Blog Posts by Fabulous & Frugal

Why Taking Proper Precautions Pays
My husband and I are self proclaimed "do it yourself-ers." We're both pretty handy, and we both love to save whenever we can! We're also Home Depot's dream customer, and often joke that the success of a project is measured by the number of times we have to go back to the store. But the reality is, if we turned our excitement for each DIY home improvement into a well planned project, not only would we save extra trips to Home Depot, we'd be much less at risk for getting hurt!
I have to admit, there are times I've questioned my own judgment when it comes to safety - like the time I was home alone and climbed a 10- foot ladder while I was 8-months pregnant… I mean, how often do freak accidents really happen anyway?

Safety First!
Well… According to the Home Safety Council, a non-profit based in Washington D.C, nearly 20,000 people die each year from accidents involving "do it yourself" projects. And while it isn't likely you'll die, the

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The Reality of a Google Search

When I began writing this article, my intention was to take a brief look at the most common jobs for women around the world and the average salaries that go along with them. Knowing how much career choices for women have expanded over the past several decades, and that 40% of business owners in the U.S. are women- not to mention that women are on the verge of outnumbering men in the workforce, I was excited to see the results of my research. I began with a basic Google search to try and find some news stories and statistical info on the subject. However, in the first five minutes of my search, my article focus took a drastic turn…

As I typed 'the most common jobs for women around the world' into the search box, I was expecting to see links to articles about noble yet stereotypical professions like nurse and teacher at the top of the career list. But instead, here is what appeared on my screen:

Top Seven Search Results for Most Common Jobs

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A Chef's Secrets for Grocery Store Savings

There's been a lot of talk in the Fab & Fru office lately about how to cut down our own personal grocery bills. This is easier said than done when someone in your household has a food allergy or a finicky palette. Not to mention the horrifying fact that eating healthy is actually an expensive lifestyle choice in this country! Buying high quality organic produce, dairy and meat takes a heck of a lot more cash than buying heavily processed food. It's terribly sad, but true… So I decided to pick the brain of My Kitchen Witch Catering Director and Gluten Free Chef Tara Raichele, to see just how this chef, caterer and mother of two puts together a scrumptious menu of quality and savings whether she is shopping to feed the cast and crew of the Celebrity Apprentice, Top Chef, Project Runway-or her very own family!

Pick Your Protein First

Tara's first Fab & Fru suggestion when hitting the grocery isles is to head straight for the

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5 Cash Saving Tips for Those on the Go

Sure, we're all so busy these days we don't know whether we're coming or going. Heck, half the time I look down after I leave the house just to make sure I remembered to put pants on. So, you may wonder, how are you ever going to find time in your busy day to save money? Well, the fab and fru good news is that there are tons of ways to save money - in just 5 minutes! Sure, it may cut in to your web browsing time a wee bit, but we're sure that these tips will save you more money than finding out the latest on Snooki ever will!

Use Your Time in the Checkout Line

You know how they say to always look at yourself in the mirror and take off one piece of jewelry before you leave the house? Well, it's wise to apply a similar rule to the 5 minutes you spend waiting in the checkout line at Target or the grocery store. Chances are that you've grabbed something (or several things!) you don't really need or even want. Use that 5 minutes to go

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cat on chair

Being frugal throughout your life is key to building and sustaining wealth, but being cheap is a whole other ball of wax- and there is a huge cosmic difference between the two! But what is it? And who decides? Fabulous & Frugal takes a look at a variety of social situations to determine the difference between being cheap or frugal. Here's what we discussed recently…

Mary Ellen recently went out of the country on a business trip and hired Kate's Cat Sitting Service to take care of her kitties and water her garden while she was away. Mary Ellen has used Kate's service several times over the years and has always been happy with the care provided.

This trip Kate scheduled one of her newer employees - a young cat sitter named Bobbi - to watch Mary Ellen's pets and water her plants. After several days of being away, Mary Ellen sent Bobbi an email to check in and see how everything was going. When she didn't hear back by that evening, she sent Kate a message and contacted her

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When Money & Friendship Collide

Whether it was in high school, college, or in the parking lot of your child's pre-school, there has inevitably been a time when you have subconsciously (or pretty darn consciously) compared your financial situation to that of one of your friends who has more money than you do. We're all human - and although comparing ourselves to one another may not always be healthy and mature, it is certainly something we all do! And when it comes to money, MANY women feel that the financial differences between them and their wealthier friends can feel quite isolating.

Frozen Out?

Have you ever felt excluded from a fancy dinner, charity event or a spontaneous girls weekend away because you didn't have the funds to attend? Well, you're not alone! While you may feel left out, if you don't have the cash to go, you've made the right decision not to spend money you don't have just because you fear missing out!
However, if you ever feel purposefully excluded by Read More »from Feeling Poorer Than Your Friends

Get Inspired from Country Roads to City Streets

As the autumn chill in the air guides us to spend more time indoors, now is the perfect time to give your home a Fab & Fru face lift before your holiday guest rush begins! Creating a stylish comfortable space that really reflects your spirit, is a key ingredient to your own enjoyment of your home as well as creating an inviting environment to entertain your friends and family. It may sound pricey and elaborate, but it doesn't have to be! By using color accents to liven up your living room and kitchen, you can easily update the main hangout rooms in your house or apartment without spending a fortune on a complete decorating overhaul. All you need to do is get inspired and know where to add your splash of sensational WOW!

Farm Fresh & Fabulous

There is nothing more stunning than walking through a farmers market this time of year. Think neutrals like milky whites, buttery yellows and earthy browns. From sweet orange carrots and

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Why It Pays to Read Your Receipts & Statements
I'm not sure what's in the air, but in the last four weeks I have saved myself almost $100 dollars - just by reading over my receipts and credit card statements BEFORE paying my bills! From catching a mistake by a cashier at Trader Joe's to a erroneous charge on my Amex, I have been reminded in a big way why reading over receipts, bills and credit card statements is a key step in bill paying. No one wants to overspend - especially due to someone else's mistake. Here's FIVE reasons why looking over your bills & receipts can you save you BIG!

Double Check for Double Charges

When it comes to paying bills, many of us pay online with just a click of a button, or we are in such a hurry that we merely glance at our statements without really scrutinizing the charges listed. The fact is, that often a sales person will accidentally run a charge through twice or the computer malfunctions. It is not necessarily the responsibility of your credit

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