CoolSculpting by Zeltiq

While perusing my Shape magazine this morning, I read an article about a new procedure that is an alternative to liposuction: CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.

First off, let me explain my view of plastic surgery. I don't ever plan to consider it as an option for myself, exceptin the most extreme case. My main reason for this is that I don't want my daughters to think they need plastic surgery to be beautiful. I want them growing up to love themselves the way they are. Plus, I'm betting the trends will come full circle, and those that have remained natural will be en vogue. That's my two cents!

On the other hand, a procedure like CoolSculpting might be a low-risk alternative to major surgery for those who are considering liposuction. It only takes 60 minutes. This contraption freezes fat cells to kill them and the body's lymphatic system gets rid of them. The FDA recently approved it. "Studies" claim that users noticed a 25% reduction.

Dr. Oz featured CoolSculpting on his show and seemed to be on board. Whether it truly works remains to be seen. The price seems to be comparable to lipo. One session is $750, but it takes a few months to get results. So while this is not a monetary bargain, it may be a health bargain. Not having to go under the knife has its upside!

Tips:

• Make sure you go to a reputable place. Check with your dermatologist or MD.
• Another review.

Cinch! by Cynthia Sass

Over the holidays, I panicked....Not about guests or gifts or gourmet foods. I panicked about my weight. By no means do I think I am fat. I workout, eat healthy, and do pretty well taking care of myself. However, I weigh about 10 pounds more than I did after my 3rd pregnancy. My #4 and #5 children have brought mounds of joy to our home, but they also dragged along 10 pounds and left it mostly around my waist. That's why I panicked.



And it happened to be the same moment that I was perusing Shape magazine's January issue. In this issue was an article about Cinch! by Cynthia Sass. This diet is all about appropriate portions and the right combinations of nutritious foods. I decided to give it a try. After sampling a few of the recipes from the magazine, I wanted more of Cynthia's recipes and more about her diet strategy. So I bought the book...


I know this is not a diet blog, but I've had such great success, I wanted to share. I have lost 8 pounds after 5 weeks--my goal was to lose 10. I feel great--lots of energy, no more afternoon sluggishness, clearer skin, less illness, and less mood swings. The recipes are delicious in my opinion, and my family likes them, too. I could live on this book's principles for the rest of my life.

Since this is a bargain blog, I'll tell you the cheapest place to get the book if you're interested. If you have a kindle, you can get it for $10. That's the cheapest. If you want the hard back, you'll have to pay more, since the book was only published in December of 2010. I paid $25 for it at Walmart. But now you can get it for $14.28 on Walmart.com. Choose "Site to Store," and you won't have to pay shipping.

Tips:

• Normally, I buy used books, because they come in great quality for cheap. Amazon Marketplace, ebay, and half.com are great places to buy used books. I can usually get any book I want for 1 to 99 cents plus $3 shipping.
• Most of my books, however, come from the library. Can't beat free!

Coupons Update

So...after a month of coupon-ing like gangbusters, I re-evaluated my commitment. I certainly got a LOT of great bargains. In fact, I spent $200 more on groceries during the month than I usually do. (If my husband happens to be reading this...Oops! Sorry, honey!) My cupboards are full, and I probably don't need to buy toothpaste until I'm either ready for dentures or dead. However, I gave into the temptation to buy a lot of stuff (especially snack foods that I rarely purchase) just because I had a coupon.

I'm not totally forsaking coupons, because I got several items totally free! My new strategy goes like this:

• Only use coupons on items I need or regularly use.
• Track my budget carefully.
• If there is an item that is free or less than $0.25, go ahead and get it.

Here are a few examples:

I don't normally buy refrigerated biscuits, crescent rolls, etc. But I got all these for $1 and my kids love them as snacks.

I rarely buy frozen entrees. But this one was so cheap, I snagged it for my "hungry man," who is 14 and on the cross-country team right now.

We always need toothpaste. These were on sale for $1 a piece. I had coupons for $1 off Crest toothpaste. I thought I was getting 6 tubes for free, but sadly, 2 of my coupons were expired. Lesson learned. Still, 6 tubes for $2 is not bad.

Tips:

• Determine for yourself how much your time is worth. My coupon skills improved, but only slightly. So it still takes me quite a bit of time to figure it all out.

Speaking of Ulta...

On another trip to Ulta, I got all this...


for less than $10! I shopped the sales (several cosmetic lines were 40% off); then I stacked several manufacturers coupons with an Ulta store coupon. Score!

Tips:

• If it's not in your budget to buy beauty products, it's not a bargain.
• Don't be tempted to spend money on frivolous items just because you have a coupon or there is a sale. Another sale or another coupon will always come around.
• However, it might be a great time to snag some stocking stuffers if you have a teenaged daughter like I do.

Ulta Extreme Wear Cream Eye Shadow

My favorite place to shop for beauty items has been Ulta ever since I first discovered it about 7 or 8 years ago.

My new favorite eye shadow is Ulta's own brand of cream shadow: Extreme Wear Cream Eye Shadow. My little sister, who also functions as my fashion and beauty guru, suggested I try them. I bought two to try....I loved them so much I had to go back for two more.

My favorite colors so far--

#106: Almost Famous

#100: Rising Star

#104: Premiere

#102: Socialite

Ulta sells them for $8 each. I happened to get them when they were on sale: 2 for $8. I also had a store coupon, so I scored them for about 2 bucks a piece. Nice!

Tips:

• The cream shadow wears lighter than it looks in the bottle.
• After swiping the shadow across your lid, don't wait too long to blend it. The cream shadow dries quickly and stays put (what I love most about it!).

Back from San Marcos: Part 1

We arrived in San Marcos Friday night.... Isn't it beautiful? It should be named one of the 7 wonders of the world.

We shopped Friday night, stayed at La Quinta in San Marcos (not impressed...I don't recommend it), then arrived back at the Outlet Malls by 9am. We shopped amongst other Spring Breakers, including travellers from Mexico, all day Saturday and arrived home by 10 pm. It was a busy place, but not overcrowded.

Evidence of a happy trip:

Full trunk (see above)

Empty wallet (see below)

Here are a few of my favorite purchases:

Original outlet price: $80.

Original price for the sweater: $99

Shorts: originally $69

Dress: originally $78

Roxy hats for bad hair days: originally $22 each.

Tips:

• Avoid traffic. We left at the wrong time, hitting Austin just before rush hour, which added an extra 2 hours to our trip.
• Bring snacks. Dining options are slim at the outlet malls.

This is only part 1, because in May I'm headed back for a birthday/Mother's Day trip with friends. Wanna come?

Headed to San Marcos Outlet...

The outlets in San Marcos, TX were named the "third best place to shop in the world" by ABC's the View. It is the biggest outlet destination in Texas, and the 3rd biggest in the world. Find more info in this post.

Thesaurus.com:

"Main Entry: heavenPart of Speech: nounDefinition: place where God lives; wonderful feelingSynonyms: Arcadia, Canaan, Elysium, Shangri-la, Utopia, Zion, afterworld, atmosphere, azure*, beyond, bliss, dreamland, ecstasy, empyrean, enchantment, eternal home, eternal rest, eternity, fairyland, felicity, firmament, glory, great unknown, happiness, happy hunting ground, harmony, heights, hereafter, immortality, kingdom, kingdom come, life everlasting, life to come, next world, nirvana, paradise, pearly gates, promised land, rapture, sky*, the blue, transport, upstairs, wonderland "

This is where I'll be, what I'll be experiencing this weekend.

This is what my husband calls it:

"Antonyms: hell" (from Thesaurus.com)

I'll report back in a few days...

Try to have a weekend as fun as mine!

Clearance at Walmart

I had to kill some time at Walmart today in between errands. I noticed a lot of clearance at our local Wal-mart here in Texas throughout the store. The items I saw on clearance included:

• clothes
• shoes
• housewares
• crafts
• home decor
• bath and linens
• toys
• cosmetics
  

Let me know if your Walmart has some good stuff on sale...

Tips:

• Check the original price. When I see a red tag or a clearance sign, my hand automatically starts reaching for my wallet. But if you look carefully, sometimes the sale price is only 20% off.

Cover Girl LashBlast Mascara Bargain

Costco sells a 3-pk of Cover Girl LashBlast Mascara for $13.99. Use the $3 off coupon in the current coupon mailer to bring the cost down to $3.66 per tube. That's a savings of 54% compared to Walmart's regular price ($7.94). You have about 2 weeks left. The coupon expires Jan. 24th.

Not a Costco member? You can buy it at Ulta for $8.39, throw in some hair elastics to total $10 so you can use their $3.50 off coupon. The final price for the mascara is $5.45.

Or, go to Target, where they sell a 2-pack for $10.99.

Tips:

• If 3 tubes is too many, split the cost with a friend.

$30 For Longer Lasting Joy

From thriftyfun.com


"Being frugal does not mean one should not enjoy life, just that we should examine our way of life to see if what we are doing is bringing us pleasure for the cost associated. I recently had the problem of deciding to fill in the artificial nails that was given to me as a gift from my husband or taking them off and saving the money spent for upkeep. I do feel like I'm worth $15 every other week, but in the end I think it just comes down to the fact that I have other interests that I would rather put my money....For me personally, I decided I would get just as much enjoyment for my $30 this month in the following way: I could buy school supplies for a child I do not know or I could buy a lot of pencils and take to the school for use when a child does not have one. The next month I could find a nursing home in my area and take $30 worth of socks in all different sizes or I could save my money for a couple of months and take some nightgowns and pj's for the ones that do not have family.

"My nails were pretty but I found after examining that I can get much more joy for my money. I'm gonna take the same money and buy some polish, calcium and vitamin D (as someone mentioned) and work on my own nails and use the left over money in a more frugal and neighborly use. "

By notwrong

Tips:

• Other ideas for small doses of philanthropy:
• Buy $30 worth of toiletries to donate to a local woman's shelter.
• Take $30 worth of canned goods to a local food pantry.
• Save the $30 a month until the holiday season, and provide a nice meal and gifts for a family in need.
• Buy $30 worth of books to donate to your child's library.
• Do you have other ideas?

i.d. bare Minerals

Normally, you would never find makeup as deluxe as i.d. bare Minerals in my makeup drawer. My sister, however, bought it for me (along with a mink kabuki brush--I know! She's generous.).

I love i.d. bare Minerals because...

• I hardly feel it on my face.


• it smooths the texture of my skin.


• it hides blemishes.


• it contains sunscreen.

Alas, mine has run out. I was half-tempted to rush to the cosmetic store and pay the $25 pricetag, but then I wouldn't be the Bargain Huntress.

Here's what I found:

• eBay has it for $19.95 with free shipping.


• If you prefer Amazon.com, the marketplace has it for $15.49 + $4.56 shipping.

Then I checked for alternative labels:

• Kirkland Signature Natural Beauty Mineral Color Collection by Borghese, $24.99 + tax (includes foundation, bronzer, eyeshadow base, 3 eyeshadow colors, pressed eyeliner, 2 eyeshadow applicators, kabuki brush, and a retractable brush). Priced separately (at bargain prices) I came up with $75 total. That's a 66% savings.
  

• Loreal Bare Naturale, which got good cyber-reviews, and is available for $12.49 at Target.

Questions to myself:

1. Is i.d. bare Minerals worth the price?


2. Do I really need all the extras in the Costco set?


3. Do I just want to spend the least amount of money?

Answers:

1. If you have to have i.d. bare Minerals, I would choose to buy on eBay, only because the ratings on that seller were excellent.


2. To get the most bang for your buck, try the Costco set.


3. To spend the least amount of money, go with Loreal Bare Naturale.

I chose option 2.

I bought the set at Costco , and love every bit of it. (By the way, the Costco website lists the set for $31.99, but my local warehouse had it for $24.99.) If I put too much foundation on, my daughter tells me it looks orange, but she said the bare minerals looked yellow if I put too much on, so it's a wash. I guess I need to practice a little more. I love the eyeshadow base and the eyeliner. All three eye shadow colors add subtle enhancement to my face.

Tips:

• Want to get it even cheaper? Go to Ulta now, where Loreal Bare Naturale is buy 1 at $12.99) get 1 for 50% off, then use a $3.50 off coupon...2 for $16.50 + tax.

Dallas Outdoor Expo

Looking for a fun, low-cost family activity in the Dallas area?

Kids 17 & under are free. Adults are $5.

Tips:

• Check their website for more info.

20% Off at Kohl's

Tips:

• Friday & Saturday only!

FREE Benefit BADgal Mascara

From fabulesslyfrugal.com:





FREE Benefit BADgal Mascara at ULTA on September 19!





Starting September 15, 2009, bring the October 2009 cover of Seventeen or a printout of the seventeen.com home page to any participating ULTA store to receive a full-size tube of Benefit BADgal Blue Mascara (approximate retail value: $19). Eight thousand (8,000) will be given away, with an average of 24 available at each ULTA store location. Must be female, between the ages of 13 and 29.





Tips:

• Not the right age? Recruit your daughter, a friend, or a friend's daughter.

Sale at Sephora

Save up to 75% at Sephora online or in stores.

You can choose up to 3 free samples with any order.

Orders over $50 ship for free.

Tips:

• Check in-store, too! Here's the store locater. Generally, there are deeper discounts on items in the store.
• Go in with friends. Not spending $50? Get friends or family members to share an order to get the free shipping.
  

Free Samples

There's a world of free samples out there that I'm just discovering...








During my son's orthodontic appointment, I perused the August 2009 Ladies' Home Journal, where I came across an interesting article. The author and her husband decided to tighten their budget, which included *gasp* her "Beauty" category. So she endeavoured to live on free samples of beauty products for a month.

Her two avenues included 1) Signing up for freebies over the internet; and 2) visiting makeup counters and asking for samples.

I checked out the freebie sites she mentioned, and here are my favorites:

Shop4Freebies.com scours the internet for available free samples, then provides links to them. There are no strings attached.

P.S. This one is my favorite. I have already started to receive freebies: chocolate, feminine hygient, etc. If you sign up for their newsletter, they will send you a periodic email notifying you of the latest freebies available.

Momspective.com is a fun website that includes a page of links to free stuff.

Roboform.com provides free downloadable software that allows you to fill in forms with the click of a button.



Does anyone want to one-up the LHJ author? Can you live entirely for free for one month? I ain't doin' it, but I present the challenge...

Tips:

• Don't give away too much information. If a company asks for more than a name, email address, and physical address, I question whether it's legitimate.

Low Cost Teeth Cleaning

From Thriftyfun.com

"Check with your local college or business school to see if they have a dental hygienist program. They usually offer low cost teeth cleaning and other services. It is done by students, but everything is checked by an instructor. So you get a good cleaning, although it may take a little longer. "

By Ginger from Duluth, MN

John Frieda Hare Care Line

Every time I go to the salon for a haircut, they use "product" on my hair, transforming my average hair into shiny and full hair. As I'm leaving, the stylist always asks, "Do you need product?" I'm so tempted to say, "Yes! Give me everything you just put in my hair!" Of course, I don't say that, because I would end up spending about $100 on "product." But I long for just-stepped-out-of-the-salon hair.

I'm about to sound cliche, but it's true: You don't need to spend a ton of money on "product" to have great looking hair. Not when you can buy John Frieda products at the grocery store. Magazines always give John Frieda's collection accolades for their performance. I love their pricetag, too.

Here are the ones I use:

Frizz-Ease Hair Serum with Thermal Protection. (~$6 @ Ulta w/coupon)

It adds shine to my hair and protects it from the heat of my blow dryer and flattening iron.

Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster (~$4 @ Ulta w/coupon)

It does what it claims--turns my flat, heavy hair into Texas hair.

Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme (~4 @ Ulta w/coupon)

Puts stray hairs into place and gives texture to my locks.




Frizz-Ease Clearly Defined Style Holding Gel (~$4 @ Ulta w/coupon)

Aids styling without leaving my hair sticky.

Tips:

• Right now John Frieda products are buy one get one half off at Ulta--online or in the store.
• Keep your newly purchased "product" away from your 2-year-old. I got out my bottle of Root Booster only to find that my daughter had emptied almost the entire bottle. Talk about Texas hair!!

Need Help Finding a Deal?

The Bargain Huntress loves to go on the hunt for you!

Email bargainbasics@gmail.com.

Include the following information:

Item you're looking for (inlcluding any specifics, such as color, size, etc.).

Price you'd like to beat.

Free Lip Item at Bath & Body Works

Click on image to print.

Tips:

• The Semi-Annual Sale starts in stores Monday, June 1. Can't wait? Shop the sale online now.
• I like to stock up on stocking stuffers and gifts for friends, neighbors, and teachers.