Farnoosh Torabi's Blog, page 86

Social Etiquette: How to Deal With a Spill

It's inevitable – you will experience a party foul.

You're at a nice restaurant with friends, and someone tells a particularly hilarious anecdote about ex-boyfriends becoming scientologists. In your fit of laughter, you spill red wine onto your friend's expensive dress. What happens now?

Or, say, you're the one whose expensive dress gets the Cabernet treatment. Even worse yet, say that you were borrowing that now-ruined dress from a friend.

I've got the complete guide on Learnvest.com, where...

Young Adults: How to Stay Upbeat and Grounded

This article originally appeared on Moneywatch.com

"Young adults are more upbeat than middle-aged and older adults about the economy, even though they have suffered more job losses than any other age group," according to a fascinating new demographic study just released by the Pew Research Center called "How the Great Recession Has Changed Life in America."

I have no doubt that some may describe this outlook as being as naive or even borderline delusional.  But as I often explain in my...

Free Wifi at Starbucks Soon!

I spend far too much of time at Starbucks, more than I'd like to admit. Please don't hate me. As freelancers (especially writers), we appreciate having an alternative space to work, staying caffeinated and having access to the Web. Of course, a local mom-and-pop coffee shop would be my preference, but unfortunately there are none near my home. I figure each visit to the 'bux costs me north of $7 or $8, including the iced coffee and AT&T wifi connection. A couple days of this per week and the ...

Top Tips for Nailing the Job Interview

When I landed one of my first jobs at a local TV station in 2004, I was positive it was because I had done everything right. I had written a killer cover letter. I arrived at the interview beyond prepared, having studied the news channel and its programming for weeks. I knew the strengths and weaknesses of the business news unit (where I was applying to be a producer). I also wore a sensible suit. And to top it off, I brought along a bulleted presentation of my ideas and how I would...

Budgeting For Rent

 For the full article and tips visit Moneywatch.com

When I first moved to Manhattan in 2002, my monthly rent was a mere $500 a month – or 15% of my take-home pay. Granted, I was sharing an apartment with a married couple and living north of 100th street (far from the cool, clubby downtown scene). But for this underpaid, fresh-out-of-graduate-school, entry-level journalist, it was worth every penny – and more to the point, it was all I could comfortably afford.

For many young workers, budgeting ...

How Facebook Can Help You Save Money

Originally published on Moneywatch.com

Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn: Take your pick; Social networking has become America's new favorite pastime. These platforms help us find new jobs and long-lost high school loves, spy on our neighbors, post pictures, and fan Betty White. But did you know social networking can help save you money, too?

Here's the thing: We already share plenty of random news with friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers. Right now the status updates on my...

How Much to Tip?

As a customer, it's important to tip for good service. Lots of workers including waiters, bartenders, hotel concierges, and salon workers rely heavily on your gratuity, but we've fumbled over tipping for valet parking and coat check more often that we'd like to admit. Want to give the right amount without looking (gasp) ungenerous?  

And how much tipping is appropriate? After all, it's not your job to support your waiter's family, especially if you feel that a tip is undeserved.

Here are some g...

Happy Birthday…Here's a Maybach!

Diddy go overboard?  

Sean "Diddy" Combs defended himself during a Nightline interview (scroll down to see the clip), in which Martin Bashir asks the media mogul if it was "appropriate" giving his son Justin a $400,000 luxury car – the Maybach – for his 16th birthday. Diddy's response: "I think it's appropriate to give my kids whatever I want to give my kids…I feel the way that I raised my children, I don't need to explain [it:] to you or nobody else."

Diddy hath spoken.

And who are we to judge? ...

Cheapest Days to Shop Online

We already know some of the best shopping deals are found online - but what about that some days are better than others to find the steepest discounts? ShopItToMe.com, which scours sales at more than 100 online retailers, ran a survey for me showing what days of the week certain categories of items carry the biggest discounts. Their data was compiled between June 2009 and June 2010 and analyzed over 1 million sale items on the web. 

From sunglasses to bathing suits to handbags and menswear...

Budget Wedding: Tips for Guests

Father of the Bride was on TBS all weekend. I know because I watched it over (and over) for a good chunk of Saturday. This classic 1990s movie about a young bride-to-be and her reluctant dad showcases how just over-the-top American weddings can get. From ice sculptures to swans to a $1200 cake, the accoutrements of a picture-perfect wedding day can quickly break the bank for the bride and groom (or their parents, as it may be).

Over the years the price tag on an American wedding has started...