Frugal Fridays: Saving Money at the Movies

Good Evening All!

This week's Frugal Friday topic is on Saving Money at the Movies. Some of this may apply to you and your area, some may not. Also, this advice is a bit subjective as I will freely admit that I loathe modern multiplex type Cinemas. With that said though, on with the show!

Frugal Tip #1: 
If you must go to a multiplex cinema, matinee screenings (ie: before 6pm in most areas) on weekdays are often a few dollars cheaper than peak times (evenings and weekends). 

Frugal Tip #2:

If you are fortunate enough to have a Drive In Theater still operating in your area, PLEASE support it! Okay so you don't get surround sound, and as a lot of Drive-In's are now getting rid of the speakers that you sit inside your car door you have to invest in a battery operated radio (unless your car radio won't drain your car battery too much) but Drive In's are the greatest movie-going creation, ever!

As a child, my mother opted to take me to the Drive In to see movies rather than the actual cinema because it was so much cheaper. Adults were $7 for a Double Feature and on Tuesday nights, children were free. Additionally, we could bring my beloved Poodle, Nadia along in addition to our own food without any angst from management. The Drive In I frequented as a child, the Aspley Starlite Twin on Brisbane's North Side has now been replaced by a housing development. 

It was still there when I was a teen though- I dragged my boyfriends there as soon as I started dating boys old enough to drive.

Thankfully, there is still a Drive In within an easy commute of St. Louis, the Skyview Drive In located in Belleville, Illinois.

The current prices at the Skyview are $10 per adult for a Double Feature ($5.00 per movie) and I believe children are free. 

Unfortunately, Drive Ins all throughout the world have been closing down for decades. Click Here for a list of Drive Ins throughout the U.S. categorized by State- the information shows both former and existing Drive Ins and in some cases offers prices.

With the impending transition to digital movies however, some Drive Ins may not be able to afford the new equipment charge. It is so important to support our Drive Ins now- you'll be saving yourself some money, and possibly saving an American Institution in doing so!

Below- St. Louis's former Airway Drive In on St. Charles Rock Road was redeveloped as a shopping complex. Thankfully they still retained their fabulous retro sign!

Frugal Tip #3:

If I wasn't going to the Drive In as a child, I was going to one of many small, locally owned and operated Cinemas. This kind of falls into my logic behind Drive Ins as well- instead of your money going to a nationwide conglomerate, wouldn't you prefer your dollar being invested at grass roots level in your own hometown or region? 

Additionally, smaller (non-chain) cinemas are often much cheaper than the big multiplexes as they don't have the same amount of overheads. 

In St. Louis, the Hi-Pointe Theater is $5.00 for a standard seat, Monday-Thursday or you can purchase a $40 card to see 10 movies (therefore $4.00 per movie). This is a definite saving when you consider the average movie ticket at a multiplex is about $8.00 in most areas nowadays!

Other affordable theaters in the St. Louis area include the Keller Plaza 8 in South County (which is technically a multiplex but is part of a very small chain) which offers films for $3.00 matinee or $4.00 regular showings and The Lincoln in Belleville IL (about $5.00 per person). I'm hesitant to list the Tivoli as it's now a part of the Landmark chain, and in spite of it's charm, it's about the same price as your average multiplex.

Frugal Tip #4:

Avoid the Concession stand at all costs! Unless you're going to a Mom & Pop cinema (who can use all the help they can get) steer clear of the Candy, Popcorn and Drinks! I was horrified to find that last time I went to a Multiplex, a bottle of water, even out of the vending machine was $5! Large cinema chains use the concession stand as their primary source of profit due to the exorbitant cost of overheads. 

The best ways to avoid this trap and the tempting smell of popcorn are to:

a) Eat beforehand! Hit up your local diner or greasy spoon and spend a few dollars on something far more filling and satisfying than Popcorn and Good & Plenty! Or, just eat at home! Never go to the Cinema feeling hungry!

b) Smuggle in your own snacks. Okay so this could be construed as unethical by some, but I know that if I have to suffer through a screening at a multiplex, the air conditioning makes my throat dry. It's not uncommon for women to tote hobo style bags nowadays- hide your bottle of water and your small snacks from home under a scarf at the bottom of a large handbag (as some cinemas ask you to open your bag to prove you aren't bringing in any outside food or drink). Once you're in the dark cinema, nobody is any the wiser! 

So to summarize- Go Early, Go Local and Go Full!

Of course, you could always wait until the movie is available for rental on DVD and save yourself even more money, but if you have to see something on the big screen, my tips will save you some more of your hard earned dollars!

Stay Frugal and Stay Glamorous!

Frugal Fridays: Vintage vs Flat pack Furniture

Good Day Glamour Dolls!

It's another installment of Frugal Fridays! Today I am going to be discussing a topic that I am very passionate about and that being Vintage vs Flat pack Furniture. By Flat pack, I mean the cheap plastic / mdf stuff you buy in boxes at Walmart / Target / Ikea and assemble yourself. 

When I first moved to the U.S. my apartment was predominantly flat pack because I honestly didn't know any better. 

Now, my house is filled with Mid Century Modern Amazing that is worth more than flat pack, is better quality than flat pack and I paid less than flat pack.

I'll show a few photos of some of my furniture in my current (tiny) North Carolina house.

I'm sorry for the shabby photo quality- I had taken these on my phone. Obviously my China Cabinet now houses all of my Fiestaware. 

Also, the Dining Room chairs had been reupholstered by the previous owner, and the covering on the table was a fitted table cloth (which also belonged to the previous owner) and is there to protect the beautiful wood underneath.

I also have a bedroom set (Bed, Nightstands, Vanity Table and Dresser) in the same collection which is Drexel Counterpoint by John Van Koert from 1957. The wood is solid mahogany and cherry and photos simply cannot do it justice. I love this stuff. 

It will look SO much better in my new, beautiful house in St. Louis (obviously I'll provide photos once it's in there!) but for now, this shabby little house is what I have to work with! 

So, next question, how much did I pay for all of this? Which includes:

-Sofa

-Armchair

-Side Table

-Coffee Table

-Buffet

-China Cabinet

-Dining Table

-4 Dining Chairs

-Vanity Table

-Double Bed

-Full Dresser

-Mirror

-2 Nightstands

$800. Some of the items I bought from one seller (an elderly lady moving into a home) and other items I picked up by chance at a Brick a Brack / Flea Market type store that astonishingly were from the same collection.

After I started collecting Drexel Counterpoint, I realized how much it was worth (a lot- a bit of googling will tell you that!) but it's value is unimportant to me as I'm never parting with it anyhow! The quality and usability is the important thing!

Now, let's say we were to go to Walmart and buy similar items but in Flat pack (and modern, and not designer, and inferior quality). How much would that cost us?

-Sofa  $996.99

-Armchair $169.00

-Side Table $168.00

-Coffee Table $279.99

-Buffet $583.99

-China Cabinet $612.99

-Dining Table $599.00

-4 Dining Chairs $258.00

-Vanity Table $792.00

-Double Bed $375.00

-Full Dresser $129.00

-Mirror $139.99

-2 Nightstands $519.99

GRAND TOTAL: $5623.94

Which means that my Retro Bargain Hunting potentially saved me over $4800! And I didn't have to assemble any of it!

So how do you find these retro bargains!? Try the following!

Craigslist: If you live in the U.S. this website could be your best friend! There are often multitudes of bargains to be had. Just find your local area and type in 'vintage' or 'retro' or 'mid century' and you'll get a tonne of search results! Obviously not everything on Craigslist is a bargain but there are often a lot of Estate Sales or people who need to get rid of stuff quick and are willing to take bottom dollar. Just make sure that you use discretion when purchasing off Craigslist. If you are going to a seller's house, take your husband / significant other / friend / family member with you. Unfortunately this is 2012 and you don't know who's out there!

Flea Markets: I am a HUGE fan of Flea Markets! It often takes a lot of sifting through junk to get to the quality items but more often than not there are bargains to be had. Not all flea markets are equal though- some are better than others. Just start searching what Flea Markets are happening in your local area and decide which one you like best! 

Antique Malls: Sometimes these places can be outrageously expensive because the dealers know the value of the merchandise. However, that's not to say you can't pick up a bargain from time to time! Also, you can usually haggle the price down (which you can also do at Flea Markets).

Classifieds: Where I live in NC there is a 'yardsales' online classified ad service which also allows listing of various furniture / other items up for sale. In St. Louis, there are free newspapers which have classifieds of everything from cars to furniture to jewelry. As with Craigslist though, use discretion if you're going to anybody's house! 

Charity Shops: Such as Goodwill or Salvation Army- they often have amazing furniture bargains! Some of the stuff is junk, but you just have to educate yourself as to what is quality and what is worth your hard earned cash!

After all is said and done, don't just buy furniture that is 'good enough for now'. If you start buying cheap (under $100) plastic furniture, it's probably going to break or look shabby in a year or two and you'll have to replace it. You're better off buying quality from the beginning- something that you can keep forever! Obviously I learned this the hard way myself! 

Remember, quality doesn't necessarily mean costly! Just check out the places I suggested above and you'll never know what you may find!

Stay Glamorous!

Frugal Fridays: Beauty Bargains!

Hello Dolls!

I know it's not quite Friday yet but I wanted to get this post out there as I have a busy day tomorrow! This week I wanted to share with you some fabulous Beauty Bargains! I'm in no way affiliated with any of the companies I mention so all opinions are my own! 

As you may or may not know, I resigned from my job a few months ago in anticipation of our move back to St. Louis. To keep our budget in check without my extra income, I started properly keeping tabs on Coupons and Sales. Oftentimes, major Beauty / Makeup brands will have Coupons of some sort going. A dollar saved is a dollar saved right?

It is definitely possible to be beautiful and frugal! Here are some cheapskate tips for this week!

Bath & Body Works:

I LOVE Bath & Body Works! Not only do they not test their products on animals (super important for me!) but their products are incredible quality! Here are some specials they have going on right now! Remember, any orders of $25 or more receive $1 shipping within the U.S. for extra savings!

Bath & Body Works $10 Off Voucher when you spend $30 or more.

Bath & Body Works Free Mini Candle when you spend $10 or more.

Bath & Body Works Free Lotion when you register and spend $5 or more.

(offers are valid until October 07 and October 08, 2012 respectively so get cracking!)

Next up, over at Coupons.com there are currently coupons for:

$3.00 Off Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Skin Care Line

$1.00 Off Güd by Burt's Bees Line

Burt's Bees is another Cruelty Free Company that I'm willing to support! You may have to flip through a few 'pages' on Coupons.com to find the discount vouchers but I can promise they are there at the moment! 

There are also discount vouchers right now for Maybelline products- but I prefer to stay away from brands that still conduct animal testing. Personal choice! 

Finally, Ulta Beauty is doing a promotion too!

Ulta Beauty $3.50 Off purchase of $10 or more (valid til 10/20/12). 

I hope those Frugal Friday Deals will help you feel more beautiful, and keep your cheque book healthier at the same time! 

Stay Glamorous!

P.S. Since I posted this I came across some more great deals for you, from companies that do not conduct Animal Testing! 

At Target on their Target Grocery Coupons Page you can sift through to find:

$3.00 off Designer Cosmetic Item (including PIXI which does not test on animals)

$1.00 off Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara

$1.00 off 2 Facial Care Items (including St. Ives)

$3.00 off Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Skin Care Line (in addition to the before mentioned)

$3.00 off PIXI Flawless Beauty Primer

$0.75 off Almay Makeup Remover

$0.75 off Almay Smart Shade Cosmetics 

$0.75 off Almay Intense i-color Cosmetics

Overall, if you take advantage of all of the savings mentioned in this post, you save over $30 on beauty items, plus get a couple of freebies! 

Keep Staying Glamorous!

House Document Organization

Just a quick post today!

As you know- I was previously mentioning the plethora of documents that are involved in owning a house! It's insane! When I was last at Target, I picked up a couple of Greenroom Recycled Hanging File Boxes normally priced at $13.99.

However, there were only about 3 left of the pretty patterned ones on the shelf at my Target and all were a bit scuffed up / damaged (it looked like they'd been dropped a few times or possibly mishandled in by shelf stockers or during shipping). I asked an associate if there would be any discount due to the condition and pointed out the flaws who in turn asked a manager. 

So, I ended up getting these boxes for $3.99 each! Eventually I'm going to need to buy a filing cabinet but these are perfect for right now, and a very pretty way to keep my most important house related documents! 

It just goes to show- it's always worth asking! From this angle, the boxes look perfectly fine!

Stay Glamorous!

Frugal Fridays: Saving Money At The Salon!

Good Evening!

Initially I started a ridiculously long post on frugal living. As you're aware, my husband and I are 100% debt free. To be honest, we've never really been in debt (after my first year of University I had a HECS debt which is a kind of student loan in Australia, but I promptly paid that off after the first year and paid all subsequent classes outright). Staying out of debt and staying frugal is a lot easier than getting back on track if your finances are a train wreck! Anyway, I thought it would be cute to share some frugal tips with you each Friday, starting with today!

Saving Money At The Salon

As you can probably gather, I am a girly girl. I love clothes, I love makeup, I love looking and feeling pretty. However, pretty often comes with a price tag! 

I worked in the hotel industry for 6 years and image was everything. I had to look put together and presentable at all times! This meant perfectly manicured nails, neat and styled hair, and professional looking makeup. 

I admit that I got Acrylic Nails for years. Also, I used to spend about $200 every month at the salon on my hair alone! Mind you, I used to have a good job. But looking back, I cringe at how much money I spent! 

My Frugal Friday Solution? Your Local Beauty School! 

Actually, they're called Cosmetology Schools nowadays, but we all know I'm stuck in a bit of a time warp! 

Now, don't cringe and back away- don't think "Oh my goodness I don't want some amateur kid touching my hair! What if they mess it up?". At most schools, they won't let the students run wild on your hair, but don't expect the salon experience to be as quick as you're used to either. Plan to be there at least a few hours.

Why?

Depending on the level of the student, he/she has to consult with their teacher before and after every major step to ensure they are getting it right and to ensure that you are happy with the progress! It seems tedious at first, but wouldn't you rather that process than for some poor stylist to send your hair candy pink like Frenchie in Grease?

Also, be aware that the teacher may take over your hair and use you as a demonstration for the rest of the class. This has happened to me a few times. I don't mind. Actually, I find it really interesting!

The best thing about all of this though is the money you can save. For a color and cut, I would spend anywhere between $20-$30 depending on whether I had any coupons and what exactly I had done! This is HUGE savings on your regular salon bill! A cut and blowout alone I believe was about $8-$10 at the particular school salon I went to! 

Another advantage beyond helping students achieve their dream of becoming stylists, is I found them to be a lot more welcoming of new ideas, styles and techniques. Usually, if I told a regular stylist to give me something retro or to give me victory rolls they would look at me like I was out of my mind! Students on the other hand want to learn and want to experiment- so tell them you want color, curls, a Veronica Lake Peek a boo Bang or anything in between, and they'll most likely happily strive to get it right!

I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful young lady at the school Salon do my hair every time for the past year and a half. She recently graduated however and is moving on- and unfortunately as I'm in the process of relocation too I won't get to see her! However, she always put in 100% effort and always did an amazing job with my hair! 

You better believe I'll be going back to Cosmetology School Salons to get my hair done after I have relocated to St. Louis for good! The savings are worth it! In one year alone, of opting for the Cosmetology School Salon over a regular Stylist- I saved over $2000!

Also, I started doing my own nails and toenails as opposed to getting them done at a nail spa (another $1200 in savings over the course of the year!). 

My nails are a bit shabbier since I don't have acrylics anymore, and my toenails aren't always as shiny and painted as they used to be, but my hair is just as good as it's ever been and the savings have made the small sacrifice worth it! 

So look up your local Beauty School today! Ask about their salon hours and pricing- you may just find your new favorite future hair stylist, and save a lot of money in the process!

Until next time,

Stay Glamorous!