Blog Posts by Fabulous & Frugal
by Stephanie Berenbaum - March 21, 2012
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Cops, Robbers & Homeowners Insurance
Yesterday was an ordinary day, until I found myself at the center of an international crime thriller! Okay, well, not exactly ... but I DID have two car seats stolen from my very own driveway. Here's what happened: our babysitter set our car seats down next to my car - in my driveway - and then came back inside for maybe 60 seconds because I had forgotten to give something to her. She went back out and - that's right - the seats were GONE.Get to Know Your Local Police Precinct
Or at least have their phone number handy! Not only did I not even know what police precinct I was in, I didn't even have their number. By the time I managed to look them up and call, many minutes had gone by. I know the odds of catching the car seat thief was slim, but I realized that my precinct should definitely be on my go-to list of important phone numbers!Insurance to the Rescue?
This theft - the first since we Read More »from The Case of the Stolen Car Seatsby Alexandra Pauline - March 19, 2012
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Breaking the Glass Ceiling One Job at a Time
This March marks the 25th anniversary of Women's History Month, and we thought we'd celebrate by showcasing some of the professions where women are kicking some serious salary butt over their male counterparts. According to American University Professor Caren Goldberg, "Women in traditionally male-dominated jobs are rewarded for bucking the stereotype, while women in traditionally female jobs are rewarded for 'fitting in." Alas, many women must still fight for equal pay throughout their careers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2010 that women only earn 81 cents for every dollar earned by men ...so, what are the jobs where the ladies are on top, so to speak? Check these careers out: The Magic of Television It's no secret that the entertainment industry is dominated by high-powered men, but according to Payscale.com, female television directors and producers often earn up toRead More »from Careers that Pay Women Moreby Brandi Savitt - March 15, 2012
Inheriting Money 101
I may be a little behind the eight ball with my new - not so guilty TV pleasure - Downton Abbey, but as I enter watching the second season of this British based period drama, I can't seem to shake the fall out of the old time sexist marriage and inheritance laws that haunt the Crawley family. --Don't worry, I won't spoil the show...Historically Speaking
For those of you not familiar with Downton Abbey, the series begins in England during the years leading up to World War I. This multi layered drama touches on so many money related issues, it's mind boggling, but the family's main money conflict is two fold... The Earl of Grantham (and head of the family estate), Robert Crawley, is married to Cora, an American heiress. In order to secure that Cora would not divorce Robert and take her money with her, Robert's father had made a deed of transference that locked Cora's money into the family's estate. At the time, no one Read More »from Downton Abbey & InheritanceAn Essential App for Online Shoppers
By Fabulous & Frugal | Work + Money – Mon, Mar 12, 2012 4:13 PM EDTby Stephanie Berenbaum - March 11, 2012
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Get Organized & Save!
We wrote about the money-saving SLICE app last year when it debuted - and the latest scoop is it just became available for all you Android users too!What Is Slice?
As you may recall, Slice is a FREE, web based service and downloadable app that saves you time and money by organizing your online receipts. It pulls all the info you need - shipping notifications, tracking numbers, return policies and customer service info - and organizes it all in one easy place. Basically, it is a dream app for someone like me who shops a lot online but tends to be, shall we say....chronically disorganized. I tend to forget "return by" dates and misplace online receipts - all of which equals money flying out of my pocket. Here's what makes Slice so Fab & Fru:Hassle Free Returns
This is the biggie for me, and I am guessing maybe for a lot of you too... I have to admit, there have been times that I have been forced to hold Read More »from An Essential App for Online Shoppersby Brandi Savitt - March 8, 2012
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Why Avoiding Chemicals Is Worth the Price
You've probably noticed that at most major drugstores there are typically ZERO non-antiperspirant deodorant options for women - while the men's section offers at least 3-4. And you're also probably aware of all the reports suggesting potentially harmful links between aluminum (a major ingredient in antiperspirants) to breast cancer, and of course Alzheimer's disease - not to mention other terrifying chemicals found in deodorants, like parabens... So what's an educated consumer to do - especially when the social norm (and more importantly the consumer price point) still pushes women to use toxic chemicals to stop sweating and smelling? While none of us ladies want to smell bad, the health risks of using chemical laden deodorants and antiperspirants are just too great. So, we've done a little homework and gathered the info you need to know. From the most cost effective high-end organic brands to Read More »from Best All Natural Deodorants
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Credit Where Credit Is Due
We really have to give credit to our Fab friends over at Citi's Women & Co. Just when we were feeling overwhelmed at the thought of tackling our credit rating, they've brought us Five Fast Facts about Managing Your Credit Score. So take five - and take control of your credit score!
1. Your Credit History Has A 7-Year Shelf Life
Your credit report tracks monthly payments, credit limits, and payment patterns over 7 years, but prospective creditors are usually concerned with the last 2-3 years.
2. Joint Accounts Link Your Credit Status To Your Partner's
Divorce settlements are not indicated on your credit report. Any account that remains in both names will continue to link you to an ex, so a late payment could show up on both of your reports.
3. Employers And Potential Employers Have Access To Your Credit Report
If you're applying for a job that pays at least $75,000, the employer has the right to see - and judge - your
Read More »from Five Fast Credit Score Factsby Alexandra Pauline - March 5, 2012
Save on Your Next Shopping Spree
Starting to get spring shopping fever? Well, we have some Fab & Fru tips to help wake you out of your shopping hibernation AND keep you on top of some of the most savvy deals year round!
Know When to Shop the Discount Rack
Knowing WHEN to shop is one of the easiest ways to save. Most retail stores follow a set weekly schedule for when they move items to the sale rack - thus making the following day your PRIME TIME to shop. Department stores are typically known for doing their markdowns on Tuesday nights before closing, which means Wednesday morning is the time to find the best selection on the latest deals. Though this might be the first time you're hearing about the markdown schedule, it's really NO secret. If you want to find out when to let your fashionista ferocity strike, all you have to do is ask the manager of your favorite store!
Get Smart About Sales Tax
With sales tax hovering
Read More »from Are You a Savvy Shopper?by Brandi Savitt - March 1, 2012
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The Changing Face of the American Family
The recent New York Times article, "For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside of Marriage," really got us thinking about motherhood, money and marriage. The story addresses the changing face of family in the U.S., and how illegitimacy no longer has the same stigma for young unmarried mothers - in fact, it is the new norm. And while 59% of all women who give birth in the US are married, it is the generation of young mothers under 30 who have tipped the scales the other way - with the biggest jump among white women in their 20's. So, why are so many young women choosing NOT to walk down the aisle? Is it possible that men are phasing themselves out of their role in society and don't even know it?What's Love Got To Do With It?
In the tradition of marriage, the notion that you marry for love is relatively new. In fact, it was not until the 1920's that dating became a popular trend. Historically, Read More »from Do Women Need Marriage Anymore?by Stephanie Berenbaum - February 29, 2012
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Personal Shopper - Sans Price Tag!
The luxury of having a personal shopper has always been reserved for the rich and famous. So you can imagine my delight when I discovered that J. Crew offers their own personal shopping service - FOR FREE! You can take advantage of this service online, over the phone or in-store -- which is what I did yesterday.... I had the good fortune of meeting Max - my new J. Crew personal shopper - who shared some insider tips on the very Fab & Fru side of J Crew. In addition, he also took the time to show me the proper way to roll a shirt sleeve and tuck the tail of an extra long belt. Needless to say, I'm in love! Not only did Max help me find some classic staples that look and feel great, he helped me find affordable pieces that fit my my budget constraints. Check out my Fab & Fru FINDS that are so versatile, I can wear them all year round!No. 2 Pencil Skirts
This skirt is so flattering I felt like I Read More »from Fab & Fru J. Crew
