So yesterday I was hanging with my bestie and she was telling me about some contraption she wanted to buy to tone her abs.  I gave her the side eye and said “Well, you already have that big exercise ball, what do you need that for?”  So then we started talking about how she could use stuff that she already had around her apt to make at home gym.  I also started thinking about the from the comments on my posts Being for real about our weight, parts 1 and 2 – if women really don’t want men to see them without makeup/sweaty/frizzy hair, etc, this is the perfect way to get in shape and save face.

So what do you need: worst case, if you are super broke, you can start off with nothing at all, and just use your body weight (with squats, lunges and push ups) and lift canned veggies or books to tone your arms.

If you do have a little money to spend, I would suggest getting:

yoga mat

exercise ball

weights (start with 5 lbs, then work up to 10lbs)

exercise bands

DVDs (if you feel like you need some encouragement or you just don’t know what exactly to do with all this stuff)

If you want to go hard core with your home gym, you could also get:

medicine balls

balance trainer

So what do you lovely ladies have in your home gyms?

peace,
e.

credit: Piotr Bizior: http://www.bizior.com

As summer approaches and we stand in the midst of a weakened and unstable economy ( though things are beginning to look up), most of us are trying to find ways to escape the monotony of our daily grind. Since most of us are no longer in college and do not get an official spring/summer break, not only are we left with trying to find creative ways to vacation but now also faced with finding the time to sneak away for a bit.

Being the SASSY and frugally savvy sista’s and brothers that we are, this should be a small and relatively easy feat. I can understand that you may be unsure of where to begin and how to get the most bang for your buck. Check out this list of ideas and things to remember for quick, cheap and painlessly fabulous mini-vacation spots that can be just around the corner from where you call home.

Tip #1. Take the road less traveled. What I mean by that, is if you can travel by car do it! It will be the best and cheapest way to go. Although gas prices over the summer seem to always sky rocket, the price of fuel for a round trip destination will cost you up to 50% less than if you were to travel by plane. Also an added bonus is that you wont have to pay to check your luggage since trunk space is always free.

Tip #2. Stay close to home. Get on the web and research the largest cities closest to you in each neighboring state, then visit their official state website to check out the attractions they have to offer. You never know, the perfect vacation may only be a couple hours away.

Tip #3. Bundle your costs. If you must fly, leave on non peak days (Tuesday – Thursday). Try and book weeks in advance through a wholesale website such as Expedia, Hotwire, Priceline or Orbitz. Many of these sites are running summer promotions that can get you to and from major cities to other destinations for as little as $99 round trip. By booking your hotel, airfare and rental car prices together you can save a considerable amount of money.

Tip #4. Use your available discounts. Everyone loves to get something free but the next best thing to free is to get it discounted. Some discounts you may be able to use to cheapen your trip are student discounts, military (if your active or a dependent), AAA, government (you qualify for this discount if you hold a federal or state work ID) and many others. Take advantage of what’s available to you to get the most bang for your buck.

Tip #5 Split the price. If you have a group of really fun people who are all looking to get away, travel together. By splitting the cost of the trip you can save up to 25% on your accommodations if you travel with 3 or more people. Additionally, another alternative for group travel is vacation apartment rentals. They offer more space and are often priced per week instead of per night.

Tip #6. Ride the rails. Travel by train means that you must enjoy “getting there” as much as “being there.” Since it takes a lot longer than flying, you have to make transportation part of the experience. Don’t just think about hopping on a train to get somewhere. Instead, you’re going to the train! And, eventually, it will lead someplace.

Tip #7. Cruise it up. Weekend cruises can be very inexpensive and leave from ports that may be right near you. Discovery Cruise Lines offer several weekend trips to the Bahamas ( although a U.S Passport is required for this destination) which bundle the actual cruise and hotel stays for as little as $59 per person.

Taking these tips into consideration, here are a few cities you may look into traveling to that you may have never considered (well, unless you live near or in one of them. If this is the case, see tip #2):

Chicago, Illinois — Try the Navy Pier for shopping or if your a foodie, hit up the Taste of Chicago
Charleston, South Carolina – Get an old country feel with a coastal flair. Day trips to Daniels or Johns Islands could be great fun
Fort Myers, Florida — Take a visit to the wildlife preserve or its romantic beaches. (Bonus: Hotels on Sanibel and Captiva Islands  are offering a 20% discount on bookings ranging from a week or more. This special ends on June 13, 2009.)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — A foodie’s dream you can visit eclectic restaurants and sample the traditional cheesesteak or hop on a 90 min train ride to bustling NYC.
Baltimore, Maryland — Take in an Orioles Game or the local fun down at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
Charlotte, North Carolina — See the orchids at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, the U.S National Whitewater Center or the roaring roller coasters of Carowinds.

If your in the market for a vacation, the most you can do is your homework. You will be able to find a destination that is just what you’re looking for while staying within your price range if you follow the above tips and keep in mind that less is always more. The less money you actually spend on traveling to your destination, the more money you’ll indefinitely have once you arrive. Share with me in the comments any other cost-cutting ways youve found to make your trips less expensive. Are there any other cities youve visited that you would recommend for someone looking to take a mini-vacation?

Wherever your travels may take you this summer or beyond, remember to be sexy, SASSY and safe while you do it!

image from stock.xchng

A new season, a new reason to buy tons of new clothes.  Marie Claire offers 5 ways to to get the clothes you want and not break the bank.

1. Stay Within Your Budget. This is perhaps that hardest part of all.  So in order to stay within your budget, create a reasonable budget.  If you know you spend $100 a month on clothes, don’t budget for $50.  And if you do budget for $50, then only spend $50.  Simple in words, very difficult in real life.
2. E-Clip Coupons. I know, I’m not the best at this.  If you’re actually on your fav stores mailing list, you should get these in your email or in your real mail.  MC recommends subscribing to coolsavings.com to get coupons.
3. Hit Up Sales - Again, i you’re on a mailing list, you will definitely know when your favorite stores are having sales.  You can also subscribe to shopittome.com and get coupons from all the stores you love .  Oh and of course, check out the bougie baller, she ALWAYS knows how to get you a deal.
4. Don’t Splurge. Yes I know, essentially the same as #1 but the true way to not regret what you buy.
5. Indulge in fads sparingly. Yes, I know it difficult, but let’s be for real.  How much of what was hot last year is still hot this year?

Happy shopping ladies,
e.

Dear Bari,

I have a problem. I’m a single, young lady living in a large, urban city. I consider myself a social person and I enjoy meeting people. I have recently met several men, all who seem great and have potential, but I fear going out with them. Not because I’m scared of commitment or being happy or anything…it’s because…I’m broke. I overspent the past few months (bought way too many shoes!) and I have some upcoming financial commitments that make my discretionary income for the next few months limited…very limited.

I feel as though if I’m going to go out on a date with a man that I should have enough money to at least cover my half of the date plus a cab ride home just in case something goes horribly wrong or I need to excuse myself because he started acting the nut. Plus I feel that it’s just right for me to be able to do what he’s doing for me, especially in these early stages of dating.

So what should I do? Should I just fallback from the dating scene until I get my money together and let these potentially great guys walk on by? Should I say something to them about it? Or should I just say bump that and not worry about the money thing?

Help!
(Temporarily) Broke

*******************

Hi Broke,

Damn. That even hurt MY feelings to write your name, but I guess the recession is real. Congrats on the shoes, though!

First, allow me to say that I LOVE how smart your dating strategy is. Please go out and spread this gospel. It’s just good practice, and super safe, to plan ahead and keep your own stash to cover your portion of the date/meal and a cab.

Now…that said, when someone asks you out (and I apply this philosophy to both men and women), the person who is extending the invitation is in charge of covering the meal. I would go ahead and add transportation into the equation, but a lot of folks decide to meet someone at a venue for safety reasons. In that case, they are in charge of their own transportation costs. Besides, how tacky would it be to pick someone up, go out on a date and then drop them off at the end of the night with a request for gas money? It sounds ridiculous, but I have a friend who had this happen to her in 2000. Then again, I don’t advocate dating the bootleg tape man, but that’s me.

Honestly, I wouldn’t fall back from dating altogether. However, I would just tailor my date to my financial means for my own peace of mind. Example- if you are interested in getting to know someone and you like him, agree to meet him for a lunch date during the week. It’s low pressure, typically lower cost than dinner, and if you decide that he’s lame, you don’t have to spend more than that one hour with him. Worst case scenario, you spend most of your time listening to him jaws about his life while you eat a $15 salad that you have enough money in your pocket to pay for at a restaurant within walking distance from your office. Best case scenario, you like him, box your salad up because you’ve been talking and eat in your office and make plans with him for dinner at a later date. Or, you could arrange to meet for coffee on a Saturday, or at a street festival (depending upon your location and weather). These are all low cost, yet entertaining options.

Again, I can’t tell you how smart I think your rule is. Safety first. And you are living my tagline.

Have a good weekend folks! Date Responsibly.

Bari

If you have questions for Bari, please email them to askbari@gmail.com.

(read number 3)

I remember the day I graduated like it was yesterday, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and I couldn’t stop smiling, until I got home that is. Lying on my kitchen table was a letter from my student loan company informing me that in 6 months I would have to start paying back thousands of dollars, ouch.

Forty years ago our parents were concerned with Vietnam, politics, the disco era, and taking over the world in their perspective fields. Worrying about student loans and having good credit after graduating college was not a major concern for them.

Many young people in their 20’s are faced with $20,000-$100,000 in debt upon graduating from undergrad.” This debt-for-diploma system is strangling our young people right when they’re starting out in life,” says Tamara Draut, author of Strapped: Why America’s 20- and 30- Somethings Can’t Get Ahead. “It’s creating a sense of futility that no matter what they do, they’re not going to be able to get ahead. It’s a sense of hopelessness.”

Trust me, like most of you I was freaking out when I received my first student loan bill. Staring at that huge amount of money that had to be paid back with my name on it almost gave me an anxiety attack, it was too much. Instead of completely freaking out I took a deep breath and did some research on ways to pay off my debt. Here are some helpful steps I learned:

Pay off your credit cards, first

I know it’s hard to believe, but paying off your education should not be number one on your priority list when it comes to your personal finances. Credit cards accumulate 15% to 20% in interest rates, so the sooner you pay down the higher interest the more money you save.

Consolidate!

Instead of paying 2 to 5 different student loan bills every month, consolidate them all into one. By doing this you can have one low interest rate and rid your self of a huge headache every month.

Make a Decision

Many recent graduates go back and forth on whether they should start paying off their student loan bills right away. The best thing you can do is make a decision as soon as possible. Develop a pay off schedule or defer your loans right after graduation. Whatever you do, it’s important not to stall!

Set Aside Money

If you do decide to defer your payments, set aside a small amount of money each month as if you are paying a student loan bill. Knowing that you have a student loan stash saved away will help you feel more in control of your financial status.

It’s your future

Most importantly remember to take your student loan repayments seriously. The longer you put it off, the more it will effect your life in many ways. Whether it’s buying a car, buying a home, obtaining credit cards, etc, you must pay these loans back as soon as possible.

If you want more information on how to pay off your student loans, check out the book Zero Debt by Lynnette Khalfani.

How many times have you heard the phrase “I can have it all and more”? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hearing that since birth and frankly it’s just not true, at least not yet.

Here’s the truth, like many of you, I absolutely love to have the finer things in life. Well I did before I graduated from college and entered the real world that is! While still on my parents’ dime, you would never catch me walking around with a basic MP3 player instead of Apple’s I-pod. No fake name brands, fake anything, you get my drift. However, I realized once I was out on my own that it was time to make a change when it came to my finances. I have five helpful tips for you SASSY readers that will help you begin to change the way you think about money.

1. Know the difference between wanting and needing an item.

In today’s world, it is so easy to get caught up in material things. But the simpler things in life costs as well. An example of this would be the world’s most famous coffee café, Starbucks. I’m sure many of you out there love the Starbucks brand and probably have spent thousands of dollars at the popular coffee shop over the years. A cup of Starbucks coffee cost anywhere from $4.00-$7.00. Now just think of how much money you would be saving if you made your own coffee at home or had the coffee your work place provides. It may not taste as great as Starbucks, but in the end you are saving yourself lots of money.

2. If it’s the latest gadget and you have to have it, SAVE for it.

Like many people across the country and world, I was beyond happy when Apple creator, Steve Jobs, announced this past summer they were coming out with the critically acclaimed i-phone. However, I was shocked when I heard the price was $600.00. There was no way I could afford to purchase a phone that expensive. I decided to save for it, and I made the right choice. Four months later I paid $299.00 for my new i-phone and still had $300.00 to keep for myself.

3. Start a money journal to see how much you spend on basic things.
You’d be surprised to see how much money you spend on basic everyday needs. Whether you are doing grocery shopping, taking your clothes to the dry cleaners or even buying fruit, remember to write it all down! By keeping a money journal you are keeping track of all of your finances big and small.

4. Work on not spending outside of your budget.

Setting a monthly budget for yourself is essential to making your finances work for you and not against you. You should have a spending limit for everything, including groceries, clothes shopping, necessities, etc. Now that you have a budget, it is imperative that you actually stick to it.

5. Stop caring about others feelings and consider what’s best for you (and your budget).

I know this is a hard one, but many of us get caught up in what our friends and relatives think about us all the time. When it comes to your money, remember just that, it is your money and you have the right to decide what you do and do not want to spend it on. Do your best to be smart and not get caught up in the idea of trying to impress others by purchasing items that your budget will not allow.

Overall, it is important to learn how to say no period. In the long run you will be saving yourself a lot of money and investing in your future.

~Mia

A woman once told me that when you look good, you feel good. It’s really not secret that looking good is directly related feeling good and ultimately resulting in feeling fabulous. Sure, you may not sit front row at fashion week or have a subscription to women’s wear daily, but let’s face it, as a woman, (and a SASSY Woman at that), fashion is very important part of your life, and if it isn’t, it should be.

One of the reasons I decided to write for SASSY because a lot of women would always ask me for fashion advice. I’ve noticed that many women may love shopping, may love spending money, and may love new things, new items, new garments, but are not effective shoppers. In fact, I’ve seen women spend tons of money and still not have the pieces that are necessary to keep a timeless wardrobe with few key trendy pieces. On the flipside, I’ve seen girls spend little money and it shows. Instead of looking chic, they look cheap.

Here is the dilemma. How does one look fabulous without spending a fortune that they don’t have? How do you manage to find timeless pieces, awesome designer garments and trendy items without spending all your money at Easy Pickings, a Rave, or the express rack of clearance? More importantly, how do you create a wardrobe on a limited budget that doesn’t look like you got it all on clearance? How do you create a wardrobe where everything looks expensive, yet none of it was? These are the questions I plan to answer.

Before we get started with the best places to shop at, or how to find bargains, or any other great tips, you, as the reader, must understand the necessary precautions.

Understanding Quality
When shopping on a budget, it’s important to get the best quality for your money. While no one expects to you know the fabric content of every garment, it is important that while you shop, that you feel and touch every garment you are about purchase. If the quality feels weak, it should stay on the rack. This is important for all garments, especially denim. If you are not sure what great quality feels like, take a trip to a high end store and feel the quality of the garments. Compare them to where you were planning on shopping for a lesser price. Do your best to match the feel of the expensive garment to the feel of the less expensive garment. This will help you understand cheap quality versus great quality.

ASSES YOUR OWN CLOSET
Before you go adding more clothes to your collection, it is important to asses your own closet. Find out what you have that you can keep and what you have in your closet that you can get rid of. There may be some clothes that were great when you bought them, but you may need to get rid of them. Do you really still need those knockoff Manolo Blahnik timbs from Steve Madden? Maybe its time to throw away that cheap faux fur coat you got from Macy’s. These are the questions that you need to ask yourself . The more aware you are own closet, the easier it will be for you to determine what you need to buy versus what you need to throw out. The best part is that the clothes you get rid of, you maybe able to sell at a consignment shop or a thrift store, which will give you some cash to work with.

I know some of you are reading this blog with a raised eyebrow. I know these statements and questions are going through your head right now. Does he really know what he’s talking about? There’s nothing wrong with how I shop? I buy stuff from H&M and trendy stores, so it has to be fabulous! There’s no way I can get designer clothes in my size for less? Well SASSY ladies, I’m here to show you the way to be frugal, yet fabulous. I look forward to all your feedback and questions.

Welcome to the Frugal, yet Fabulous section of SASSY.