Papa Who warned Cindy Lou not to open a charge just to save 20% on that giant ornament. Now she's riddled with debt!

Doorbuster savings! HUGE in-store sales! Prices of the century! Life-changing discounts that resemble utopia and flatten your abs!

Giddy up.

We’ve just turned the proverbial Christmahanukwanzukah corner on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And, as PoorLittleRichGirls the world over have been preparing for the busiest shopping season of the year, credit card companies have too. They’re the big city perverts your dad warned you about after helping you move in to your dorm room.

So think twice before you sign up for promotional credit cards at the retail counter. Resist those siren calls of “Would you like to save 20% on your purchase today?” The rates, rewards, your credit score: they’ll likely change for the worse after the holidays.

Here are some tips to help you check yo’self before you wreck yo’self, brought to you by the good people at BillShrink.com:

1. Resist the Temptation of the 0% Interest Rate: Beware of in-store promotional cards that offer an initial store discount. An introductory 0% interest rate can quickly leap to over 20% with just one late payment. Also, when you apply for a new card, an inquiry is made to the credit bureau, which may slightly lower your credit score.

2. Watch Out for Sky-High Interest Rates: Some card rates have gone up more than 20% this year! With additional consumer protection laws going into effect in February 2010 that will impact issuer’s profits, we’re likely to see unstable variable interest rates continue to rise. Make sure you have a careful look at the fine print now to see how high those variables can go.

3. Enjoy Return Policies: Around the holidays, many credit cards offer “return protection” which means your issuer will take back most items that the retailer will no longer accept, up until 90 days of the original purchase. This is great for early shoppers who may want to make returns after a store’s standard 14-30 day return policy expires.

4. Take Advantage of Post-Holiday Price Adjustments: Surprise! Some credit cards actually have price adjustment policies for 60 days, so if your favorite store slashed prices after the holidays, you could be eligible for a refund of the difference in cost.

5. Know how much you are spending on your credit card: You’ll save yourself money and a major headache if you make sure you’ve got enough cash in the bank to cover your credit card spending. Go online to get the latest amount in your checking account, and subtract the amount you spent on your credit cards on those holiday gifts. This will give you a good sense of whether or not you have enough to pay your bill on time.

(Jinna Yun)

While strolling through the aisles of Dominick’s last week I accidentally tapped a pharmacist with my grocery cart- oops! After apologizing profusely he told me all would be forgiven if I came to the pharmacy for a flu shot. Yuck! Not only do I hate shots, but I am also very…well, cheap. Plus, I wasn’t really sure if I was planning to get one this year.

Making an appointment for one of the always-inconvenient flu shot “clinics” at Walgreens or Osco was not really something I was looking forward to. But, at Dominick’s it’s only $28 and you don’t even need to present any insurance info. And no wait or appointment necessary! Not only that, but upon completion of my shot, they gave me a coupon for 10% off my entire grocery order! So, not only did I kill two birds with one stone by getting my groceries and flu shot taken care of under one roof, I also saved big on my bill. This is a PoorLittleRichGirls must!

(Written by, Pam Sherman, founder of Chicago Anytime Assistants, a flexible ‘anytime-you-need-it’ personal assistant service for the busy Chicagoan. She is constantly hunting down deals and sales for her clients and is now sharing them with PoorLittleRichGirls as a contributor.)

Hey Sal,
Normally I’m a very generous tipper (15-20% on everything from meals to spa treatments). But, when I order food to “pick up” am I supposed to tip? I usually don’t (because I pay in cash), but last week I used a credit card to pick up a pizza and there was the tip line on the bottom of the receipt staring me in the face. Do the take-out people expect a tip or not? If so, the same 15-20%? Help!
- Karen (Wrigleyville)

Is this worth a tip? Sal says it depends...

Karen,

Shame tipping- you’ve been a victim. It’s everywhere these days, in fact, it’s on a killing spree! Looming at you just above your required signature. Suddenly it’s there at Starbucks, room service (where 18% gratuity is already included)and even pick-up windows. This sort of “if you put a strike through the tip line you’re a bad person” bullying has got to stop. Put your foot, or rather your pen, down!

On issues of gratuity I think it’s best to turn to the benchmark, Emily Post. The woman might have had her heyday in the 20s, but she remains the gold standard for all things etiquette. And what does Ms. Post prescribe for pick-up? No obligation. If so inclined, 0-10% if the person went above normal service.

What this means for you Karen is that no, you are not expected to tip when you order take-out. If someone is especially kind, toss them a dollar. If it’s a regular spot for you and you want to garner some neighborhood rapport, have at it. But do not feel as if you must.

*One exception for me would be if a restaurant is not in the habit of offering take-out and this is a special request (meaning the hostess or bartender has to stop what they’re doing in order to help you). Here I would be sure to leave some dough behind.

Bon appétit!

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”)

If PoorLittleRichGirls.com isn’t the only thing you read, then you may have had the newspaper delivered to your door yesterday morning. Inside you should have found a special edition of the P&G brandSAVER coupon booklet.

The booklet is filled with more than $103 in coupons for your favorite products like Olay, CoverGirl and Crest. But, these aren’t just any coupons. For every coupon redeemed a two-cent donation will be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. We think it’s a great way to save money and a great start to Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Many of the brands offering coupons are also introducing limited-edition pink products in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Visit MyPinkPlan.com for more information on the brandSAVER booklet, as well as information on breast cancer prevention and awareness.

(Lacey Brenly)

Hey Sal,
All of my friend’s b-days land around the same time of year. That means lots of parties (yay!), but also lots of money spending. One girl is having a nice dinner out, another is arranging a girl’s night at a hotel in the city, and two others are having parties. The only problem is: I’m totally strapped for cash. These are my best friends though, so how do I celebrate, without going overboard? Help!
- Beth, Wicker Park

Beth,

It’s easy to celebrate your friends - without giving your checking account a birthday spanking - but you’ve just got to be smart about it. God knows we’ve all been there (why on earth does everyone insist on making babies around the holidays, resulting in August births/birthdays a plenty?) and when times are tight, you have to get a little creative.

It’s miserable, and may start a rumor that you’re anorexic; but, eat before the dinner and limit the amount of alcohol you have there. It’s easy to let the tab run away from you, so throw a power bar in your purse and get something small. And always, always, always - bring cash so you’re not looped into paying for other people’s extravagance when it comes time to “split” the check. Note: at birthday dinners my friends and I always split the cost of the birthday girl’s meal, so plan for that in your budget.

As for the parties, plan on attending and give gifts that are thoughtful, rather than expensive: Cookies (even slice-and-bakes will do), framed photos of you and said friend (grab a cute frame from T.J. Maxx or Marshalls), or invite them over for dinner later in the month (this is cheaper, and gives you some time before you have to deliver).

One final note, I know you mention these are all your best friends, but what’s the gift exchange policy with each of them? I know I have very close friends who don’t give gifts. They just don’t. If one of your friends isn’t a practicing gift giver, follow their lead. Don’t waste your money, get them a nice card, and call it a day.
There are plenty of ways to make this work while still accomplishing the main objective of making your friends feel special on their big days. You just need to be creative.

This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”

For some time, the PLRG team has been toying with the idea of adding a blog to the site. Though some people do like to refer to our site as a “blog” we try very hard to bring you the latest tricks, sales and deals that are relevant to your PoorLittleLife, with just a dash of our everyday lives mixed in and not the other way around. But, we still felt like there was something missing- a personal account of the trials and tribulations that we all face, even in the simplest of situations. Our site was missing a real life story of a PLRG that was relatable and relevant. And then our buddy Jinna Yun came back from Africa.

While we’ve all been catching cabs to hit up the latest party and ordering delivery from Grub Hub, Jinna has been halfway across the world experiencing things most of us can only imagine. But, this super talented television producer has now found herself back in Chicago and without a job. I’ll go ahead and just let her introduce herself:

On paper, I’m not a bad catch. I’ve got my bachelor and masters degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. (Go ‘Cats!) I’ve never been convicted of a felony. And I speak Korean, French, and Swahili. (Ahn young! Bonjour! Jambo!) So when I got a scholarship covering all my expenses to live in Africa for a year, I quit my job at PBS and boarded a plane to Nairobi. “I’ll find another job when I get back. No big deal.”

Well, I was wrong. Really fucking wrong. The financial shitstorm went into Category 5 while I was hammock napping in Zanzibar and hookah smoking in Mombasa. Now I’m back in Chicago and looking for work. With the economy as volatile as MJ’s bloodstream, job hunting is riddled with — to put it euphemistically — “adventures.” And some may say it’s worth blogging about.

We certainly think it is! Since around December 2008 we’ve been getting emails from PLRG’s updating us on just how difficult it has become to find a job in Chicago. We’ve also heard from some of you worrying about how you are going to keep the job you have now.

Well ladies, now you don’t have to go it alone. Follow Jinna on her Adventures in Job Hunting and we promise you’ll at least laugh as much as you cry along the way.

(Lacey Brenly)

What is it with girls and boneless, skinless chicken breasts? That’s all we seem to eat anymore. From grilled chicken salads to sandwiches, we are willing to bet money (of which we have very little) that the average woman eats chicken breast at least five days a week.

So, we were pretty pissed, and totally grossed out, when we heard about the practice of “plumping.” Normally, we’re all for upping the volume when it come to our hair, boobs and bank accounts. But, when it comes to our beloved chicken breasts, not so much.

“Plumping” is the term used for the practice of injecting saltwater, chicken stock, seaweed extract or some combination thereof into chicken to increase its weight and price, meaning that when you buy a package of chicken you can be spending 15% more on SALT WATER. More importantly, a plumped chicken has up to 700% more sodium than a chicken that hasn’t been plumped. The result: hundreds of thousands of consumers are ponying up extra cash (about $1.50 per package of chicken) to unwittingly feed themselves and their friends and families a dangerously unhealthy amount of salt.

Foster Farms has created a website, SayNoToPlumping.com. Of course, their goal is for you to buy Foster Farms brand instead of the other guys, but the website has some really good information to help you avoid purchasing “plumped up” breasts, no matter what brand it is. It’s also worth it to not skip through the video, where “Martha” is struggling with the decision to get plumped. So funny!

(Lacey Brenly)

Ok, so we know that Whole Foods Market probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about saving money on your grocery bill. But, if you know where to look and how to shop, you can get your goods at Whole Foods (or any store for that matter) and save some serious cash!

This Thursday, July 30 from 5-6pm you can meet with Kent, Whole Foods’ Value Guru and learn the tricks he uses to eat like a king for less. He’ll be sharing all of his secrets for shopping the sales and also giving a tour of the store, showing you where to look for the best deals. This event is FREE, though registration is required, so contact Whole Foods Lincoln Park for more details and to sign up.

Savvy Shopper Hour :: Thursday, July 30, 5-6pm :: Whole Foods Lincoln Park (1550 N. Kingsbury)

(312) 587-0648

(Lacey Brenly)

Create a co-operative environment within your organization and you will radiate energy, innovation and success, says Professor Lynda Gratton.

In times of recession and job uncertainty, it is more important than ever that each one of us can prove their worth to our employer. Whether we like it or not, it is survival of the brightest, and team members that can match earning potential with creativity, and who also work well in a team, who will survive job cuts.

A recession gives us the opportunity to question fundamental assumptions about the way we work and how businesses are run - and change for the better. For organisations, this means fostering teamwork and knowledge share; for the individual, this means broadening our knowledge and skills base, and unlocking new ways of co-operating with colleagues and within our networks.

Each one of us deserves to live a fulfilling work life and to do this; we need to create a great environment for ourselves, and for our colleagues. We can do this by Glowing - by radiating positive energy that fosters a great working experience that excites and ignites others through our own inspiration, and delivers superior value through our work.

Only too often though, we think that to be invaluable means working the longest and hardest. That just isn’t the case any more: thanks to technology and cheap outsourced labor (as well as young graduates snapping at our heels in a shrinking job market), there is always someone who will do the task faster, quicker, and cheaper.

To be invaluable, you have to work with more energy, more enthusiasm, and most important of all, more innovation. People who Glow have mastered three distinct areas of their life:

• they have built deeply trusting and cooperative relationships with others (a co-operative mindset);
• they have extended their networks beyond the obvious to encompass the unusual (jumping across worlds);
• they are on an inner quest that ignites their own energy and that of others (igniting latent energy).

There are a number of ways that you can bring innovation and flair to your working life. Turn to colleagues you trust - and who trust you - and ask them for advice and insight into your tasks. Online networking tools are an easy way to facilitate the jumping across worlds that I refer to, and to consult people outside your normal networks and with totally different mindsets.

When you reach out to your wider network, you will come across people whose experiences and views differ significantly from your own. The further you “jump across worlds” to communicate with people from vastly different profiles, the fresher your perceptions will be.

When you have become well versed in cooperation and jumping across worlds, you create what I call latent energy, that is, you have generated the potential to become really energized. But in order to maximize the potential within yourself (and by association, your organization), you need be able to ignite the latent energy to create real innovation.

Three actions support the principle of igniting latent energy. The first is to ask questions that spark energy, to engross and interest others as well as your own curiosity. The second action is to create visions that compel. These are visions of the future that you and your colleagues can buy into, that encourage others to imagine the future and to become excited about being involved in that future. The third action you can take is to co-operate with others to craft meaningful and exciting work.

The ability to Glow has never been more important than it is today. A strong network will become essential, since you will lean on them more and will not have the benefit of face-to-face interaction. Cost-cutting measures are likely to lead to the emergence of flexible virtual teams, which cannot possibly function efficiently if they do not consist of individuals that Glow.

Lynda Gratton is a professor at London Business School and bestselling author of ‘Hot Spots: why some teams, workplaces and organisations buzz with energy and others don’t’. Her new book ‘Glow: how you can radiate energy, innovation and success”, was published on April 2 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers at www.bkconnection.com.

“Hey Sal- I’ve finally made the leap from underling to actual team member. The only trouble is, I’m junior by at least 5 years, and in most cases, more like 10-15. I want to have a personality, but don’t want to appear like the kid that nobody takes seriously. Help!”
-Amber, 27

Amber,

You’re not alone. But first, congratulations on bucking the economic trend and not only having your job, but advancing in it - way to go!

You’re caught in the classic “small fish, big pond” scenario and you’ve got to see it as a positive. You can learn a lot in your current situation, both in terms of your professional ability - as well as in how you behave and are perceived in your office.

• Step 1, watch and learn. Single out a female superior that you think sets a good example. The way she dresses, her body language during meetings, how she signs her emails, etc. No detail is too minute, and she can act as your professional hitching post. Learn from her example and try to emulate her (don’t get creepy, just see it as learning to blend in with your surroundings).
• Step 2, front stage vs. back stage. Senior management worries that their junior members will not be professional - so beat them to the punch. It’s fine to cut up and be relaxed with your co-workers, but when it’s time to get down to business, flip the gears. Showing your colleagues that you are capable of front stage when need be, will put their fears at bay.
• Step 3, call a spade a spade. You don’t know everything. You said so yourself - you’ve got a decade less experience. When faced with a challenge where you do not have the experience, or do not know the answer, try this approach. “I haven’t worked in this exact situation before, but I have worked in (insert previous experience), which I feel was similar, and I can pull experience from there and make this work.” Basically acknowledge that you’re no expert, but also highlight that you’ve got a skill set that you can apply - in addition to your problem solving skills - to get the job done.

These people hired you/promoted you, and they know you’re not an industry veteran. They will be looking to encourage and guide you to doing a good job - so let them. They will also be looking to you for energy and a fresh eye, so don’t be afraid to speak up. Your youth can act as an amazing asset!

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”)