The Frugal Diva loves Anne Klein flats and has been searching for them all over the net. The best deal so far is at 6pm.com.  Now 6pm is not just any discount site, they are the clearing house for Zappos which means good customer service and efficient delivery. Unlike the parent company, 6pm charges $6.95 for shipping an order. That means if you get one pair or ten pairs the price is the same.  And if you are unhappy with the fit, you pay the return shipping.  The best policy is to go with lines that you have tried on and know fit you well.

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.

It’s fast and it’s fresh and on Wednesdays Whole Foods gives us a break- the salad and hot food bars are reduced from $7.99 down to $5.99. This is wonderful if you want to make up your own combination.

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.

Some people go for the game, the Frugal Diva goes for the once a year opportunity to eat like a tailgater. Fresh & Easy has some great specials for everything from burgers to mini watermelons for dessert!

· fresh&easy Mixed Grill Pack (4.68 lbs), fresh&easy 12 Quarter Pounder Beef Patties (3 lbs) or fresh&easy Chili, Citrus & Cilantro Chicken (4.25 lbs) for $7.99 each!

Try this great recipe for chipolte chedder burgers from the Broke Ass Gourmet.

· fresh&easy Vegetable & Dip or Fruit & Dip Platter, $9.99

· fresh&easy Mini Watermelon, $1.99

· fresh&easy Beef Franks, Cooked Sausages or Cocktail Smokies, 2 for $6, when you buy multiples of 2

· fresh&easy Guacamole, $3.99

· fresh&easy Hummus (10 oz) or Refrigerated Salsa 12 (16 oz), 2 for $5, when you buy multiples of 2

Disclaimer: Fresh and Easy has sent The Frugal Diva samples, coupons, and gift cards plus her stepson works there as a buyer.

It seems the whole world is on sale right now and you can’t go wrong. That is if you follow the Frugal Diva rules.

1. The most expensive item in your closet is the one you never wear – even if it’s reduced by 50% with another 30% off and you have an extra 10% off coupon.  Anything not in your size, in a color you never wear, or for a sport you never play is a reminder that “on sale” doesn’t always mean saving money.

2. Do you really need it? If it’s in black, you probably do. However if you already have ten black T shirts, more black pants than you can count, and black jackets in velvet, linen, cotton, and wool. Maybe you don’t.

3. Kitchen accessories are tempting. The Food Network and Top Chef have given us souffle dreams.  Think about the reality of your meals.  Will you be pureeing asparagus for a sauce? Making a ten layer torte?  Preparing a turduckan? Then you don’t want to invest in an inversion blender, more baking accessories, and an extra large roasting pan.

4. At the grocery store, there are always discounts. When marketing think healthy. Ten boxes of oatmeal at half price – good buy. Ten boxes of Fruit Loops at half price – no way.  Low fat ground turkey that can be frozen for turkey burgers, meat loaf and chili – yes! Doughnuts reduced to ten for a dollar – no!

5. Looking for ways to organize your home.  You might not need to buy mass produced storage items. It’s more fun to use your creativity. Re-purpose items already there. Use holiday tins to hold hair accessories,  save small jars for buying bulk spices, or old mugs for pencils on your desk.

6. About to buy some books online at a discount. There is a place that has free books, DVDs, books on CD, music CDs, and magazines. It’s called the public library.

7. White sales are great at this time of year.  This is an easy way to redecorate without spending too much. New duvet covers, sheets, and towels will make a bedroom and bathroom feel new for a minimum expense.

8. The most important rule – think before you spend.

January is National Soup Month!

How many times do we look in the refrigerator and think “What in the world am I going to make for dinner?”  This is where the concept of soup becomes a time and energy saver. It’s nutritious, money saving and calorie conscious.  A box of stock, some vegetables, pasta or left over grains such as rice, and protein that can come from garbanzo beans, cut up chicken or frozen turkey meatballs. We are in business.

At some point get boxes of stock when they go on special. They come in many flavors including beef , chicken, and vegetarian. Always have fresh celery and carrots in the refrigerator. Stock pasta in different shapes and varieties – check out the new high protein pastas and rice pastas.  Left over cooked meat in any form goes in the freezer for times like this and for vegetarians keep some tofu and canned beans handy.

Grab the vegetables adding any that look ready to leave this world (not spoiled just a little past their prime) and start chopping into small pieces. Add some potatoes if you like.  If you live alone use this as a time to relax and focus on the delicious meal ahead. If you live with family or friends, this is the time to get them involved.

This is a judgement call not a strict recipe. So decide how much stock is appropriate, pour in about an inch or two and use it to steam the chopped vegetables and to defrost any cooked items from the freezer.

Now comes the fun part, raid your pantry and decide if you want to add a can of diced tomatoes, chopped garlic, black beans, or some fire roasted chilies.  If you need ideas, try The 99 Cent Chef for a delicious French Onion soup or some turkey and black bean chili recipe.   He shops cheap but the meals taste expensive.

This is your creation.  Make it a soup or use less stock and make it a stew or chili.  Put out some Parmesan or Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top. Have some bread handy.  Stay cozy for the chilly nights ahead.

Take the time to explore any number of museums that are free this weekend. MuseumsLA.org has the complete list. This would be a great time to find out about LA’s Chinese heritage with a trip to the Chinese American Museum.  Current exhibits Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles (1945-1980) showcasing the architectural achievements of four pioneering Chinese American architects whose contributions were between 1945 and 1980.

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Yang Chow’s in Chinatown. Try to get there early as the lines can get quite long after six.

Don’t you love the farmer’s markets? All that fresh produce with infinite possibilities for meals, great food stalls, and local products.  My only problem was figuring out where and when.  This site solved all my problems. LocalHarvest.org has all the markets nationwide so you can keep up with any changes, find out what’s fresh that day, and plan your weekly produce shopping.

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.

This is like a great bargain basement however instead of plowing through racks, you just click and see what tempts you.  BadJoan.com puts the fun back in online shopping deals.  No membership and no login just  see what’s new, check out the brands, and $4.99 flat rate for shipping. Bad Joan deals in overstock which means items come and go quickly. As Frugal Divas, you know that if you miss one deal another is coming down the road.

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.

Home office, it sounded so good when we first thought about it. Working in our slippers, never having to dress up, showering at our whim, and sipping coffee from our own mugs.

Now we order our own paper, find our own printers, and try to get supplies at the best prices. Like everything else loyalty matters, pick a club and stay with them except for exceptional bargains.  I am a proud member of the Staples Club. They give me points for purchases and every three months send me a check.  Recycle used ink cartridges for a $2 rebate per cartridge.

My personal paper goods favorite is Envelope Mall for that all important first impression. What variety, what fabulous colors, what a deal. For business I want the best quality to tell my clients they are worth it. For a few pennies more you can have something that makes a terrific impression.  Do your own invitations. Euroflap envelopes bring a touch of elegance and no one will know whether you bought them at that expensive stationary store or ordered them off the Internet.

My favorite on line printer is uprinting.com- the site where you can talk to a real person in and they actually care about your order. You can send up files for a technical review at no charge and receive an on line PDF to verify your order. And if you live in Los Angeles you can pick up your printing and skip the delivery charge. They are nice and they deliver a high quality of customer service along with great printing.

If you are also your own publicist, go to PRWeb.com - they will teach you how to write a press release and then deliver to multiple markets for $80. Not bad for getting your name out there in a hurry.

You are receiving this newsletter from Mailchimp.com. They will let you have 12,000 sends per month for up to 2000 subscribers for free. This is a great way start out your mailer and see what works before making an investment. The dashboard is user friendly and they have many templates to choose from.

If you have a straightforward legal issue, Legal Zoom is reliable with top notch customer service. I used them for a DBA after a friend recommended them.  They were so good at explaining every step that it was a very relaxed process for a legalphobe such as myself.

Use that travel time that you are saving for walking, meditating, or reading a good book to transition from office mentality back into your home environment.

The Frugal Diva is an organizing maniac. When you are down what feels better then cleaning out your closets, redoing your bookshelves using the Dewey Decimal System, or getting rid of last years anti aging creams and lotions in your bathroom.

Until February 13, indulge your desires to have a place for everything and everything in it’s place with the sale on Elfa Shelving at The Container Store. The sale extends to installation so if you are not among those not handy with even the simplest of tools, take advantage of both discounts.

Try the website for savings on things like adorable polka dot baskets for sorting bathroom items, a desktop charging stations that keeps your small electronics organized, or the cutest little swivel tray for paper clips, stamps, and push pins. Have fun and let me know your favorite organizing tricks.

If you are a locavore for food, try it for these items made in the U.S.A. from The Container Store website.