have your people call their people

Or.... if you don't have any people (yet!), call them yourself.
Today I found a grand total of $164.38 in unauthorized charges and fees that by bank helped me recoup.

Lets hear it for Wells Fargo!

Wow. That was officially the first time such a statement has ever escaped my lips. Who knew you could be BFFs with your bank?

Access your old statements, print them out and give them a good combing through. You'd be surprised what those guys are willing to do to help lower or eliminate annual fees, credit card percentage rates, etc.

This also works with phone companies as well as cable and internet providers.

De-wrinkle on the cheap

My friend Michael always made fun of me for using that incredible ironing substitute, Downy Wrinkle Releaser. He said he could spray water on clothes and make it do the same thing. I begged to differ with that argument. After all, the fine folks at J&J were surely compelled to add some sort of wrinkle miracle cure to their $5 spray bottles to make it worth the price tag, right? Surely they must!
So then I got curious. And I was right, by the way. There is much more in there than just water. But a brief comparison of the ingredients would reveal that they are identical to those used in Downy's famed fabric softener. The price tags, however, yielded quite a discrepancy. Hmmm. Something was amiss.
. I got crafty and experimented with a spray bottle, some regular old Downy, and a touch of, you guessed it, water. After fiddling with the mixture, I discovered that my dear old cheaper-than-me friend Michael was right (sorta). The major ingredient is indeed H2O. They only add a drop or two of the softener. Once again, the at-home concoctions save some serious dough. Here's the recipe:

For a small spray bottle:
1) Add 1 Tbsp of Fabric Softener to the bottle
2)Fill the rest with water.
3)Spray a mist over the affected area and watch the wrinkes fall out!

Yep, that's it! So long wrinkles and static cling!

I'd love to hear the results of some of your money-saving home brews. Send them over to me by clicking on the "email me" link above. You'll get full credit for your find.

Now if I could only whip something up for these crows feet...

Decorating

Little did I know what I would find when I stopped by the local hardware store on Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica the other day to get a replacement for the hideodeous knobs in my apple box of a bathroom. At some point between the coaxial cables and PVC pipe the back corner of the shop caught my eye. The one where the clouds and ceiling had parted and a light shone down from heaven above to land on the gloriously stocked Returned stand. And what to my wondering eyes should appear? A $3.00 gallon of paint!!

"Paint?" you say, "just...cheap paint? Good for you, Nat. Thats just greeaaaaat."

Oh no, my friend, there is no room for your sarcasm here. This was not just any cheap paint. This cheap paint happened to be this chick's frugal fantasy. It was not simply, ahem, THREE DOLLARS(!!!!) It happened to be the exact light sandy color I had been imagining to paint my little bungalow living room. Well, close enough, anyway. It was perfect!! And not only was it the shade of my dreams, but once I got it home and completed my designated walls, it turned out I had enough to do the whole flippin' living room!!! Um, can I get uh AMEN? Talk about a case of feeding 5,000 - the stuff just multiplied!

Why was this paint a mere $3? Well, as the aforementioned "returned stand" would imply, someone had bought this perfect gallon of loveliness and foolishly rejected it after taking it home and trying it out. Perhaps it didn't go with the couch or he wanted something in a cooler theme or the dog was allergic to that color. Whatever the reason, that paint and I were destined to meet. I won the thrifty vict'ry (oh, just humor me) that day. And now I enjoy compliments from my color-conscious friends like my ridiculously talented stylist friend, Jamie.

And yes, I have subsequently returned to said hardware store in hopes of making my little corner of the world look a little more, well, me. And what did I find but the most wonderful shade of lavender that this lavender lover ever did meet. Since watching Flight of the Conchords, Season 2, Episode 4 I have known that one day I would live in an entirely periwinkle room. And Fischer Hardware on Lincoln and the 10 helped me accomplish that goal. Thanks Fischer Hardware!!
I immediately applied the lavender paint to my bedroom walls to compliment my white bedding, yellow gerbera daisies and wannabe mahogany bedroom set from Ikea. Fabulous! Now if I can only reign in my ADD for more than 15 minutes and actually keep it clean I might finally really love my place. Ahh, to dream.

It should be noted that these colors were obviously mixed an returned prior to my arrival and purchase of them, so I had to be slightly flexible with my color choices. If you are not super rigid but rather have a ballpark idea of what you like, I would definitely go this route. Especially if you are renting. Also, call your local hardware store and see if they accept returned paint. The big guys like Home Depot do not. You are always better off with a mom and pop establishment in this case.

Fisher Hardware & Lumber

1600 Lincoln Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 395-0956



And with that I leave you, but not before imparting a little wisdom (that does not at all apply to inexpensive decor) from Bret and Jemaine. Enjoy:

This is Not a Shopping Blog

But if it were, I might give you the heads up about more sales that are happening in the next few days around town and, who knows, I might just show up to these sales myself and, despite efforts to the contrary, I might just Carrie Bradshaw myself into extreme poverty. This is all hypothetical, of course.

And, hypothetically speaking, one of those sales might just be God's cruel torture that I have spent my allotted budget on the scheduled Rachel Pally sample sale 2 weekends ago only to find out that there will be a repeat of said sale this weekend. Happy Dagger!

(The Bard should somehow be incorporated into every good blog, in my opinion.)

This fairy tale sample sale's (that totally rhymes, btw) details could be the following... if it existed, of course:

TWO ADDITIONAL SHOPPING DAYS
For Preferred Customers and their friends!

HOLIDAY/07 AND PRE-SPRING'08
FALL AND SUMMER '07 MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE
50-90% OFF OF RETAIL

SAT. APRIL 26 10am -- 5 pm
SUN. APRIL 27 11am -- 4 pm

CASH, CHECK, VISA OR MASTERCARD ONLY
FREE AMPLE PARKING IN THE REAR THIS WEEKEND!

ADDRESS:
2001 S SANTA FE AVE, SUITE F
LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
Corner of S. SANTA FE AND 15^TH ST. (near Olympic).

CONTACT NUMBER AT SALE:
818 512-9575 or 818 512-9472

COLLECTIONS CAN BE VIEWED AT http://www.rachelpally.com

#2

The second of these imaginary money-saving designer opportunities might be held downtown on the final Friday of every month. And many of the fictitious items sold at this fantastical place might have been used in photo shoots and the like for the designers' ads.
There also would be, assuming this was a real event, be a lot to thumb through and it would probably all be picked over by 11am, so I might recommend that a savvy shopper arrive around 9am. If this monthly event actually occurred, it might be best observed at The New Mart, 9th St, between Los Angeles and Main.

Wow, I am SO good at making up stories like this. I should be a writer.

My friend Stacey M. has this to say about her recent experience at the aforementioned bazaar:
this is my recommended strategy for the sample sale:

The first time you go, ideally have at least 4 hours in the morning to look at everything. Figure out what designers you like. Then the next last-friday, show up right at 9 AM to your favorite stores. Everything was pretty picked over by 10:30. and we still had tons of stores left to visit. Also, be prepared to fight middle-aged women for cute clothes way too young for them. and there's no dressing rooms, so basically you strip down right there in the store. so wear a cami and tights as a part of your outfit that day.

Then there's the hunt... you spy a super cute dress that you just HAVE to try on. BUT, it's in the hands of another shopper who's deliberating over several dresses. Stalk your prey, but keep a safe distance so she can't smell you. When she sets YOUR dress down and starts to walk away with the others, be super careful in your timing. this is crucial. because if you ask if she's not taking it, she suddenly changes her mind and says she's still thinking about it. even though she CLEARLY didn't want it 3 seconds ago. BUT if you wait too long to pick it up, some other predator (typically a cougar. haha), swoops in and grabs it. so i'd recommend channeling the Holy Spirit during your shopping spree. :o)

Makeup

I love me some mineral makeup. Thats the way to go, kids. I'm telling you now, all the hype is true. (Well, most of it, anyway.) But, as we all know, hype is a Catch 22: it lets you know about the product, but it is extremely costly. And who ends up paying to offset that cost? You guessed it. Y-O-U.

So a little trick that I have discovered is to look for product lines with the same ingredients and components as the ones used by the heavy advertisers. After a little searching and product review, Voila! I have found the prudent way to go about purchasing my beloved mineral makeup:

PUR ELEMENT

"And why is Pur Element so wonderful, my Savings Savvy Sister?" you say.
Glad you asked, my Rockin R....awesome Reader.

Pur Element Pluses:
*Same mineral ingredients as Bare Minerals so it is...
**good for your skin, no harsh chemicals
**a physical sunblock
**actually nourishes your skin
*Plenty of shades for every skin color
*Easy-to-navigate website
*Offers lots of inexpensive little samples if you are having trouble with commitment
*You don't have to join a club to get a "discount"
*You can be creative and mix your own colors
*Been using them for over a year and I love love love their line

I highly suggest you give them a whirl. I like to order a couple of samples from them to color test before I buy a larger container. I have also been known to buy two shades and blend my own foundation depending on the season- just make sure and buy another little clean plastic pot to experiment in. Order up a batch for yourself!

Farmers' Markets

Whether its Wednesday afternoon on 3rd in Santa Monica or Sunday morning in Hollywood, the Farmers' Markets are a great place for people-watching, photo shooting and, more often than not, bargain hunting.
You can find a local FM just about anywhere around town on any given day of the week. Most of them have websites, so Google your area (your zip +"farmers' market) and you should find it pretty swiftly.

The Hollywood FM is super fun and eclectic. Don't think I have ever been there and not seen at least a quasi-celeb. Great music from bongos to beatnicks. You can even find some authentic, down home style Country tunes from time to time. The home made food is tasty, but am I mistaken or was it cheaper a few years ago?

The cut flowers are cheaper at Trader Joes, but the quality you find at the FMkts leave TJ's eating its potting soil.

If for nothing else than the experience, colors and interesting people, LA farmer's markets are definitely WORTH IT!

Fuel Efficiency Haiku

Gas prices insane
$3.82 is cheapest!
Painful. OPEC sucks.

Forgive the Sickly

Fellow bargain babes, you'll have to forgive my lack of posting this week. I have been holed up in my bed with some funkadelic funk that, despite an epic onslaught of leafy greens and antibiotics, refuses to give me my body back. Alas, I am sitting in bed on a Friday night posting for you oh-so- faithfully.

So...
just to get you up to speed on the recommended sample sale of the weekend:

Porridge!!

This should be a familiar line for all of the Anthro junkies out there.


The when's and where's:

Dates: 4/18-4/19
Times: 9-5, 9-3

719 S. Los Angeles St #515
(corner of 7th)
LA, CA 90014

Payment: Cash, Amex, Visa, MC, Checks with ID


I'll be there with a SARS mask and plenty of Purell tomorrow.

SAMPLE SALE ALERT

And its one of my all time faves!!!

RACHEL PALLY!!!
Her comfy, cozy styles are flattering for any shape or size. Tragically out of the price range, though, in any retail sitch. Sample sales are the only way to acquire these wardrobe staples for bargain-loving babes. Virginia D. just called in and told me this amazing news.

here's the info:

Location:
2001 Santa Fe Ave
Suite F
LA, CA 90021
818.512.9474

Fri. 10-7
Sat. 10-7
Sun. 11-4

Payment Type: Cash/MC/VISA/Checks with ID



Examples of some prior Rachel Pally adorableness:

Worth It or Not Worth It?

Universal Studios

Initially, my experience was to be a bargain hunter's dream. Some friends of my boss came in town and needed an all day sitter. I happened to be free.
The mom of these adorable tots from New Zealand wanted me to make sure they got out of their room at the Four Seasons. Rough life. Clearly this situation begs the question, "but WHY?!" I kept it to myself.

After a game of rock/paper/scissors that would determine whether we would head to the ocean, the pool or the Uni theme park (scissors won) we checked out directions online and headed over, all the while demonstrating our respective best (chomp chomp chomp) "Aaaaaaahhhh, what's up doc?".

The kids' mom, of course, would pay for me and my boyfriend to get in since he would ride the "older" rides with the 8 yr old boy. So we both get free annual passes because Uni has their famed "buy a day, get a year" promo in full swing.

The day has all the makings of a perfect thrifty theme park outing, right? Well... it turns out that at the moment half of the rides are closed and/or under construction. They are tearing out the beloved Back to the Future ride and even some of the attractions they advertise as being open are shut down. Not cool.

The food is over-priced and greasy, the lines are waaay too long, and the 4-D Shrek show left my poor little 4 year old kiddo in tears from fright.

UGH! Frustration much?


Though you should certainly take a gander at my friend Jose's famous life-size 3 person sculpture at the entrance of the park, until further notice Universal Studios is...
NOT Worth It!!

Stupid Jobs Taken Just to Get By

Barney.

Once I played Barney. Yes, I was in a fat suit. A purple fat suit. And yes, I sang the damn song.

Hey, we have all got skeletons in our closets and if you bring it up when we randomly meet on the street one day, I am not responsible for the damage that my Jimmy Choo's (I said someday) do to your nose job.

Worth It or Not Worth It?

In this little section we will examine some thrifty joints around town and determine whether they are worth their weight in savings.

Today's Frugal-Friendly Locale:

COSTCO!!

Though the perks of this place are all about timing, (ie, hit it ONLY Mon-Thurs morning to avoid Susan Powter-style insanity) and the membership is minimally $50 per year, I would go so far as to tell a fresh-off-the-bus LA newcomer to move within walking distance of a Costco. Not because you could actually carry anything you purchase all the way back home, but because those $1.75 Hebrew Nationals they serve outside end up as good eatin' when you are having trouble paying the rent. Trust me on that one.

In fact, hit the place on a busier day and you could live off the free samples for a week.

The savings are unquantifiable, at least to this 'C+ in Pre-Cal' student, and the membership card easily pays for itself in one trip. Around Christmas time one can even amuse herself almost as if people-watching at a Paris sidewalk bistro while she observes the sports-fans, tech junkies and general bargain hunters enter the warehouse garage doors like 4 year olds at FAO Schwartz.

Downsides:
*You have to buy in bulk, so make sure you have a little extra storage at your place - or that your roommate is ok with using toilet paper rolls and detergent as furniture.
*The cut flowers are a little over priced.
*Not every store location is stocked with the same fabulousness.
*Check out lines are often less than efficient, so, if you haven't already got one, grab a book, magazine or iPod mini while you are there.
* At the pharmacy don't try to pay for any thing but prescription drugs. Throw a 10 gallon jug of milk up there and they will send you packing. Same goes for photos at the photo center. They are a little unnecessarily Soup Nazi-ish about this. In that sense, I do miss Tarjay.

Upsides:
*Cheap Alcohol and Party Supplies
*Seasonal Specials
*Friendliest and BY FAR the Cheapest Pharmacy in town (I have done my research)
*They offer pretty much every financial product you could want from payroll services to pet insurance should you happen to need it
*Discounted tickets to movies, concerts, and plays alike are often available
*Cheapest Photo Printers in town. And better at color correction than even Sammy's Camera!
*The online store is just as inexpensive and convenient

Most Definitely Worth It!

Sales

If you brave the big ones, my blessing be upon you. Even Lohmans or Nordstrom Rack after 2pm is a beating. And on a weekend? Forgetaboutit. I would not set foot in one of those mass-dressing room feeding frenzies. Smaller boutiques are infinitely better.

A few of my faves:

Palisades:
Elyse Walker
Paliskates

Santa Monica:
Blonde
Planet blue

Marina Del Rey:
Jill Roberts (despite the often aloof staff)
- recently bought a pair of white JBrand jeans here on sale for $40!!

BH:
Neimans (Breaks the boutique rules, I know, but I can't help myself come Last Call season..)



Sale season details for these stores soon to follow.

True Dedication

We all know that this, our beloved City of the Angels, ain't exactly the easiest place to live. And it definitely isn't the cheapest. Despite the parking tickets, blind drivers and overpriced coffee, some of us just can't bear to pull ourselves away from this ridiculously exciting town. So for you who, like me, choose this corner of the world for its action, adventure and general insanity, but happen to earn the equivalent of a basket weaver's wages in Peru, please enjoy (and contribute) to this little blog.

I'll be posting my bag of tricks on how to make it in LA with style and panache on a serious budget. Tips and contributions are encouraged, so email me! After all, a girl can't be everywhere in this town at once. You'll get full cred for your pearls of wisdom.

LA is full of bargains waiting to be found. Join me in my quest!