Farnoosh Torabi's Blog, page 70

Tipping Etiquette

[image error]Amidst the holiday frenzy, it's important to remember to thank those who helped make our lives easier and better this year by offering tips. But exactly who to tip and how much? Tipping is always a topic of debate, so for some guidance I interviewed Real Simple's Modern Etiquette Columnist, Michelle Slatalla, for her take on proper tipping etiquette. Check out the latest Financially Fit clip below.

 

 

 

 

 

Super Big-Box Savings

This morning on Good Morning America, Cameron Mathison and I visit not one, but three big-box stores to show you how to make the most of your holiday shopping this week (without breaking the bank). What marketing tricks to look out for? Catch the clip here.

Best December Deals

December is one of the best months for finding deals, with retailers slashing prices to entice shoppers to spend. And while there are major discounts everywhere, only certain items are true steals this month. Our latest Financially Fit video unveils the best things to buy in December, based on historical sales data tracked by researchers at Dealnews.com. Check it out:

Yahoo: Gifting on a Budget

With the current economy, many of us will need to keep our shopping lists short this year – but the proper etiquette for holiday gift giving on a budget is not always clear. Here's some advice below from my latest Financially Fit video on Yahoo!Finance. You can also read the article here.

Today Show: Slash Your Health Costs

[image error]It's that time of year. No, not the holidays. It's open-enrollment season, the time of year when most workers update their health insurance plans.

A recent study by The Kaiser Family Foundation found that annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance plans jumped by 9 percent from 2010 to 2011 to $4,129 for families and $921 for individuals.

I stopped by the Today Show with some practical, easy tips to help consumers save thousands on health-related expenses. Check out the clip from this morning:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yahoo: Earn $100/Hour

[image error]While doctors, lawyers and corporate executives earn top dollar, the average worker in America takes home about $16 an hour, according to PayScale. But you don't necessarily need an advanced degree to bump up your pay. Experts say employing a few key strategies — even in today's economic climate — could increase your earning potential to as high as $100 an hour.

Watch the video below or click on this link to read my entire article.

Yahoo: If it ain't broke…

[image error]…Don't fix it! In fact, some dated products are much better than their new, modern counterparts. Check out our latest Financially Fit video on Yahoo!Finance:

5 Items That Are Better Old Than New

DIY Save the Dates!

[image error]Our homemade save-the-date cards came out better than I imagined! It was a little difficult tying all those tiny bows, but the process was very rewarding. Here's how I did this and how much I spent:

Step 1: find photos

For this, I put our moms to the challenge. The trick was finding individual photos from around the same age (I think we're both between 3 and 4 years-old here) and where we are both looking at the camera and smiling. And whaddya know? We actually found photos where we both have the same haircut!

Step 2: develop photos

We used moo.com, which is actually known for making custom business cards. We ordered 200 (100 of each photo).

Cost: $39.93 + $10 rush shipping +  $9.75 standard shipping … $59.73 (I rushed because I was worried about getting these out in good time).

Step 3: print cards

We tried printing the cards ourselves. But our printer couldn't handle the project. Defeated, we went to our local PaperSource and ordered 110 cards with digital printing and matching cards. I only needed about 90, but over-ordered just in case. Total cost: about $200 (If your printer is sturdy and reliable, then you could probably save at least $150 printing these yourself. Just make sure you've got extra ink lying around!)

Step 4: buy twine

We ordered a ton of twine from Etsy.com for 4 bucks.

Step 5: buy stamps

We ordered these King and Queen stamps from USPS.com. Total: $54

Step 6: assemble

The photos were placed on the cards using double-sided tape. Total twine/bow assembly  took 3-4 hours, but I took my time. It was a lazy Sunday and there was a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathon on Bravo. Additionally, hand-writing all the addresses took about an hour.

Total Cost: $318 or $3 per save the date card/envelope (stamp included)

I suppose I could have just ordered a bunch of plain save the dates online for a bit less, but I really enjoyed the process of bringing this idea to life. What do you think?

My Savings Tips in Valley Magazine

[image error]I'm a proud Penn Stater and humbled to be featured in this month's issue of Valley Magazine. Check out my tips for college students on how to stay on a budget.

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Yahoo: Stop Buying These Items

[image error]Some things in life are just best left un-purchased because they simply don't provide their money's worth — or have much cheaper alternatives. Here's a list of everyday items we don't really need. Ditching them all together could save an average of $1,500 a year. Read the full article here and watch the video below.