read more posts by
The Frugal Diva
A new chain has been quietly coming to town. H & M, originally from Sweden, has stores all over Los Angeles including the Beverly Center, Century City, Third Street Promenade, and the Americana in Glendale. They have taken the concept of inexpensive fashion and moved it into the stratosphere with choices for women, men, teens, and kids. This is the store for those who need to be dressed at the office and like to be fashion forward. When they say to dress for your next position, start here. While most of the selections are trendy, keep an eye out for…
You want the basics – no preservatives or unpronounceable ingredients. That’s why you stick with chemical-free cleaners for your home and all-natural detergent for the wash. But, have you boarded the natural beauty bandwagon yet? Get glowing with beauty essentials that are safer for you, and the environment. Here are some ways to make sure you’re choosing the best products: Let your inner beauty shine: Outer beauty starts with inner health. Give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs from fresh, whole foods, and fill in nutritional gaps with supplements that support your skin, hair and…
Summer fun includes buying cute things in bright colors, trying out new make up, and having fun in the sun. The Frugal Diva does none of these things, so I turned to my friend’s daughter for advice. Miranda Moss knows deals and has taped videos showing how to find clothing splurges at great prices, makeup options at drugstores, and working the Sephora site for the most free samples. Living on a college student’s budget, Miranda needs to stretch her dollars however this doesn’t mean giving up on fashion. Miranda finds her own style within…
Travel is a luxury and we all need a little down time. Californians have the distinct advantage of living in a state where there are national parks, sophisticated cities, deserts, Disneyland, and everything in between. For flying anywhere else in the United States, Southwest Airlines is my favorite, great fares, egalitarian seating, no fees for one piece of luggage, and for most fares you can make changes without a penalty. They have some great click and save fares, so it might be a good time to make plans…
On the night of June 23, join families across the country in the Great American Backyard Camp Out. Now as you know, the Frugal Diva is not a camper however they say you could even try spending the night in your own backyard. This didn’t sound too bad. You could even jog back into the house to use the bathroom and there are usually no wild animals to worry about. They even give you reasons why children benefit from camping. For someone who spent their entire childhood reading and afraid of the dark, this was a revelation. Now…
Some people love the quaint bed and breakfast, the old style rooms with mismatched furniture, and the ministrations of a cheery staff. These people are not me. Do they really expect me to talk to strangers in the morning, go without television for the night, and return every day to chat with the owners? Please just give me your basic hotel room – clean, with modern bathrooms, cable TV, mostly free parking and mostly free breakfasts. What chains lacks in charm they make up for in convenience, dependability and free Wifi. Find one that has a wide range of low…
You only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table. It has to be quick and easy—and healthy, of course. Don’t let your busy schedule get in the way of good nutrition. Make a satisfying supper in record time—and stay within your budget—when you think F.A.S.T. Frozen: Frozen meals have come a long way since the old-fashioned TV dinner. Today, you‘ll find healthy frozen meals low in sodium, free of preservatives and full of taste. Before you buy, read the Nutrition Facts on the package, paying attention to serving size…