LilSugar

Mommy Alert! Sales

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:06:35 PST

If you haven't already spent a fortune on your children over the holidays, there are some great deals to be found right now.

Pottery Barn Kids is offering 30–65 percent on select, bedding, clothing, and more. Amazon has savings of up to 70 percent and Crazy 8 has up to 60 percent on cute clothes for the kids. Since no mom needs another trip to the mall, stay home and take advantage of these steals online!

Velour Hooded Towel ($15)

Disney Princess Tea Time With Me Little Belle ($18)

Velour Skirt ($5)

9 Ways to Earn Extra Cash When Money Is Tight

Wise Bread — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:51:58 PDT

I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money.

Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money.

Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, "10 Ways to Make Money Without a Job." After reviewing the latter post, I thought it was time to revisit the topic and let you in on a few more ways to get paid.

The ideas that Zaarly presents are perfect for the unemployed or those who just want to pad their pockets a little more. In addition, there are moonlighting jobs that I do that I thought you should know about. Thus, if you're without a steady paycheck or you just want to build up a rainy-day stash, here are some of your options.

1. Offer Experiences to Strangers

I recently learned about a new site called Vayable, which allows people with specialized knowledge and talents, local info, and time on their hands to create experiences that others can purchase. It's basically a touring and activity company without the company. Anyone can join the site and set up an experience. For instance, the Kan Brothers offer motorcycle tours of San Francisco - which include helmet rental, a drink at a local hot spot, and a city map - for two to four people at $75 per person. In New York City, Kim G. is offering a personalized painting lesson for groups of two to six for a flat rate of $300; the experience includes acrylic paints; canvas board and supplies; studio space; wine, cheese, and crackers; and Kim’s undivided attention. Consider this tip if you're interested in joining Vayable: Browse the site to see what other people in your area are offering. By creating a unique experience that no one else has established, you have a better chance of getting booked.

Read on for more.

Should There Be a War on Makeup For Little Girls?

BabyCenter — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:57:47 PDT

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Betsy Shaw about kids and makeup.

Hope Perlman survived the moment of mothering girls I dread. In her post for NY Times' Motherlode, she relays the day her 13-year-old daughter begged to be allowed to wear makeup to a party.

After much soul searching – Perlman occasionally wears makeup herself – and lecturing, she said yes. She describes her rationale here:

"I wanted her to fit in, because I know fitting in is what middle school is about. But what, exactly, was she starting to fit into? The role of the teenager tortured by her failure to live up to a magazine picture? I'd been that teenager, with a picture of a model taped to my bedroom mirror. It wasn't what I wanted for my child."

So she acquiesced. But not before letting her know exactly what she thought about the message, so aggressively delivered by a male-dominated advertising industry, that girls and women need to paint themselves, cover their skin with lotions and potions, to be beautiful and feminine.

"So that's how I allowed my daughter to start wearing makeup," Perlman says at the end of her essay, "I gave her permission - along with a large and cumbersome bag of guilt. The personal is political. Better remember that. Here's your mascara, honey. And your burden of awareness. Enjoy!"

I relate to Perlman’s story: When my daughter first sensed I had "issues" with makeup, she was about four years old. She asked me to get her a makeup kit, like the one her little friend Hanna got for being a flower girl, and I refused.

"Why not?" she pouted.

Instead of simply saying "because I said so," I treated her to a verbal tirade of stinging righteousness that came from an apparently conflicted place inside of me.

Keep reading for more of the story.

Which Tax Records to Keep and Which to Toss

Kiplinger — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:02:39 PDT

Now that you're done with taxes, it's time to do a little Spring cleaning with your financial documents. Kiplinger advises what to keep and what to toss.

It's smart to keep your tax returns indefinitely. Old returns can provide important background information in a variety of situations - for example, if you're applying for a mortgage, applying for disability insurance or trying to figure out the cost basis of investments. The pages from your return don't take up much space, and the records are easy to digitize, so you don't need to keep the paper versions of your old returns.

Also keep records of your home's purchase price and major home improvements for three years after you sell the home. Most people no longer need to pay taxes on their profits on a home sale: Single filers can exclude $250,000 in profits from income, and married couples filing jointly can exclude $500,000, as long as they've lived in their home for at least two of the past five years. But if you live in the house for less than two of the five years leading up to the sale, your gains may be taxable. In that case, your home-improvement records can substantiate an increase in your tax basis and a lower gain (the cost of basic repairs doesn't count). For more information, see IRS Publication 523 Selling Your Home.

It's a good idea to keep records of stock and mutual fund purchases made in taxable accounts for as long as you hold those investments. The records will come in handy when you sell the shares and must report the purchase price, date of purchase and number of shares involved. Also keep records of any stock or mutual fund dividends you've reinvested so you can avoid paying taxes on them again when you withdraw the money.

Read on for more.

Tips For Recycling Your Electronics

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:21:41 PDT

We talk all year about properly recycling your gadgets, but since we officially kick off Earth month today, it's the perfect time to remind you about the different ways to recycle, donate, and get some cash back from your old gadgets. It only takes a few minutes to help others and Mother Earth, so read on!

Find a location near you - To ensure electronics don't end up in landfills or otherwise improperly disposed, find a certified e-waste recycler near you, who can properly strip devices of their recyclable parts. 1800Recycling.com provides nationwide resources. It can also be as easy as searching Google or Yelp for organizations that will recycle and delete sensitive information from your goods.
Get some cash back with Ebay's Instant Sale - Just answer a few questions about the gadget you want to pawn and Ebay will give you an instant offer, even paying your shipping costs, so you can just click "accept" and go. Once you send in your tired gadget, Ebay will properly recycle it and deposit cash into your PayPal account. Easy, fast, and truly eases the stress on Mother Earth. How can you go wrong?
Trade it in through Verizon - This four-step trade-in process first appraises your device, makes an offer, arranges shipping options, and then pays you for your trade-in. Start the process online by choosing your device (either by list or by photo) and answer questions like, "Can the device make outbound calls?" and, "Does the display work?" Verizon then gives you a trade-in value, with the option to either accept it or decline it. Older models may be appraised at no value but give you the option to donate the phone to a charity in need through Verizon's HopeLine program.
Drop it off at Best Buy - Picking up your new phone from Best Buy? On your way out you can toss your old phone in one of its electronic recycling bins, along with any other computer or component items that are just lying around your house. A clean house is a happy house.
Sell it - My Boneyard makes recycling your phone a no-brainer: just register your phone online, then pop your phone in the prepaid envelope you'll receive in the mail, and send it back. You may even get a cash reward (that you can keep, or donate to charity).
Give it back to the manufacturer - Many technology manufacturers offer recycling of their own goods. Dell, Samsung, and Apple are among those that offer recycling solutions, and sometimes a discount on future goods, to customers.
Donate - Donate old computers to schools in need and charity organizations like Goodwill, which uses an online donation calculator to immediately show how the product will benefit the community.

How to Handle Sticky Situations at Work

Kiplinger — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:06:52 PST

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

Working in corporate America, you're bound to encounter a difficult communication situation or two with your manager - from asking for vacation time during a busy month to letting him know that you're considering jumping ship. Whether you're an entry-level worker or in a more senior position, having to address these types of issues is an inescapable part of office life.

Here are five common scenarios with advice on how to approach them without burning any bridges.

You're Being Recruited by Another Department Head

The situation: You like your current job, but it would be remiss of you not to keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities that allow you to grow and learn new skills. A manager in another department has taken note of your stellar performance and makes it clear that she'd be more than happy to have you on her team. However, your boss isn't in the loop, and you don't want to offend or anger him. A week goes by, and the pursuing supervisor steps up the pressure: "I'd hire you tomorrow. Shall we talk specifics?" You're interested in listening to what she has to say, but you don't want to burn any bridges. How do you proceed?

What you should do: First, let the manager who's courting you know that you're flattered she's taken note of your work. Next, if you're seriously considering making the move, be very clear in letting this person know that you have an obligation to your current boss. Ask her how she wants to proceed with bringing your manager into the loop. They are peers, and it would be much better for the person pursuing one of his top performers to initiate the conversation.

Read on for more sticky situations.

19 Presidents' Day Discounts to Look Out For

Emily Co — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:15:02 PST

Presidents' Day is arguably one of the best shopping days of the year. In fact, data from Shop It to Me, a site that sends personalized sales alerts to shoppers, revealed that Presidents' Day deals average better holiday discounts than on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here are a couple to look out for:

J. Crew: 20 percent off online orders of at least $150 with the code FABFEB. Offer ends Feb. 22
Nordstrom: 40 percent off shoes.
Macy's: 10 to 15 percent off online sales and clearance items with the code PRES. Here's the in-store coupon. Deal ends today.
Amazon: Choose from select clothing and get $10 off $50 orders with the code PRESDA10 and $20 off $100 orders with the code PRESDA20.
Forever 21: Up to 75 percent off select items.
Crate and Barrel: Up to 60 percent off outlet items.
Best Buy: Lots of deals on computers, TVs, and more. Deal ends today.
American Eagle: 25 percent off and free shipping on all online orders with the code 95867071. Deal ends today.
Microsoft: Save up to $150 on a new PC.
Staples: Save up to hundreds or up to 50 percent on laptops, software, printers, consumer electronics, and more. Deal ends today.

Read on for more.

Gymnast Shawn Johnson Dreams of Making the Team

Susi May — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:35:22 PST

Shawn Johnson never officially retired from gymnastics. Although she toyed with the idea after the 2008 games, she's once again set her sights on the Olympics. But the decision to step back into competition wasn't simple. It took a a self-described "garage sale" wipeout on the ski slopes to end her indecision. Ironically, skiing, the only activity Shawn's long-time coach Liang Chow (they've worked together since she was 6) considered completely off-limits, brought her back into the game.

At a recent event at Nike headquarters, in Beaverton, OR, Shawn told me that after learning the results of her postaccident MRI, she drove straight to the gym and told Chow she wanted to come back even though she had torn two ligaments in her knee, torn her meniscus (the cushion of cartilage that sits between the thigh and the tibia, or shin bone), and ripped her hamstrings. "Instead of thinking, 'I'll never be able to come back now,' the first thing that came to me was, 'I have to go back.' It was kind of a motivation to me to get healthy again and to rehab myself . . . I really like to make things hard, and I don't like things that are easy."

Keep reading to learn more about Shawn's comeback.

9 Popular Tax Breaks You Can No Longer Count on in 2012

Kiplinger — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 PST

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

You’ll face a higher tax bill next spring if Congress doesn’t act to revive a series of tax breaks that expired Dec. 31, 2011. Among the breaks that Congress didn’t extend in all the Sturm und Drang over the payroll tax holiday are:

Alternative minimum tax patch

The AMT is a parallel tax system created more than 40 years ago to prevent excessive use of tax breaks by the very wealthy, ensuring they pay at least some tax. Taxpayers whose income exceeds the AMT exemption – in 2011, $48,450 for individuals and $74,450 for married couples filing jointly - must calculate both regular tax and AMT liability and pay the larger of the two amounts. But exemption levels have, at least tentatively, dropped to $33,750 for individuals and $45,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2012, which will expose 31 million taxpayers to the higher AMT this year, according to Tax Policy Center estimates.

Higher mass transportation benefit

This one's of particular interest to strap-hangers, van-riders, and other users of public transit. A 2009 federal stimulus provision raised the maximum an employee could receive for transit, tax-free, from $120 to $230. That matched the tax-free limit for parking. With the expiration of this break, the maximum for 2012 dropped to $125. Employees who’ve asked to have an amount higher than that withheld from their paycheck to cover their total commuting costs will see their net pay come down, as the difference is now taxed.

Read on for more.

Speakers That Can Go Anywhere: Turtle Shell by Outdoor Technology

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:10:46 PST

Taking your tunes with you wherever you roam is easy with an MP3 player and some solid headphones, but what if you're riding a bike, hanging at the lake with some friends, or camping? Enter the Turtle Shell by Outdoor Technology. This small speaker was made to hit the road (or trail) with you. The geometric-shaped speaker fits in the palm of your hand, is water-resistant, comes with a built-in microphone for connecting to your Bluetooth devices (like an iPhone perhaps), and even connects to a Gorillapod for clamping down on the nearest tree or a specialized rig to attach to the front end of your bike. A bike trail sing-along? I'll take it.

The Turtle Shell won't be out until May of this year, and Outdoor Technology also has some sweet wireless Bluetooth headphones with the same geometric flair going on sale in June, most likely through Urban Outfitters. See more of both products in the gallery!