dolcecorazon's Dollarish

Monday, November 16, 2009

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:30:11 GMT

NOTEEEEE: DOLCECORAZON@DOLLARISH.COM IS ALSO WHEREISDOLCE@TRIPCRAZED.COM

Thank you :)

What Should I Be For Halloween?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:23:21 GMT

Hello Lovely-ish girls!

I'm a girl in need of a great Halloween costume! Every year I end up buying a last minute costume at Ricky's that is overpriced and unoriginal. I'm going to the Official Village Halloween Parade in New York City and I want a nice costume that will stand out for once!

This is what I look like:

I want a sexy costume that fits my personality. I'm very silly, cute, kind of sassy and nerdy. I have a lot of curves so I probably don't want to show my tummy! Problem is, I don't know what to be or who I even resemble!

I thought of being Clare from Heroes, but she doesn't really fit my personality. I don't think I can pull it off.

I'm up to hear all sorts of suggestions, even some homemade costume ideas!

Thanks everyone!

Pikachu Cookies and Other Video Game Treats!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:13:59 GMT

Super Mario Mushroom Cookies

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? And what better way to combine his love for video games with food. Why, this would be great. You just might be able to get him away from playing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 after a weekend marathon. Or maybe not, but at least you can attempt to make these scrumptious looking baked goods.
More Here...

Saving Money on Meals on Your Next Vacation

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:22:04 GMT

Image Source

Saving money on meals at home is already hard enough. With prices on local goods increasing, its difficult to imagine what to expect in another city. Since I'm in New York everyday, I know what to expect on the price of a loaf of bread. I recently came back from a solo trip to Hawaii and I was startled to find a loaf of bread was $4.99, two dollars more than what I pay here at home. Meanwhile, prices on local Hawaiian goods such as Pineapples and Papaya were less than a dollar. With "Dollarish" principles on my mind, I ventured on my vacation trying to be as frugal as possible. My game plan was to avoid eating out at restaurants and to save as much as I could. The results...

Basically, I used different tactics to save on my trip in tropical paradise. With the main strip filled with tempting restaurants serving delicious platters of Pork Loin, Coconut Shrimp and Pineapple Chicken, it was difficult to not want to spend $10 a plate at these establishments. I managed to only eat at a fancy restaurant only once, on my last day. (A Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken Burger with melted Swiss cheese and bacon on a Whole Wheat roll with a side of fries for $8.95)

1. Snacks Snacks Snacks! I cannot stress how important snacking is. Not only in a healthly perspective, but from a money saving point of view. I "pregamed" by going to the supermarket with my mother and bought some essential and filling snacks: High Protein Granola Bars, Tuna Cups, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers, Ritz Crackers, Trail Mix, Sunflower Seeds and Almonds. All of these items were non-perishable and easy to throw in my bag for the day. It helped me when I was traveling during the day, during long bus rides and everything in between. It curbed my hunger, kept me in shape and made my wallet fat and happy.

Side Note: Especially for those making a long voyage on a plane. Snacks were especially helpful for the plane ride. I spent a total of 11 hours on a plane and a girl can get hungry! My 2 flights only had food for purchase. A cold, non appetizing and small sandwich was a whopping $10. I enjoyed my tuna cups on Ritz Crackers until I managed to get a full meal at my layover stop.

2. Find a Supermarket: This is a great place to shop for good eats! Local supermarkets usually have a hot meal section with great choices such as Oven Roasted Chicken. You can pick up more snacks (If you're not sick of snacks by now) or buy sandwiches at the deli counter. During one of my bus tours, we stopped at the supermarket where I bought some delicious sushi, edemame and a huge bottle of water for $8.00. Usually, back at home, my sushi roll alone is $8! What a better place to shop and save money than the mecca of all food?

3. When In Rome... Do as the Romans! Spend some time with the locals and ask them where their favorite local spots are. I know when I am at home, I love taking people to my favorite cheap pizza spot where one dollar gets you a slice! Not only will you make new friends and try new food, it will most likely be cost friendly. One local took me to a place called: Sumo Deli. I cringed and thought it was another deli, which at that point, I had been sick of turkey and swiss sandwiches. I was surprised to see it was an Asian Buffet style establishment. I had steamed noodles, a choice of two meats: Hawaiian Pork and Orange Chicken, and two vegetable sides: Raddish and Edemame. This big platter was $8.95, and not only did I have left overs, my new local friend treated me to that delicious lunch!

4. If you have it, Use it! I was lucky enough to have a mini fridge and a microwave. I used it to its full potential and filled my mini fridge with healthy snacks such as fresh white pineapple that I'd munch on late at night rather than hitting a drive thru window. My microwave came in handy when I made frozen edemame (That I bought at the supermarket!) that I steamed in coffee mugs. Threw a dash of salt and hade a few rounds of edemame that usually costs $3.00 a serving at a restaurant, for $1.20, I got about 3 servings of it. With those options in mind, you can save even more money by having food in your room. Sometimes you might be extremely lucky and have a small kitchenette in your room. You might not want to cook on vacation, but its easy enough to make spaghetti and meatballs overseas.

5. Utilize Your Food Opportunities: I never really had to eat outside a lot because I stayed on a college campus during my trip. They were fortunate enough to let me eat at the campus cafeteria. (The only time I had to eat out is when I was out venturing and could not get back to campus) My guide on campus told me to stock up on the food on campus! I bought a plastic food storage container and often "grabbed seconds" for later. I felt so bad doing so, but I was encouraged and it helped me save a lot of money. If you're at a hotel where there is a Continental Breakfast, grab an extra cereal box or yogurt for later. Just don't go overboard and wipe the cereal tray clean!

How do you save money when you travel? Have you done any of the mentioned tactics?

Is It Me Or Does Lady Gaga Constantly Sing About Money?

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:17:27 GMT

When I'm listening to the radio, I often hear songs about heartbreak, love or partying all night. A good friend of mines was telling me about his latest review about the Lady Gaga CD entitled: The Fame. He was able to put two and two together and mentioned how a lot of her songs relate to money.

It reminded me of a previous post about Money in songs. I used to think not that many artists sang about money, until I was told about Lady Gaga's album. There are obvious songs about money, but it was interesting to look at her album in depth and to see her talk about those dollars and everything that comes with it.
More Here...

Keep Hydrated and Save Money

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:44:40 GMT

With the summer heat at its full intensity, its essential to keep hydrated. The best way to keep your thirst at bay is to of course, drink water! There is nothing like an iced cold bottle of water after a nice stroll in Central Park. I thought about how expensive it could be to buy a bottle of water every day. My favorite bottled water is Smart Water, which averages $1.75. For an entire month, that is $52 that could go to my cell phone bill, some groceries or a new haircut. There are some simple ways to keep yourself cool and your wallet light this summer.

1. Refilling a Plastic Container: These are often sold in Sports stores or even in local pharmacies. Invest in an 18-24 fluid ounce bottle and keep track of your daily intake. You can refill your bottle at work or my secret: At places with water fountains. I've found free water fountains in hospitals, pharmacies and even Best Buy.
More Here...

My Top Three Money Movies

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:48:00 GMT

Money is all around us; its on television, its in the news, hopefully in our wallets and of course, in the movies! There are tons of films that focus on the idea of cash, money, banking, robberies and other money related topics, but there are those that stick out as my personal favorites.

1. American Psycho (2000): Not only do I love Christian Bale as this... psycho, but it shows the success and madman path of an executive banker in the rise of the 80's big business craze. This big money maker is Vice President at a Wall Street investment company and lives the lavish life in an apartment in Manhattan. Nothing like watching a hot rich guy go crazy and kill people!

2. Trading Places (1983): Wouldn't you love to trade places with a rich guy? This movie takes Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd through a distinctive plot and plan (I won't give the movie away) to show how a rich man and a poor man can essentially trade places. And of course, they make a bet on it!

3. Wall Street (1987): This movie has money written all over it. I'd like to thank Oliver Stone for this classic film where Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen (Both who I love) are money hungry. Its interesting to watch what people will do to get to the top and what happens when you get there.

What are your favorite movies about money?

Airline Baggage Fee Rants

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:49:00 GMT

Unfortunately, I do not get to travel as often as I would like. Upon accompanying my best friend's mother at JFK International Airport, I watched the familiar check in process. I'm familiar with the new baggage rules where if your bag weighs too much, expect to pay some out of pocket cash. Her check-in bag was 18 pounds over and would cost a whopping $150 extra to make its way to Russia.

As a traveler, Don't I have enough to worry about? I'm about to go (Well, not me, but for the sake of the article, I'll put myself in her shoes) on a 10 hour direct flight to Moscow to visit family, now do I have time to worry about a sudden ridiculous fee for over packing? Her daughter brought up a great argument. It makes no sense that the plane can accommodate extra weight, for a price. Is the plane going to tip over if everyone pays for extra baggage on the plane? It does not seem safe to me, but for a cost, It's okay! To her, its just a way for the airline to make money!

In the end, the mother distributed her belongings to her pretty empty carry on bag and was able to rebound the extra fee.

Take a look at the various airline charges for extra weight and size for a checked in bag.
Chart Source

Airline	First checked bag	Second checked bag	Additional bags	Overweight bags	Oversized bags
Airtran	$0 $15	~~$10 paid online, $20 at airport~~ $25	$50	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): ~~$29~~ $39 71 to 99 lbs: ~~$69~~ $79	62-70 total linear inches: ~~$29~~ $39; 71-80 inches ~~$69~~ $79
Alaska	$0 ($15 eff. 7/1/2009)	$0 $25	3rd-6th bags: $100; 7th or more: $150	51-100 lbs: $50	63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75
American	$20	$30	Bags 3-5: $100; 6th or more: $200	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50; 71-100 lbs: $100. These fees may be higher on international routes	63 inches and over: $150
Continental	$15 ($5 more if not paid online)	$25 ($5 more if not paid online)	$75 nonstop/$100 connecting	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50 Over 70 lbs not accepted.	63 inches and over: $100
Delta	$15 ($5 more if not paid online)	$25 ($5 more if not paid online) $50 for European travel	Third bag: $125; Bags 4 to 10 $200 each (For travel outside US, no fee for 2nd bag, $200 for 3rd bag, $350 for 4th and 5th, $600 for bags 6-10).	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90 ($150 for travel outside US) 71 to 100 lbs: $175 ($300 each outside US)	63-80 total linear inches: ~~$150~~ $175
Frontier	$0 $15	$25	$50	51-100 lbs: $75	63-80 inches: $75
JetBlue	$0	$20	$75	51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100	63-80 inches: $75
Northwest	See Delta	See Delta	See Delta	See Delta	See Delta
Spirit	$19	$25 (online or at airport)	Bags 3-5: $100 (online or at airport)	51-70 lbs: $50 71 to 99 lbs: $100	62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150
Southwest	$0	$0	First additional bag: $25; bags 4-9: $50; 10 and more: $110	51-70 lbs: $25; 71-100 lbs: $50	62-80 inches: $50
United	$20 ($5 discount if paid online)	$30 ($5 discount if paid online)	Bags 1-4: $125; 5th or more: $250	$100	63-115 inches: $125
US Airways	$20 at airport, $15 online	$30 at airport, $25 online	Bags 3-9: $100	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $70 71 to 99 lbs: $120	62-80 total linear inches: $100

How do you feel about baggage fees? Have you had to pay extra to bring your belongings abroad?

Two For One Meal Deals

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:36:00 GMT

Sharing is caring right? Especially if you have a small stomach. Its easy to get carried away when you're hungry and you'll want to order a big plate of Chicken with Broccoli with an egg roll and a side of Edamame. You'll end up taking a doggy bag home or even throwing away what could have been a two meal deal. From a frugal perspective, its beneficial to both parties when you're eating out to split a larger meal, rather than purchasing two separate plates.

Some good places to share meals could be easier to think of than most people think. One of my favorite two for one meal deals is the Applebee's 2 for $20 meal where you get an Appetizer and 2 entrees. For ten dollars a person, you get a heck of a lot of food that can be your lunch the next day.

At any restaurant such as TGI Fridays or Unos, getting a sampler to share between two people is another way to save money. Sampler prices average about $13 and usually they are very filling. It also satisfies the craving of various foods so you get to try a little bit of everything.

Also, if you're like me and a five dollar foot long is too much, that is probably one of the cheapest meals two friends could share. Two six inch sandwiches at $2.50 a piece sounds like a great deal to me!

What are your favorite places to share meals with a friend? Would you rather save money and split a meal or is everyone on their own when it comes to dining out?

Let Me Stay For A Day: The Art Of Free Travel

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:45:00 GMT

It's always fun to stay over at a friends house. You get to raid their fridge, use their cool stuff and get a free roof over your head. Wouldn't it be interesting to travel like this over a long period of time? Imagine, traveling the world and only staying at peoples houses and not paying a cent for hotel costs. Talk about the best way to be frugal. With a rough economy and the ripples of its effects hitting all corners of the world, is travel more of a luxury rather than a choice?

Ramon Stoppelenbur proves that one can travel without money. His blog, Let Me Stay For A Day recalls his 2 year journey; asking people if he could have free accommodations at their home, and would write about it on his blog. He packed a backpack with a cellular phone, clothes, a laptop and a digital camera and set off to find people who would “Let him stay for a day.” Practically all of the items were from sponsors and internet donations. He gives new meaning to the idea of “Asking people for help”, which is how he came up with this idea. He was a journalism student in The Netherlands who dropped out to complete this journey.

“From May 2001 to July 2003 I traveled the world WITHOUT ANY MONEY, visiting people who invited me over through this website. I crossed distance with my thumb or with help of sponsors and supporters. In return for all support I wrote about this all in my daily reports on this website.”

What makes his story special? He gives new meaning to budget travel and his blog is an excellent example of understanding that sometimes there are nice people out there in the world.

Would you be bold enough to travel the world with no money?