Posted: November 2nd, 2009 | Author: Leora Schachter | Filed under: Dining, Fitness | Tags: calorie counters, calorie diet, calorie tracker, free diet plans, Lose it iPhone application, weight loss tips | No Comments »
Free Lose it! iPhone Application
A couple of months ago when I was visiting my close friend Jen in Seattle she gave me a frugal tip. She said, “I figured out a way to build a new wardrobe at minimal to no cost.” “Tell me more!” I replied with anticipation. Very bluntly she said, “I lost some weight.”
We had both added more than a few pounds over the extended winter and rainy spring, and I too was having trouble fitting into my summer shorts. I was inspired by her slimmer physique, expanded wardrobe and upgraded confidence. I decided to take on the challenge myself.
After years of working on health and fitness websites, I knew the basic rules: eat lots of fruits and vegetables; more protein, less carbs; and nothing fried. I had already started cooking more, but I needed more help than that. I decided to use the extremely popular and free application, Lose It!, which I could download onto my iPhone as a guide. The Lose It! application simply enables you to track your calories eaten and expended through exercise. You enter your weight, how much you want to lose over a specific time period, and it gives you your daily calorie allowance.
Keeping track of your calories is very eye-opening! I always figured olive oil was healthy so I would generously use it for cooking and salads. One tablespoon of olive oil has 126 calories. I started to measure it out, and realized I really didn’t need more than one tablespoon. I began making trade-offs. I ordered egg-white breakfast burritos at my local café, got ridiculed for it, but later was able to have a chocolate chip cookie guilt-free. I still went out and went over my daily calorie allowance often, but going all out sometimes made the other days of the week that much easier. I exercised more, but then was able to eat more, too. And now, a couple of months later, it’s all unbelievably become habit and my new wardrobe is complete.
Posted: August 21st, 2009 | Author: Leora Schachter | Filed under: Home, Time Management | Tags: laundries, laundromat, laundry, laundry bag, laundry bags, laundry hamper | No Comments »
Laundry. I know this topic isn’t sexy or exciting. This is not about saving money but saving time because of exactly that, laundry is neither sexy nor exciting. For the last 10 years I have lived in old pre-war apartments in NYC that do not have washers and dryers in the buildings. Many of my friends ask, HOW can you live without a washer and dryer? Easily, is my response.
First, you learn to let go of the control over this part of your life, you learn to trust someone else (and pity them) to wash your smelly gym clothes. And then you do a basic cost-benefit analysis (Thank you, NYU Stern School of Business) that shows you that $.85 per pound, less than $10 – $15 per week (depending on your family size), is well worth it. (Here is where I will insert a disclaimer – kids are a game changer, where laundry can be almost a daily habit, and I can’t provide much guidance to those of you with kids!)
You must value these benefits: You don’t have to search around in pockets, purses and couches for quarters, and then spend these quarters for the machines, detergent and fabric softener. You also don’t have to hang out in a laundromat or laundry room for hours, worry if someone else is going to take your stuff out of the machine, or remember not to forget your stuff in the dryer causing your shirts and shorts to get wrinkly, and, most important, NO FOLDING!
The last tip I ever read in a Real Simple magazine recommended that you hire a cleaning person so that you can reduce stress, and I thought to myself, they just don’t get it – it’s stressful for some people just because they know they can’t afford to hire a cleaning person to reduce stress. I do get it, and the extra $5 – $10 it costs to get your laundry done will only provide you happiness and time to run your other errands, spend time with your family and friends, or write a blog post.
Here are my recommendations for having a successful laundry drop-off experience:
- Pick a laundromat that does drop-off/pick-up ONLY. You don’t want other people in the laundromat messing with machines and potentially taking your stuff.
- Round up the bill to include a tip. A tip is always appreciated and since the bill will be small, it’s okay if the tip is small, too. The tip will always pay-off in times of emergency when you need your stuff cleaned the same day, or you forgot your wallet or your receipt, or just because these men and women deserve it after cleaning your stinky stuff.
- Use a laundry bag that is recognizable. Makes life easy for you and the launderers at pick up if you can point out your bag. And if, like me, you sometimes forget your receipt, again, it makes life easier for everyone.
- Own more than one week’s worth of underwear. This holds true for do-it-yourselfers, and drop-offers, sometimes you just don’t feel like doing your laundry or taking it to the laundromat.
So release those laundry bag strings, and leave the laundry to someone else.
Posted: June 15th, 2009 | Author: Leora Schachter | Filed under: Travel | Tags: dc hotel, dc hotels dupont circle, dc tour, hotel in washington dc, things to do in washington dc, travel in washington dc, washington dc family hotel, washington dc family hotels, washington dc family travel, washington dc hotel, washington dc hotel deals, washington dc hotel dupont circle, washington dc lodging, washington dc vacation, washington dc vacation planning | No Comments »
To celebrate my mother’s birthday in February, my father assigned me the task of planning an affordable 4-day family vacation for 7 to Washington DC in April. I took the job very seriously because I pride myself on planning terrific trips and finding fabulous deals, and now I needed to prove my skills to my family.
We decided to drive, keeping costs low to transport 7 people from NY and NJ to DC. Although gas and tolls add up for 2 cars, it’s still cheaper than flying or taking the train (I get sick on buses so that is not even an option, although I’ve heard that the Bolt buses are good.) You can get detailed driving directions from Google Maps.
Next, I had to determine where we would stay. Living in Manhattan, I’m a big proponent of the ‘location, location, location’ mantra, and wanted to be sure that we’d be able to enjoy the city within steps from our hotel. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 1st, 2009 | Author: Leora Schachter | Filed under: Dining | Tags: chicken cooking recipes, chicken dinner recipes, chicken meals, cooking, cooking class, easy chicken recipes, frugal recipes, healthy chicken recipe, healthy chicken recipes, italian chicken recipe, pollo alla diavolo, Rebecca Goldfarb, simple chicken recipe, the social table, whole chicken recipes | 1 Comment »
My greatest expense is food, and in the past, the money I spent on food was predominantly spent in restaurants. In an effort to reduce this expense, as well as my waistline, I’ve started making the majority of my meals at home. I say “make” as most of my meals require little to no cooking: Vegetarian Cobb Salad; Tomato, Avocado, and Mozzarella Salad; Eggplant Parmesan; Sautéed Chicken with Peppers; and Meatloaf. However, last week I decided to expand my blue-plate special repertoire, so I took a cooking class with Rebecca Goldfarb, the owner of The Social Table.
Each class at The Social Table has a specific theme, hosts eight people, and costs $65 per person for appetizers and a 3-course meal. Wine is BYOB, giving you the option of grabbing a bottle from home, picking up a bottle or two of Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck, or stopping by your local wine store for one of Frugaltopia’s recommended Vino Cheapos. It may be a cooking class, but the wine is important, as you spend much of the class eating, drinking, and chatting with your classmates and Rebecca. Although not inexpensive, this cooking class is a great way to celebrate a birthday with friends, learn some new cooking tips and tricks (I can now expertly crack eggs and separate the yolks and whites), and meet some new people who appreciate food as much as you (or I) do. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: May 26th, 2009 | Author: Leora Schachter | Filed under: Money | Tags: ATM, banks, easy ways to save money, environment, frugal tips, money saving ideas, money saving tip, saving money tips, savings, tips on how to save money, tips on saving money, tips to save money, ways to save money | 1 Comment »
Money may not grow on trees, but does come on the roll.
Growing up, I thought banks were meant to hold onto the checks that you received from your aunts and grandmothers on your birthday. As I got a little older, I started to understand that the banks used your money to make loans to other people. And to thank you for using your money, they paid you a little bit each month – something called interest, currently ranging from .25 to 1.5%. (Back in the day, it was more like 2 to 4%, but since the banks made loans to people that could never pay them back, we’re getting less and less.)
The whole point was that the nice people at the bank were there to help you save money. I think that’s why ATM fees infuriate me. And what really gets my blood boiling are the “double” withdrawal fees – not only does the stranger bank (the one who is not your own) charge you a fee to take money out of their ATM, but then you get charged by your own bank too! It means that if you want to take out $100, you’ll end up spending between $2 and $4 per withdrawal. In other words, you’re paying 2 to 4% of your own money TO USE YOUR OWN MONEY! And if you’re keeping track of the math, that’s a whole lot more than the little interest they’re paying you to hold onto your money. Read the rest of this entry »