The Frugalista Files

Halloween Costumes on a Budget!

Here is my affordable Halloween costume segment from NBC-6! Shouts out to Michelle Smith, my muse and Trina Robinson, top reporter!!

Mama Frugalista has bad "Halloween candy"

Ok, peeps, Halloween is almost here and I'm dealing with an issue. Really, it's not MY issue, but I'm still concerned. My mother, Mama Frugalista, is giving out juice boxes to the trick-or-treaters this year. I was shocked when she told me. When I lived at home, we always gave out Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers bars and all that jazz. I distinctly remember the homes with bad candy. Boo Hiss! A neighbor once gave out apples. THE NERVE!  Mama Frugalista's rationale is that she does not want to be stuck at home (she's retired) with bags of candy. When Mama Frugalista worked as an educator, she could give the leftover candy to the students.  Left alone in her home with a bag of chocolate is daunting. Candy is bad for the waistline and kills the sexy.  Mama Frugalista says with the juice boxes that she can sip on them with her meals or give them to my baby cousins in Chicago.

I live in an apartment complex that doesn't really have a lot of trick-or-treaters. The only people who knock on the doors are the mannish teenage boys in complex who knock on the door anyway because they are FRESH. I digress! I'm not buying Halloween candy. However, I know my old neighborhood. Those rugrats,  kids, are going to want CHOCOLATE!

I hope the trick-or-treaters aren't upset with my mom for giving out non-candy. I do think trick-or-treating is becoming a lost art with all of the security concerns.

Am I over reacting? Are you giving away Halloween candy? Do you think the trick-or-treaters will be upset at the juice boxes? I Halloween candy political? What did you think about the people who didn't give away candy at Halloween?

Costco accepts food stamps

Wow! Despite being known as the discount retailer for affluent people, Costco is now accepting food stamps. People are saying it's a sign that the economy is still shaky despite reports that the recession is over. I think that there are a lot of people on food stamps these days who USED to be affluent, or at least stable and now their fortunes have changed. The thing about stores like Costco, is that they make it really easy to buy in bulk. Costco tested the program out in New York and it was a success.

What do you think about Costco accepting food stamps? Have you ever used food stamps?

Boston Market offers $1 chicken meal!!!!!

Halloween Costume Tips

Greetings! What are you doing for Halloween? I have a party to go to this Saturday. My costume? I'll be a 70s disco chick. I have an old afro I wore to a Studio 54 party last year and a sexy maxi dress. I need to run out and get some medallions so Pam Grier will be asking ME where I shop.

What about you? I have some ideas for Frugalista-style costumes that pamper your bank accounts. I did a segment recently for WTVJ NBC-6 here in South Florida and had a bash.

1) Go as a job seeker. Wear an old suit from your closet. Tape a pink slip of paper to a "Hello, My Name Is" sticker that you can buy from an office warehouse store for about $4.97.

2) Go as 70s disco queen! You can either buy a ready-made outfit from a place like Party City or you can hit up thrift or vintage stores for discount bell bottoms. Wear your hair in a flip or buy and afro from a beauty supply store for about $25.

3) Go as Sasha Fierce. A leotard will run you about $15. Throw on some heels,  fake eye lashes and put on a fake bling ring. You can get the fake bling rings for about $2.99 in the wedding section of costume/party shops.

*As if* these tips aren't enough, check out my blog homie, Bargain Babe. She held a contest for most affordable costume. 

What are you wearing for Halloween? How much will your costume cost?

Frugalista style: Frugal and fabulous Halloween costumes

Hello, Frugalstas! I will be on WTVJ NBC 6 Monday morning between 11-11:45 a.m., doing a "Halloween Frugalista Style" segment. I can't share too much before it airs, but let's just say that I got some ideas to make you smokin' hot financially and fashion wise for Halloween!

Please tune in if you are in Miami! 

Free Kentucky "Grilled" Chicken on Monday

 Bawk! Kentucky Fresh Chicken is doing it again with a free grilled bird giveaway. KFC is hailing Monday as "UNfry" Day.  No coupon is needed, just stop by and ask for a free piece of chicken. Let's just hope that KFC is prepared for the mass amounts of people who want to eat for free. I hope there isn't any stampeding or violence.

I think I'm going to sit this freebie out. Free avians make the masses go wild. Frugalista doesn't have time to kick anyone in the shins over a free chicken wing. Breast maybe. But not a wing.

Happy Freebies!

Fruga!

Thank you, Vanzetta, for the tip!

Miami Frugalistas, See you tonight!

Tonight is the book signing for Nicole Williams' Girl on Top, a book on how to use dating principles to further your career. I'm a co-partner for the Miami event, so I'd love to meet some of you in person!

The Rundown:

When: Today from 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: The Limited at Dadeland Mall, 7535 Kendall Dr., Miami

Who: Career expert Nicole Williams will be on hand to give work advice and sign copies of her new book. I'll be in the house, too! :)

What: cocktails, swag and 40 percent discounts at The Limited. Think fun, frugal, Friday fun!

Please register to join the fun!

What are you doing this weekend that's fabulously frugal?

Frugalistas, have you dated a pride-digger?

Frugalistas, can relationships work if a man makes less money than his woman? The author of untiligetmarried.com  is a young bachelor who posted about "pride-diggers," men who have a problem with their spouses earning more money than they do. 

From the blog post:

A pride-digger is a man who ties his self-worth to his wallet. If a woman is making more than a pride-digger, he gets itchy and uncomfortable with the role-reversal, thus making it difficult for him to see how good she is to him and for him. He won’t rest until he’s back to being the breadwinner, and so he digs and digs and digs as far as he can to earn more just so his pride can be realigned back in place.

Wow! I'm so glad to see a man tackle this issue. For the record, the writer is anti-pride-digging. In many big cities,young women out earn men. I don't know if it's because young women are more aggressive and serious about their careers, but it's tipping the money scale in the ladies' favor. Yay!

I know I have some family members who had a really hard time when their wives started making more cash than they did. Some have even left the home - pride-digging at its best! Often, when a woman gets a promotion or starts making more money, it means more time away from the home.  Some men can't handle the role reversal.The male ego can be a fragile thing, no? 

I don't think I've dated a pride-digger before. I've made more than two of the guys I've dated, but it didn't seem to be a problem for them. Then again, I think the men who insist on making more than their women aren't the most modern in thinking and probably wouldn't be attracted to me anyway. I have mucho mouth. Also, I haven't had a big money career, so if I have out-earned a boyfriend, it wasn't by more than $5,000. Corporate attorney, I am not.

Frugalistas, would you date a man who had a smaller salary? Have you dated or married a pride-digger? How do you deal with that?  Do you know any pride-diggers?

Frugalista Files readers are VIP at Friday Book Event

Hello, Frugalistas! I'm a co-partner of The Girl on Top -Miami LIVE event. Basically, career expert Nicole Williams is doing a tour for her latest book, Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success.

The book signing will have cocktails, swag and 40 percent off discounts at The Limited from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday at The Limited at Dadeland Mall, 7535 Kendall Dr., Miami. You'll also get career advice from Nicole while you are there.

Please register to join the fun!

Frugalista

Have you ever used a dating principle to get ahead at work? Do you stroke the egos of your male bosses? I hear it works.