Thank you, Google!

"....a Glamour editor found a similar lipstick--Heatwave--that she swears looks good on everyone."
(Taken from A Cup of Jo blog by Joanna Goddard).

After I read that and saw photographic proof of the beautiful, bright, orange lipstick, I knew that I just had to own Heatwave lipstick too. But, I was unwilling to pay more than twenty some dollars for a trend.

My process to finding a suitable substitute for Heatwave was easy: a simple Google search "Cheap alternatives to Nars Heatwave."

The solution (thanks to a fellow budget conscious commenter on the Makeup Alley website) : Wet n Wild 909D at $1.99. And it worked! It's fun, spring-y, bright, and definitely pops! Yeah, and I'm also currently sporting Wet n Wild black nail polish (99 cents) all because I saw Anne Hathaway rocking it in a recent TV interview.

The point being...a simple Google search helped open a new world to me of affordable trends. Whether it be make-up, shoes, appliances or electronics, do some Google research before you commit to any big purchases. You may be able to find a suitable and more affordable alternative.

Free Time

When you’re on a budget your free time can be a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand, “woohoo, it’s the weekend!” on the other hand, “agh, my friends will all want to meet out at a favorite restaurant or bar and my choices are ordering water and gnawing on free breadsticks or feeling guilty about spending too much money and wishing that I had just ordered water and gnawed on free breadsticks.” It’s frustrating to have the desire to engage, enjoy your city, connect with friends, and explore new places when your salary doesn’t seem to support your cravings.

But, what if you didn’t have to choose between breadsticks and guilt?

Sometimes there’s no substitution to ordering a delicious sounding meal and having the server bring out some perfectly presented entrée that meets or exceeds all of your expectations. But, there may be something more interesting and certainly more creative about skipping the bars, cafes, and restaurants and making your own free or nearly free fun. In fact, making your own fun allows you to get more acquainted with your friends and especially your city.

I worked as an unpaid intern in New York City the summer before I graduated college and in that summer became an expert at free fun….people and bird watching in Central Park, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, a free ride or two on the Staten Island Ferry to catch an up close glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, sitting on park benches in Riverside Park, exploring China Town, free museum evenings, and spotting stars in the East Village (I saw Ralph Fiennes and Matthew Broderick on one beautiful afternoon – hubba hubba). Doing it on the free or for the cost of a subway ticket has an almost romantic feel to it and the discoveries are worth far more than the adventures you can read in a brochure.

Have you explored all of the parks and secret gardens in your city? I recently moved back to the Twin Cities and I’m rediscovering the parks from an adult perspective. My friends and I go for hikes along the Mississippi instead of going for Sunday brunch. Last Saturday was unseasonably warm and I hung out with a really cute boy on a soft, sandy Mississippi beach with the sun on our faces, watching icebergs float down the river.

On your next day off, try something new....break out your town’s map or pull it up on Google Maps and resolve to visit the green spaces. Grab a friend and snacks…heck, if you’re in Portland bring a six pack of beer, a blanket, your sketch book, and a camera to Laurelhurst Park and chill for an afternoon. Another fun idea -- and this really works -- is to visit your chamber of commerce website as if you’re a tourist. There will be plenty of free or nearly free ideas there. Check them out, see your city from a new perspective and perhaps fall in love all over again.

If it sucks, return it.

It's embarrassing the amount of dumb ass beauty claims I’ve fallen for while scouring (yes, I intentionally put myself in this situation) the aisles at Target or CVS (I’m a CVS junkie). Seriously, I purchase or obsess over items designed for flaws I’ve never even noticed about myself. While in the store I can’t stop drooling over plumper lips, brighter eyes, thicker lashes, smoother skin, or the idea that I, like the models on the box, will end up laughing while getting ready for the clubs with my girlfriends (what?) and glamorous nights out in evening gowns (double what??). I fall for all of the claims, subtle and outrageous.

The reality is, I don’t typically wear much make-up, I try not to focus on my flaws, I can’t remember the last time I went clubbing with girlfriends (maybe I’ve never actually done that), and how often does one have the occasion to wear an evening gown?

That being said, invariably I walk out of Target spending a minimum of $10 (that’s on a good day) on products I don’t need, won’t care about tomorrow, and which will likely never come through on their promises. Um, I’m still waiting on Angelina Jolie’s lips.

Here’s what I say to impulse buying: save your receipts!!! Honestly, it’s time to start taking those products back--either unused, if you miraculously come to your senses, or slightly used if they don’t deliver on their lofty promises. Taking products back works and it feels so good.

I recently took back one of those cheap versions of a Clarisonic (electric facial brush) that promised to give me brighter looking, softer skin. It was a disappointing experience and nothing like the real Clarisonic. It was only $12 dollars, but now that $12 can go towards something real.

Typically the sales clerk will give you a short survey to fill out or ask what the problem is. Be honest. Tell them the product didn’t deliver on its claims. Get your money back and take it to the grocery store and get some real nourishment or even buy yourself a bouquet of flowers if that makes you happy.

Whatever you spend your “earned” money on, it is certain to bring you more joy than the let down of not so plump lips. Besides that, your lips are actually much prettier than Angelina Jolie’s lips, because they’re yours!

I don’t stop at beauty products. If a pair of Gap jeans rips or tears within an unreasonable time, I exchange them. Don’t take on the burden that companies should be taking on for poorly made products.

Moreover, if you buy a bag of potatoes and you get stuck with a few rotten ones in the bunch or half of your strawberries are mold-covered...return them -- most grocery stores believe you if you tell them the story because it's somewhat unreasonable to hold on to rotting vegetables until your next grocery store visit.

Services can also be "returned." If your dog still had clumps of dog-park mud on him after a trip to the groomers, if your french fries were ice-cold, if, much to your dismay, you are now rocking a mullet...say something!! Get your money back or request that they give you what you paid for, whether it be a modern look, a great dining experience, or a spiffy clean canine.

The bottom line is that it's your hard earned money and it's only fair that products meet reasonable expectations. By returning poorly made, rotting or falsely advertised items, you are doing yourself and your pocket book a favor (also, it helps the self-esteem when you stick up for yourself in this way).

Sharing the Loot

Does every homeowner need their own lawn mower? My five siblings and I were raised by my mom who didn’t think we needed our own lawn mower, neither did Carol and Don a few blocks away. My siblings and I took turns returning or picking up the shared mower on beautiful, muggy Minnesota afternoons. My mom, Carol, and Don saved on the initial purchase, our two families successfully cooperated and pitched in with maintenance and upkeep, and we became really close neighbors in the process. We were oddly connected by something as simple as a lawn mower.

There are so many items we're conditioned to believe we need to own and have all to ourselves, but, after taking a deeper look, owning may not be our best option (and it's certainly not our only option). How many families do you know who have a car for every licensed family member or more computers than family members? By the way, do you remember what it felt like to go to a computer lab? In all of this “need” to own, we've drained our savings and we've lost some of our community, which creates an insatiable loneliness. Sharing our loot might not be a cure-all, but it’s certainly worth examining.

That being said, what else can we share that will save us money, connect us to our neighbors, reduce waste, and strengthen communities?

Here are some ideas: Let’s start with internet access. I just moved into a beautiful little complex of bungalow apartments. According to my PC, I have “access” to five different wireless networks. Each of these network owners is paying $25 a month at minimum (likely much more) to have access to the internet. Why is everyone paying individually for something we can easily share? What about washers and dryers? In college I took a weekly trip to the laundromat. While I waited for my clothes, I’d smile and say hi to the regulars, get caught up on pop culture through magazines, study (ha!), or just sit outside to people watch and let the sun warm my face. I think we all grew up and swore to never again be inconvenienced by laundromats, hauling bags of dirty laundry, and being forced to hoard quarters. In some small but relevant way, we traded community and connection for that convenience. What about extending community sharing to cars? I realize there are plenty of community car share programs out there. But, what about doing it amongst neighbors, with one other family, or with a roommate? I’m certain there are a ton of logistical and legal obstacles. And, yes, everyone would have to sacrifice some convenience, but think of the savings of splitting the cost of insurance (I'm not exactly sure of the specifics here) and the initial investment? The environmental benefits go beyond having one fewer car on the road; it requires the creation of a mindset of intentional driving. It trains you to plan, coordinate, and decide what’s really worthy of a car trip.

I'm guessing the list of possible things to share and the associated benefits is only limited by ones' imagination. Sharing the loot and the cost of expensive items with trusted friends or neighbors is a great option when you're keeping an eye on your pocket book and/or are motivated to live more simply. At the very least, buyer's remorse can be shared amongst many.

Intentional Eating

I totally get it. I love take out too. Last minute dinner decisions like Vietnamese and Chinese food or a deliciously warm and comforting sandwich from the Jewish deli across the street are one of the many joys to my single life. Moreover, I luxuriate in the idea of a cozy booth, a warm fireplace, veggie burgers and Ruebens, the smell of a wood fire grill, and conversation as rich and delicious as the meal itself. In fact, in the middle of a Minnesota December, there's nothing I crave more. But, with limited funds and competing financial priorities, I needed to find a way to resist these types of temptations.

I learned a long time ago that denying myself joyful experiences leaves me feeling lonely, left out, and anxious – as if life is passing me by. I have this recurring anxious feeling that I should be doing more, doing it better, and maximizing all of my experiences on this planet, which directly conflicts with my financial need to resist dining out experiences.

That’s where menu planning comes into play. It’s a fantastic way to trick the psyche, save money, eat healthier, and feel really good about the times you let someone else do the cooking. It could just as easily be called intentional eating because you’re going into every meal with clear intentions, whether it’s to truly enjoy that cozy booth at Sweeney’s Bar and Grill or to feel really good about the healthy meal you’ve prepared for yourself at home, which ultimately leads to saving you beaucoup bucks.

Menu planning is ridiculously simple and obvious…but I’m guessing most people are not currently engaging in menu planning. All menu planning consists of is knowing yourself and budgeting time in your schedule to plan your weekly meals.

Are you up for the challenge of one week of menu planning?

What do you like to eat? What types of veggies get you jazzed? Or, if you’re like my friend Sione, and the thought of leafy greens gives you heart palpitations, then what types of cheeses excite you? Or breads? Or spreads? What cuisine do you most often crave? Mexican, Thai, or Mediterranean?

Next step, what’s on this week’s menu? You get complete creative control. I always go with a pasta evening (or two). I like to have a soup evening in the winter months. Sandwich night, salad night, cheese and crackers night? Hey, it’s your restaurant.

Make a list of everything you’ll need for each meal. Really think this one through because it’s a pain in the butt when you get home and you’ve forgotten the Swiss cheese for your tempeh Rueben. Now go shopping!

One last step to intentional eating (I just officially changed the name from menu planning to intentional eating...it sounds more zen) is to upgrade one or two purchases at the grocery store. My friend Sarah, who delights in grocery shopping and eating at home, taught me this trick. When you know that you’ll be making most of your meals, treat yourself to something fun -- a fancier brand of cheese or perhaps the expensive version of [fill in the blank]? Treat yourself to something that’s going to bring you joy when you’re putting away the groceries. This practice trains you to recognize joy in the small and simple. You’ll see!

Intentional eating is not for everyone, and it may be slightly symptomatic of a control freak personality, but if it sounds more appealing than appalling, give it a try. If it’s something you take to, it's guaranteed to save you boatloads of money and free up your funds for intentional dining experiences or whatever your pleasure!