a bowl.
We use an electric fry pan and heat the oil to 375. If you don’t own one (who would?) use a deep skillet and on medium/high heat the oil. With a big kitchen spoon individually drop the latkes into the hot oil. Flatten the pancakes to about 1/2 inch thickness. Brown on both sides. Like all pancakes, you’ll need to cook these in batches and watch the heat on the oil.
Drain on paper towels.
While these are best served hot, we’ll put them into a 200 hundred oven to keep warm if we’re making them for a big crowd.
Serve with applesauce, greek style plain yogurt or sour cream.
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Fishmonger Love
November 28th, 2010 | Comments
Tags: bargain, Beauty & Grooming, budget, Health & Fitness, healthy food, simple pleasures
We’re in love with our neighborhood fishmonger.
Yes, they still make fishmongers and since we’re in an anti-meat phase (for lots of reasons: hideous growing conditions, greenhouse gases, we’re grossed out eating flesh) which we don’t strictly adhere to (sometimes we give into temptation) we’re at the fish store a lot.
While our fish guy is the best purveyor for hundreds of miles around, and we do love his glistening, fresh, briny catch, the real reason we’re in love with him is because he noticed our new hair color. We’ve been parading around with a new mop shade for some time and he is one of the few people to take note and approve.
It got us to thinking about how such little things (like being recognized, noticed, complimented) can make someone’s day. All it costs is seeing something and saying something.
So in this overhyped season of forced good cheer and pricy gift giving (or should it be pricy good cheer and forced gift giving)–remember, even though you are a bitch it doesn’t mean you are bitchy, besides it doesn’t cost you anything to be NICE to someone else.
Try it. It’s sweet. It feels good.
Green-Frugal-Free: Get Down at the Dump*
November 20th, 2010 | 12 Comments
Tags: budget, green, Shopping, Target, Walmart
Recycling stations, in these times, should be a frugal-green b’s destination for fabulous finds. That’s right, the dump. Just like you should head over to your nearest Walmart or Target in the priciest zip nearby (for the best assortments), if you can enter without a sticker, check out the priciest garbage facility that has a take-it-or-leave-it near you. Be clever as you wait by the entrance for all those rich, or the once-rich forced to move and now cleaning out, to deliver their goodies. Restrain your Madame LaFarge like snickers, remember what goes around comes around, as you sort through their leftovers.
Repaint a desk and chair for Jimmy. Organize a new library for Grandma. Set the holiday table with oh-so-chic mismatched depression glass dishes.
A final word: Dignity. If you are picking through the garbage, at least be picky.
*Adapted from the book Bitches on a Budget
Black Friday isn’t just for Friday anymore…
October 28th, 2010 | Comments
Tags: Black Friday, budget, Retailing, Shopping, Target Corporation, Walmart
Black Friday, the day that retailers traditionally offer ridiculously low prices and open their stores at ridiculously early times while attracting ridiculously crazed customers isn’t just for the day after Thanksgiving anymore.
Frighteningly, it’s starting this Halloween weekend. The lure of all these goodies is going to go on for a long, long time this Christmas season so your job is to plan carefully.
Sears is running a big sale and Toys ‘R Us is putting all of the items in it’s Christmas Toy catalog on sale on October 31. Target is gearing up to drop a circular with 176 gift items with deeper than normal discounts the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Walmart online will be offering very low prices beginning in November… the list goes on.
The rationale behind time and supply limited deep discounted items is to snatch your shopping dollar before another retailer can pick your pocket. Once they get you inside, they tempt you with a big loss leader, something they may very well be making no money on (unless they’ve cut a great deal with a supplier), and grab your limited disposable dollars before you make off with another guy.
Hey, we’re not condemning them for that– every one needs to make a buck. You just need to be a withholding little B (with your purse, ladies, your purse) and not wantonly give it away to any Kohl’s, Walmart or Macy.
What should you do with all this frantic and early promotion? By all means, if there is a brand new television that was on your list and you see it at a great price–snap it up. But, don’t add a new toaster, iTouch and Taylor Swift CD while you’re cruising through Best Buy just because they’re 20% off, too.
We’re curious: what % off an item is motivational enough for you to make a purchase?
The Poodle Puddle Solution: Mr. Noodles Super Cleaner
October 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments
Tags: budget, cleaning tips, Shopping
 We spend a lot of time raving about world peace, conflict resolution, conservation and the environment. Today we’ll share our best solutions—cleaning solutions. Remember we told you it’s all about the highs and lows, the yin and the yang, the heady conversation and the real dirty work.
Trust us of all our fantasies about what we wanted to grow up to be, a modern day Heloise was not among them. But, we’re always looking for ways to save a penny here and a penny there so we can go out and splurge on the really good stuff.
We were gifted this formula by a really nice professional carpet cleaner one day after he had been over once too often to clean up after the supersized poodle, Mr. Noodle. Instead of that $99 dollar carpet cleaner’s visit, this solution, dubbed “Mr. Noodle’s Super Cleaner”, costs just pennies and is (almost always) just as effective. A big fat disclaimer, test this on a corner of the carpet to make sure it doesn’t wreck the fabric or turn it to some odd neon green color.
First remove whatever the mess is you are trying to clean. Vacuum the area. Fill a jar with 2 parts water, 2 parts white vinegar, 1 part alcohol and 1-2 tablespoons Woolite. Shake vigorously.
Once the area is cleaned, soak the stain with “Mr. Noodles” formula. Use a clean white towel, apply pressure and blot up the liquid. Repeat this until you see most of the discoloration come up. (You may need several towels and lots of pressure. ) Then cover the stain with a thick wad of paper towels and place a stack of very heavy books on top. Check back the next day.
Let us know how it works for you and send us any other clever (or not so clever) household tips you’ld like to share.
Sunday Brunch: Wheatberries and Poached Eggs
October 10th, 2010 | Comments
Tags: budget, budget friendly healthy food, Food & Spirits, Healthy eating, recipes, Sunday Brunch
We’ve been experimenting with new (to us) grains for over a year and our most recession obsession is with Wheatberries. They are the entire wheat kernel with the husk removed. Simple to cook (boil in 4X the amount of water to wheatberries until tender – approximately 1 hour) and incredibly versatile.
Often finding and preparing budget friendly and good for you foods can be a time challenge. These are simple and ideal. We’ll cook up a big batch on Sunday, serve them for brunch. Then we’ll save and use the rest throughout the week. Great for lunch on-the-go, use wheatberries under leftover grilled chicken or tofu with peanut sauce. Easy for a main dinner dish with pesto. Ideal as a side with a little oil and salt and pepper (or a drizzle of truffle oil).
Try this for breakfast.
Wheatberries with Poached Eggs, Cooked Seasonal Vegetables, EVOO, Manchego Cheese and Thyme
Cook 1 cup of wheatberries in four cups of boiling water for approximately 1 hour or until tender
Saute in olive oil a big pile of seasonal vegetables. (We just used 2 sliced peppers, 3 diced tomatoes, 2 sliced zucchini and 1 chopped onion.) Cook them slowly until tender and they release their juices into a yummy, ‘soupy’, mix.
Poach two eggs.
The rest is simple.
Place a layer of wheatberries in the bottom of a soup bowl. Cover with a ladleful (or to taste) of veggies with their juices. Then top with the poached eggs and shaved cheese. Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs and salt and pepper.
Experiment with different vegetable, herb or cheese combinations. Share your creations!
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Restaurants, doctors, hair salons and other service providers often ask for a credit card to hold your reservation and will bill you for a late or missed appointment. We appreciate the hazards ‘no-shows’ present to a business, but when a business or service provider attaches a penalty for tardiness or cancellation the charge should go both ways. If they are late or cancel they should be compensating you for your time.
