Beauty Deal for DC Ladies

Blow dry only hair salons have become a new craze.  It's not an expense I can justify on a regular basis, but I purchased a deal voucher a little while back for Blowout Bar DC in Foggy Bottom/West End.  A few weeks ago, I decided to use the certificate before my friend's bridal shower that I was hosting.  I am smitten!  The location was convenient and close to the metro.  The salon was simple but had an overall pleasant relaxing atmosphere.  There were plenty of magazines to read, and I enjoyed a class of peach champagne (included!) which was a great treat.  Most importantly, they did an amazing job on my hair.  My stylist was fast, but great, and delivered exactly what I wanted.  The results were so good that the bride actually asked me after the shower where I went so she could go to get her hair done there before her engagement pictures (I just saw a selection of them, and she - and her hair - look amazing).  At $35, their normal price is slightly better than their competitor, drybar, and I personally got better results than I did on my visit there.

Given all of this, I was thrilled to see another deal offer come out for Blowout Bar, this time through The Capitol Deal. A blowout voucher is available for $20 and you can buy up to two for yourself and up to two for friends.  Click here for the direct link. 

This is a great special treat before a big night out or even just a nice pick me up.  The salon is new, which is likely why they're running the deals now, so I'm stocking up now.  Check them out and let me know what you think!

Free Money Friday - Capital One 360

It's time for another Free Money Friday!   First and foremost, thanks to everyone for the support and positive feedback on this new blogging adventure.  I've only rolled this out to a limited group at this point, but have gotten a number of really kind responses.  I appreciate all of you!  One that sticks with me is a friend who told me that the blog was great, that I am so good at this stuff, and he wishes he were.  I responded that he can be.  That's the whole point of this.  Anyone can do this stuff, and I want to make it even easier for everyone.  You don't have to be a financial genius, you just need to be aware of things and keep it on your mind.

Now, it's time for the free money of the week:)  Many years ago (when CD interest rates where around 5.5%, sigh....), my sister introduced me to INGdirect.  They offered great interest rates on savings accounts and CDs, and the online site linked easily to any checking account for easy, quick transfers back and forth.  In 2012, INGdirect was merged into Capital One, becoming Capital One 360.  The name is different, but everything else is the same.  

Through my referral link, you can get your hands on some free money:

The link will show you the account options and your bonuses, but just to give an overview of the bonus amounts and account types:

• $25 bonus for opening a savings account.  "No fees, no minimums, and no need to change banks."  I have a savings account with them, and right now the interest is .75% APY which is better than either of my CDs!  Their rates are continuously competitive.  Check out www.bankrate.com to see how interest rates for savings accounts (and anything else!) compare.
• $50 bonus for opening a checking account.  "No fees and no minimums."
• For those with kids, $25 bonus for opening kids savings accounts.  "No fees, no minimums, and kids get their own sign-in information."  I love this!  What a great way to start kids on the right track with money.  

The referral offer doesn't have an expiration date, but I always recommend taking advantage of these opportunities quickly because you never know how long they'll keep the offers open for.

Visit CapitalOne360 for more information.  Happy Free Money Friday!

A Fresh Take On Budgeting

Because I've always been conservative with money, for years I never laid out a budget.  I was putting a significant portion of my income into savings each month, so I didn't see a need.  Then I discovered www.mint.com.  This site is amazing.

You link each of your accounts (it's safe, I promise - https://www.mint.com/how-it-works/security/) and set up a budget with spending amounts for each category. (Have no fear - these can always be adjusted later.)  Each month, it codes the transactions for you (but you can adjust them to code the restaurant expense that was actually happy hour to "alcohol" or the Bed, Bath, & Beyond wedding gift from home purchases to "gifts").  You can also set up goals which you can track along the way.

I'm obsessed.  I really like knowing exactly where my money goes each month.  While I can notice trends like "Wow, I've been eating out a lot", it's a whole different level of accuracy having things all laid out there.  It also tabulates your net worth, and updates all of your accounts in real time.  This saves me from opening my stock account, my savings account, my cds, etc. and adding them all up to see where I am.  One login and boom, there it all is.

For people who are struggling with their savings goals, this tool can be invaluable.  I've had a number of friends start to use the site and then marvel at how they had no idea how much they were spending on a particular category (dining out, alcohol, entertainment, even just things like convenience store runs can add up exponentially).  

I highly suggest giving it a try.  It takes very little time to set up and even less to maintain. That being said, it doesn't do anything if you don't look at it.  You don't need to monitor every day, but figure out what works for you.  Maybe you check things once a week, once a month, or every pay period. 

Overall, I think you will see that just having this set up and checking it every once in awhile will really help you stay on track.

Summer Reading without Summer Spending

I don't know about you, but I always find myself reading more in the summer.  It's not even that I necessarily have any more free time, but that I always have a number of weekends with days spent lounging at the pool with a good book.  I love reading, but I do not love paying full price for books when there are so many other ways to get them for free or at a deep discount.

1. FREE - the library!  I love the library.  I volunteered for two years at my local library for two hours each Sunday just because I am such a supporter of what libraries do and are.  Friends and I joke that for part of a friend's upcoming wedding, I need to pay her library fines (approximately $8, I believe, less than even the cost of one book!)  so she can get her card back.  My local library is amazing.  When I hear of a book I want to read, I simply go online and put the book on hold.  If it's available, I can pick it up right away.  If all copies are checked out or if it's so new that it's still on order, they will put me in the waiting list and email me when my hold is available.  Check to see if your local library offers these services.  Many libraries (including mine) also offer ebooks as well as DVD rentals and CDs (ie how I got my entire playlist for my half marathon for free).
2. FREE - book swap with friends! This can be a formal event or an informal "hey, can I browse your bookshelf for something I can borrow?"  Most readers love to share books. Just be a good borrower and return the book (in the same condition you got it) when you're done.
3. Very cheap - Thrift stores.  Obviously, this isn't the go to for the new best seller you're eyeing, but for a few books to bring on a trip, this is the way to go.  I seriously can't remember a time in the last few years when I bought a book that wasn't a gift for someone at anywhere other than Goodwill.  The books are typically under a dollar, and the money goes to job training and helping people find employment - a win all around in my book (no pun intended.....)
4. Cheap - half.com This site isn't just for text books.  You can get recently released books at a discount, and slightly older books very cheap - ie The Hunger Games paperback in Very Good Condition for 75 cents or brand new for $2.66. 
5. Discounted - If 1 -4 don't work for the book you're after, I encourage you to still not pay full price.  Amazon has discounted new and used books (not just text books!) Discount stores and warehouse stores  offer a discount off the cover price both in store and online.

Happy Summer Reading!  Where are some of your favorite places to get books?

Free Money Friday - Upromise

What could be better than free things?  Free money.  Actual free money. 

Upromise – This site is terrific.  It’s also completely legit.  Created by SallieMae, the idea is to provide savings/earnings to spend on education, but the money can be used for absolutely anything!  You can earn money by:

• Shopping online retailers (almost all major ones) through their site and getting a % of the amount you spend back

• Linking credit or debit card, and then getting a % of the amount you spend dining, on travel, and shopping at certain places back.

The money in your account can either go to pay off student loans, start a 529 College Savings Account (for you, a child, or anyone else), or get a check from them.  I’ve always opted for the check option and just got one from them for $48.

Sign up with my referral link - http://t.co/qELcGwRkSw and you will get an automatic $5 in your new account.  My coworker recently signed up through me and it worked. Offer is only valid until 9/14/2013 so sign up soon.  There is seriously nothing to lose.  You can learn more about Upromise at upromise.com, but make sure you sign up through my referral link so you get the free $5.  

Simple little free things can add up quickly, and this one is incredibly easy. 

Sharing the Savings

I have a passion for saving money.   I always have.  Growing up, getting good deals and finding things on sale was a game I loved to play.  In high school, I worked at local restaurant and to the disbelief of my friends, saved that money instead of splurging on a fancy car or little indulgences that add up.  I left my small town and headed to Washington DC for college.  By working jobs and internships through college and graduating a semester early (as well as scholarship assistance), I managed to pay off all of my college loans upon graduation.

Now in my late 20s, my passion for deals and saving and overall financial well being has served me incredibly well.  While working in the nonprofit sector (obviously not the best paying field, but one I truly enjoy), I have managed to build an incredibly strong financial profile.  I purchased a condo in 2010 and put 20% down.  My excellent credit score got me a great interest rate, and earlier this year I refinanced for an even better one.   I have a solid savings, and am ahead of track for my age on retirement investments.

I constantly find myself sharing savings ideas, deals, and opportunities with friends, family, and co-workers.  They come to me for help and ideas, and I love to do it. 

I also live an incredibly full life.  Being financially responsible doesn’t mean being deprived.  There are people who prefer to truly live on the minimal amount needed to maximize savings to their fullest, but I support a more balanced approach.  It’s what works for me.  I’ve thought about starting this blog for quite some time, and I’m finally moving on it.  Last weekend, my boyfriend and I went to a comedy show by a celebrity and a major league baseball game and we paid a total of $12 for admission for the two of us combined to both.  That was when I told myself I’ve got to start this blog.

This is a streamlined way for me to share ideas for getting great deals and finding free and low cost opportunities for fun with my friends, family, and anyone else who may be interested.  Instead of emailing a bunch of people when I find an exciting opportunity, I can just post it here for those who might be interested.

I am not a financial planner, and am not presenting myself as one.  I’m simply someone who has always been “good with money” who wants to share the love.