Farnoosh Torabi's Blog, page 73

Glamour: Money Faux Pas

Suze Orman, Jean Chatzky and I admit our money mistakes in this month's Glamour mag. Hey, we're only human!

Check it out!

Yahoo: Best Beauty Buys

One of the most popular sections at your local drugstore is the beauty aisle. From makeup to shampoo to skin care, prices tend to be far lower than those found at the department store, in some cases up to 80% less. And rest assured, you won't be sacrificing quality. In fact, products sold at the drugstore are often on par with you those found at high-end beauty counters, says celebrity makeup artist Nicole Williams. Much of the cost of expensive makeup and beauty products is tied into fancy packaging and marketing, she says.

We asked Williams for her favorite drugstore beauty buys. Click on the video to see what's on her shopping list.

Preparing for Retirement

This morning on the CBS Early Show: The economy has derailed our retirement plans, but it's not impossible to play catch-up. I offer some advice on how to manage your retirement plan in your 20s and beyond. Watch the link here.

Drug Store Do's and Don't's

The modern-day drugstore or pharmacy has become a one-stop-shopping destination for household products, beauty items and groceries. The industry generates $220 billion in revenue every year, with stores often carrying some of the best deals in town, but only if you know what to shop for.

Watch the Do's & Don't's of drugstore shopping in our weekly installment of Financially Fit on Yahoo!Finance

Best Things To Buy in September

September is packed with deals as retailers attempt to unload excess summer merchandise and make room for fall and holiday inventory. If you're in the market for certain items, this may be the best time to bank on some rock-bottom prices. Check out my latest Financially Fit video for this month's shopping list.

Buy Better, Save Money

The New frugality is a life filled with quality, not quantity. It's an economy where sometimes it makes sense to pay more today, so you can save far more in the long run. Here are some everyday products that are worth the splurge. Buy better, buy smarter and save more.

RUNNING SHOES

Fitness experts say that a "performance running" sneaker typically retails for $80 or more. You really don't want to spend less. Performance shoes generally last between 400-500 miles. The less expensive variety technically last just as many miles, but not as comfortably. You'll likely develop some pain and may spend much more money repairing your body in time.  The good news is – many sporting goods and sneaker stores are having their annual end of summer clearance sales, where you can find high performance sneakers selling for a fraction of their normal retail price.

HIGH QUALITY MATTRESS

The average person spends a third of his or her life in bed and getting the right amount of sleep is as important to your health as diet and exercise.  I've actually partnered up with Sleep Number, where you can find highly individualized mattresses (pictured here) that conform to your body's needs to ensure a great night's sleep and more productive day. In the long run, a high quality mattress can also help reduce aches and pains. That's priceless. You can learn more about Sleep Number at SleepNumber.com.

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

Dentist are big fans of electric toothbrushes and, based on research, they're worth every penny. According to Consumer Reports, the two priciest electric brushes – Oral B and Phillips Sonicare – removed on average 75 percent or more of plaque in tests, which can help prevent higher dental costs down the road.  Also, according to research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, electric toothbrushes generally outperform manual brushes. In fact, over 80% of the patients who made the switch to an electric toothbrush improved their oral hygiene over time.

QUALITY SUNGLASSES

With high-end shades you're paying up for the label and look, but most importantly, UV Ray protection against the sun. High-end sunglasses tend to offer better protection from the sun. And let's not forget – Sometimes the more you pay for something, the better you'll take care of it, right? The $10 or less variety usually ends up getting lost or cracked and forget getting any real protection from the sun. Before you buy, make sure they're worth the price by asking the store clerk if you can hop out for a few minutes to test-drive them in the sun. And to keep them in tip-top shape, clean your lenses with a micro-fiber cloth not just any tissue or paper towel (or the edge of your tee-shirt) to prevent scratching. Don't leave them on your car's dashboard or in the sun to prevent melting and when you remove your glasses use both hands to avoid twisting the frame.

GREEN KITCHEN APPLIANCES

The average household spends $1,400 a year on their energy bill but by upgrading to Energy Star qualified products, you can save 30% or more than $400 a year on energy costs. If you can't afford to buy a new energy-efficient big-ticket dishwasher or refrigerator, consider at least upgrading your power strips to "smart strips," which detect when devices are on or off and use that information to power down and save electricity. The EPA estimates that a "smart" strip, which runs approximately $30, can pay for itself in just a few months.

GMA: Dollar Store Deals!

GMA's Lara Spencer and I plow through a local Dollar Store to show you how to maximize savings at America's favorite discount store. This is must-see TV!

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Gadgets That Save Money

In this week's Financially Fit video on Yahoo!Finance: From LED TVs to low-flow shower heads, learn how to slash hundreds of dollars off your annual expenses with the following home gadgets.

Special thanks to Katie Linendoll, my favorite tech guru, for introducing us to great money-saving gizmos.

Never Run Out of Money

Do you have enough saved for a rainy day? In this week's installment of Financially Fit on Yahoo!Finance I bring you some savings strategies – beyond "save automatically" and "spend less" –  to ensure you never run out of money when you need it most.

Watch the clip below!

Yahoo: Back-to-School Savings

Back-to-school shopping is back in full swing, as parents and kids hit the stores to attack their long list of school supply must-haves, fall clothes and gear. It is the second biggest consumer event of the year, with spending estimated at more than $600 per household — pretty much in line with 2010, according to the.

But before you hit stores, check out my latest Financially Fit video to learn how to keep costs down this year.

Financially Fit is a weekly web series on Yahoo!Finance, sponsored by Bank of America.