Hi Everyone! Thanks for being so patient with me! I have been underground for a few days for good reason. I am going indie. I have launched thefrugalista.com, my own blog. I have had an AWESOME time blogging for the Miami Herald, but now is the time for me to strike on my own.
The party isn't ending...it's going to a new place so please visit me at thefrugalista.com and update your blogrolls and add yourself to my RSS feed! My email is the same, for those who know. :)
Much love to the Miami Herald for letting me have a wonderful ride here!
Thank you, Accreditedonlinecolleges.org for the honor!
Here's the list:.
Credit
From credit card rates to identity theft to getting out of debt, these feeds are all about helping you with your credit.
@SpendOnLife: Get educated about identity and credit theft by following this feed.
@creditfacts: Get articles and posts about DIY credit repair, loans, credit score and more.
@creditgoddess: The credit goddess follows news stories and issues affecting everyday people and their credit problems.
@GetOutOfDebtGuy: Steve Rhode is a popular resource for smart debt and credit tips.
@CreditScoreBlog: This Seattle-based blog shares stories about reading and improving your credit report.
@ihavegoodcredit: This tweeter is about to release a book series on credit and can answer your questions about credit cards and scores.
@CardHelp: Find tips and articles about credit card legislation, budgeting, making payments and more.
@Ch11_bankruptcy: Steven Silton tweets about Chapter 11 bankruptcy news.
@SABankruptcy: This San Antonio bankruptcy lawyer tweets about taxes, credit, bankruptcy and the financial crisis.
@mariaaspan: Maria Aspan is a reporter who tweets about banking, credit cards and finance trends.
Budgeting and Saving
Learn how to organize a budget and save more each month by following these feeds.
@shoestring: Shoestring Magazine can help you find new ways to save.
@inzolo: Learn to save based on the zero-based envelope budget plan.
@moneypennyme: Sam Robinson is a "rockstar budgeter" who paid off almost $40,000 in consumer debt in under one year.
@moneydetective: Detective Heather is great at ferreting out new ways to budget and save.
@ArtOfSaving: This social network tweets inspiring quotes and useful tips for saving on bills and more.
@BudgetMaven: BudgetMaven can help you save money and stick to your budget when it comes to beauty treatments, eating out, health care, phone bills and more.
@retirementplanr: Michael Peterson is a retirement income planning specialist.
@SaveTogether: This campaign teaches financial literacy.
@MoneyAisle: Learn about good deals on CDs and savings accounts here.
@moneyStrands: Submit money questions to this feed and look for helpful articles and tips about saving.
Investing
Get investing tips and tricks from these money experts.
@alphatrends: Get reports from the markets and information about seminars and investment practices.
@SoundMindInvest: Matthew Pryor is the Director of Operations for this organization, which is the country’s best-selling Christian financial newsletter.
@TradingGoddess: TradingGoddess discusses investments and the market on her feed.
@tradefast: This tweeter has over 20 years of money management experience with hedge funds.
@sorenmacbeth: This is the twitter feed from the founder of Stocktwits.
@CBOE: The Chicago Board of Options Exchange tweets here.
@upsidetrader: This feed comes from a CEO of a long/short fund.
@optionmonster: Jon Najarian is the cofounder of Optionmonster and Trademonster.com.
@ObliviousInvest: Mike Piper tweets about taxes, credit cards, investments and more.
@infoarbitrage: This feed is from "a reformed Wall Streeter turned early-stage investor." You’ll find insight into how the market is doing and how to invest.
Taxes
From tax help to the unemployed to keeping up with the latest tax news and legislation, you’ll find it all on these feeds.
@TaxPolicyCenter: Learn about legislation, tax exemptions and more.
@Taxdotcom: From celebrity tax news to credit news to this year’s tax "trends," follow @Taxdotcom.
@taxtherapy: This feed shares information about tax credits, deadlines and other issues affecting your taxes.
@1SocialSecurity: This official Social Security feed tweets about local news and savings.
@thetaxman: Jeff Beckley is a CPA and tax professional who tweets about rising taxes, tax implications of hobbies, and other useful information.
@ustaxaid: Get federal and local (if you’re in Nevada) tax updates here.
@thetaxclub: This firm has lots of great tax help and information for individuals and small business owners.
@TaxReductionCPA: W. Murray Bradford brands himself as "the nation’s pre-eminent tax reduction expert," concentrating on helping self-employed tax payers.
@filelater: Learn about filing for extensions here.
Frugal Living
Learn how to be more frugal with your money and live life with less.
@frugalista: The Frugalista has found success helping others learn how to live stylishly and frugally.
@forestonfinance: This feed comes from a newly married blogger who shares smart money saving tips.
@recessionrecipes: Eat great without spending too much when you follow this feed.
@KeyIngredient: Learn the difference between cheap and frugal when you follow Lindsay Landis here.
LiveBetterOnLess: Lesley Voth’s money saving guide has 518 tips on frugal living.
@FrugallyYours: Leslie Walters blogs and tweets frugal living tips, especially for families.
@MonroeOnABudget: This reporter also writes about frugal living.
@chrisbaskind: Follow Chris for lighter living tips: being frugal and environmentally conscious.
CraftyDollar: Recent tweets from this feed discuss energy savings, buying in bulk, cheap recipes and online shopping.
@Brokelyn: This online magazine tweets tips for "living big on small change."
Building Wealth
These money experts will help you build wealth and plan for a luxurious life in the future.
@CleverDough: This New Zealand mom is an entrepreneur who can help you decide what to do with your money.
@UnlockYrWealth: This radio show and feed can help motivate you to become smarter about money.
@MoneyUnder30: David Weliver covers financial topics for the under 30 set, including credit, student loans, the recession and more.
@ramit: Ramit Sethi is the author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich and tweets about TV appearances, PF news and more.
@PWMLtd: Mark Robinson is a UK-based lifestyle financial planner who can help you achieve the future you want.
@jimkopas: Jim Kopas is an associate at a wealth management firm in the Bay Area.
@wealthbuilding: William R. Patterson is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author and wealth and business coach.
@wizardzofwealth: Get "cliff notes style ideas" for building wealth when you follow this feed.
@PhilanthropyCFP: This certified financial planner can help you "integrate values, investments and giving" into your wealth management plan.
@WealthBlog: This feed contemplates wealth in American, wealth management, personal wealth and more.
Currency and the Markets
Get all the news and tips about the stock markets and foreign exchange here.
@stocksnjocks: Get "blatantly honest" stock tips and sports news from this feed.
@guy_adami: Guy Adami believes that the "stocks don’t lie…people do." Follow him for finance trivia, stocks news and more.
@tickerville: Get real-time updates from Professional Trader plus commentary on how the markets are doing.
@BloggingStocks: Follow @BloggingStocks for "passionate coverage of America’s favorite stocks."
@currencyblog: The currency blog covers foreign currency exchange rates and the economy.
@siriusforex: This group of forex traders shares tips and news all day.
@greenfaucet: Jim Slagle tweets his take on the market.
@currencytweets: Follow @currencytweets if you want more articles and commentary about the markets and foreign exchange rates.
@Aleks_Todorova: Aleksandra Todorova is a senior writer at SmartMoney.com and covers a range of credit, loans, and money news stories.
@ScottJagow: Scott hosts the radio program Marketplace and comments on CEOs, student loans and more.
@BankThink: Get news from the Fed, major banks and Wall Street from @BankThink.
@WalletPop_UK: Read finance news for everyday people here.
@fundmyfund: Mark covers the markets and swing trades.
@alansmurray: Alan Murray is the Wall Street Journal Deputy Managing Editor and Executive Editor Online.
@TheLexColumn: The Financial Times column covers business and finance news.
@FinancialNews: If you want to keep up with investment banking and fund management, follow this feed.
@dvolatility: You’ll get global market news from this feed.
@businessnews: Here’s another feed devoted to keeping up with Wall Street news.
PF Coaches and Tips
These personal finance feeds can help you become a more organized, responsible budgeter.
@MoneyCrashers: Get PF tips, from saving on car payments to applying business principles to PF.
@mcmoneycoach: Jim McGowan provides sound financial advice to families.
@PslFinance: Get a steady stream of trending finance topics and personal finance tips.
@freefrombroke: Everyday people get finance help and tips from this feed.
@LifeTuner: Find money tools, savings tips and financial advice from @LifeTuner.
@alphaconsumer: Kimberly Palmer is a PF reporter who tweets articles like "Working Mothers Hardest Hit by Recession" and "The New Money Savvy Generation."
@howardlindzon: Follow @howardlindzon for innovative, creative ways to save money and make bank.
@MoneySmart: Ben brings you PF news and tips, plus web hacks and money tools.
@DieBrokeBlog: StockTwits writes the Die Broke Blog, which offers PF tips on virtually every money topic.
@wisebread: The Wise Bread blog tweets frugal living and PF tips here.
@SuburbanDollar: Kyle isn’t a total money expert, but he can help inspire you to become more financially responsible.
@MoneyRelation: Adam wants to help you reevaluate and revitalize your relationship with money.
@GreenPanda: College students and 20-somethings will find PF help here.
@bargainr: Jim Wang proves you can save money and enjoy your scotch, too.
@AuthorDavidBach: NYT best-selling author David Bach is also a PF expert who tweets tips on how to get organized.
@BSimple: You’ll find simple ways to live life and save money on this feed.
@PFIncome: Topics addressed on this PF feed include passive income, goal setting and more.
@myprettypennies: Learn how to save your pretty pennies by following this feed.
@everycentcounts: Learn how to develop better spending habits here.
@tarasbernard: Tara Siegel Bernard is a PF reporter for the NYT.
Who are your tweeple? Who do I need to follow? I don't only follow my financial peeps. I just want to connect with people who publish worthwhile content. Humor, news, financial, life, mom, whatever.
Oh my! This personal finance blogger says that we should spend this holiday season. Jeff Brown argues that if you live frugally during the year, why not treat yourself and loved ones to some nice gifts? Jeff says that much of our financial woes are due to buying too much house, buying expensive cars or purchasing $4 lattes that fritter away our cash. Holiday spending isn't the real culprit of our deep financial woes.
Gulp! I guess it makes sense. If you behave and respect your earnings throughout the year, why not do the Santa Claus thing?
This year, I'm spending a little bit more than I did last year on Christmas. I'm going to get the niece some Sesame Street stuff because she's working on her numbers. I can't write what I'm getting Mama Frugalista because she reads the blog from time to time. I think my spending style will be Frugalista Claus. LOL. Good gifts but tempered spending.
What's your holiday spending plan? Super frugal? Mrs. Claus-style? Regular? What are you buying? What's on your Christmas list. I know that I'm getting a Princess Tiana doll from my mother, which is why she is on my blog, today. How old am I? LOL
Gobble up, my Frugalistas. I'm not doing Thanksgiving this year. There, I said it. Normally, I'm at a friend's house or flying to Chicago to visit my family. But this year, I am underground and THANKFUL for a day off to focus on my writing and me. They are one in the same these days.
A few things factored into my decision to un-Thanksgiving. I didn't want to spend money flying for the holidays. I didn't want to be responsible for bringing a dish to another person's home. My home is not in condition to have guests over. I have to work the Friday after the holiday.
I just want to watch television, write my book and talk on the phone. I just want the REALLY simple life because these days, my life is a tad hectic.
I don't really bring up the holidays around my friends because I don't want to be cajoled or pitied into a T-giving celebration.
I am thankful for friends, my health, a bank account, opportunities, Body Magic shape wear. I am thankful for my new hairdresser, Kenny.
I will be thankful for a low key day.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Do the holidays stress you? I will have some black Friday specials posted tomorrow.
Carla A. Harris, author of Expect to Win: Proven Strategies from a Wall Street Vet (Penguin), is the managing director of global capital markets at Morgan Stanley. She has been honored in Fortune magazine's "50 Most Powerful Black Executives in America," Essence magazine's "50 Women Who Are Shaping the World," and Black Enterprise's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business.”
Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is a write-at-home mom who writes the “Frugal Duchess” column that appears weekly in the Miami Herald and regularly in about 25 other newspapers. She’s the author The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money Anywhere You Live, and a contributor to 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget (Skyhorse), by the staff of Wise Bread.
Alan Weis, author of The Business of Changing Lives: How One Company Took the Information Superhighway to the Inner City (Greenleaf Book Group), is the founder and president of Advanced Network and Services (ANS). A former IBM vice president, he has been a member of the World Technology Network since 2002 and was a member of the CEO Forum on Educational Technology. Weis attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He resides in Sarasota, Fla.
I hope to see you there!
What books are you reading? What's your favorite book? Are you going to the Miami Book Fair?
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!
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.
Greetings, Frugalistas! So I got back last night from a MARHHHVELOUS weekend at the first Blogalicious conference, a networking event for women bloggers of different ethnicities. I laughed. I cried. I networked at the W hotel in midtown Atlanta. :) I had so much fun.
The thing about blogging conferences (or any conference for that matter) is that they are rife with sponsors who are looking to get their products in front of tastemakers and influencers.
The swag (stuff we all get) was plentiful. Our registration bag was the size of a small village. At the different sessions and meetings, registrants were offered free lotion, hair care products, eyelashes, blankets and Barbie dolls. I had oodles and oodles of stuff.
So leaving the conference, I had an extra bag of "stuff." I filtered some of the swag, giving it off to the local bloggers. I know Shameeka, who blogs at The Broke Socialite, is doing a shelter run, donating some of the lotion and blankets to the less fortunate in Atlanta.
When I got to the airport, I ran into a swag dilemma. An airline agent made it clear I would have to check my luggage or get rid of some swag. I had no intention of paying $25 to check a bag due to the stuff I accumulated at the conference.
I thought about giving the swag away to someone at the airport, but for security reasons, I nixed that idea. I didn't want to be put "under watch" for the suspicious activity of giving way items at the airport. I did the unthinkable. I tossed some of the swag in the trash. I had free rice and other snacks in my swag bag. I was able to save the Barbie doll, make up and some hair care products. *Le sigh*
I feel pretty bad about being wasteful but I was up against the wall. I'm not a swag hag. It's just that the registration bag for the conference was filled to the top.
Should I have spent the $25 to check my luggage to keep the swag? Should I have not taken any of the swag? Am I a swag hag? Do I need to practice the "Swag Surfing" dance to get my swagger back? I can still shake it!
There's a new site on the world wide web, cheapism. It's a product review of cheap products. Here at The Frugalista Files, the word cheap is not in our vocabulary, but I wanted to shout out a growing blog. :)
I say the blog is worth a click and a gander. The site does the heavy lifting. I hate buying items that stink. It's better to read the reviews. Go cheapism!
