shopping

It's NATURAL for me to spend as I do!

Turns out that my brain, rather like the devil, MAKES ME DO IT. Spend too much, that is.

Via Consumerist:

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Packing it in - The Independent of London issues a challenge

The Independent, one of my favorite news sources, has issued a challenge to (presumably European) consumers to reduce the amount of packaging that is used in everyday products. Apparently, an unneccessarily wrapped-n-packaged "swede" (turnip) set one of the Independent's writer's environmentally-conscious heart on fire at the supermarket, and so the newspaper is proposing that consumers...what, exactly?

Well, not much, to be honest. You're supposed to write in with information about superfluous packaging, and The Independent will take the store to task, somehow.

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When Good Food Goes Bad, Part III: The Crisper from Hell

Until recently, I was using one of those organic delivery services that bring fresh veggies to your doorstep once a week. It was a pretty good bargain for the price, the veggies were varied and delicious, and I got away with avoiding the grocery store for days at a time.

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Ethnic Markets: Feel worldly for cheap

Growing up in an immigrant family meant living on a shoestring, even when we didn't need to. It also meant needing ingredients that you simply aren't going to find at the local supermarket. So, ethnic markets were part of the routine for us -- frugal Mom knew she could save tremendously at them, and still make elaborate meals with their bounty. Granted, you may have to deal with a bit of grit: these are generally not national chains, so the decor might be pretty un-spiffy, and the staffing may be slimmer. But steel yourself -- it's an adventure that surely beats the local Mega-Lo-Mart, and an exploratory attitude can really pay off. The produce is substantially cheaper than supermarkets across the board, and you can find deals on gourmet ingredients and, of course, ethnic specialties, if you know where to look.

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Can Beauty Be THIS Basic?

The NY Times has an online article that will probably get the reporter, Natasha Singer, killed by a contract assassin employed by Lancôme or La Mer (you remember that scene at the beginning of Zoolander, where all the heads of major fashion houses are plotting to kill the prime minister of Malaysia? Kind of like that, but with one of the Lauders at the helm).

The basic message of the article is that you can pretty much care for your skin using soap, water, and sunscreen. If this turns out to be true, I imagine that the Earth is about to careen into the sun any minute now.

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Budgeting Beauty - An Expert Tells All

The preternaturally lovely Courtney Sauve writes one of my favorite beauty blogs, Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget. I asked her to share some tips and tricks for frugal beauty, and she generously agreed. Here's what she had to say.

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Can I Conquer My Vanity for the Sake of My Sanity?

I’m worried that becoming frugal will force me to give up a certain amount of pride. And at the same time, I’m hoping that becoming frugal will help me to give up a certain amount of pride.

It’s hard for me to be frugal. I don’t mean that it’s difficult to clip coupons, or to restrict your spending, or to limit spendy nights out on the town. All of those things are difficult, too, but they are not the root of the problem with finding frugality. The root of the problem, for me, is selfishness – the selfish need to be seen as NOT selfish.

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