I got all this and more. This company has the best customer service ever.  They inform you by mail and by phone each step of the way and you never have to wait more then a few minutes for a real, live person to walk you through the process.

And that person is soooo patient, soooo informed, and will make sure you understand everything before the conversation is over.  There is no rush, no attitude, and they are interested in your concerns.

You do pay for the service however you are saving time, aggravation, and gasoline. Instead of driving around, finding parking, making mistakes filling out forms, and dealing with clerks, you are taking care of your business.  Their prices are very reasonable given how much time you would spend getting the same service yourself or using the higher priced services of an attorney.   Legal Zoom proved that the law can be very orderly and efficient.

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.

On Main Street you can browse through both thrift shops and upscale boutiques. And don’t miss the beautiful beaux arts city hall and the Mission San Bueanventura’s lovely garden. This area is completely walkable with restaurants that include 50s era burger places, Thai, Mexican, Italian, and cafes for a coffee break.

Eleven miles off shore are the Channel Islands National Park .  As you know about the Frugal Diva, walking on the beach is enough of a hike.  However for those who need to explore trips can be arranged through Island Packers, prices vary per season and type of excursion. This is a low-impact adventure and a chance to see sea lions and whales.

On the way home I wanted something fresh, interesting, and inexpensive. The perfect choice is Pho Saigon, 826 N Ventura Rd
Port Hueneme, CA 93041-2647, (805) 240-9334‎.  A fantastic soup loaded with the protein of your choice, rice noodles and gobs of fresh vegetables.  There are many great places in Oxnard so let me know your favorites.

Stop at the Camarillo Outlet Mall.  They have added stores and sales are everywhere.  Now that’s my kind of adventure.

1. Do not use a coupon if the item is something you don’t want or need. If you hate strawberry pop tarts don’t buy ten boxes, if you never bake don’t buy two for one bags of flour, and if you are dieting don’t stock up on chocolate chip cookies.

2. Do use coupons with store discounts for the best price possible.

3. Be careful with perishables. You might be making ten apple pies, eating broccoli every day for a week, or watching cheese turn moldy.

4. Do stock up on non perishables. This is a great way to make sure you have chicken broth, grains, and pasta for the next six months.

5. Loyalty programs bring you coupons and opportunities to save. Pick one and stick with it.

With just two lists Max lets you know the fruits and vegetables that are the Dirty Dozen and should be avoided unless organic and the Clean Fifteen that have the lowest pesticide residue.  Now you can make an informed choice about what are organic must haves and which are acceptable even if not organic. Since organic can be more expensive this is a great way to move toward better eating without breaking your grocery budget.

Now speaking of budgets, here is a Frugal Diva find.  Living Maxwell has devoted a page to links for some of the organic food company coupons .   Savings on Stonyfield, Santa Cruz Organic, and many others are just a click away.

So don’t wait any longer to live better.  Or dare I say it, Maximize your potential. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

It was surprising to see activities where you did not have to be an experienced outdoors person. Beach walking really looked like fun and a great way to get legs in shape for the summer. There were moderate hikes that specified they were for beginners where you could see wild flowers blooming. There are definitely events for strenuous outings however The Frugal Diva considers 14 miles more of a short drive than a hike.

What makes this fantastic is that after joining almost all of the outings are free. Everyone always complains that no one walks in LA, this is an opportunity to meet like minded people and get some exercise. Outings take place all over the city and give you a chance to explore outside the urban environment. Of course, you can always come back to town for a non fat latte after the hike.

The site is easy to navigate with searches by brand, style, and price which can be narrowed even further for size, width and color. In the final clearance section this is very handy. Make sure those Charles David heels come in your size before you fall in love. The discriptions of the shoes are also very detailed so you know what materials are used, the exact heel height, and size specifications.

And yes they do have bags to mix and match. They also have sunglasses, a selection of clothing, makeup, and accessories. And they carry kids and mens sizes also. That’s for after you finish buying those cute sandals for the summer.

Disclaimer: This company advertises on my site.

If you are anywhere near Ocean Park and 29th pop into IlForno Caffe and get dinner to go for $6. And I’m talking a entree size order of pasta, an entree size salad, or a pizza. Plus they all come with bread.  Now this is take out only, cash only and available from 5:30 to 6:30. Dinner for two for $12 and you didn’t have to turn on the stove.  Did I mention parking is free in the lot. And did I add that the food is fresh and fabulous.  Take a night off, dial 310.450.1241, and they will have your order waiting when you cruise by.

With multiple  locations Zankou Chicken is a life saver. Whose at home? One meat eater, one dieter, one vegan?  Order a steak kebob, roasted chicken wrap, falafel, and tabbouleh and everyone is covered.

In the mood for noodle soup, sushi, or dumplings. Try the Japanese Mitsuwa Marketplace, 3760 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066 , where they have a food court with all kinds of prepared meals.  Your kids are home from school and are now vegetarians - go to  Samosa House and Bharat Bazaar at 11510 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.  They cook only veggie meals ($7.99) and side dishes.

Portos Bakery in Burbank and Glendale has all kinds of Cuban sandwiches and appetizers for a light dinner. And as a bonus, you can pick up one of their yummy desserts. They are open till seven and only take cash (correction) take credit and debit cards.

What if you need an entire meal for a big dinner?  Markets now have everything to make you look like the best home cook ever.  Gelsons has a meal for every occasion. How does 2 1/2 pounds Beef Brisket with Julienne Vegetables & Gravy, Chicken Broth & Matzo Balls, Chopped Beef Liver with Egg, Potato Kugel, Tzimmes, Gefilte Fish with straight Horseradish, Charoses, Macaroon Cookies sound for Passover?  How about Corned Beef, Boiled Cabbage, Boiled Carrots, Boiled Potatoes, Salad with Cilantro Dressing, Dinner Roll, Butter & Chocolate Mint for St. Patrick’s Day? These average about $10 to $15 per person for a multi course meal including dessert. And you get to keep the leftovers.

Let me know your favorites and I will add them to the list.

If you are in LA, try this site for the local markets which are listed on one page and you can sort by location, day, or time. In Culver City on a Tuesday afternoon, pick up some clementines. In Studio City on a Sunday morning, pick up some sweet potatoes.  In midtown on Wednesday afternoon try the Farmers’ Market at Barnsdall Art Park for Meyer lemons. Plus when you click on the market, it takes you to a page with the specific location, events, and specialities.

In addition to the freshest in-season produce, many also offer flowers, cheeses, baked goods, local artisans’ products, free-range chicken, and even seafood. Each market is unique and produce varies.  The Santa Monica market at Arizona and 3rd on Saturday morning is mostly organic. Look for the certified organic sign to be sure.

Divas, enjoy fresh air shopping, meet local farmers, and stay healthy with more produce in your diet.  Send this article to your Frugal Dude so he can pick up some great veggies for throwing on the grill.

Bad Joan is skewed to the young and hip however there are deals for all ages including shoes, eye wear, and roomy tops that flow over jeans. Check out the final sale page where prices are even lower.  Handbags fit everyone and the Carla Mancini line is particularly fantastic.

There are measurements for most of the items to give you a better idea about fit.  As always when purchasing clothes on the Internet it is best to stick with brands you know for better sizing results and always check the return policy page.  Bad Joan has a strict return policy and every item you send back requires another shipping fee.  There are no returns on final sales.  The tradeoff is great prices for name brands.