BellaSugar

Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:23 PDT

No matter how many times I see a caviar night cream or a diamond-encrusted lip gloss, I still experience sticker shock. Of course, there are an abundance of beauty items that don't cost and arm and a leg, and for that I am grateful. But when it comes to the asking price of the following beauty items compared to price tags of some similar-sounding products, can you guess which ones are more expensive? (And can you guess how much I am fantasizing about this coconut cupcake, too?)
Source: Flickr User ">Michael Q.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 PDT

Pretty as a package? Some perfumes and compacts have such lovely bottles that you may be more charmed by their looks than the actual purpose of the item. I've gathered some beautiful beauty items to compare with similar adornments for your home and body. Can you spot the cheaper item in these luxe duos? Test yourself and start this quiz!

Question 1 of 5

Which is more expensive?

Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:34 PST

I firmly believe that many pricey products are worth their, uh, price - but did you ever stop to think what else you could be getting for the same dollar amount? Well, that's just what I did when I set out to see whether one bottle of really nice polish costs more than the entire collection from another brand and other like comparisons. It was fun for me to hunt out these makeup items, but the results are definitely not made up. Take the quiz and see how much (hypothetical) bang you can get for your (hypothetical) bucks.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:01:03 PST

I'm often amazed at the high cost of certain beauty products. A $200 haircut? The frugal gal in me can't help but start formulation scenarios as to what else I could do with that kind of dough. Fifteen pairs of shoes at Payless. Eighty-seven boxes of whole wheat pasta, perhaps. You get the point. So, let's test your knowledge. Can you guess which is more expensive?

Source

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:01:35 PST

Trudge, trudge, sludge, sludge. The economy may still be suffering, but it has to eventually get better, right? I put on my rose-colored glasses and spotted items that are still flying around in my fantasies. Take the latest Which Is More Expensive? quiz . . . and continue to dream big.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:04 PST

In these tight economic times, most people are cutting back on their spending, but companies continue releasing over-the-top items. Welcome to the third Which Is More Expensive? quiz, where your knowledge of just how pricey beauty products can get is tested. Think of it as The Price Is Right, only without the prizes. Or Bob Barker.

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12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

Tax Stuff Every Newlywed Should Know

Emily Co — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:12:40 PST

You're still hearing wedding bells, but don't let the honeymoon phase distract you from reality. Money is a huge factor in relationships and if you don't tackle it from the start, it can start to shake the cornerstones of your marriage. Kathy Pickering, the executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, names a few things newlyweds should be aware of come tax time:

Filing Status: A newly married couple has two filing status options, married filing jointly or married filing separately; however, a joint return often results in a lower federal tax. That said there are some cases where married filing separately does make sense. For example, if you have relatively high medical bills and lower income, it may be best to file separately. Medical expenses can be included in itemized deductions, but are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. If you have very high medical expenses and a low adjusted gross income, filing separately means you could deduct more of these expenses. However, if you filed jointly, you may not benefit from this deduction. Other things for newlyweds to pay attention to:
Name Change: Whether you took your husband’s last name or hyphenated your name, you must report your name change to the Social Security Administration (SSA). To avoid any delays or problems at tax time, your name and social security number on your tax return should match the records the SSA has.
Adjust Income Tax Withholding: If you and your husband work, your joint income may put you in a higher tax bracket and increase your total tax liability. You should make any necessary withholding adjustments for the next year by filing a new W-4 form with your employer. Use the withholding worksheet to indicate whether your spouse works and how many dependents you have, which determines the number of allowances to claim and the amount of income tax employers will withhold from your paychecks.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.