The Frugalista Files

Frugalista moves to thefrugalista.com

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!

Natalie

Frugalista!

Government cracks down on credit report services

The government is cracking down on freecreditreport.com, saying the service isn't often free, but a lure for customers to enroll in its monitoring service for $14. 95 per month. To get government authorized, truly free credit reports, got to annualcreditreport.com.

What do you use to check your credit report? What do you think about the freecreditreport.com spoof? I can't like, I enjoyed those catchy commercials! How often do you check your score? I check mine about once a year.

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!!

Review of Cheap Products

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!

Can you be both cheap and frugal? 

U.S. Money Laced with Cocaine

American cash has large amounts of blow on it. Cocaine taints about 90 percent of our money! Is this why we are in the recession? Are we getting high and can't hold onto a job? Someone's having fun with the cash. It makes me think of Prince's Pop Life! JUST SAY NO!

Have a fabulous, drug free weekend! 

Fruga

Frugalista does China

So a few weeks back, I got contacted by a Chinese journalist named Fu. Apparently, I'm known as the "Frugal Queen" in the Far East! Fancy that! As a Frugalista, I am a citizen of the world, even though my passport may need a few more stamps. :( One day! Anyway, here's the article that the China Youth Daily wrote about me. The article is written in Chinese, in case you aren't fluent, but it included some of my party photos. 

Life is good. Frugal living is great!

Thanks to Fu for writing about this American girl,

Natalie

P.S. Are you addicted to Mad Men? 

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

So my guilty pleasure is The Real Houswives of Atlanta reality series on Bravo.  Last season, I blogged about the finances of the cast of this larger- than-life show. I'm going to do another The Real Housewives of Atlanta round up post because I just can't get enough!

Here are the financial updates:

Lisa Wu-Hartwell: I teased last year that Lisa was forever working her husband, former NFL player Ed Hartwell, to death on her many business ventures. When Ed got picked up briefly by the Oakland Raiders last season, Lisa didn't seem happy because she would have to run the family real estate and jewelry business alone. I mean, what employer likes losing the help? Anyhow, it seems like Ed's time away from the businesses was bad for the home economy. TMZ reported that the Hartwells lost their home, last week. Yikes. Ed bought the home in 2007 for about $2.9 million but the bank could only sell it for $1.9 million. Lisa told People Magazine that she and her husband tried to restructure the loan, but were denied so they walked away from the home. Reports say that Lisa has another home she's living on with 10 acres. I'm sure having that on their credit won't be good, but a lot of people are walking away from their homes if they are underwater.

Sheree Whitfield: Sheree said this season that she had no idea that her former NFL player hubby wasn't paying the mortgage on her mansion. Sheree said she got notice that the family home was in foreclosure and she had 30 days to get out of the home. Her home this season looks lovely, but it isn't as large as the one she once had with her ex husband. Also, she won a big divorce settlement after a long and bitter divorce, but Sheree says that she had yet to get the money. Sheree is known for having lots of personal assistants and a personal shoe stylist. Well, this season we see her doing her own laundry. Times have changed and it's smart for Sheree to downsize her lifestyle. She is an aspiring fashion designer.

Nene Leakes: Nene moved into a new home this season and is looking for help decorating her spread. There were reports that her family was evicted from the rental they lived in last year, but she denied it. Like Lisa, she says the family chose to move. Last season, Nene appeared to spoil her sons. I mean, her oldest son got fitted for a $6,000 tailored suit. I haven't seen much wild spending by Nene so far this season. Nene just released a book yesterday, Never Make the Same Mistake Twice. Congrats! Book advances are a form of income. heehee!

Kim Zolciak: Kim was sponsored last year by Big Poppa, a married man who kept her in the finest designer clothing. He even bought her an Escalade. However, this season shows us that Kim and Big Poppa are splitsville. Several times throughout this season, Kim has mentioned needing to work more because she doesn't have Big Poppa bankrolling her. She even is thinking about starting a wig line to earn some income. Good luck, Kim. 

Kandi Burruss: Kandi is an accomplished music writer who is new this season to the Housewives franchise. She replaces DeShawn Snow, the wife of a former NBA player, who seemed really finanically stable. Kandi says that she always watches her money, lives in the same home she's had for years and invests in property. Kandi says she thinks "long term" about her finances. Could Kandi be a Frugalista? Time will tell. She is engaged to a man with six children by four different women! Hmmm. Becoming a stepmother of six children could put a dent on the finances, no? I pray she keeps writing those hit records! College tuition for seven (Kandi has a daughter) is quite a feat.

So, who is your favorite housewife? Do you think that Kandi should marry a man with six kids by four different women? Do you think Lisa really couldn't afford her home or she just got tired of investing money on a property that wasn't worth as much anymore?  Will you buy Nene's book? Do you think they are good with their finances? Foreclosures, evictions or not, they all stay in fabulous homes. Is it better to get evicted from a fabulous home than to pay to live a modest one? I'm joking with that last question.

Frugalista talks about BlogHer

Hello, Frugalistas!  I'm going to talk about my BlogHer convention experience at 8 p.m. tonight, eastern standard time.  I am a talk show guest of blogger, author, yogi  and social media butterfly, Ananda Leeke.

BlogHer is an online community for women who blog and it holds an annual convention. 

I know a lot of people have approached me about starting a blog and what the blogging experience is like, so the chat tonight will cover all that ground.

For me, blogging as a woman has been a life changing experience, so I am Team Blogger. The BlogHer experience was eye opening. I was lucky enough to be a panelist the first time there! 

So Frugalistas, if you are thinking about blogging, the social media game, or frugal and fabulous living (heheh) check us out tonight!

Log on here: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015

xo,

Fruga!

Cost of living decrease

Here is a map from personal finance site, Mint.com, showing a decrease in living expenses since the recession. Check it out and tell me what you think! Do you believe it?

Frugalista named Top 40 under 40

Success South Florida Magazine named me one of the Top 40 under 40 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow! Yay! I'll take it! I get a free meal at Morton's The Steakhouse in North Miami Beach. Yes! Reception meals are Frugalista fabulous! That will be one day that I don't have to cook! :)

From the news release:

Over 160 nominees were selected for this honor by political, business and organizational leaders in South Florida. The final 40 honorees were then hand-picked by an advisory committee composed of business leaders in the fields of banking, media, politics, and medicine and community/non-profit leadership. Chosen for their professional accomplishments and tireless efforts to support our community, the 40 award recipients will be honored at a VIP reception. 

I'm wearing a dress from my closet to the event. My one business dress will be taken out of retirement and to the reception!

xo,

Fruggie!