Looking Fabulous for Less: Beauty on a Budget

by The Queen on February 28, 2010

in Health & Beauty

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Spring is around the corner. After all this cold and dry weather our skin is ready for a change, not to mention our hair. What do you have planned for a fresh spring look? Bangs or no bangs, what color highlights? So many choices, not to mention costs. A trip to the salon every six weeks can certainly add up. And trying all the season’s new eye and lip colors certainly isn’t cheap either. So what’s a girl to do?

Her is how to look fabulous for less and where to find beauty on a budget.

Hair

Your current salonAsk about specials and get on the email list. Many salons have specials they run depending on the day and time. They offer discounted rates when you book your appointment during a slow day or time. Sometimes they run promotions based on the season. The key is to be in the know. So continuously ask about special promotions and check your emails.

New stylists –  New stylists learn the latest cutting and color techniques and many join nice salons once they graduate. While they build their clientele at these salons, their services are offered at a nicely discounted rate. For example in metro Atlanta, Van Michael Salons have their New Talents program and 124 Salons have their Genesis program .

Stylists in Training – For free or nearly free hair services you can visit cosmetology schools. The services are performed by students in training that are closely supervised by their professional instructors. The cost of the service is based on the student’s level of training. The most notable programs available across the country is the Aveda Institute.

Nails

Trips to the hair salon every six weeks is one thing, but trips to the nail salon every two weeks can certainly affect your budget. So if you want pretty nails that don’t cost a pretty penny try the services of the International School of Skin and Nailcare  based in Atlanta. The services are provided by students supervised by their instructors. And they offer quite a range of services to choose from.

Face

Just like fashion, makeup changes every season. Keeping up with the latest colors and trends can be expensive, but here is how to save.

DrugstoreDrugstore brands are very popular these days. Not only do they cost less than department store brands but they can work as well and sometimes better than their more expensive cousins. Even Oprah has taken notice; highlighting many brands in her O Magazine and Oprah’s Favorite Things program. Combine store sales, store coupons and manufacturer coupons and you can end up with a makeup bag full of product with little money out of your money bag.

Department Store Brands

Go High End – I will be the first to admit that while you can pick up a great mascara at a drugstore, there are still some products you want to buy from a department store. And this will shock some people when I say to save money by going high end. Buy your products from high end department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus when they are running gift promotions and semi-annual beauty events. The free gifts with purchase at the higher end department stores are bigger and better than at the lower end stores, so you get more bang for your buck.

Buy Online – Department store and prestige cosmetic brands heavily regulate their prices and require all authorized retailers to charge the same price. You are not going to see discounted products at your local department store, but you can find them online. Beauty.com and Sephora.com periodically offer 20% off promo codes. These are reputable websites you can trust to sell the real product. Buy during their promotion periods, and you can beat the prestige brand price lock. They usually throw in some free samples too.

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Financial Resolutions – Saving for Retirement

by The Queen on January 25, 2010

in Financial

We buy anti-wrinkle creams, endure Botox injections and even plastic surgery just so we can preserve our looks as we grow older. What about preserving our bank account as we grow older? More Americans are concerned about how well they age in retirement rather than how well they can afford retirement.

The main reason we avoid saving for retirement or college is because it all seems so overwhelming and confusing. But it doesn’t have to be. Here is how to get started step by step.

Investment Guide

Just Start – Many Americans put off saving because they feel they don’t have enough to save. They keep waiting for the promotion, the year end bonus or the money tree to grow in the backyard. But by waiting, they miss the main point of investing. It’s not about how much you invest, but how long you invest. Take this very poignant example:

A young 20 year old invests $2000 a year for 10 years having a total contribution of $20,000 by age 30. By retirement age, she would have $1,000,000. Yes $20,000 can become $1,000,000.

Now compare that to:

An older 30 year old who invests $2000 a year for 30 years and contributes a total of $60,000. By retirement age, they would only have $500,000. Yes, waiting 10 years cost them half a million dollars.

But it is never too late to start. Even if you are close to retirement age, it doesn’t mean you can’t benefit. Remember retirement begins at 65 but you can continue to grow your money through the decades of retirement.

Avoid Analysis Paralysis – Another reason many put off investing is they want to time the market or find the next star stock. But the key to success in investing is simple – save consistently for the long term. Research by Money magazine has shown that investors who contributed regularly in standard mutual fund investments ended up with more than investors who tried to time the market and invest in star investment choices.

Read the investment guides in Money magazine or Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. They offer a good starting point. Also most large investment firms like Fidelity, Vanguard or Charles Schwab have very easy to use investment navigation options.

Keep an Eye on Your Money – Working with a financial advisor can help you develop an investment plan. But beware how they make their money. Opt for an advisor who earns their money by billing you by the hour not by taking a commission from your investments. And no matter who you work with, you need to have access to your accounts at all times. You should be able to check up on your accounts online in your pajamas. Don’t rely only on paper statements. That is how all the Bernie Madoff victims were swindled.

Investment Options

Employer Plans – Most large companies offer 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement options. Many even offer company matching. So you can get free money from your company just for investing. It is easy to sign up and contribute. Just take the time to understand your investment options and fees. You can contribute up to $16,500 a year or $22,000 if you are 50 and older.

Individual Plans – If your employer doesn’t have retirement benefits or you would like to invest on your own, you can open an IRA – an Individual Retirement Account. The annual contribution limit is $5,000 or $6,000 if you are 50 and older. And you have until April 15, 2010 to make a contribution for 2009.

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Financial Resolutions: Creating a Rainy Day Fund

by The Queen on January 18, 2010

in Financial

Americans are getting the message. The personal savings rate for Americans in 2009 was the highest it has been in 16 years. We’ve learned we can’t depend on the banks or the government for funds; we have to depend on ourselves. Saving for retirement or a big purchase is great, but it all starts with having an emergency savings fund.

Continuing our Financial Resolutions this week, here’s why it is crucial to have an emergency savings fund and how to get started saving.

Why it is so important

Avoid Debt – Many people see credit cards as the answer to emergencies that arise. They charge unexpected expenses like car and home repair on credit cards. Then they are left worrying how to pay the bill. But if you have a rainy day fund, you don’t have to worry about it. Paying with savings keeps you from going into debt and accruing interest and fees on top of all the money you owe.

Gain peace of mind – Avoiding debt is a great practical reason to have an emergency fund. But even more important, is the psychological reason. Having a financial safety cushion gives you peace of mind and lets you sleep at night without financial worry. It also allows you the opportunity to make better decisions without feeling you are in a pressure cooker. If an unexpected home repair arises, you can fix it right instead of just patching it. Or if you lose your job, you can afford to wait for the right job instead of just taking any job.

How to get started

Start the habit – Having an emergency fund is about creating a saving habit. The first step is to setup a separate account and then start funding it. Don’t worry about how much. Literally start with just $10 a week. Even that small amount leads to $500 a year. Imagine if you tripled that or more.

Make it automated – Nearly every bank or credit union now offers online banking. You can simply set up an automatic transfer every week or every pay period from your checking account to your rainy day fund. This takes all the hassle out of saving.

Look for more savings – Once you have started the habit and made it automatic, start looking for ways to save more. What can you change in your budget to leave you with more savings? If you don’t watch all the cable channels you have, can you change your plan and save an extra $20 a month? How about earning more money? Can you sell items you no longer need? Or offer to babysit for extra cash? Don’t focus on the amount, focus on the quantity. Twenty dollars a month is no big deal, but in a year its $240.

Reach for a goal – You have set the gears in motion and now you can start working towards a goal. You can start small with $1000. Once you reach that, aim for one month’s expenses. Your next goal should be three month’s expenses, and your ultimate rainy day fund goal should be six to nine months of expenses. If you are a family with one wage earner, it is even more important to have a large emergency fund.

Once you get your emergency fund all set, you can start working on long term saving like retirement and your kid’s college education. Join us again next Monday to learn how to retire with more funds than grey hair.

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Financial Resolutions: Getting Out of Debt

by The Queen on January 11, 2010

in Financial

The New Year is here and so are New Year’s resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions for 2010 is to get in shape – financial shape that is. Wwe are kicking off a Financial Resolutions series this week. Join us every Monday in January. We will be tackling your money concerns and offering you tips on how to get ahead in 2010.

Opening the series, is the most requested topic – getting out of debt. Americans carry nearly 1 trillion – that’s right trillion dollars in credit card debt, with the average household owing nearly $9,000. These are staggering statistics. So here are some tips to help get out of debt and avoid becoming a statistic.

Face the Facts

When asked how much they owe, the majority of people with credit card debt underestimate their total debt. They pay the minimum payment of each bill and avoid looking at their total balance or total debt. That’s like driving with no road signs. You have no idea how far or fast you have to drive.

Calendars are on sale now, so buy a large monthly view calendar. Then collect all your credit card bills and input all their info on the calendar. Write when they are due, the minimum payment, total due and interest rate. Now on one easy to read piece of paper you have your entire debt picture. Take a good look at it. How scary is it? How committed are you to getting the balances to zero?

Change Your Behavior

Paying down debt is a process. It is not something you do in a day. To be successful long term, you have to change your habits and behavior. The reason you got into debt is spending. So you have to stop spending and start saving to pay off your debt. Think about it like stopping smoking.

Stop hanging out with spenders – A smoker trying to quit does not hang out with smokers. So if you are trying to stop spending, avoid friends and situations where you will be tempted to spend. That means no cocktails and dinner with the girls every Friday or no three day weekend trip just because you have MLK off. You don’t need to stick a Getting Out of Debt sticker to your forehead. Just tell people that you love spending time with them but your goal for 2010 is to stick to a budget and you have exceeded your entertainment/shopping/vacation budget for the month.

Find a new habit – Many smokers start chewing gum instead of smoking cigarettes. You should find a new habit to substitute other costly ones. Stopping at Starbucks on the way to work because you can’t make good coffee at home? Try McDonald’s, their McCafe’s are cheaper but still good. Love buying books or going to the movies, discover your local library. Honestly, I hadn’t been for nearly a decade and was amazed at the selection and easy at home access to the catalog where I can make reservations for items online. You get the idea. Don’t stop doing something, just find a cheaper or free alternative.

Start Paying it Down

Once you face your debt and start changing your behaviors to preserve more funds to pay down your debt, you are ready to choose a pay off strategy. There really is no right or wrong way to pay off debt. It is a personal choice.

If you are a more logical person, you would opt to pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first and then work your way down.

If you are a more emotional person, and you need more reinforcement and encouragement, pay off the credit card with the least balance. You will feel that sense of accomplishment and will be energized to continue.

If you need to improve your credit score, pay off the credit card where you are at or near the credit limit. This will help your credit utilization ratio which accounts for a third of your credit score.

Consumer Reports offers a more thorough overview of payoff strategies: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/credit-loan/how-to-pay-down-your-debt/overview/index.htm

Once you get out of debt, you want to avoid any new debt. And the best way to avoid it is to have an emergency fund. Join us again next Monday to learn the importance of an emergency fund and how to set one up.

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Last Minute Christmas Shopping Tips

by The Queen on December 21, 2009

in Advice & Tips

Mall of America

Christmas is four days away. Are all your gifts under the tree? Shoppers in the Northeast have a blizzard as their excuse for not finishing their holiday shopping this weekend. What about you? What is your excuse for not finishing your shopping? Well, no matter what your excuse we are here to help you wrap it all up before Christmas Eve.

For last minute shoppers here are some gift ideas and tips for getting your gift shopping done quicker than Santa can come down the chimney.

Tips

Don’t roam the mall aimlessly – As always, have a game plan and shopping list before you go out shopping. Check out retailers’ websites for ideas and then head to the mall. To make your mall trip even faster, download a mall directory from your mall’s website so you can find your destination stores quickly.

Don’t expect 2008 – Retailers last year got burned with way too much inventory and not enough shoppers. This year, retailers have dramatically cut back on their inventories. So if you expect to find stores overflowing with merchandise with lots of gift options just a few days left until Christmas, you will be in for a surprise. Selections and choices will be limited.

Suggestions

To make shopping easier here are some suggestions for last minute gifts:

For parents with young kids – Parents with young kids love taking photo after photo of their kids. Yet they rarely print all those digital pictures. To get them inspired to start printing pictures, give them a gift certificate to a photo printing site like Shutterfly or PhotoWorks. You can send these gift certificates electronically too.

For teenagers – One favorite store for teenagers is Old Navy. And they are currently running one of the best gift card promotions around. Until Thursday, you can buy gift cards for 20% off. So you can buy $100 worth of gift cards for only $80. Couple that with coupons from ShoppingQueen.com and you can save even more.

For anyone with an iPod – iPods used to be toys for techies but now everyone from soccer moms to teens to business executives carry iPods. To complement their iPod get them an iPod dock and speaker system. There are so many models in a variety of price ranges, you are sure to find one just right.

For frugalistas – With this economy, many people are discovering the joys of coupons and discounts. For your friends and family who like to save money, a 2010 Entertainment book would make a terrific gift that keeps giving throughout the year. These books feature hundreds of coupons for restaurants, services and stores. They are $35 and can be found in drug stores and bookstores.

Shopping at Amazon.com – If you really want to send your loved one an actual gift, Amazon.com is your best last minute destination. They carry a huge selection of products with quick delivery options. Instead of paying express shipping charges, consider enrolling in Amazon Prime to take advantage of shipping discounts. For Prime members, Amazon even offers express local delivery in select large cities for orders placed as late as Christmas Eve. You can cancel your membership later if you don’t shop as much as you thought.

Options of last resort – If all the stores have closed and you still need gifts, here are some options of last resort:

Magazine subscriptions – Hearst Magazines has a holiday sale with many popular magazine subscriptions priced only $5 a year. Selections include: O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmo, Good Housekeeping, Car & Driver and Smart Money. You can give a gift subscription online and no one will know you paid only $5.

E-gift certificates – If you missed your chance to give them an actual gift card, you can send them an e-gift certificate. Many online stores from Ann Taylor to Toys R Us now offer you the option of an e-gift certificate.

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My Picks for Black Friday

by The Queen on November 25, 2009

in Savings Tips, Store News

Black FridayWhile the holiday shopping season is filled with deals for the little kids, this shopping season is one of the most exciting for some of the most popular gifts for adults. Hhgregg is working hard to compete with BestBuy now that Circuit City is gone and their prices this year are really low. Prices have finally become affordable for name brand GPS navigation systems, Blu-Ray players and HDTV’s. So let’s get started with some of my favorites:

Blu-Ray Players

Hhgregg: Panasonic HD Blu-Ray player: $99 (after $30 rebate)

GPS Systems

Walmart: TomTom 4.3” screen & spoken street names: $89

HDTVs

There are lots of deals on TVs this year, but stay away from 720p, you will regret it in a few months. Opt for the 1080p models that are a little bit more.

 Hhgregg: Toshiba 40” HDTV 1080p LCD TV: $549

DVD Players

Hhgregg: Sony progressive scan DVD player $29.97 (great for kids movies)

Camera

Walmart: Kodak 12MP 3x zoom: $69

iPod

Walmart: iPod Touch 8GB w/$50 iTunes gift card: $195

Toys R Us: iPod Touch 8GB w/$50 Toys R Us gift card: $199.99

Photoframe

BestBuy: Pandigital 9” digital photo frame: $59.99

Games

Walmart: Nintendo DS Lite: $98

Laptop

Walmart: HP 15.6” laptop with Intel & Windows 7: $298 (also available online)

Kids Toys

Walmart: Barbie and Bratz dolls, popular board games and sports balls like footballs and basketballs : $5 (also available online)

Walmart: Barbie or Hotwheels Ride on Jeep: $88

Toys R Us: Imaginarium train table set: $79.99

Big Lots: Elmo’s Restaurant: $29

Kitchen

  1. Walmart: KitchenAid 10 speed stand mixer: $139 (only in stores)
  2. Best Buy: Samsung Front load Steam Washer and Dryer: $1198
  3. Home Depot: LG Front Load washer and dryer: $798
  4. A better value may be the (a) LG Extra Large capacity washer and dryer for $998 with free delivery and haul away at Home Depot or (b) the Samsung HE washer and dryer at Sears for $1000 that also includes free delivery

Home

IKEA has some great deals including a sofa for $199 and 20pc flatware for $9.99 great for extra guests during dinner, great prices on gift bags, wrapping and tissue paper too. Many just for $1. And to top it all off, you can have FREE breakfast when you present this coupon: http://info.ikea-usa.com/seizethedays/

Home Depot: DeWalt 18V Drill/Driver kit: $99

Home Depot: Ryobi 10” Miter saw: $69

Home Depot: Rayovac 60ct. AA batteries: $10 (great deal for all the electronic gifts that need batteries)

Gift cards

BestBuy: $30 iTunes for $25

Costco: $60 iTunes for $48 this is just for Friday but they always have great gift card deals, so take time to look around

Worth noting

  1.  Walmart now has a really cool feature on their website where you can print a map of your local store. This can be really helpful in planning your route and saving time while you save money.
  2. Free Breakfast at IKEA: http://info.ikea-usa.com/seizethedays/
  3. Free 64ct Crayola crayons with any purchase at Toys R Us
  4. Shop till noon at GGP Malls on Friday and Saturday and get a free $10 mall gift card when you spend $100 at the mall. You can also receive a free one year subscription to Martha Stewart Living (this could be a nice gift for a Martha fan on your list.)
  5. Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering a $20 cash card with every $100 purchase (quantities limited.)

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Black Friday Shopping Tips

by The Queen on November 23, 2009

in Advice & Tips, Savings Tips

Black Friday ShoppingYou can almost smell the turkey now. Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. You can look forward to a festive day filled with lots of fun, lots of family gossip and loads of carbs. So while the gym may be open the next day, there is an even better way to burn those carbs – shopping. Yes, the Day After Thanksgiving sales are this Friday. With so many sales and promotions, it’s hard to know where to start.

Here are the Do’s & Don’ts for The Day After Thanksgiving so you DO end up with deals that DON’T break your budget.

Do’s

  1. Do your homework – Before showing up at a store at 5am just to join the crowds, do your homework. First make a shopping list of all the gifts you need to buy and the amount budgeted per gift. Second browse the Black Friday ads either in your newspaper or online at bfads.net or dealnews.com/blackfriday
  2. Do shop on Thanksgiving – Physical stores may be closed on Thanksgiving, but online stores are open and brimming with deals. Many retailers will offer special Thanksgiving Day deals and promotions to entice you to step away from the turkey and shop. If you want to shop at physical stores, wait until night time and hit the outlets. North Georgia Premium Outlets open at 12am on Friday.
  3. Do know price match policies – Instead of running around town from store to store, ask your favorite stores about their price matching policies. Many stores will honor the price in a competitor’s ad, you just have to ask and show the ad. However limited quantity or time items may be excluded from these policies. Target and Wal Mart are in a particularly fierce battle and look to sway the other’s customers with price matching. Dealnews.com has a nice price match policy reference list along with customer service numbers.
  4. Do learn the return policy and get a gift receipt – Stores have gotten even more stringent with their return policies this year. Make sure you know how and when an item can be returned. It is also helpful to provide a gift receipt with the gift. This is most important when purchasing electronics as many times they have limited return periods and even restocking fees.
  5. Do dress appropriately – Shopping on Black Friday can become a long day. Make sure to dress in warm layers that you can adjust as you go through the day, especially if you plan to be start shopping at 5am. Keep other items to a minimum. Bring a small bag and only the credit cards, checks or cash you need that day, not your regularly packed wallet.

Don’ts

  1. Don’t leave the house without a plan – If you don’t know what you are buying or whom you are buying for don’t go shopping. Hitting the stores just to go deal shopping is no deal at all.
  2. Don’t buy for yourself – The purpose of Black Friday is gift shopping. You are looking to save money on gifts for others not gifts for you.
  3. Don’t rush to buy, especially electronics – Let’s be honest, you’re not standing in line in the cold at 3 am to buy an LCD TV for your uncle Bob or your kid’s teacher. You are buying these expensive electronics for yourself. If it’s for yourself, wait until after New Year’s to buy. You can get a better deal then and avoid the crowds. New electronics come out in early spring and stores will have lots of promotions on existing models early in the year.
  4. Don’t forget about coupons – It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the sales and promotions but don’t leave money on the table by forgetting to use coupons. Stores have many coupons this time of year, so pair them with the sales and get even more savings. ShoppingQueen.com will feature lots of printable coupons.
  5. Don’t worry about missing out – Black Friday is no longer the only big shopping day. So if you didn’t get all your shopping done, don’t worry. Cyber Monday is next week and you can take advantage of sales and promotions online. Tune in next Monday to hear how to snag the best deals on Cyber Monday.

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Credit Card Reform

by The Queen on July 20, 2009

in Advice & Tips, Financial

Credit CardsAre you looking forward to February? Yes, it’ll be nice to get flowers from your honey on Valentine’s Day. But even better is getting credit card reform from Uncle Sam. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act or Credit CARD Act for short was signed into law this spring and most of it goes into effect next February. It is the most wide ranging credit card reform we have ever had and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Wondering what all the reforms mean to you and the cards in your wallet? Here’s what to expect.

Rates

The most important part of the new law will be its rules on rates. However, the key to taking advantage of all these benefits is to make sure you pay your bills on time. If you’re not a good customer the bank will not be nice in return.

  1. Retroactive rate increases or universal default are now banned.
  2. There can be no rate increases in the first year unless you have a promotional rate.
  3. If you have a standard fixed rate, your rate stays the same for the life of your balance.
  4. You have to be notified of future rate increases to your standard fixed rate at least 45 days in advance. AND the rate increase would only apply to new purchases not your existing balance.

Payments

  1. Before issuing new cards or raising limits, banks must consider your ability to make the payments. Credit will not be as easy to come by as before.
  2. Payments will be due at the same day and time each month.
  3. Your payments will be applied to your highest interest rate first.

Fees

  1. Over the limit fees can only be charged once per month and only if you have opted in to this fee. If not, your transaction will simply be declined and you will have no fee.
  2. Penalty fees such as late fees must be reasonable as deemed by the Federal Reserve Board.
  3. Your finance charges must be based on your current balance not your previous balance.

College Students

  1. No more free T-shirts. Credit card companies can no longer offer any freebies or other incentives to young consumers for filling out a credit card application.
  2. Everyone one under the age of 21 must have a co-signor unless they can provide proof of their own independent income.
  3. Marketing by mail and on campus will be limited.

A Good Resource

Consumer Reports has put together an easy to read overview of all the changes on their Credit Card Reform website.

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Avoiding Surprises at the Pharmacy

by The Queen on July 13, 2009

in Advice & Tips

fancy pharmacyHealthcare reform is on the top of the government’s agenda, but it’ll be quite a while if and when we see any changes. In the meantime, healthcare costs are rising faster than inflation and Americans’ wallets are taking a hit at the doctor’s office and especially at the pharmacy. The drugs your doctor prescribed help you get well, but their costs make your wallet sick. So how can you and your wallet get some relief?

You don’t have to be at the mercy of high drug costs. Here are some tips to keep costs in check.

1. Change your thinking – Get that old notion of “the higher the price the better it must be” out of your head. Brand name drugs with flashy ads and packaging don’t heal you any better than some cheap generic alternatives. While you might be able to tell the difference between a real Prada bag and a cheap knock off. That is NOT the case with drugs. Your body can’t tell the difference.

2. Tell your doctor – When you are discussing treatment options with your doctor, make sure to tell her you prefer generics or other less expensive options if they will give the same result. Doctors don’t know the details of your insurance plan or out of pocket costs. You have to tell them. And tell them every time. Don’t assume they remember your preferences from your last visit. They need to be reminded.

3. Don’t fall for the free sample trick – Many patients believe they are saving money when their physician offers them free samples. Most of the time, it is costing you more. The majority of free samples are for brand name drugs that you would continuously use on a regular basis. The drug companies hope to get you “hooked” onto their more expensive drug. So make sure you really understand the costs of the free drug before you accept.

4. Talk with your pharmacist – Most people don’t realize pharmacists know more about drugs than physicians. Pharmacists know when new generics come out or when brand name prices are lowered. They can also recommend alternatives your doctor may not be aware of or forgotten. Doctors tend to prescribe what they are comfortable with and have relied on for years. Also, pharmacists have access to your insurance costs, so they are in a much better position to give you cheaper options than physicians.

5. Take advantage of store competition – Drug stores, grocery stores and mass merchandise retailers like Wal-Mart, Target and Costco are all competing against each other for your pharmacy business. They offer special prescription drug discount programs as low as $4 for a month’s supply of popular generic drugs. Publix actually offers FREE antibiotics. If you need more than one month’s worth, Costco has a great discount program if you are buying in bulk. And under federal law, you can shop at the Costco pharmacy without being a member. Here is a resource for the drug discount programs available.

6. Shop by mail or internet – If you must use a brand name drug for an extended period of time, your best bet for a good price is by mail order or internet. First look to see if your insurer offers a mail order program. Your insurance company generally has the best negotiated prices with them. Also check out drugstore.com and Costco.com. While they obviously can’t show you any insurance discounts, they clearly display their drug prices online for easy comparison shopping. Just be wary of other online websites. There are many online pharmacy scams.

7. Change your health – We started out talking about changing your attitude to save money on your prescriptions. But the real way to save is to change your health and eliminate your prescriptions altogether. Many chronic conditions people control with drugs can be dramatically improved with better health. Losing weight, eating healthier and exercising can help many ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The Surgeon General actually now has a great website to help you get healthier, http://www.healthierus.gov It has many resources and guides that are very user friendly.

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self-made motivational poster and job interview attireContinuing our series on Surviving Unemployment, Vocal Point has an insightful article entitled You’re Hired with great interview tips. These aren’t the same boring ones you have heard before. Most of these are new to me.

For example, “Ask for the last interview. Don’t scramble to be the first one in line. Studies show that the last person interviewed gets the job the majority of the time, simply because that candidate is fresher in the boss’s mind.”

You’re Hired is definitely worth reading whether you are currently looking for a job or considering changing jobs once the economy recovers.

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