Deal of the Day: Your New Favorite PJ's

I can't think of $5 dollars without the Subway "$5 dollar footlong" jingle coming to mind....and what a great deal those yummy subs are! Brown bag it for two days and $10 can buy much more than just two yummy sandwiches, my money saving fashionistas!

Behold your new favorite PJ's, available at an Old Navy near you! They are the perfect length, so comfy, and they come in a bunch of cute patterns. Pair them with a tee or tank from your closet and maybe a hoody if you like to crank up the A/C at night -- instant relaxation!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5516&vid=1&pid=653474&scid=653474002

$10 -- wow -- that's a whole lot of cute for a little dough (and no carbs)!!

Favorite Things: Five for $5 (or under!)

Here at Cheap and Cheerful, we understand the value of a good treat. And we rejoice when a good treat can also be a good value. Here are 5 treats that are $5 or less. Guilt-free indulgence. It doesn't get any better.

1. It's It ice cream sandwich
A little slab of heaven in your hands. Oatmeal cookies and your choice of vanilla, chocolate, mint or coffee ice cream. Sold wherever the shopkeeper is smart enough to keep them on hand.

2. An US magazine and Diet Coke
Enough said.

3. A fun coin purse
It will come in handy when saving those pennies!

4. The newest OPI nail polish color
Life is too short to buy cheap nail polish. My favorite OPI shade is a red called "I'm Not Really a Waitress".

5. $5 worth of new iTunes tracks
Nothing can boost my mood like some new tunes. Make it about you by picking five songs that would create a little soundtrack for your day.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What pick-me-up-treat under $5 would you add to this list? You know you've got at least two great suggestions. So, don't be shy. Add yours here!

Money Mantra #2: Less is More

"Less is more." -- Mies van der Rohe, architect

Although it is perfectly human to want something we don't have, our desire to amass material goods can sometimes become unhealthy. If we are caught up in a cycle of purchasing things that we don't need, it is more difficult to appreciate what we already have. I know I can stand in front of my well-stocked closet and exclaim "I've got nothing to wear" without thinking twice about my false statement. But if I took a minute to examine my collection of sundresses, skirts, and sandals, I could easily come up with a decent outfit. If I am surrounding myself with material goods that aren't essential and useful, I am cluttering up my physical space as well as wasting mental energy on strategizing uneccessary purchases.

My version of the Less is More mantra looks like this:

If you don't need anything, don't buy anything.

If it is time replace an item you own , invest in a quality item at a price point you can afford.

Once you've purchased the new item, do something with the item you've replaced. Pass it along to a friend, donate it to charity, or sell it at your next yard sale.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How do you prioritize your need to buy versus want to buy list? Is your calendar bursting at the seams with activities and projects? Do you have a tendency to go overboard when planning birthday parties? Perhaps we can share some ways to avoid these common scenarios and learn from each other?

Beg, Borrow, and Steal: Cash In Your Cabinet

Ready to save money without leaving the comfort of your home? Join Cheap and Cheerful for a treasure hunt in your own medicine cabinet. Are there some fabulous hand creams just asking to be used? A tube of hair tonic waiting to be applied? Some sweet shades of nail polish you've been neglecting? To illustrate my point, I examined my own stash and found these "forgotten" supplies:



After taking a good inventory, it becomes easier to see how few of these items deserve a place on your shopping list. After all, if you know you already have three tubs of body butter, it's harder to rationalize a spending spree at Bath and Body Works. And while you're searching for Band-Aids, you might bump into a six month supply of shampoo. The fewer beauty products to procure in any given month, the more money in your budget for other items. It's as simple as that.

That's all for now. I've got to stop typing. I've got some hand creams to test.

Deal of the Day: Pottery Barn Kids Counter Top Stove

Wouldn't it be nice if Pottery Barn Kids toys were affordable all of the time? But, I digress. At $29.99, this precious pink Counter Top Stove is as good as it gets from PBK. I only wish it came in some other colors as well because at Casa Ferrara, the girls and the boys like pretend cooking. And who knows? Maybe this toy will inspire the next Rachael Ray or Bobby Flay? Bon appetit!

Favorite Things: Olive and Ollie Bibs

If you haven't discovered Etsy yet, here's at least one good reason to spend some time browsing around this haven for all things handmade.

Olive and Ollie is an Etsy site that has the most adorable bibs, tees, and blankets. It's a perfect site for baby gifts or something special for your own kiddo.

Check out the creator's blog, too. Simply click on the Etsy link from her blog and you'll be led to complete cuteness.

http://www.oliveandollie.blogspot.com/

Savvy Shopper: Audrey Hepburn Got It Right

Nothing completes an outfit like a great pair of sunglasses. Make sure they are useful as well as fashionable (read: no more buying them at the gas station or wearing an old, scratched, out-dated pair). New sunglasses can be like a great new haircut or some new cosmetics -- they help you put your best face forward :).

These Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses fit the bill and then some....they come in a few different colors (not all shown here) and they are A Real Deal right now at Nordstrom, only $79.90, originally $13o.00. The case they come is chic as well, sure to protect them in an overstuffed handbag or diaper bag.

http://tinyurl.com/n7afha

Naturally, I have the brown ones and I love them -- a great new pair of quality sunglasses that will last longer than a couple cheap pairs can be a perfect update to your look, for summer and beyond.

Find a pair that fits your face, your lifestyle, and your budget!

Happy Shopping!