The drugstore of today is more a mini department store then a simple pharmacy. Though if you need help with over the counter treatments, rest assured there is a kindly and sometimes quite attractive professional to help. As always join the club at CVS and get further discounts and coupons.

When did they start to carry good wine? And at a discount? With great sales, you know that you are getting the finest  quality for drinking or gift giving. Buy a bottle of wine, some chocolates or cookies, a gift bag, and you have the makings of a lovely present for coworkers, neighbors, or friends.

Need a quick toy for a tot and don’t want to brave the big box stores. CVS has quite the respectable toy section. Good to know that Play-Do never goes out of style. Check out the paper goods for fun pens or get some great hair accessories. Put together some things that are more fun then one big item.

And they have food, not fresh organic produce but cereals, soups, and odd things that you might want on a Saturday afternoon when a snack attack strikes. Mixed nuts for company. Ice cream for sundaes.

One could roam forever in a drugstore. The shampoo aisle alone is good for an afternoon. Curly, straight, dyed, more volume, and every other permutation of hair cleanser is there. Me, I am an Aussie Miracle with voluminizing kind of gal. For less then $10, I can be pouffed to the max. For another few dollars, you can try the three minute conditioner. Soft, shiny, and luxurious hair is on the way.

Backpacks, vitamins for you and your pet, lip gloss, cotton swabs. In a pinch, the drugstore solves all problems.

Take a break at one of the great Happy Hours around town or as I call it dinner for half the price.  

BLT Steak on Sunset has an amazing Happy Hour from 5:00 to 7:00 on Monday to Friday which includes steak sliders, kobe hot dogs, and mini crab cakes for $5 plus five selections from their drink and wine menu for $5. And skip the valet for the free parking in back of Sunset Plaza.

If you are in Westwood after 5:00, check out Yamato’s Happy Hour which lasts until closing everyday. Half price sushi and all appetizers plus $5.75 large sake.

Who knew McCormick and Schmick, a seafood restaurant, would have the best happy hour burger in town?  $2.95 for a 1/2 pound cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and fries! And since they have great food, this is one great burger. Check the time and days at their various locations.

Ciudad brings back $3.00 chicken, steak, carnitas, and vegetarian tacos and 1/2 off mojitos, margaritas, and more from 4:00 to 7:00 Monday to Friday. Plus a chef’s special quesadilla for $5.

Weiland Brewery has about ten appetizers under $5 including  grilled chicken quesadilla, and no fry veggie spring roll plus $2.50 Weiland Brewery beers.  They have two locations downtown so please check the time and days.

The Palamino bar area just became my favorite place. They are featuring their bar menu for 1/2 price all day everyday along with $4 featured beverages that are available throughout the restaurant.  Thursdays the Hammer Museum is free and open until 9:00, so grab a bite and go across the street to enjoy the exhibits and/or freelecture.

Now these are happy hours however you can always order iced tea, soft drinks, or sparkling water and still have a nice evening out and great food at great prices. Please call to verify times and prices as these things change quickly and let me know any of your special finds.

 Now Divas occasionally we may have to pay for tickets however there are many websites and theaters that make is easy to save on entertainment.

Goldstar has an amazing selection of tickets to theater, sporting events, wine tastings, and even some trade shows. They are in several cities so plan ahead when you are traveling.  I have used this website many times and always got good seats in the promised section and they keep a record of your transactions in case you want to recommend a production.

Theater tickets for a year with a subscription to On The House.

Gift Certificates to these sites also make wonderful presents. You pick the amount and send it in a Holiday card.  All the time avoiding traffic and parking hassles. That’s how divas do it.

A bit of a splurge. David Chun, furniture designer,  turned me on to this amazing movie deal.  If you like independent and foreign films, you love the Laemmle Theaters. Now they have decided to return your affections. They offer a bulk package of 25 tickets for $150 on their website  At $6 apiece, this is a great deal!  Split them up and slip two or more  into a Birthday card for a great gift.

Now since this is a big upfront price, maybe share it with a fellow movie fan.  Or use the tickets to take out friends for birthdays or just as a nice surprise for someone special.

You can form a movie club – five people can go five times and meet for coffee afterwards to discuss the films.  Since the tickets don’t expire, you can set the pace – once a week or once a month.  See “Precious” and “An Education” to discuss social issues.   See “A Serious Man” and discuss the moral aspects of decision making.  Since this is Los Angeles, discuss the screenplays and how they can be improved. Catch up on Oscar selections, learn why other people like films that you hate or hate films that you love, and have fun.  This would be a $30 dollar per person investment for five movies, intellectual stimulation, and social activity. 

Laemmles Frequent Movie Goer Tickets save you $100 off the admission charge, are good at any Laemmle Theatre, are good on any day, and never expire. There are a few restrictions so please read the web page before buying.

Check out their website for other savings and if you are elegible go for Student Sundays, all shows that start after 6pm on Sundays, Students with ID are $7. AND popcorn: $1 for Small, $1.50 for Medium and $2.00 for Large: (Students with ID only),   Senior Wednesdays or join the Sneak Preview club for free advance screenings.

Sure you’ve got the coupon, now where is that store, cafe, or car wash?  8coupons.com is the place to find the deal and the location. Search by zip code, click on the offer and a map spotlights where to go. How cool is that.  You don’t have to check google maps, your GPS, or your phone – the location is right on the site for quick decision making. 

They started out in New York and are now expanding to Los Angeles and going national. That means before you travel, check out the deals at your destination and find out if they are near your hotel or friends or business conference.  A handful of coupons doesn’t mean much if you don’t  know where you are going.  And they thoughtfully provide deals nearby.

The Frugal Diva has posted some of her deals on this site to make locating them easier (this does not involve any financial compensation).

Really you ask, is this where a diva goes shopping?  It is when they have beautiful cashmere sweaters on sale for $40 in store and buy one get one free online bringing the price down to $35 each with free shipping. That means one for you and one for gifting.  

And the colors are fabulous, rich purple, hot pink, deep red and the basics – black, grey, dark brown, and even a luxurious white.  The styles are classics with a V neck, turtleneck, and a cute cardigan with matching buttons.  Imagine a white cardigan with a beautiful pair of black or textured pants and you are dressed up for the holidays. Maybe a purple turtleneck with jeans for a fun week end look.  Jaclyn Smith you are still an angel for these great buys.

Now while I was in cashmere heaven, the Frugal Dude wandered in to men’s wear and found a warm (by Los Angeles standards), water resistant winter jacket for $25 and great gloves with insulation for $7. Since we seem to be having more winter then usual, this was a super buy. In general men’s wear looked sturdy and I loved the Basic Edition sports wear including a long sleeve partial zipper heavy cotton top.  Right now it is $9.99 on line. and about the same price in store.

Save on the men’s wear and splurge on the cashmere, after all we are The Frugal Divas and we need a little softness in our lives.  Happy hunting!

Looking for a cool getaway for gobs of kids this summer? AMC Summer MovieCamp will be offered at 10 a.m. each Tuesday morning this summer at participating theatres, from June 15 through August 10. At only $1 admission, it’s an affordable option for summer fun for families and groups. All admission and concession proceeds will benefit two AMC charities. What a great way to entertain the kids!

They also have a lifestyle enhancement that costs nothing. This membership indeed has its privileges.

The AMC MovieWatcher Club is easy, free, and no obligation. Sign up at the theater or on the website, present your card every time you buy a ticket and reap the rewards.  Whenever you buy a ticket your account is credited two points. It is the same two points whether you buy an evening show ticket or a before noon weekend $6 ticket.  Up until this minute, this information has not been too exciting. So you get the card, you get your two points.

Now comes the part that makes this a Frugal Diva delight!

It’s what happens every time you accumulate that first 10 points that make the AMCs your default theater.  Every 10 points earns you a MovieWatcher freebie. The first ten points gets you a free small popcorn.   At twenty points you get a free small drink.  Now if you want a bigger size all you have to do is pay the extra amount and super size to a medium or large.

Plus, with the ExtraOffer you choose your favorite reward!  At 30, 60 and 90 points, redeem your ExtraOffer earnings in one of two ways: Get a large drink and large popcorn at the concession stand, on the same day. Or cash in on a free movie ticket at the Box Office, on your next visit.

At every 100-point milestone, you get a bonus “Night at the Movies” (free ticket, popcorn & soft drink)!

Do you have to keep track of your points? No way! Every time you buy a ticket and present your MovieWatcher Card, they will alert you if a  freebie is coming your way.

Though I occasionally stray to another theater, the AMC is always my first choice. For those of you without the AMC Theaters in your area, my sympathies.  For the rest of you, start enjoying a night out on AMC, you deserve it.

Yes, occasionally we all have to buy gifts. Frugal does not mean stingy. It means a generous soul who wants to give you something that you will love. That’s why Borders is the best for last minute gifts. Now you remember the drill, join the Borders Club and give them that special email address that you have set up for discount alerts. The emails will usually start coming  with promotions on books, CDs, DVDs, games,and all manners of things. I even got a free bakery item with my coffee one time. 

And this is especially good for when you couldn’t plan ahead. Pop in with that coupon, buy something, grab a card, gift bag and you are good to go. There is something for Twilight fans, Beatle fans, gourmet cooks, art lovers, DIY crafters, and fiction readers. Or get a gift card. And you are accumulating points for a  Borders reward. They also have perks plan for members. Buy through the Borders Reward Perks and save.

The other wonderful aspect of Borders is the hanging out factor.  Maybe you don’t want to spend any money and you feel the urge to go somewhere. This is a great destination, browse to your heart’s delight. Puruse some magazines. 

And every week, there are free events happening at Borders. Listen to a best selling author and stay for Q and A afterwards or catch a performance from an up-and-coming musician.  Maybe join a book discussion group or bring the kids to story time. Find a store near you and check out the events happening there!  This is a place that welcomes you even if you don’t spend any money.

Shoes have many good qualities. They are loyal. Gain a few pounds and your jeans will turn on you.  However you have to gain a lot of weight to out grow your favorite pair of pumps.  They wait quietly at the back of the closet until that perfect occasion when only red heels with white polka dots will do.  And you can try on endless pairs without taking off your clothes.

The best place to spend countless hours looking, trying on and maybe even buying – DSW. So much more than those three letters. It’s a place to hang out and meet other people. If only they served beverages and light snacks, one could easily spend the entire day there. I don’t know whether it’s the sheer choice of all those aisles or the friendly salespeople or the unbelievable prices that make this a such a great destination.

And like everywhere else, it’s more fun if you join the club. It costs nothing and you start getting little notices. Before you know it, points start accumulating, coupons are in the mail, and you are on your way to even greater savings.

This is the type of hunting that I’m talking about. They send me a $10 coupon good for any purchase over $10, I buy a $55 pair of Anne Klein loafers (listed at $79 on the AK website), that are reduced another 50% on clearance to $27 and use the coupon – bringing the grand total to$17 dollars and change plus tax.     That’s me with my feet up in my new loafers.

Tell them your birth date and they send you a $5 coupon good for that month. Hey, it may not seem like a lot but it’s more then the other stores are doing for me. DSW, a company that helps you look good without spending too much money.

And this is a great place to buy gifts items-socks, bags, slippers, and gift cards.

Magazine subscriptions are a little luxury that makes a gift last all year. Every month when a copy arrives, there is a little glow knowing you can curl up and read about your favorite topic. And that is the other wonderful aspect of this, there is something for everyone. And the other wonderful aspect is that most can be found for less then $15 for the first year and many for as low as $5.

For Travelers – Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, and there are many very specific ones such as Hawaii, Blue Ridge Country, and Alaska.

For Cooks – Bon Apetit, Food and Wine, Everyday With Rachel Ray, Eating Well, and for the specialist Vegetarian Times, Southern Living, and Weight Watchers (be really sure before you gift this one).

For Sports – Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and for active participants Golf Digest, Tennis, Bicycling, and Backpaker.

For Auto Enthusiasts – Car and Driver,  Motor Trend, and Road and Track plus American Road, Auto Week, and Cycle World.

For Computer Geeks – Wired, Mac Life, and PC Magazine plus PC Gamer, Fast Company, and Video Maker.

If someone is turning over a new leaf support them with Yoga Journal, Organic Spa, Women’s or Men’s Health, Self, Fitness, Cooking Light, and  Prevention.

Puzzle lovers will enjoy Dell Crossword Special, Dell Fun Puzzles & Games For Kids Magazine, and Dell Official Word Search.

There are also the favorites of many households – O, House Beautiful, Country Living, Sunset, Martha Stewart Living, Vanity Fair.  If someone already has a subscription it will be added on as an extra year for most magazines.

Now prices vary so go to these sites and see where the best deal is for your choice. The always reliable Amazon.com and  Best Deals Magazines are my favorites. Let me know which sites had the best deals for you.