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How to Invest $500

Nov4

money

Per MarieClaire.com, I found a great way to invest your hard earned money! If you have at least $500 saved, a wise thing to do would be to “invest $500 a year for the next 10 years in the S&P 500 (an index of 500 diversified companies), and you’ll end up with $7,195 — assuming the S&P earns its historical annual average of 11.91 percent — says Jennifer Ellison, CFA, a portfolio manager at Bingham Osborn & Scarborough LLC. (An index may do better than individual stocks because highs and lows even out.)

The long-term profit potential is even more compelling. A 35-year-old woman investing $500 a year until she hits age 65 could amass $103,958 by the time she retires. (Just think of all the shoes you could buy with that nest egg!)”

For additional information on the S&p 500 click here.

Ask.com Has Answers for Frugal Shoppers

Oct6

askcom

I found out on WUSA9.com that Ask.com is introducing Ask Deals, a service that will let visitors search for online coupons and bargains that it indexes from several dozen popular coupon Web sites, along with retail Web sites, message boards and blogs.

Ask Networks President Scott Garell said the company decided to focus on the bargain market because so many people use coupons. According to coupon-processing company Inmar Inc., use of electronic discounts and coupons more than doubled in the first half of 2009 from the same period last year, as overall coupon use rose 23 percent. Electronic coupons now account for more than 3 percent of all coupons used, up from about 2 percent last year.

To make sure Ask Deals isn’t posting out-of-date deals, Ask will use software to filter the results, Garell said. An editorial team will also point out special deals and help determine bargains are valid.

There are plenty of sites out there that sift through the best deals — and shopping is one focus of Microsoft Corp.’s retooled Bing search engine, for example. But Garell thinks Ask’s plan to aggregate bargains from many places will lure savvy consumers.

“When you look at the raw scale and quality of what we’re doing, it’s better,” he said.

10 Tips For Making Beauty Products Last

Oct5

best-beauty

One of my sister’s good friends, Myra, forwarded this very helpful list to me.  Thought I’d share it with you guys!

10 Tips For Making Beauty Products Last

 1. Revive Your Nail Polish:  If your polish brush no longer reaches the bottom of the bottle, add a few drops of nail polish remover, shake the bottle and voila. New nail polish. Also, invest in a long thin paintbrush to access those hard to reach last bits before you trash the bottle for good.

2. Maximize Mascara:  Is your favorite mascara all dried up? Use a hair dryer to heat it up, or soak the tube in hot water to re liquify. Remember, though: mascara should be thrown out after 3-6 months of use to avoid infections.

3. Make Lipstick Last:  Scrape the lipstick dregs out of bottom of the tube, place inside of a pill box, contact lens case or a very small plastic paint palette and microwave for about 10 seconds. Then, put the melted lipstick in the fridge to harden in your new “container.” You might need to use a lipstick brush to apply, but that’s cheaper than a whole new tube of Chanel!

4. Longer Life Lip Liner:  To keep lip and eyeliners moist and firm, store them in the refrigerator between uses.

5. From Powder to Gloss:  Take leftover powdered blush (when it’s cracked and you can hardly get it on the brush) and mix with Vaseline for a pink, sparkly lip gloss.

6. From Dust to Gold:  If your blush or eye shadow cracks and falls apart, put all of the pieces in a plastic baggie and pound into a powder. Then, dip a make-up brush in to use the powdery bits.

7. Spritz and Save:  When your favorite perfumes have almost vanished into fumes, add water to the perfume bottle, shake it up and transfer to a spray bottle (unless your perfume bottle is already an atomizer, in which case use that). Voila! Instant body spray!

8. Turn Powder to Crème Shadows:  To change the look of a powder eye shadow you’ve had for a while, apply a little Vaseline to your lid before applying the shadow for a creamier, richer color that will “pop” and look ultra-modern – like you just visited the latest make-up counter.

9. Freeze Frame:  If your make up keeps melting off while you’re applying it during the hot summer months, open the freezer door and let your face cool down to help your make-up set. That way, you won’t have to keep re-applying and wasting more make-up.

10. Cheap Shine-Stoppers:  If you run out of blotting papers and want to de-shine your face on a humid day, toilet seat covers are a great stand-in.

Walmart Promotes 100 Toys For Just $10 For Holiday Shopping!

Sep30

As I was thinking about the holiday season coming up right around the corner, I thought this Walmart announcement would be very useful for people who are looking to buy toys for their children or children relatives.  Keep on reading to find out the scoop on this time and money saving promotion.

large_toys

(Webwire) BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart is bringing back its $10 toys section in all stores today and expanding its $10 holiday assortment this year to more than 100 toys. The retailer has included among its $10 prices and Rollbacks a strong assortment of newly released toys, top brands and classic toys that shoppers seek out each holiday season.

According to Walmart customer research, by the month of August 55 percent of shoppers report having started budgeting for their holiday toy shopping, and 39 percent say they have started watching for deals. In fact, 70 percent of consumers report planning to start their holiday toy shopping before Halloween, and 2 out of 10 will have finished by that time.

The $10 toys are not limited time offers, but last through the Christmas holiday. In addition, Walmart’s price guarantee will match any local competitor’s advertised offer on the same toy product if it falls below $10.

Walmart $10 Toy Highlights:

Following are a few examples of the breadth of toys in Walmart’s $10 assortment, some of which are being newly introduced at $10 and others reduced 20-50% off Walmart’s every day low price:

  • New Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Action Figures
  • Barbie Cut and Style Rapunzel doll
  • Games such as Connect 4, Battleship, Monopoly, Trouble and Jenga
  • Vtech Explore and Learn Helicopter
  • Tonka Light and Sound vehicle assortment (firetruck, dumptruck, etc.)
  • New Littlest Pet Shop Online Animals (virtual pet) or Littlest Pet Shop Playpack sets
  • Clean-Up Pup Barbie Play Set and Mermaid Splash & Style Barbie
  • New Play-Doh Burger Builder Set
  •  New Garanimals line Bath Boat (with squirter) and ABC 50 wood blocks kit
  • Hot Wheels Trick Track
  •  LEGO Bionicle Legends set
  • New Nerf-N-Force Sword
  • My Little Pony So Soft Newborn
  • Little Dreams Interactive Baby Doll

5 Simple Money Tips

Sep23

A recent survey from VISA found that almost half of all Americans lose track of an average of $45 a week. Guess that dollar here and there really adds up!  Faroosh Torabi, author of You’re So Money, offers tips to stop cash from dripping out of your wallet.  See  below.

hand-money

1. Write it down

Keep a record of every purchase you make–down to quarters for parking meters–for a week.  Seeing just how much those afternoon vending machine raids are costing you will clue you in to your total spending picture.

2. Make a Shopping List

Even if you’re going to the grocery store for only a few items, sticking to your list is a simple way to avoid pricey impulse purchases.

3. Pay your own way

Treating your friends to coffee or lunch always feels great.  But don’t give till it hurts–pick up the check once in a while, NOT once a week.

4. Avoid ATM surcharges

If you use an ATM that’s our of your network, most banks will charge you about $2.  Add that to the $2 penalty fee your own bank wil sock you with and you’re looking at almost $4 each time you go to the ATM.  If you take out cash once a week, that can add up to more than $200 a year! Stick to ATMs in your bank’s network.

5. Use only your debit card

Not only will you be able to track your spending more easily but you’ll also be less likely to purchase that $1 pack of gum or $2 trinket on impulse if you have to go through the extra step of using plastic

Groupon – Save $$$$$

Aug20
www.groupon.com

www.groupon.com

About Groupon

Groupon started in November 2008 as part of The Point, a platform for collective action. We started Groupon to make it easier for people to enjoy the great things in their community. We do it by offering a daily deals at unbeatable prices through the power of group buying.

How It Works

  1. Each day Groupon features something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
  2. You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
  3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

Join Groupon today and save some money! It is available in different cities, not just Chicago :)