Tag: @shemakescents

The Best Day to Book Cheap Flights is…

Published on by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

Fly in Style Jet Setter

You have decided the destination. I bet you can even picture yourself on the beach sipping something fabulous while rocking your new bikini purchased especially for this moment. What’s next? Well you can’t be a summer jet setter without a flight. So what are you waiting on? Well, a budget savvy frugalista would answer- the best deal on a ticket.

Timing is everything

Did you know the most expensive days to book flights are Fridays and Sundays? My theory is that people are trying to leave after the workweek on Friday and be back before the workweek begins again on Monday. It goes back to simple supply and demand. So when exactly is the best time to buy? Well the answer to that depends on who you ask, however the consensus appears to be either Tuesday or Wednesday. Fare Compare even goes as far to suggest that you purchase your tickets for domestic travel on Tuesday at 3pm (Eastern Time) because prices tend to go up on Thursday for the increased weekend rates. Now it is time to figure out what day you will fly. If you are looking to further your savings and have the availability, try to schedule your flight for Wednesday morning. According to Fare Compare, “Wednesday is one of the three cheapest days, the others are Tuesday and Saturday (Friday and Sunday the most expensive days to travel). The cheapest days to travel internationally are a bit different”.

Discount Tickets

Travel Zoo: this is site the “Google” of travel searches. It allows you to compare multiple travel sites in one search. You simply type in your intended date of departure and whether your trip is one-way or roundtrip and Travel Zoo does the rest.

Hotwire: “No booking fees. Ever” is the motto that they are known for. This site offers deals up to 40% off with a daily feature of called “Today’s Top Deal”. In addition to their great savings, Hotwire features the link, Trip Watcher, which alerts you about price drops on trips that you want.

Travelocity: US cities on sale now for $79+. Just so happens, a “low fare alert” for Atlanta popped up today.

There’s an App for That!

I get emails all of the time for special offers and rates. Let technology work for you by signing up for email updates, signing up for “low fare alerts” from discount travel sites like the ones mentioned above, and check out the App Store and the Android Market. Most of the airline companies have become more technologically savvy and created an app for their loyal customers. It’s worth checking out!

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Man Men Inspired Collection from Banana Republic

Published on by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

It’s Ba-na-nas!!!!

Mad Men Fashion Collection Banana Republic

Banana Republic and AMC are proud to announce the first-ever limited edition “Mad Men” inspired collection for men and women. The collection is designed by Banana Republic in collaboration with “Mad Men” Emmy® Award-winning Costume Designer Janie Bryant and will be carried in Banana Republic’s North American stores and online at www.bananarepublic.com beginning August 11, 2011 (my birthday… yay me!). While I have heard great things about the show, I’ve never actually watched it; however, I am quite familiar with the shows’ fashions and its impact on our culture. Even the folk over at Barbie recognized the trends of the series with their own Mad Men inspired collection:



The Banana Republic “Mad Men” capsule offers a modern take on the cool polish and panache of the 1960s era through the Banana Republic lens of affordable luxury and noticeable quality. The collection features nearly 65 pieces of apparel and accessories for men and women, embodying the style tenants of the time – effortlessly chic, dressed-up American sportswear. What was once old is now new again and take it from me, I can’t wait. According to the press release from Gap, Inc., “The women’s pieces are modern yet lady-like including chic trench coats, tailored dresses, high-waisted skirts, silk tie-neck blouses and statement accessories, like print scarves and leopard print pump heels.” In fact, the pieces described are also some of the feminine pieces that every woman should have in her wardrobe. Click here to see what else made the fashions basic list.

fashion quotes

I hear good things come to those who wait, but you know that can be hard… so for those of you, like me, who want to know what the collection looks like before
August.

Check out some of my favorite looks in this sneak peek courtesy of Banana Republic via the Frisky:

Man Men Fashions from Banana Republic

Mad Men Collection from Banana Republic

Mad Men Collection for Banana Republic

Mad Men for Banana Republic

Mad Men Collection for Banana Republic

Mad Men Collection for Banana Repulic

Want to gain early access to a pre-sale of the full collection? Become a Facebook fan of Banana Republic (facebook.com/bananarepublic) and preview the sale on August 10, 2011.

What do you think about the fashions you saw? Let us know in the comment box!

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Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale 2011

Published on by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Heads Up!! One of my favorite stores, Nordstrom, is getting ready for their Anniversary Sale. Want to score outstanding savings on the hottest fall trends before the season starts? Duh, of course you do. Beginning July 15th, you can shop next seasons fashions for less at the biggest sale of the year. To kick it off, Nordstrom is hosting special store hours but remember prices go up August 1st.

Check out my favs from their Anniversary Sale Catalog (sneak peak):





Check out my tweeps from Nordstrom @Nordstrom!!

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Old Navy and Operation Care and Comfort (OCC)

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Operation: Care & Comfort


In honor of military troops and their families and to celebrate the 2011 Independence Day, Old Navy announced that its entire U.S. fleet of about 1,000 stores will host Operation Troop Donation: a donation drive from July 1 – 4 to collect essential items needed by the men and women serving our country, away and at home. Shop in stores and donate suggested items like basic tees, underwear, socks and flip flops, or make a cash donation with Old Navy matching up to a total of $100,000. Items such as unused personal care items (e.g. hand sanitizer, lip balm, sun screen, soap) are also being collected by armed services volunteers at all Old Navy locations, which will then be sorted, packaged and shipped to troops by Operation: Care and Comfort.


You Can Help:

Most Requested Items:

Food:

Beef jerky, microwavable meals, soups (no pork please)

Hygiene:
Mach III Razor and cartridges, dental supplies

Entertainment:
DVDs, CDs

Miscellaneous:
AA and AAA Batteries, AT&T Phone Cards

Items may be shipped to, or dropped off at either of our two main locations below:

Operation: Care and Comfort
2392 Walden Square
San Jose, CA 95124

Hours: Any

American Red Cross
Operation: Care and Comfort
2731 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95134

Office Hours:
9am-5pm, Monday through Friday


You Can Help:
Donating Money

Our program accepts cash donations to cover the cost of shipping packages overseas.

All donations are tax deductible and will be used specifically for this program.

At over $1 a pound, donations to cover shipping costs is our greatest need.

Please make checks payable to:

Operation: Care and Comfort

Please mail checks to:

Operation: Care and Comfort
2392 Walden Square
San Jose, CA 95124

Credit card donations are accepted online.

 Old Navy customers who participate by making a donation whether in product or cash will receive a 10 percent discount off their entire purchase in-store that day. “Operation: Care and Comfort is thrilled to continue ‘Operation Troop Donation’ with Old Navy in 2011,” stated President and Co-founder Julie DeMaria. “The enthusiastic support by the public to our cause is humbling, and the outpouring of gratitude from our military personnel abroad and at home has been tremendous. We can’t wait to do it again, and thank Old Navy for their ongoing support of our service members, Veterans and their families.” Tom Wyatt, President of Old Navy adds, “Old Navy is proud to continue our support of the men and women who serve our country. Operation Troop Donation is a great way to allow our customers to show their support as well.”

For more information, visit the Operation: Care and Comfort website, or the Old Navy Facebook page.


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10 FREE ways to De-Stress

Published on by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

The connection between debt and stress is obvious. Debt related stress became the subject of an article by Jennifer Soong’s, a contributor for WebMD. In her article, The Debt-Stress Connection, Soong brought up the connection saying, “Gas and food prices are sky-high, the stock market is down, and the housing market is in the doldrums. But can worrying about the health of your bank account really make you sick”? Absolutely, stress can make you physically sick but what can you do to combat it?

Below are 10 ways to de-stress without breaking the bank:


Exercise
Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.
~Elle Woods (Legally Blonde)


Gossip with your girlfriends
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. ~Dr. Seuss


Try Meditation or Breathing Techniques
After all, computers crash, people die, relationships fall apart. The best we can do is breathe and reboot.
~Carrie Bradshaw (Sex & The City)


Light some candles
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
~Chinese Proverb



Read Something!!!
The time to read is any time: no apparatus, no appointment of time and place, is necessary. It is the only art which can be practiced at any hour of the day or night, whenever the timeand inclination comes, that is your time for reading; in joy or sorrow, health or illness.
~Holbrook Jackson


Laugh More
Laughter is the best medicine.
~Proverb


Set aside some “me” time
I restore myself when I’m alone.
~Marilyn Monroe


Take a bubble bath
There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.
~Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar


Detach from technology
Technology has become such an integral part of [our] lives that many of us find it impossible to completely unplug.
~Amy Ziff


Make Ordinary Experiences Extraordinary

If you obey all the rules, you will miss all the fun

SMC readers, how do you relieve your stress without opening your wallet?

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Rollback at the Pump: How to Save More Money on Gas

Published on by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments


Good Morning SMC Readers!!!! Today is Hump Day and the first day since this past weekend that I have been able to get myself together. On Saturday alone, I started Operation Wedding (again), attended the baby shower of a great friend from high school, and ended the evening at a post-wedding event hosted by my sister and her hubby. The next day was spent starting a new book, The Help by Kathryn Sockett and patiently awaiting the arrival of the cutest fat baby I have ever seen, although I didn’t witness the birth as mentioned on my bucket list. With all of that said, I am ready to get back to financial business.

In the midst of all of my running around, I did notice that the price of gas has gone down. Even yesterday, I witnessed people lined up at the pumps as if that was their last opportunity at fueling their cars and then this morning I found out the great news explaining why at some local pumps gas prices are significantly lower. Ready for it??? Walmart is “rolling back” at the pump. In a reply to customer’s concerns about the increasing price of gas being one of their highest budget busters, Walmart explains in today’s press release, that the “90-day Rollback at the pump [will] give customers a savings of 10 cents a gallon on all fuel, gas and diesel, at participating Murphy USA and Walmart gas stations”. What’s the catch? The discount applies to gas purchases made when using a reloadable Walmart gift card, reloadable Walmart MoneyCard® or Walmart credit card from June 29 through September 30, 2011. Stephen Quinn, Chief Marketing Officer for Walmart revealed, “Our goal is to make it easy for everyone to save and live better, and we think this gas program is leading in the market because it doesn’t require any additional purchase, loyalty card or other restrictions.”

Honestly, I’m all for lowering expenses and 10 cents a gallon can and will make a difference. If you find it hard to believe that 10 cents will make a difference, please allow me to refresh your memory with the “pics at the pump” that readers like you sent in. Simply put, purchasing a reloadable gift card to pay for my gas at a lower rate is worth standing in line for, even though I detest standing in line at Walmart.

States with participating gas stations are:

  • Arkansas
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

Click here for a complete list of participating Walmart and Murphy USA locations


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Splurge vs. Save: Fashion Basics Every Woman Should Own

Published on by Danielle YB Vason8 Comments

I remember being in college trying to explain to my Dad how and why I spent $300 on a pair of Dolce & Gabbana strappy wedged heeled sandals. I tried to compare my growing shoe collection with his collection of art. Both deserve to be seen, both are an investment, and both, shoes and art, are an expression of personal style. My Dad redirected with one irrefutable point, shoes unlike art don’t increase in value over time. Ugh!! Looking back those shoes are still in great condition, 7 years later, which got me thinking. When faced with the choice to splurge or save, how do you decide?

 Personally, I suggest splurging on the basics and saving on more trendy items. Check out my inspirations below!!

SPLURGE

LBD
The Little Black Dress (LBD)
Orange Trench Coat
Feminine Trench Coat
Classic White Shirt & Pencil Skirt
Blazer and Jeans
Fitted Blazer & Great Fitting Jeans
Feminine Undergarments
Classic Studs
Gold & Silver Hoops


SAVE

Summer Romper
Statement Necklace
Statement Necklace
Cute Maxi Dress
Maxi Dress- My Sweatsuit Alternative
Cool Sunglasses
Trendy Sunglasses

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What fashion and accessory items do you save and splurge on?  Comment below or on our Facebook wall!

How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

Published on by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

You are on the road to financial empowerment. You have printed out your spending chart. You have cut back on impulse spending. You know at least 5 ways to improve your credit score. The birds are chirping. The sun is shining and you look like you’re the happy little stranger in the middle of a Brady Bunch episode because your latest financial decisions have been uncharacteristically positive. Then is happens…(insert screeching sounds here)… something pops up on your credit history that is inaccurate. What do you do?

What is on Your Credit Report?

Your credit report reveals how you spend, the type of loans you have, your revolving credit, how you pay your bills, etc. This information is then used to decide whether you are approved for a credit card, loan, car purchase, insurance, home purchase and rental, and even employment. For potential employers, your credit report is used as a measure of your level of responsibility and can be a part of the deciding factor of whether you are offered the job or not.

How Credit Report Errors Are Made?

Mistakes can appear on your credit report for several reasons. Clerical errors are common because people make mistakes. Perhaps numbers were transposed, your handwriting was not legible, or the unfortunate situation that you have become a victim of identity theft. Check your credit report periodically for these types of errors.

How to Resolve Reporting Errors for FREE

Contact the credit bureau in writing, highlighting the information to be investigated. You will need to submit supporting documents such as a copy of your driver’s license if the inaccuracy involves a name change, change of address, or dispute of a utility bill. If your dispute is regarding your social security number, you will need to present a copy of your social security card and/or a copy of your W2. If you have your credit report number handy, this is the time to get it. Submit your credit report number and copies (not originals) of documents to be reviewed. The Federal Trade Commission recommends you “send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested,” so you can document what the credit reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures. If you used Experian, the fastest way to challenge a dispute is online. Generally, disputes are resolved within 30 days but depending on the nature of the dispute, resolutions can take up to 45 days. If you find information on your credit report that is not accurate or doesn’t belong to you, please contact the credit bureau which produced the report.

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