This city is just a little bit of heaven on the California coast.  First time travelers to Los Angeles do the the whole Hollywood-Disneyland route however the second time around, travelers and natives know that Santa Barbara is just ninety minutes away.  And when you get to this serene town of beaches, mountains, and Spanish style architecture you will be thinking “Yes, this has everything that makes California dreaming a reality.”

If you are looking for freebies download the 101 Free Things To Do In Santa Barbara and look for offers on the Santa Barbara Visitors Site.  Julia Child lived in Santa Barbara and one of her favorite restaurants was La Super Rica taco stand at 622 N Milpas St Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Eat like the Queen of Cuisine for under $10.

The boutique Santa Barbara Museum of Art has suggested admission on Sundays and they rotate from classic to Asian to modern art exhibits. For $5 tour the Santa Barbara Mission or enjoy the park and outdoor vistas for free.

Day trippers, one nighters, or for a leisurely weekend, you will find Santa Barbara is an upscale town with frugal finds.

The vacation the Frugal Dude had been talking about since we first starting seeing each other was Mount Rushmore. It took him fifteen years to convince me and now I wished that I had acquiesced sooner. Fabulous does not even start to describe it.  And frugal is the other great thing about traveling to South Dakota. 

For me sitting at the computer till I get the best price for a hotel room is fun. Some like to sit at the blackjack table in Las Vegas and try to win. The Frugal Diva likes to sit and be assured that she will save after checking all the sites and then seeing what Trip Advisor thinks. It’s not a bargain if the the place is dirty, miles out of the way, or rundown.   And the winner is Microtel Inn  of Rapid City.  At $56 and change before taxes it was an outstanding bargain. Clean and modern rooms with a free continental breakfast, free shuttle from the airport,  pool for the kids, and a great location for easy access to all the attractions.  We were staying in Rapid City as our base for four days of our vacation so the savings were considerable.

The other big expense for the trip was a rental car.  Instead of picking up the car at the airport, I was advised by Brandon at the local Enterprise Car Rental Agency to simply get the car after we were settled in town. The price was almost half without all the fees, taxes, and add ons that come with airport pickup. Whenever possible use this approach for car rental.  Not only is it cheaper, they sent a courtesy pick up and the woman gave us great local information about the area.  They included a placard for parking at Mt. Rushmore which saved us another $10 since it was good for the entire visit. So the $315 that we paid for ten days of car rental was reduced to $305. My vacation was already made and I hadn’t even seen anything.

Awsome, inspiring, amazing describe Mt. Rushmore and the effort it took to blast these images out of the mountains.  You can return as many times as you wish for the single $10 fee.  Saturday night they do a movie about the history of the area and turn the lights on after dark.  There were approximately 400 people that worked at Mount Rushmore during the carving process from October 1927 to October 1941 supervised by Gutzon Borglum. Between the films about the history of Mount Rushmore, the ranger talks, seeing the heads from every angle, and hiking the area you can easily spend a full day and return in the evening.

In a few weeks I will fill you in on Rapid City and the other great attractions in this area including the Crazy Horse Monument, the Badlands, Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon plus eats, shopping, and entertainment.

Now Divas occasionally we may have to pay for tickets however there are websites for 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. Now in every major city.

Theater tickets for a year with a subscription to Theater Extras. Good for tickets in Los Angeles and New York City.

Gift Certificates to these sites also make wonderful presents for birthdays and the upcoming holidays. 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.

The 99 Cent Chef features a world of cooking ideas with low prices as the main course. Just to make matters clear, the 99 Cent Chef is not affliated nor does he use only products and produce from the 99 Cent Stores.  While the 99 Cent Store has many of his selections,  Billy Vasquez heads all over to buy items that bring the basic cost of cooking way under average.  An accomplished photographer, the stills show off many recipes and give you guidelines for steps along the way and what the finished product should look like.

This month is destination Cuba. Starting with a simple and yummy salad, he will continue with Cuban Baked Beans, a Cuban Sandwich and Roasted Pork.  Or if you are in a more Brazilian mood, try the Moqueca Fish Stew. Amazing how he grabs a few cans, some veggies, and frozen fish transforming them into an exotic stew to serve over rice.

Learn how to cure your own salmon for a Jewish Taco that he dubbed the Loxaco.  This brings the cost down and as a bonus all the ingredients are kosher. Try it, you’ll like it!

The Frugal Diva had a small set back in her workout plan. My gym closed for three months for remodeling and the nearest branch is just a little too far with parking a bit too difficult. It’s not their fault and I’m very excitedly looking forward to the fabulous new facility when it opens.

However what am I to do during this period. Exercise gives me confidence, chases away the blues, and makes sure that worries are left on the doorstep. I don’t workout enough to look much different but I do workout to feel better.

Lululemon surprised me with free yoga class on Sunday. It works like any other yoga class. Come in, roll out your mat, take class, roll up your mat, and go. It’s free and the one I took last Sunday had a very good routine with the instructor coming around to offer corrections for my downward dog.  Plus check the calendar for additional treats when they have the time and the teacher. The gear is pricey however the you are under no obligation to buy and they have the occasional markdowns.

Now for runners, they have a weekly run club with  all levels welcome!  They even have stretching and refreshments afterwards. Meet new people, make sure that you are adhering to best practices, and run with company.  That’s two ways to workout for free at one location. Use the store locator to see what’s happening at your local Lululemon.

The Frugal Diva has to admit it unnerved her to think that Jamba Juice was over 20 years old. It seemed just the other day that this novel concept with the cute logo had opened. There are college students who have only know a world with blended drinks as a meal option.

Jamba now has a deal for spring. These three 16 ounce smoothies – Strawberry Surf Rider, Banana Berry, and Aloha Pineapple – will be $2.49 until May 20th. Limited time offer valid at participating locations listed below. Offer not valid with catering orders. Offer cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Offer only valid for advertised smoothies, no substitutions. Valid 3/12/13 — 5/20/13. Not including applicable tax.

Those novels you read on vacation, the shirt you haven’t worn for five years, the toys your college bound student won’t need, and the sheets for a single bed that you don’t own anymore. Sound familiar. We all put things away for a rainy day or because they remind us of a favorite event.

This is a great time of year to reorganize, declutter, donate, and stash stuff  in boxes for a future yard sale.

In fairness to yourself before selling or donating anything that you feel might be worth something check the ebay price of the same or similar item.

If you feel something is very valuable check with a professional auction house. Bonhams Auction House opens its doors once a month so that they can assist you in appraising your property. Is it treasure or trash?  They are a neutral party who can provide an auction value estimate. They limit you to five items and the service is free. In Los Angeles they are located at 7601 Sunset Blvd or call 800 223 2854 for more information.  This is a fun experience regardless of the value. They treat you well and let you know if there is any historical information about your item.

If you decide to go forward with a yard sale here are some good rules to follow:

Put a price on all items! You can have individual prices or grab bags where everything in the bag goes for a set price. Put stickers on everything and you can also segregate areas for different prices. All fifty cent items on one table. Remember nobody comes to yard sale to spend big bucks. Everything you sell is one thing you don’t have to carry back into the house.

Don’t let early arrivers throw you off. Post a sign that says when you start and don’t let anyone into your home. You want good coverage so if you don’t have enough family members, invite friends to help out or sell stuff along with you. If you can get your neighbors to join in – all the better.  Everyone has a unique inventory so the more the merrier.

Get change the day before and post that you will only give change up to $10.  Most yard sale shoppers know the drill and will come with appropriate coinage.  Since many items will be $.10 or $.25, get a few packs of quarters, dimes, and nickels plus twenty to  fifty in singles. Keep your cash on you or with a helper who is designated the cashier.

Feel free to sell sodas or lemonade for a modest price. This is a great learning experience for small children. Let them set up a stand and feel they are part of the experience.

Now to let people know about your sale.  Many local papers have free listings, put it up on bulletin boards at your grocery store, school, church, and gym, and post signs at all major intersections in your neighborhood. Many people still drive around looking for yard sales and neon colored paper will attract attention.

And the most important thing about a yard sale, have fun, watch your stuff enhance another person’s life, and make a few dollars in the process.

If a health food store and big box store had a child it would be called Sprouts.  This is a full service market that combines a fabulous produce department (about 40% of the store) with a natural food store’s selection of everything else at great prices.  What does that mean to the average shopper?  If your shopping list includes fresh produce,  organic cereal, whole wheat baguettes, eco friendly cleaning products, grass fed beef, and a teaspoon of rosemary this is the place for you.  With their low shelving, you can find everything you need quickly plus there are no mainstream brands to impede your search. This is for families who want more fresh and additive free food in their diet at the best prices.

While their organic produce section is still pretty small, organic products can be found everywhere else in the store.  Organic eggs, yogurt, and milk in the dairy case. Bottled organic juices, organic honey, and even organic breads under the Sprouts label on the shelves. They carry all the brands you would expect to see in any of the other health food chains however most of the prices are better and with weekly specials you can stock up when prices are really fantastic.  Especially on their own Sprouts brand of vitamins.

About that teaspoon of rosemary, I mentioned. This is something new for me, spices in bulk.  How many recipes do we pass up that have an unusual herb or use a bottle that has been there since we moved in? This is an opportunity to try out something new without wasting money.

Bulk buying is also possible for nuts, chips, and candies (better to buy a little then gorge on a lot).

Wednesday might be hump day to some people, for The Frugal Diva Wednesday is shop at Sprouts day since items from the previous weeks specials and the new specials are available. Twice the possibilities for savings!

Sprouts is proud to partner with Autism Speaks in creating a new Neighborhood Grant Program designed to fund local nonprofit organizations serving children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. As our company continues to grow, so does our ability to make an even greater impact in the neighborhoods we serve. From Feb. 27 to March 13, Sprouts shoppers can help this worthwhile program take root in their community by supporting our “Autism Speaks Puzzle Piece” fundraising campaign.

Sprouts Farmers Market CEO Doug Sanders knows the affects of autism firsthand; his 3-year-old son was diagnosed with autism in 2009. That’s when Sprouts saw an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the autism community through a partnership with Autism Speaks. Under Sanders’ leadership—backed by the support of Sprouts customers, team members and vendors—they have raised an incredible $2.2 million to fund programs that help bring autism awareness and support to local communities.

Another great reason to shop at Sprouts!

Sun Trust Bank has gone back to the tradition of helping consumers save money.  They know that even a small lifestyle change helps you put money into the bank.  This is how we used to live.  Yes, we bought things after we could afford them not before. This allowed you to sleep at night and divas need their beauty sleep.

Frugality does not mean deprivation. It means creativity.  It involves finding what you need at the best price.  Going to the museum on free days.  Having friends over for a book club. Or how about a movie club where you rent a movie and discuss it afterwards over a pot luck dinner.  Knowing that everything goes on sale eventually. And maybe you don’t need it anyway. The Resource Center has articles about budgeting, starting a vegetable garden, and figuring out how to trim the fat from your budget.  Guess what by not having so many snacks out, walking places, and being active fat gets trimmed in other places.  That’s a win-win for every diva.

They now have a website The Resource Center with good advice  about health costs, relationship money issues, college tuition, financial tools, and all manner of money issues.

This is for those who love DIY and need a place to hang out, take classes, and get supplies, The Urban Craft Center is perfect. This beautiful facility makes it easy to complete projects that you have been putting off  for months or even years. Think about this, if you had a comfortable setting with advice and supplies imagine what could be done before the holidays. 

They are located at 2433 Main St-(310) 392-0139- inside the Edgemar complex in Santa Monica. (310) 392-0139. Store Hours: Everyday from 10am-6pm. Parking can be validated up to an hour and a half in the Edgemar parking lot.