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ANTM: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:29:20 PDT

It's a personality contest, it's Darwin's survival of the bitchiest, it's a freakshow, it's Gender 101...whatever "America's Next Top Model" is, it terrifies me, and hence I cannot take my eyes off of it. Mila, the pathologically chipper model you see here was preceded by a model who was forced by Tyra to talk about childhood sexual abuse. Natch, that other model was kicked off, and Mila stayed. Put on your seatbelts, ladies, it's going to be another bumpy ride...

"America's Next Top Model" Recap: "The Girls Go Cruisin'"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:47:09 PDT

Pretty much all the suspense of last night's season premiere of "America's Next Top Model" was gone with one look at this picture from the CW that revealed which of the first 33 contestants would make the final 13. But no matter - there was enough pure crazy in the first episode to make it worth watching. I mean, one girl gave Tyra a simulated bikini wax right there on the judges' table, leading Tyra to exclaim that "any girl who gives me a simulated kitty-cat wax is fine with me." I can only imagine what precedent this will set for future cycles.

Anyway. The episode started with the 33 hopefuls boarding a cruise ship in Puerto Rico, where Tyra surprised the girls by making her first appearance in a feather-adorned getup for a little cabaret number, surrounded by gay sailors. (My boyfriend's comment: "The kangaroo costume was better.") Then came a boatload (...get it?) of whining, cattiness, backbiting and posturing between the girls as they prepared for their auditions in front of Tyra and the Jays. For more about the auditions and to see a gallery of all the contestants,

The auditions featured a whole lot of weird moments, including one girl pulling a straw paper out of her nose and another being made to walk like a high-fashion butterfly and robot. (That went well.) There also was the usual complement of sob stories from girls who had drug-addicted mothers, blindness in one eye, and Asperger's Syndrome.

In the end, after a photo shoot on the beach, the girls were cut to the 13 finalists, including Heather (the girl with Asperger's), Victoria (a Yale student who thinks some of the other girls are dumb), Jenah (who seems like a good candidate for house brat), and Sarah (who's too big for regular modeling and too small for plus - so, in other words, a normal girl). At this point, I'm rooting for Sarah, but I have a feeling Lisa will end up winning it all. Who's your early pick?

View 14 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of The CW

10 Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More

Wise Bread — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:15:37 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

Have you heard of the expression “penny wise, pound foolish”? It’s something I heard a lot growing up, from my parents, and it can have multiple meanings:

You are very careful with small amounts of money, but throw caution to the wind with large amounts. This is akin to someone who eats from the dollar menu every day but then blows a hundred dollars every month on a gym membership that’s never used.
You do things to save money now, only to have those savings cost you more farther down the road.

The second definition is what I’m focusing on today, because it’s a lot easier to fall into the trap of saving money only to have it bite you later on. Here then are 10 things that you may be doing to save money that could actually cost you a lot more in the weeks, months, or years to come.

RELATED: The Case For Expensive Shoes

1. Avoiding Regular Checkups With the Doctor, Dentist, or Optician

It’s something I did in college when money was tight. “Aah, who needs to pay money to a dentist to have him tell me I should floss more?” Well, after leaving the dentist alone for a few years, I paid the price. Avoiding the regular cleanings and checkups left me facing a hefty bill later on when I needed a bunch of costly fillings. I was lucky that I didn’t need root canals or replacement teeth. Now I have a dental plan that covers free checkups twice a year, but even if you don’t, get to the dentist and doctor for health checks. It’s a lot better to pay a co-pay now than pay for major surgery later on. And worse still, it could even cost you your life, especially as so many conditions can be treated if they’re caught early enough.

Read on for more.

Celebrate Daylight Saving: Calories Burned in an Hour of Exercise

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:07:00 PDT

It's that time of year again, when we "fall back," and turn our clocks back one hour. I love adding 60 minutes to my Sunday, so make the most of it - don't just go about your day as usual. My advice is to wake up in the morning when you normally would and spend your freebie hour working out. Gone is your excuse about not having enough time to exercise. Check out how many calories you'll burn sweating it out for an hour.

Cardio kickboxing class: 597 calories*
Cycling at a moderate pace (14 to 15.9 mph): 540 calories
Elliptical: 486 calories
Hiking: 387 calories
Mowing the lawn: 243 calories
Raking leaves: 216 calories
Pilates: 144 calories
Running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace (6 mph): 540 calories
Soccer: 378 calories
Spin class: 413 calories
Strength training (vigorous): 359 calories
Swimming: 594 calories
Walking at a 15-minute-per-mile pace (4 mph): 243 calories
Yoga class (fast-paced): 403 calories

Don't forget to change your clocks before you go to bed tonight. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. Enjoy your hour!

*All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

The Basics of How to Start an Emergency Fund

LearnVest — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Rainy days are inevitable. Lately, they seem to stretch into rainy weeks and months. To guard against these unexpected tough times - emergencies - an easily accessible stash of cash is a must!

Build It Up

Experts recommend that you have at the minimum 6-9 months of your living expenses in a savings account for potential rough times.

If you don’t currently have enough to cover your living expenses for eight months, start by trimming the fat. Do it by calculating your budget.

After you’ve separated the need-to-haves from the nice-to-haves, set aside an amount every month from the nice-to-have pile to go into your emergency fund. Even $10 makes a difference!

Automate Yourself

Once you’ve figured out your amount to set aside, take temptation out of the process. Go online and set up automatic transfers to deposit your chosen amount directly from your checking account to your emergency savings every month. Alternatively, get your employer to divert some money from your direct deposit paycheck straight into your emergency fund.

Read on for more about emergency funds.

10 Reasons Why You Should Try P90X

Shape — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:17:26 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Chances are you've already seen Tony Horton. Built like Brad Pitt but with a sense of humor like Will Ferrell waving a cowbell, he's hard to miss whether he's on late-night TV (pick a channel, any channel) pimping his 10-Minute Trainer workouts or on QVC selling out his wildly popular P90X workout program. When he enthuses, "Just give me 90 days and I'll get you huge results," it sounds a little too good to be true, but having done two cycles myself, I can tell you this is one workout that lives up to the hype. And since Tony, as he asked me to call him in our interview, is coming out with P90X 2 in December 2011, now is the perfect time to try P90X!

Here's why:

1. No more plateaus. The core idea behind the P90X workout is what Tony calls "muscle confusion." By doing a different type of workout every day you'll keep your muscles guessing, which means you'll keep them working hard.

2. Entertainment. Tony and his crew crack jokes and do all kinds of hilarious moves (my favorite is The Rockstar) to keep your mind off the pain. And the dude is funny.

3. Well-rounded workouts. Drawing from weight lifting, interval training, yoga, plyometrics, and martial arts, among other things, you'll work your body from every angle thereby increasing your power, strength, balance, and athletic ability.

See more reasons to try P90X after the break!

10 Biggest Spending Excuses and How to Squash Them

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re a clever gal.

Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.

You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale . . . and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon,” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.

Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use-and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!

Excuse #1: But It's on Sale

(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)

Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.

Excuse #2: But I've Been Working so Hard, I Deserve It

We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life-you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better-and check out our salary negotiating tips.)

Read on for more spending excuses.

How to Cash in on Spring Cleaning

Kiplinger — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:10:28 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

After about a year and a half of marriage, my husband and I have finally unpacked the boxes of his stuff and our wedding gifts that had piled up in every corner of our apartment. In doing so, we organized the whole place - finding a home within our home for all our "new" things while purging the old.

Through the whole process, we've unearthed a veritable trove of potential income sources littering our former wasteland. If you invest some time in spring cleaning, be sure to take stock of these six possible treasures disguised as trash:

1) Receipts

My level-one hoarding issues have finally paid off… big time. (Kiplinger’s does not encourage or condone hoarding in any way.) Shuffled amid our apartment’s piles and piles of papers, we located receipts we were able to use for Flexible Spending Account claims amounting to nearly $2,000.

You just missed most employers’ March 15 deadline by which you needed to spend 2010 FSA funds. But you may still have time to file your claims: My company, for example, gives participating employees until June 15, as long as the receipts show services were rendered or purchases were made before March 15. If you don’t drain the account in time, you’ll have to kiss that cash goodbye. (See ASK KIM: Make the Most of the New Flex-Account Rules for more about how FSAs work.)

Also keep an eye out for receipts you can use to claim tax deductions, such as for charitable donations or job-hunting expenses, if you itemize. For more write-offs you may have forgotten, check out our slide show: The Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions.

2) Gift Cards

Be sure to sift through your clutter for unused gift cards. Even if you don’t care to use them yourself, you can still gain value from them before they expire. Exchange sites such as Gift Card Granny or Plastic Jungle will buy gift cards for a portion of their value (see KIP TIP: Get Cash Fast for more information).

Read on to find out how to deal with your electronics.

25 Ways to Waste Your Money

Kiplinger — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:15:53 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Has your budget sprung a leak?

Nearly everyone has spending holes. And as with other kinds of leaks, you may have hardly noticed them. But those small drips can quickly add up to big bucks. The trick is to find the holes and plug them so you can keep more money in your pocket. That extra cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck.

Here are 25 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, then look for ways to plug your own leaks:

1. Carrying a balance. Debt is a shackle that holds you back. For instance, if you have a $1,000 balance on a credit card that charges an 18% rate, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.

2. Overspending on gas and oil for your car. There’s no need to spring for premium fuel if the manufacturer says regular is just fine. You should also check to make sure your tires are optimally inflated to get the best gas mileage. And are you still paying for an oil change every 3,000 miles? Many models nowadays can last 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes, and some even have built-in sensors to tell you when it’s time to change the oil. Check your manual to find the best time for your car’s routine maintenance.

3. Keeping unhealthy habits. Smoking costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. It significantly increases the cost of life and health insurance. And you'll pay more for homeowners and auto insurance. Add in various other expenses, and the true cost of smoking adds up dramatically over a lifetime - $86,000 for a 24-year-old woman over a lifetime and $183,000 for a 24-year-old man over a lifetime, according to The Price of Smoking (The MIT Press).

Another habit to quit: indoor tanning. There is now a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. As with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning - which the World Health Organization lists among the worst-known carcinogens - is higher than just the price you pay each time you go to the salon.

Read on to find out what other budget leaks you should avoid.

How to Pay Off Your Holiday Debt

LearnVest — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:15:37 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

The winter holidays have dissolved into nostalgic memories, and we haven’t had an eggnog latte in over a month. But at least one full credit card cycle after New Year’s, some of us are still carrying holiday credit card debt. It’s no fun looking forward to spring while carrying this weight, and it puts a damper on any summer travel savings plans. So here’s our plan of attack for tackling that holiday credit card debt:

1. Negotiate Your APR.

Credit card companies will budge if only you ask. Before calling, research the competition and all of your options with a resource like Billshrink, a site that quickly surveys your bill options for better rates. Call the company of your highest-interest credit card and tell the rep that you want to lower your APR by 5%. Remind the rep how long you’ve been a customer and that you’d rather not switch credit cards, but you’d like this one to move some things around in your favor.

Take notes during your conversation, including the rep’s name; if the first rep can’t help you, ask for the customer cancellation department, which often has more power to make a deal with you. Even if your rate is only lowered by 1% or 2%, every little bit helps. If they can’t lower your APR, ask if there are any low or zero percent balance transfer deals, and shift balances to that card, keeping in mind the expiration date for those low rates.

Keep reading for more tips for melting your holiday debt.