personal finance in a coupon blog

There is one cheap and easy secret for men when it comes to Halloween costumes on a budget: Forget about your vanity. Over the years I have gotten tons of play out of a pair of clippers and a razor. Read More »

While I believe you can find quality at any price point, I also believe that some things are worth the money. While you can save for some pieces for your wardrobe, for others it makes sense to invest money in a quality piece. When fall arrives, many a woman dreams of tall leather boots and stacked heel loafers.

Here's a list of what shoes you can splurge on knowing they will be worth the money, and what styles of shoes you should save on: Read More »

Ghostface needs a wardrobe makeover. He tramps about in a simple one-piece black hooded Halloween costume, how gauche! Someone call the fashion police. Any potential victim could him coming from a mile away. In order for Ghostface to blend in with the general population, he needs to embrace the style of the times.

Doning a hoodie to hide his natural "Scream" face would be a good place to start. Keep the color of the hoodie black and add a simple pair of black sweat bottoms. It could work. What do you think? Read More »

Shopping in the holiday season has shifted  online in recent years. Shoppers no longer converge on crowded malls and stand  in long queues. Shoppers now shop online because it saves time and money.  Unfortunately, scammers and fraudsters are using this time to scam more  shoppers. Traditional credit card use also sees a spike in fraud when the  holiday season comes around. Read More »

When seasons change, lots of new beauty products and trends start to pop up in stores and department store counters. Fall is a great time to update your beauty routine and experiment with new trends without having to spend a whole lot.

Treat yourself to a new you with these products to try for the season: Read More »

I love leather and am so glad that leather clothing has come back en vogue this season. Leather is surprisingly versatile and this year designers have been getting creative with it, using it for detailing and in unusual silhouettes.

While leather clothing is a classic wardrobe addition (I have leather skirts and trousers that are over a decade old and still very stylish and on-trend), they can be pretty pricey. It is possible to add the leather trend to your wardrobe without spending an arm and a leg. Read More »

Something terrible happened on Elm Street. No one was murdered or kidnapped--this is about Freddy Krueger and he has lost something. Something that defined his character. Unfortunately for Elm Street it was not his clawed gloves. Freddy lost his brown Fedora hat.

Gasp! Say it isn't so, but it's true. He needs a cool hat to complement his red and dark green-striped sweater signature look. The hat also helps round out his sinister character.

What type of hat would Freddy Krueger wear? Read More »

Sitting in the heart of Europe, Prague is a beautiful city with red-tiled roofs and architecture that spans centuries.  It's the only major European city left completely intact during the last major wars.  Aside for being famous for its architecture, beer is serious business in the Czech Republic which has the highest per capita of beer consumption in the world.  Typical Czech food is perfect comfort food for cool weather, with dumplings, rich sauces and meats. 

Fall is a great time to enjoy the city of Prague and here are some reasons why. Read More »

I recently wrote about accessories for Fall and the first one I featured was a leopard-print shoe. As I mentioned in the article, I have a pair of leopard-print pumps; they aren't the only cat-print shoes I own. Season after season I find that my cat-print shoes get more wear than my classic black leather pumps. They are a great way to spice up a simple ensemble, add depth to an outfit of black or neutrals, and look more fun and far less severe than black or brown.

Leopard print shoes can seem a bit wild for those who haven't worn them before. If this is a trend you would like to try but have some trepidation, it's a wise choice to start slow…and with a price that is low.

Below are some adorable leopard print shoes that are at an equally adorable price.
Read More »

This fall is a great season to stock up on trends that are classic, and flattering to so many different body types. One trend I am adoring, and know will still look chic years from now is the return of the cape.

I know, many of you when you hear "cape" may think of Superman and Sherlock Holmes. However, this fall's cape is far more elegant, versatile and figure-flattering than a red satin or ankle-length number famous made famous by your favorite storybook hero. A cape is a great piece to wear during transitional weather--you can slip over a tee and jeans for a trip to the market, over a suit or dress with ease, or use it as a layering piece with a heavy sweater or fitted jacket for additional warmth come winter. Capes work on slight and curvy frames, petite and tall women, and will work even if you are between sizes (or expecting!).

Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly capes for this fall--styles that are kind to your figure, your lifestyle and your wallet. Read More »

Spiderman broke his date with Mary Jane. Actually, Peter Parker had the date with MJ. She didn't know at the time that Peter and Spiderman are the same. If Peter wants to stay on her good graces then he had better find a way to apologize and quick. Roses and diamond jewelry won't cut it, besides Peter can't afford it. He needs to think creatively and cheaply to say, "I'm sorry MJ (...for standing you up on our date while Spiderman was out fighting crime)." Read More »

Last week I covered new and substantially different, or newish economy cars for 2012 from Chevy to Honda alphabetically.  This week I'll cover from Hyundai to Yugo.  Actually lets start with Yugo: There haven't been any new Yugos since 1985.  But no news is good news, especially if you have ever driven one of them. Read More »