The Cheap Diva

Multasking is Overrated

I once heard the act of multitasking referred to as doing two things badly instead of doing one thing well.  I relate to all those multitaskers out there who fall prey to the idea that they are somehow being more efficient if they try to tackle mor than task at once, but speaking from my own experience, if you want to succeed financially you need to learn how to focus. 

Take my blog for example.  In addition to all the little details of running a business, there are three big demands on my attention related to The Cheap Diva.  The biggest is creating content.  Writing articles has to get done or there is no business.  Because I try to write articles with some sort of substance, not just babbling on about nothing, I spend hours researching the web, reading books and trying out products to review.  The second demand on my time is marketing the blog.  As much as I enjoy writing I enjoy it even more if people actually read my blog.  It can take hours of marketing to generate any noticeable increase in traffic and it has to be done on a regular basis.  Emails are another area that requires constant attention. 

My old approach was to come home from work and spend a few hours researching the web, writing articles, checking emails, and doing some marketing if I was caught up on everything else.  This approach of skipping around and trying to get a little of everything done every night left me frustrated and behind on my work.  My new approach is to do the creative part of the blog, writing the articles, mostly on weekends when I am fresher and haven't been already put in a full days work.  The less creative parts of the blog, research for articles, marketing, and responding to emails I am reserving for regular weeknights when I am not at my creative best but I still want to get some work done.  I assign one task per night to avoid skipping around and loosing focus.  One night is for research, one for marketing, one for responding to emails, another night for more research and organizing my thoughts for articles etc.  This new approach saves time because I am not sitting staring at the computer feeling frazzled about all the things that are competing for my attention.  It also helps business because now I have set aside a specific time to marketing instead of treating it like an afterthought.

For bloggers or anyone for that matter, I suggest you try a similar approach with your financial matters.  Prioritize your financial tasks and set aside specific times to address those tasks.  Doing one thing at a time beats well sure beats doing two things at a time badly!

I'll Tumble for Ya

A stylish tumbler like this Concerto Glassware in Violet $27.80 for a set of four.,can be more than a drinking glass, it can also be a wonderful organizational tool in the bathroom.  My small bathroom not only lacks space it also lacks drawers under the sink area.  To keep beauty products easily accessible I bought three acrylic tumblers to put on my bathroom counter top.  One of the tumblers holds lipsticks and lip gloss.  The other tumbler holds eye related cosmetics like brushes, mascara, and eyebrow pencil.  The third tumbler holds a few hairbrushes and combs.  Buy using three tumblers for beauty products I know at a glance that the tube of purplish stuff is meant for my lips not my eyes!

To subtly disguise l to your drug store cosmetics buy tumblers that are tinted or textured.  You can still see what you have without names like Wet N Wild staring back at you.  To see exactly what colors and products you have buy a clear tumbler like this Villeroy and Boch Bernadotte Old-Fashioned Tumbler for $12.99.  Whatever style tumbler your buy it should be sturdy enough to grab and toss cosmetics in repeatedly without cracking.  Leave the dainty tumblers for entertaining guests. 

Anchor Hocking Central Park/Starfire 12-oz Small Tumblers, Fern Color 12 Pack $19.99

Hot Prices on Sunglasses

One of the hottest things under the sun this time of year are the deals on sunglasses.  While the clothing racks are littered with leftovers that are hardly worth a second look, there are still plenty of stylish sunglasses to be had at very attractive prices like these Xhilaration Plastic Oversized Stone and Etched Temple Sunglasses for $12.99.  Although you can buy sunglasses online, it's better to try them on in a store to see how they work with the shape of your face.  Like any accessory, sunglasses should be scaled to your proportions.  Do not bury delicate features under big dramatic sunglasses or buy sunglasses that are so small in proportion to your face that they reveal your eyebrows.

It's a good idea to have more than one pair of sunglasses.  Buy one pair to keep in your car for driving.  Buy another pair or two for style and protection.  Black sunglasses are a classic, but a dark brown tortiose shell sunglasses also look great for summer.  The dark brown is a bit mor subtle than black.  This ligher effect complements the lighter more relaxed pieces in your summer wardrobe.  Save the black sunglasses, like these Candie's Rhinestone Oval Sunglasses for $13.40 when you're feel a little more drama is in order.

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Preston & York Oversized Sunglasses for $25.46

Go With the Flow

There is nothing like a long hot shower to wash the stress away.  Unfortunately it's not only your stress being washed down the drain, your cash is also disappearing with every gallon of water you use. 

To save water while still coming clean, try replacing your regular shower head with a specially design water and energy saving low flow or adjustable shower head.  This Delta Fluidics Adjustable Showerhead for $25.00 has two settings.  One setting uses the standard 2.5 gallons per minute while the other setting uses 1.85 gallons per minute.  If one person took four 15 minute showers a week at the 1.85 gallons setting, that alone would save 39 gallons of water a week, or over 150 gallons of water a month!  No matter what kind of shower head you have you should never spend more than 15 minutes taking a shower.  All that water beating down on you for an extended period of time strips skin of its' natural oils.

If you are going to wash your face and take a shower, get in the shower and splash some water on your face to apply facial cleanser while the water is still warming up.  Gently massage the facial cleanser into your skin.  In the short time it takes to apply cleanser the shower should have warmed up.  Now that the water is warm you can rinse off your facial cleanser then proceed to take your shower.

There are other ways your beauty routine  can cut your water bill.  Do not have water running while you are brushing your teeth.  When you are ready to rinse out your mouth then turn on the water.  When you are ready to open your water bill at the end of the month, turn on a smile! 

Get Smart About Online Shopping

Savvy shoppers have been taking advantage of the selection and convenience of online shopping for quite a while now, but there are still a few lingering myths even savvy shoppers fall prey to.  One myth is that everything you can get in a store you can get online.  I had my eye on a pair of shoes once that cost more than I wanted to spend.  My thinking was that if I didn't catch them on sale before my size was gone, I would just buy them online.  I checked the shopping web site of the store that carried this brand exclusively and they were nowhere to be seen.  I made a point of checking the brick and mortar store frequently after that and was fortunate to nab the last pair in my size at 40% off!

Another myth is that everything is cheaper online.  I saw a different pair of shoes once (really I don't have a shoe fetish, I just like shopping a lot) at a store for a price I was less than thrilled with.  I was even less thrilled when I found the exact same pair online from a different retailer for $10.00 more!  That did not take into account shipping and handling fees.  I didn't buy the shoes from either sellers, I was just curious to see how  an online seller would differ from a brick and mortar one.  Sometimes a product, like a piece of furniture, may be cheaper in a store because someone returned it and the retailer doesn't want extra merchandise taking up space. 

What you see is not always what you get when ordering online.  Every computer screen shows color differently so a red sweater might look very bright on one screen while looking much more subdued on a different computer screen.  The online photograph might show one version of something but it is only available in a different size or color than the one pictured.  Always read the details before you buy.  One final step before declaring yourself an online shopping diva, print a receipt out for the goods you bought on your home printer!

Hot Summer Deals

If you are shopping for summer stuff, July is the time to get great deals.  Retailers are trying to get rid of summer stock to make room for all the fall stuff that will start arriving in August.  What should you shop for?  Anything seasonal.  Clothing, sunglasses, picnic related stuff, dishes with a summer theme etc.  When should you start shopping?  Now!  The Fourth of July sales may not start until next weekend, but cute stuff disappears quickly, so for lower priced items, like acrylic cocktail glasses, that are marked down, snap them up now.  If you are holding out for the Fourth of July sales, hold out for more expensive items like clothing.  For some reason a lot of merchandise that is featured in the brick and mortar stores, like Target, does not show up on their web sites so don't limit your bargain hunting to web sites.

Painted Furniture Adds Pizazz

Conventional decorating wisdom says to buy larger furniture pieces, like couches, in safe nuetrals so you won't have to live with some hideous loud color or pattern that lingers long after the novelty of owning a hot pink couch disappears.  While playing it safe probably leads to fewer regrets, it also leads to increased boredom.  An easy way to get away with bold colored furniture is to buy painted furniture.

Target Adirondack Chair $269.99 

An entire set of painted furniture generally works outdoors.  With outdoor furniture there usually isn't an entire room filled with things like like carpets and painted walls, to coordinate with so you have a lot more creative freedom.  If the furniture feels a little too bright you can tone it down a little with outdoor cushions in white or other neutral colors. 

L.L. Bean Adirondack Round Table $179.00 

A single piece of painted furniture indoors can act as a focal point.  A bright blue bench or table in the entrance hallway offers a cheerful welcome.  By repeating that same shade of blue in the pattern on pillows or decorative vases in an adjoining room, the painted furniture gets tied into other areas of the home without the spaces being saturated with a lot of bright color.  A small bookcase or cabinet also adds a welcome jolt of color.  Of course if the novelty of owning a neon green bookcase wears off you can always repaint it.

L.L. Bean Painted Cottage Bench $99.00

Developing a Signature Style

"Fashion fades, style is eternal" Yves Saint Laurent

Fashion is fun, but a developing a signature style that is a reflection of you will separate you from the less stylish crowd.  A signature style can be based on a certain piece, like a bold necklace, or a total look, like a casual elegant look that relies on a variety of well made pieces that gently skim over the body.  A signature style should always complement your figure and your personality.  Wearing baggy sweats all the time is not a signature style, it's a fashion makeover waiting to happen. 

Zebra Print Braided Shopper $47.00

The difference between a signature style and a rut is that a signature style has the potential to evolve or it is adaptable.  Brooches make a great signature piece because they can be pinned wherever you want to wear them on a variety of clothing pieces and they can be worn individually or in groups.  Wardrobe classics, like a versatile cardigan, can be updated by buying them in different colors, embellished with different details, or made out of different materials.   

Signature pieces should be realistic in terms of your budget.  If your signature style is a pair of classic jeans worn with chic but simple flats topped off with a plain T-shirt accessorized with a fabulous trendy handbag, buy a designer knock off similar to the expensive version by a reputable company that isn't trying to pass the copycat bags off as the real deal.  Whatever your signature piece is, you will be wearing it frequently so even if you are buying a designer knock off, buy the best quality knock offs you can afford.  Because you will be wearing it frequently be sure your signature pieces are not high maintenance, like clothing pieces that need to be professionally cleaned often.

Before buying things that you are drawn to, certain colors, patterns, individual pieces or whole looks,  understand that certain versions of the things you like are going to be more flattering than others so be selective.  I love animal prints, especially leopard and tiger prints.  When I am looking at prints I look at the scale of the print befor trying it on.  I check to see that the leopard spots are not too tiny and so uniform they look like polka dots, but not so big I look like I belong in a Flintstones cartoon.  While I might consider wearing a bold zebra print handbag or pair of shoes, I know that if I wore that bold of a print on a shirt or skirt it would overwhelm me.  The trick to developing a signature style is discovering what versions of the things you love are going to work for you.

For inspiration, expose yourself to magazines, like In Style magazine, look at mannequins in display windows for how pieces are put together, pay attention to movies and TV shows etc. until you see a pattern of being attracted to certain pieces or looks more than others.  Then try different looks on for size and see what feels like you. 

Haircolor Helper

At some point even the best hair dye job is going to fade.  Frequent washings and sun exposure can take your hair from rich brunette to just plain blah pretty fast.  That's why I love colored hair glazes.  A colored hair glaze deposits a sheer layer of color on top of your own color.  The effect is subtle, certainly not a substitute for a dye job, but the color does gradually build and become a bit more obvious with repeated use.  A color glaze can slightly darken brunettes, add some richness to reds and keep blond tresses shiny.  If you are dying your hair a lighter color than your natural hair color keep in mind that color glazes can not lighten hair or make dark roots less noticeable.  My glaze of choice is Ulta Color Restoring Glaze for $9.99 (for a better price check out their coupons and specials).  The glaze left my hair softer and conditioned without weighing it down.  I use the Ultimate Brunette shade to tone down some of the redness in my hair.  It's one thing to be a natural redhead, but I believe my dull mousy red tint comes from mineral deposits in my shower water, not my genes.  My strategy is to start using color glazes shortly after dying my hair and stop using them a few days before I dye my hair. This way I can shampoo away the buildup of glaze product so it does not interfere with how my permanent or semipermanent hair color dye absorbs.

Feel Free to Act Like a Tourist

I had an out of town guest to entertain this weekend.  Not only did we have a lot of fun, we had a lot of fun for free!  Our first stop was the Hallmark Visitors Center in Kansas City.  The Visitors center is a free museum dedicated to the history of Hallmark.  Unlike other museums, which can be a bit stuffy, in this one we read musical cards that featured such fun ditties as "It's Raining Men", saw how cards were imprinted by a friendly printer who gave us cardboard gold crown to wear and watched sappy Hallmark commercials on TV monitors.  There were plenty of interesting things on display but thankfully the museum is intimate enough to get through in less than two hours. 

This was followed by a visit to an outdoor antiques and craft show, also free, that we wandered around for entertainment, buying nothing, just looking at all the interesting things on display and taking pleasure in being outdoors on such a beautiful day.  After all that walking we went to lunch to refuel and do some people watching at an restaurant with outdoor seating on the Plaza (an outdoor shopping area).  It was like a free fashion show with a mix of high style, serious fashion don'ts and some outfits too boring to fit in either category.  Lunch was followed by some window shopping, I love to see the wonderful fashion and home decor displays. 

Having refueled and with plenty of the day left we went to the Nelson Atkins museum, which is apparently free on Saturdays.  My guest had visited the museum before and was only interested in seeing the new wing of the Nelson Atkins and a few paintings by a certain artist in the original part of the museum.  We asked one of the employees where these paintings would be and we spent our time enjoying those paintings instead of dragging ourselves through the whole museum.  I am all for exposing yourself to art, but if you have a preference and a limited time you want to spend at a museum, focus on what you like.  After enjoying the artwork inside, we walked around the sculpture garden outside the museum.

We still had plenty of time before the sun went down so we visited a local park and leisurely walked around for a while.  Having walked more in one day than I normally do in a week, it was time to take it easy.  I entertained my guest at home with episode from a cable TV show that we both enjoyed.  I had the entire season of the show on DVD because I am too cheap to pay for cable.  What's great about watching a TV show is that the episodes are a lot shorter than a movie so if you don't want to sit there for two hours you don't have to.

Since cooking is not one of my talents, when dinner time rolled around we hit a local restaurant and enjoyed a perfect ending to a great day. My more mature companion paid for the meal, partly as a thank you for acting as chauffer and partly to take advantage of the senior citizens discount the restaurant offered. The point of this long winded story is that if you are willing to be resourceful and do some walking, you can act like a typical tourist without spending like typical tourist!