lululemon athletica / Flickr
This post is brought to you by CentrSource, where you will find great offers.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I’m in the market for new workout clothes. The pairs of yoga pants I’ve had for more than five years are beginning to thin at the inner thigh. Since I practically live in workout clothes, I need them to stand up to constant wear. Here’s how I find workout clothes at affordable prices.
- Avoid name brand retailers- Stores like Nike and Adidas are so expensive. Even with discounts or coupons the prices are still high, at least for my price range. I do like to frequent these stores to see what’s new and gauge prices. (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Four years ago, Dove beauty products ran one of the most successful viral video campaigns of the time. It graphical showed that our perception of beauty is twisted by the ability of makeup and graphic artists to make the human body look drastically different than it actually is. In the hands of an expert, Photoshop graphic software can drastically change the way that anybody looks.
These constant visual illusions set the stage for cosmetic companies to sell overpriced and unnecessary products to young and old, male and female, rich and poor. Do we really need toxic chemicals from cosmetics added to our skin and our budgets? No.
The best beauty is natural beauty. It is lasting. Really.
Here are 8 tried and true simple steps you can do to bring out your natural beauty.
This post is brought to you by Mes Footwork, an online custom shoes retailer.
This looks like a really fun DIY project! Just think how fun it would be to go to a holiday party in these bad boys, and how much money you’d save compared to buying designer brands. I wonder how long the glitter really stays on, though…
All this cost me just $48.60 - 70% off!!!
Time to brag. Yesterday I went to The Body Shop and saved 70% off my total bill by stacking coupons and discounts. WOWIE! Here’s how I pulled it off. (If you don’t have a store nearby, you can shop directly through the site or get built-in discounts on The Body Shop products
I bought 13 items that rang up for $162, including Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion SPF 15, Seaweek Mattifying Day Cream (that I use at night), and gift-size lip balm, lip butter, body scrub, body butter, and conditioner , pictured above.
I used a Buy One Get One Free holiday promotion coupon from a mystery bag that the clerk offered me. As soon as I entered the store she told me about the promotion, so as long as you shop in store you should be able to get a similar discount. The coupons vary but I pulled a really good one! This took off $68.
I redeemed two Groupons, worth a combined $80, that I paid $40 for. This saved me $40.
I used my Love Your Body Card, which takes 10% off . This shaved off $9.20.
At the store I paid just $8.60 for all this loot. That’s $3.70 per item!
Part of the reason why I was able to stack so many coupons and discounts was that the sales clerk was willing to help! I’ve noticed this in past trips so I’m guessing The Body Shop has a corporate policy to help their customers save as much as possible. By the end of the transaction, I felt guilty getting so many great skincare products for so little! Plus, my receipt has a 20% off coupon for any in store purchase before Nov. 30, 2011. Hot dang!
Tell me about your latest score or leave a comment.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Daquella Manera/flickr
I am a firm believer in returning products. If I get it home and find out that it doesn’t fit, work, or do what the advertising promised, I return it. However, I hate the time, effort, and gas it takes to make a return.
Most stores have very good return policies. However, it often costs more to return the item than its purchase price. For instance,
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
tin foil cooking - Podnock/flickr
I love finding new uses for items I already have in my house because I hate wasting money something I didn’t have to buy. Here are some unusual uses for tea bags, lemons, your dishwasher, Epsom salts, and dental floss. Plus, check out my unusual uses for vinegar, tin foil and Vicks vapo rub.
Tea Bags
- Put a used tea bag at the bottom of a pot that you are using for a new plant to feed it and plug the hole
- Put tea bags into a tub of warm water; let it cool; soak to relieve sunburn pain
- Place a wet tea bag on a bug bite to relieve itching
- Scatter used tea leaves around your rose bushes to fertilize
My gel manicure after 2 weeks still looked shiny and chip-free!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The latest craze in manicures – gel nails – promises nail color that doesn’t chip for weeks, but does it save you money? Below I compare the pros and cons of gel manicures compared to a regular manicure and a do-it-yourself manicure.
Gel Nails
I headed to the salon and sat in a chair for one and a half hours to get gel nails, also known as Shellac. Instead of using regular nail polish, the manicurist uses gel polish and UV light to set the color. I chose the berry color pictured above.
She started with a clear gel-based coat and then I had to stick my hands inside the UV nail lamp. She then proceed to add color, making me stick my hands inside the lamp after every coat. She added a gel-based top coat and wiped my nails down with alcohol to prevent the nails from staying sticky.
Pros: There were no chips
Up the nose or in the arm: flu shots are here! Credit: USACE Europe District/Flick
Just yesterday CVS emailed me saying flu shots are available! I can get vaccinated tomorrow, if I want. (Flu shot price comparison below.) But there’s no point in spending $20-$35 to get a flu shot that’s going to fade before flu season hits, right?
Yes and no. Experts disagree on how long a flu shot lasts. Worriers (like me) believe that getting a flu shot “too early” will leave you unprotected when flu season is at its strongest, November to April.
The Mayo Clinic notes:
chrisinplymouth / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Women with health insurance will soon have one less expense. Health insurance plans are required to cover birth control starting on or after August 2012. For now, you’re stuck paying for it. So what is the cheapest birth control option?
The chart below compares the cost of 10 contraceptive methods. Keep in mind that these prices will vary based on location. The most effective options are listed first, with a dark line grouping additional options by efficacy as determined by Planned Parenthood. So options within two dark lines have roughly the same effectiveness.
Marie the Bee / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
There is nothing worse than spending money on full-sized beauty products that simply aren’t worth it. You can try scoring makeup freebies, but sometimes that’s not possible.
If you’re a cosmetic lover on a budget, Birchbox may be the solution for you. The start-up company charges subscribers $10 per month (including shipping!) to receive boxes with beauty samples and products, at right.
I haven’t tried Birchbox, but I am considering it because you can’t beat the price. Each box includes
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Summer and winter can wreak havoc on your pout. That’s were lip balms come in handy. To help you avoid spending money on products that don’t work, I tested ten lip balms and reviewed them below.
I wore each lip balm for three days and rated them on their smell, taste, feel and, most importantly, how well they wear. I live in Los Angeles so SPF is very important. If a balm has a hint of color or yummy taste, that’s a plus for me. I listed the results starting with my favorites on down. (more…)
JD'na / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A recent MoneyTalk News article shared results of a Harris poll that found 12 ways Americans are saving money this summer. Below are the 12 most popular cost-cutting methods with my tips on each.
1. Buy more generic brands – Don’t play favorites when it comes time to shopping. If you have ethnic grocery stores in your area, check them out. Just last week, I wanted avocados and found a bag of 4 for $3.99 at Trader Joe’s. I passed and headed to an ethnic store and found them for $0.33 each. To save more money don’t forget to check back every Wednesday when we share grocery coupons for different stores.
2. Brown bag lunch instead of buying it – I’ve compared the different options for midday meals and brown bagging it is definitely a winner. To save money on lunch, plan ahead. Make a big batch of beans during the weekend and during the week toss it in to a salad. Cut fruit ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Add some lemon, salt, and a pinch of cayenne for a quick and easy snack. (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Three things I love – freebies, Estee Lauder skin products, and flash mobs. How cool is it when all three come together?
Estee Lauder teamed up with Flash Mob America to do three flash mobs at the same time in three different cities as a promotion for their new face product, Idealist. Robert Schultz did the choreography. Flash Mob America then sent teams off to the different cities to execute the dances. What a coordination feat! They video taped all three events and made the super cool video you see below.
Now, if watching this video isn’t enough, get to your nearest Estee Lauder counter on Thursday, July 21, 2011 for a free “deluxe” sample (not sure what that is but I hope it means it is big) of their new product, Idealist. All the typical caveats about “until supplies run out” apply so I’d get there early. I’m taking my daughter so we can get two bottles. I’m not sharing.
I especially love free makeup samples. They are perfect for dropping into the travel bag so I don’t have to lug big bottles of cosmetics when I go on a trip.
And it’s no secret that I love flash mobbing as a free family activity. I flash mob with my teenaged daughter. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time with my teen, and I get a free dance class with some of the top dancers in Los Angeles. I have flash mobbed at Universal CityWalk, Santa Monica Beach, a wedding, and The Grove in Los Angeles. I’ve also flash mobbed on two television shows - “Modern Family” and “The Bachelorette.”
If you are interested in flash mobbing, sign up at Flash Mob America or Google “flash mob”+”name of your nearest city.”
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
jbcurio/flickr
I was born around the same time that the ad on the right was printed. If you were sick, the doctor came to your house, took your temperature, and told mom to make chicken soup. Get plenty of rest and try not to worry. Beyond that, we used Vicks VapoRub.
Seems almost everyone has a jar of Vicks VapoRub in a hall closet or bathroom cabinet, waiting patiently ’til someone has such a bad cold that they relent to rubbing the sticky, smelly goo on their chest in hopes of feeling better. Guess what?
This overlooked product has additional uses that rarely get talked about, and at $3 a jar, why not try it? Of course, neither I nor anyone else can say that VapoRub can cure anything. And it goes without saying that VapoRub is for external use only and I am not a medical practitioner. Just a mom. But success stories from MakeupAlley.com shed light on six conditions that Vicks VapoRub allegedly alleviates.
Feel confident in these 6 slimming swimsuits! Credit: pastanaut/Flickr
The quest for a flattering swim suit is never ending. At least, until you read this post, which contains a summary of the top six slimming swimsuits in the July 2011 issue of ShopSmart mag, published by Consumer Reports. Real women, not models, tested these suits. Note, the story only considered one-piece suits as they are more flattering than two-pieces, and the mag dissed tankinis for creating “instant muffin tops.” Doh! I just bought one!
Tip: Dark colors are more slimming than light colors, and all but one of the top suits is a solid color.
1. Land’s End All-over Control Slender Grecian Swimdress, $109
The suit took 1.5 inches off the waist and has a cute skirt that is very flattering on the hips.
2. Tommy Bahama Cat Island Shirred Bandeau One-Piece, $142
Ruching hides rolls and a darker stripe down the middle appears to elongate the torso. The suit trimmed about an inch of the hips and “appeared to lift her rear.”
3. TravelSmith Fantasizer
