Good Things Come in $1 Packages

I recently read on Washingtonpost.com that the Dollar Tree, the nations third-largest deep-discount retailer, is one of the few retailers that is making gains in this tough economic market. Surprising? I think not.

The Dollar Tree rocks! Where else can you know your total cost just by counting the number of items in your cart?

Here’s a list of some the BEST things I’ve found at the Dollar Tree stores. What are your favorite scores at dollar stores?

Conditioner (use it as a moisturizing shampoo)

Gummy Bears (movie candy...hello!)

Cleaning supplies (buy in bulk)

Birthday cards (buy a batch of them for the entire year)

Picture Frames (get crafty by painting them or dressing them up with beads and crystals)

The Lost Art of Bartering

There’s a weekend flea market in the school yard across the street from my apartment. Vendors sit under umbrellas selling the usual fare – antique furniture, hand-crafted jewelry, homemade cookies.

Then there’s “The Lady in Red.” She is dressed in, well, red and sits cross-legged in the center of a large white sheet surrounded by a variety of baubles (cups, candy, mini-heart pillows). Her wares have no rhyme or reason (other than the fact that they're mostly red) and I recently found out why after trying to buy a cute pair of crimson hope earrings from her. “The Lady in Red” does not accept money for any of her items. If you see something you like, you trade her something of yours – as long as it’s red and/or white.

I ran home and scrounged around for something worth trading and decided upon a red and white popcorn bowl I’ve had lying around, but have yet to use. The Lady in Red was pleased with her new acquisition – as was I!


What’s the best barter/trade you’ve ever made? Click here to tell us about it!

Voluntary Blackout Day

It started on Valentine's Day. My honey and I decided to splurge on dinner at one of those super swanky French restaurants where the prices go up as the portion sizes go down, plus two tickets to see my all-time favorite crooner, Rufus Wainwright. Needless to say, it was a budget-busting night. Fearing a month's worth of ramen-noodle dinners to undo the financial damage, I was relieved when toward the end of an amazing set, Rufus introduced Blackout Sabbath (blackoutsabbath.org), a master plan to help the environment — and your electric bill.

Here’s how he explained it working: On June 21, from noon to midnight, pull the plug on your household appliances (especially that money-guzzling air conditioner!), grab a picnic blanket and head outside! Then sit back, relax and enjoy the savings. (You'll find me celebrating with a cooler and some sandwiches at the beach!) When the clock strikes 12:01 Sunday morning, reflect on all those nonessential gadgets that suck up power — and your hard-earned dollars — all day, every day. Is that 24/7 slideshow on your digital photo frame really worth the cost?

What fun energy-saving activity will you be enjoying this summer?

[Our guest Discount Diva of the day, Nicole Sia (pictured to the left), is an assistant editor at Quick and Simple who spends her freetime cruising the deal sites for bargains. Best score to date? "When I moved into my new apartment two years ago, I managed to scout a gorgeous 65-piece flatware collection for $20 and a classic white dish set for $25 on slickdeals.net -- with free shipping! Obviously, we hosted a dinner party to celebrate!"]

I’m a “Little Lamb”

That's right. When monthly bill time rolls around, I get quiet, preferring to let my husband initiate the paying of them. I'm the most casual (yes, I'll admit it) checkbook balancer you'll ever meet. And, since I'm being honest here, I'll tell you that I cringe at the thought of talking with the bank or creditors about my money over the phone. I'm that girl who has a 401K, but I couldn't tell you how much is saved in it.

According to Susan McCarthy, financial adviser and author of The Value of Money, these characteristics (and a host of others that are too embarrassing to mention) make my money personality a "Little Lamb." Sounds nice.

But, "nice" isn't what you want to be when it comes to your money, notes McCarthy. I need to be assertive. I need to be outspoken. I need to take charge (and not just of the fun money stuff like bargain shopping for new summer sandals ... eh, which I need to do tomorrow!). I need to be an active member in my money matters; not a passive onlooker watching money float in and out of my pocketbook.

To bring it back to animals (as oddly-fitting as it may be) -- instead of a little lamb, I need to be a lively lion. I started working on changing my money personality a few days ago by checking in on my 401K. It was actually a pleasant surprise. And, when bill time comes back around in a few weeks, I will get the ball rolling instead of waiting for that nudge.

Is that a roar I hear?

What's your money personality and would you change it if you could?

Who Needs Clorox When You’ve Got Coca-Cola?

Remember when I wrote about subbing vinegar for dishwasher detergent a while back? It turns out vinegar isn’t the only oddball cleaning solution. Did you know cherry Kool-Aid removes tarnish from brass? And that Coca-Cola cleans coffeepot stains with ease? J.A. Young over at doityourself.com has a whole list of these interesting “cleaning supplies” for you to try out.

Don’t forget to come back and tell us what works...and what doesn’t!