Get Paid for Biking to Work?

1:00PM PST – Just another tax break from your friend The Government

Current mood: froggy

If you’re like me, you don’t usually keep track of the list of qualified modes of transportation that are eligible to receive tax benefits. Which is why I’m just now finding out that in January of this year, bicycles were added to the list.

So what’s does this mean for you?

Well, if you’ve been biking to work to save money, you could receive up to $20/month (tax free) from your employer!  Wahoo! That’s an extra $240 a year you could be getting back just by riding the ‘ol two-wheeler.

Just note, to qualify for the tax break you have to prove that you regularly use a bike as your main mode of transportation to and from work…not sure how you would do that, but do I strike you as a tax whiz?  I didn’t think so.

And now for the fine print….before you go barging into the Big Man’s office and demanding your $240 for last year, please note that unfortunately the program is voluntary for your employer.   Hopefully you got them a nice holiday gift back in December!

Happy riding!

xo, lindsey

It’s Thursday and the weekend’s ALMOST here…

8:28am EST – What are you doing this weekend?

Current mood: frugal

We get it.  The days of Saturday afternoon shoe-shopping are a thing of the past for the time being and you need to save money.  But, it doesn’t have to ruin your social life.  Here are some ideas to get your frugal butt out of the apartment this weekend – without having to worry about your rent check bouncing:

1. Dig up that Cheesecake Factory gift card you got for Christmas.  Remember?!  We don’t know about you, but we always get restaurant gift cards from relatives who don’t know what to get us.  Have you spent yours yet?  Find that sucker, and live it up with some chicken picatta and Oreo cookie cheesecake.  Just don’t forget to run it off – bikini season is right around the corner!

2.  Go bowling.  Yes, for real.  I don’t know if you’ve been lately – but it’s inexpensive and super fun with the right group of friends.  And, concession food is usually pretty cheap.

3.  Check out your local ice rink – they usually have open skate for a couple of hours on the weekends for between $3-$7.  Can’t skate?  It’s still fun to go and try!  Stick close to the side and you won’t end up leaving the ice black and blue.

4.  Sign on to do a walk for hunger or a 5k run for a cause.  Find a friend and get moving!  It’ll do wonders for your midsection – and for your soul.  Helping others is always en vogue.

5.  Go camping!  You can make a weekend of it, as campgrounds are way cheaper than hotels – and you can rough it for a day or two!  Cook over the fire and toast marshmallows after.  It’s something different to do – and getting some fresh air and time away from all things screened (believe me, your Gmail will still be there when you get back) never hurt anyone.

xo Lori

5 Simple Ways to Save $25k

8:00AM PST – Told ya so!

On the heels of my last post, Jeff Yeager (one of my favorite Today Show contributors) was on this morning sharing his 5 easy ways to save $25k a year. Some of them aren’t very practical for twentysomethings (No cell phone?! But I don’t even have a land line!), but some of them compliment my 7 tips.

Check them out and let us know what you think!  If you like Jeff’s advice, you can see more tips on his website www.ultimatecheapskate.com.

You can also check out the video on Jeff on the Today Show here, because WordPress is dumb and won’t let me embed it.

xo, lindsey

Give Your Wallet a Spring Break

7:00PM PST – Financially stable or bust!

current mood: excited!

It’s that time of year again. The beaches are crowded with youngin’s lookin’ for lovin’…or booze.

Five (plus) years ago, you would’ve been that pretty young thing on your way to the foam room at the bar or practicing those gyrating dance moves that will win you the free bar tab grand prize in the bikini contest.

But alas, these days you’re just dreaming of that glorious time when you used to get a week off from life to just chill with your closest friends.

::sigh::

In the spirit of Spring Break, I’m adopting a practice that involves giving my wallet a little R&R. Not so fast red faux-snakeskin checkbook wallet!! You can stop packing your bags because I didn’t purchase you a ticket to Cabo. I’m giving you and your enclosures a break for one week by finding ways to keep me from unzipping you and swiping your little card friends.

Here’s how I’m going to do it:

Sunday: Cook meals at home. There is no need to buy food from the grocer, because I have plenty of stuff in the back of my freezer and cupboard to last me through a hurricane (and I’m sure many of you do too). This will save me an average of about $12 a meal!

Monday: Carpool to work. There is sure to be someone you know or work with who lives in the same vicinity. Don’t be ashamed to ask! I plan to be hitting that lane with the diamond painted on it (with my packed lunch from the meal I made the night before). Plus, if I offer up my own car for a couple of days, my passengers (pending they aren’t evil people) will most likely chip in a few bills for the ride (cha ching!)

Tuesday: Turn off the DVR and the computer.  I’ve been meaning to read that book that’s been collecting dust on my nightstand for like ever. This will help with our monthly energy costs as well as enriching that lovely brain of mine (men prefer chicks with something intelligent to say).

Wednesday: Give up a vice (drinking, smoking, etc). These are (not so surprisingly) so expensive! Not that I smoke, but a pack of cigs cost $4. FOUR DOLLARS?!  For those of you that smoke a pack a day (ick), you not only are killing your lungs, but your wallet as well. That comes out to $28/week plus tax!  If you’re like me and giggle juice is your poison, consider buying a $5.99 bottle of wine at Trader Joe’s (oh stop acting like you’re above it…it tastes the same as the good stuff!). This will be way more cost efficient than paying $10-$12 a glass at a bar. Just be careful not to buy in bulk. No one likes the smell of pinot grigio emanating from your pores in spin class. No one.

Thursday: It’s a quarter past hump day and you have nothing clean to wear. Liar! Dig into the back corners of your closet for those clothes you’ve neglected since you bought them (you know, the ones with the tags still on ‘em). There is so much in there you’ve probably forgotten about. No need to do laundry and use up the detergent!  I am positive you can find some creative way to make those drab duds look cute.  Belt that old GAP cardigan or add some cute accessories to that worn H&M dress. Release your inner stylista!

Friday: Instead of partying the night away through expensive drinks and cover charges, I’m planning a movie night at home with those DVDs I’ve been meaning to actually watch. To spice it up a little, I’m poppin’ whatever beverages I have in stock…probably whatever leftover Trader Joe’s wine is left.

Saturday: To cap off my week of free living, I’m going to take a bike ride and enjoy the weather. Most of us drive as little as one mile to run errands (I admit I do this way too often).  I was told it takes more gas to turn a car on and off than to drive it 10 miles…so what the heck. Live a little!  Grab your bike and go (double points! you’re building those calves without paying a pricy gym membership).

See?  This seems easy enough. I could get used to this…especially when I see the money start to build in my wallet!

(Then maybe I can actually save enough money to take my wallet to Cabo next year.)

xo, lindsey

Giving Our Two Cents

Exciting news!  Lori and Lindsey were published on marieclaire.com this week! Thanks to our friends at the most fabulous mag known to women, we were able to shed some light on the pending question “How do I spend my tax refund?”

Check out our answer by clicking here… or by wandering over to our new “In The Press” page above.

xo,

lori and lindsey

How to be a boss without being a bitch.

10:33PM EST – Can you shred this for me?  Thanks.

current mood: contemplative

We get it.  You’ve worked hard to get where you are.  You’ve stuffed envelopes.  You’ve fetched Starbucks.  You’ve changed toner.  If you’re like us, you’ve put together bird cages – but that’s a story for another time.  You’ve clawed your way out of the abysmal pit that is assistantdom, and now you’re Someone’s Boss.  And you’ve got the office to prove it.

But before you get all Devil Wears Prada, consider the evil thoughts that crossed your mind when you were an overworked, underappreciated assistant: “Maybe I’ll just call in sick tomorrow and not finish this presentation.  Let her figure it out herself!” Definitely NOT the ‘tude you want your support staff adopting.

With success comes increased responsibility and accountability – and if your staff hates your guts and decides not to deliver, you’re the one who fails.  Here are some wise rules to work by that we’ve found helpful and effective when managing employees:

1. Lead by example. It’s not only embittering to work for someone entitled, it also makes it difficult to respect that person and take her seriously.  As tempting as it may be to justify updating your Facebook status while your assistant is frantically working to meet your deadlines with the old “I’ve put in my time” rationalization, DON’T DO IT.  For one thing, you’re in a position to be a mentor.  Setting a bad example is a sure way to foster bad habits in your staff.  Additionally, it’s horrible for team morale.  You are the leader – you should be going above and beyond to ensure the success of your team, not sitting back and watching your staff gasp for air.

2. Leave your emotions at the door. Your boyfriend forgot to TIVO Gossip Girl. Annoying?  Yes.  Your assistant’s fault?  No.  As difficult as it can be sometimes to remain professional when your personal life isn’t perfect, it’s something you must strive to do.  Of course, everyone is human – and it’s important to incorporate a personal touch to the management of your employees.  But, at the end of the day, this is business.  So get to work.

3.  Give credit where credit is due.  And sometimes where it isn’t due. It’s amazing what a little praise will do.  Did someone on your staff go the extra mile to help out a co-worker with a project?  Thank that person!  Did your assistant flawlessly execute on a particular task?  Congratulate her!  Maybe a member of your team did not contribute as much as others did to a particular success, but you noticed that person putting in effort.  Give her kudos for a job well done – it will boost her confidence and inspire her to put in even more effort on the next project.

And now, just for fun, a picture of Woofy:

Pocketful o’ Sunshine

1:00PM PST – It’s a bright sunshiny day in LA!

I was browsing through my Daily Candy emails (I get one from almost every city they cover), and came across this really neat idea that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Not only does it involve free giveaways, but it also allows you take inventory of all things happy your life.

The Bright Side Project is the brainchild of Tristan Shout Brando (doesn’t it kind of sound like “Twist and Shout”?), where every single day in March readers like you and me can answer a question (most likely eliciting a happy thought)  from an accessories designer. The author of the most creative answer will win a piece from that designer’s collection. Every.single.day.

We love free!  Especially in this day and age!!  Plus, even if you don’t win, you spend the rest of your day rich with happy thoughts from your peers.  It’s a win win!

Good luck to all of those who enter. Let us know if you beat us to the prize!

And because it’s stuck in my head now…  “Come on and work it all out. (work it all out, woooo!)”

Enjoy your weekend!

xo Lindsey

Live a little.

9:12 PM EST – What’s cookin’?

Current mood:  hungry

Today’s dismal economy may have you wondering if you’ll be forced to switch from the fab lane to the drab lane when it comes to your palate.  Good news: you won’t.  Not from March 15 – March 20, anyway.

If you’re in the Boston area and would rather wait on hold with Comcast than gnosh on tostada nachos at a chain restaurant that has the ambiance of public transportation, keep reading.

For 6 gloriously delectable days, you can take advantage of Boston Restaurant Week’s fabulously low prices on grub that will make you weak in the knees.  Participating restaurants (219 of them!) are offering three-course Prixe-fix dinner menus for a cool $33.09.  If you’re really on a budget and simply can’t forgo your weekly pedi, great news: there’s a three-course Prixe-fix lunch option for a measly $20.09.  If that’s not an excuse to send an evite to the girls, I don’t know what is.

xo Lori

A Frugally Fabulous Way to Get Aniston’s $50k Haircut

8:00AM PST – What’s in your wallet?

Britain’s Daily Mail posted a story today about how Jennifer Aniston dropped a whopping £40,000 (the equivalent of $50k US) on her hair for the London premiere of her latest movie, Marley and Me.  In this economy Jen…seriously?!

EPA/DANIEL DEME

As you can plainly see, Jennifer’s hair looks effortless and very low maintenance. So how in the world did she rack up $50k to look like this?

Well, It’s not uncommon for celebs to request that their hairdressers, makeup artists and stylists travel with them for press events, shoots, etc. Aniston uses celeb hair guru Chris McMillan, who traveled with her for the premiere.

With expenses such as a $20k for a roundtrip, first class ticket to London from LA and $14k for a seven night stay in a luxury London hotel, so that he can be right there whenever there is a hair out of place, the cost of her hairdo tends to add up really fast!  But is all of this necessary to get our hair looking like this?

OF COURSE NOT!

Simply wash your hair at night, only drying the hair closest to the scalp. Wrap it in a loose bun over night and DING!  By morning, you will unleash the free flowing gentle waves that Aniston pays the big bucks for.

This way you can get the fabulous hair, and have enough leftover to enjoy a beer at an NBA game (ala President Obama).

xo Lindsey

Where am I?

1:47PM PST – What just happened?

Current mood: exhausty (© Lori)

Hello out there! I apologize for the slight delay in posting, but I’ve only recently regained my sanity after this past weekend.

You see, I flew to Florida (from LA) and back all within 48 hours (would not recommend unless you really love your family). So much happened in that 48 hours and I’ve only just begun to process…

That reminds me…CONGRATULATIONS LORI!!  As she previously posted, I found out via Twitter (which is amusing) and I couldn’t be more excited!! YAY!

On another note, thanks to the wonderful people at Delta, I learned a thing or two on this flight (besides the fact that zero checked bags = free. thank you captain obvious kiosk…ah, but i digress).  Por ejemplo, you know how Delta has those fun “flight tracker” programs on the back-of-the-seat TVs??  Well, through this fancy technology I found out that there is a Beverly Hills, FL!  Fancy!

As you can imagine, I had to look back at the screen a few times to make sure that I wasn’t still in California after what seemed like a four hour flight (Florida also has cities named Hollywood and Venice, but those are much more south). Once I convinced myself I wasn’t nutso (about this at least), I was fascinated and wanted to learn more about this fancy sounding city.

Stop right there…turns out Bev Hills 2.0 is not quite a booming metropolis…but rather a CDP (Census-Designated Place), which means it’s not a legal city but resembles one (See! Already learned something new on my quest).  However, don’t snub your nose at this faux city just yet!  BHFL is part of Citrus County and has many “riches” that the Beverly Hills in California would kill to have!

Want to swim with manatees? Citrus County is the only place in North America where you sea cow-lovin’ fools can legally swim and snorkel with the large, yet gentle beasts.  (Honeymoon idea Lor!)

President Grover Cleveland also found the place fascinating. When he served our great country in the late 1800’s, he designated the place he stayed as “the Winter White House.”  (Haven’t found supporting evidence of this yet…but they claim in on the Citrus County Visitors & Convention Bureau website).

I also learned that a major river that runs near the area is the Withlacoochee River…err…I doubt I’ll be able to restrain myself, so we’ll save my elaboration on that for another time.  Or maybe never, depending on what we rate this here blog!

On that note, this concludes my lesson for today kiddies. Moral of the story is: get your money’s worth next time you fly cross country and back in two days.

xo Lindsey