With a little imagination, a PLRG can re-use anything!

We have so many tips for using items for a different purpose than they were intended (double duty usage is a great way to save money) that we wanted to start sharing them with you.

This week, we pulled together some of our fave tips involving your shoes and socks. Try out some of these tips and let us know how they work for you.

• If the bottoms of your Uggs are trashed from last winter, or if you know you’ll be over them come next cold weather season, then cut off the bottom “shoe” part and use the leftover strip as a pot holder or trivet.
• Speaking of fall and winter styles, how do you store your boots without them flopping over and losing their shape? Well, you know all that wine you’ve been drinking? Grab two empty, clean bottles and and shove them in your boots. It’ll keep them at attention until you’re ready to wear them this fall.
• If you’re taking any vacays this summer, then you’ll love this tip. Instead of buying fancy shoe bags to protect your shoes while you travel, grab a few pairs of old gym socks and slip your shoes into them. It will prevent scuffs and stains from mysterious items in your suitcase.
• Socks are always good to have on hand when you’re traveling. Another great way to use them is as a straightening or curling iron holder/protector (the bigger and fuzzier the sock the better). No need to worry about letting your curling iron cool down completely before you leave- if the iron’s still a little warm, the sock will prevent it from burning or scorching it’s cord and other items in your bag.
• If your shoes need polishing at work today, go grab yourself a double duty snack. A banana peel with the strings removed can be used to polish your shoes- afterwards buff with a paper towel or soft cloth.
• This one one is by far the most creative double duty item we’ve come across. If you have an old pair of Crocs, or if you were gifted them and they aren’t your style, then use them as planters this summer! It’s basically the same concept as the Topsy Turvey Tomato Planter. The shoes should be hung up by the heels and the holes in the shoes acts as drainage. Just  make sure to add some moss or something to the toes to avoid dirt spilling out the very bottom.

Ok, so maybe you signed up for one too many credit cards....

New credit card rules took effect this February. They offer some relief from rising credit-card fees and tight payment deadlines-but on the flip side, credit card companies are already cooking up new ways to squeeze more money out of you. The May 2010 issue of ShopSmart magazine put together a list of the ways the new rules can help, hurt, and how you can avoid being hit by fine-print fees.

You no longer have to put up with . . .

• Jacked-up interest rates on an existing balance: Credit-card issuers can raise your rates on new balances only if you have a variable-rate card, your promotional rate has expired, or you are more than 60 days late making your minimum payment. They also can’t raise rates during the first year of an account.
• Penalty rates that never go away: If your rate goes up because you were more than 60 days late on a bill, your card company is required to restore your old rate if you make on-time payments for the first six months after the rate increase.
• Moving due dates that trick you into paying late: Your payment will now be due on the same day each month. As long as your payment is received by 5 p.m. at the bank’s location on that day, it can’t be considered late.
• Fees on transactions that exceed your credit limit: Unless you ask your card company to allow those transactions-not a good idea.

But you’ll still have to face these gotchas . . .

• Skyrocketing interest payments: Credit-card issuers can charge whatever rates they want. And they can raise them at any time for any reason on future purchases after the account’s first year. They’ll have to give 45 days’ notice before charging a new rate, but it will apply to all the stuff you buy starting 14 days after the notice is sent out.
• A bump up in your minimum payment: Credit-card issuers can now raise your minimum payment to the level required to pay off your balance in five years. But they can raise it to any level if they do so without raising your interest rate.
• Account closures: They can cancel your card without notice at any time.
• Tricky zero-interest-rate promotions: Unless you play by the rules perfectly, that zero interest rate can end up costing you big time in penalties.
• Surprise fees: Banks have been coming up with lots of new charges, including fees to receive paper statements and souped-up charges on foreign transactions, balance transfers, and cash advances.

What can you do?

TIP: If your rates or fees go up or your borrowing limit goes down, call the card company to see if you can get a reprieve. If you have a good track record and a decent credit score, you might be successful.

TIP: Don’t immediately cancel cards or sign up for new ones to boost your credit limit-those actions can ding your credit score.

TIP: In the event you do need a new card and want to make sure you’re getting a fair deal, research cards online at BillShrink or Bankrate.com. And be sure to check out credit unions and small banks, which might have better deals than major issuers offer.

A few months back, on January 20th, over 50 guests enjoyed champagne cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and macaroons, while receiving coveted tips from a few Chicago wedding experts at whiteCHICAGO in River North. Sponsored by CS Brides, FIG Catering, Binny’s and Fritz Pastry, whiteCHICAGO owner Ursula Guyer emceed the seminar, which featured panelists answering bride’s questions on how to save money, how to plan a wedding in today’s economy and overall, how to be a resourceful, recessionista bride! For our Wedding Issue, we’d thought we’d share what we learned with our PLRGs who are planning weddings!

Expert Panelists (from l to r): whiteCHICAGO gown expert Kyra Fitzgerald, financial planner Stephanie Schranz, CS Brides editor Elise Hofer, emcee/whiteCHICAGO owner Ursula Guyer, wedding planner Anthony Navarro of Liven It Up events, DIY expert/blogger Danielle Perrino of Sugar & Spice Ink and personal stylist Erin Carpenter.

Our top 6 takeaway tips were:

Smoked Salmon on a Corn-Scallion Waffle with Maple Mascarpone courtesy of FIG catering.

1. Don’t feel like you have to buy a different dress for each “bride” event you go to. Restyle the same dress with different jewelry, hairstyles or shoes for the various showers and brunches. Use these restyling tips when purchasing your wedding gown as well. If you find a steal but don’t love everything about the dress, remember you can add lace, tulle, sleeves, brooches, the possibilities are endless.

2. If you want to save money in the flower department and buy silk flowers, the best way to showcase them is to submerge them in water. It’s free and a lot of times you can use the vases from the reception venue.

3. Although planners are an additional cost, they often times have negotiating power with the various vendors and can get you deals you wouldn’t otherwise have. Plus, a day of coordinator will take off the stress and that is invaluable on the big day!

The crowd enjoys the panelists tips for the Recessionista Bride.

4. If you want to be a “DIY” bride, don’t take on every aspect of the wedding. Pick one or two things that you want to DIY so it isn’t as overwhelming and make sure that you have a good team of workers and helpers behind you.

5. If you choose to use an iPod at your reception, music selection is key. Make sure that you leave room for some slow songs and play for the crowd that you invited.

6. Discuss finances before you start planning away. Find out what is most important to the two of you and then budget around that. Talking about how you are going to manage your money after the big day is also an important step to take earlier rather than later.

The advice that seemed to really float above everything else that was being discussed, especially when it came to figuring out how to stay within your means and still produce that perfect, magical evening, is to relax and enjoy yourself. If you look happy and content, everyone else will enjoy themselves that much more. All in all, remember that the day is really about the two of you becoming a couple and starting the rest of your lives together!

So you got engaged, saved the date and scheduled your dream location. Now it’s time for the fun part…registering!!!

You are filled with a sense of power…a price gun in your hand and an entire store at your feet. You are free to roam, point and click, and voila! Your registry is 100 pages long and filled with numerous utensils, gadgets and gizmos you will never use and clutter your kitchen and home.

Before you knock over the Crate and Barrel sales person in your registry frenzy, here are a few tips to create a successful list and stock up on items you and your hubby-to-be will really use:

1. Come up with a game plan before you race around the store like a marathon runner. The average Target is 174,000 SF and Crate and Barrel can reach 35,000 SF, which equals rows and rows of strategically placed items just to distract you! Talk to your fiancé about what you have individually so you do not end up with 3 garlic crushers. Discuss how you entertain, live in your space and what you enjoy cooking so you can create a realistic and useful list.

2. Consider creating at least two registries; one with more expensive items and the second with more economical gift choices. You want your guests to feel happy to share in your joy, not financially stretched.

3. If you have invited out of town guests make sure to register at one chain, or at least a shop with an easy online purchase option, so that they can shop from the registry.

4.It’s a tradition to register for formal china, and thankfully using it no longer means an entire night of hand washing the dishes after a dinner party. Make sure to inquire if the china you register for is dishwasher safe!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank!Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Surprising, and somewhat kooky, beauty products that work!

This week: Milk of Magnesia

You heard me. The topical solution may be great for curing upset tummies, but milk of magnesia (government name magnesium hydroxide) is actually one of the makeup industry’s best kept secrets for curing oily skin and keeping your makeup in place all day.

Nothing is worse than leaving the house with a perfectly primed face just to have your makeup go completely South by lunch time due to an unruly case of the oilies. Milk of magnesia also has disinfecting properties that kill bacteria, which is great for acne prone skin.

How to use it:

Shake the bottle well. Use something disposable like a cotton swab to lightly apply to skin; it is very potent and will completely dry out, harden and ruin your makeup brushes. Only apply the solution to where you need it and let it dry before applying your makeup.

Quick tips:

• If you have sensitive or dry skin, this treatment is not for you
• If your face looks chalky after it dries, then you have applied too much. Simply rub away with a warm cloth or clean hand
• Always put this on your face along with foundation-never by itself. You don’t want that whole “Powder” effect happening.
• A little goes a ways with this, so don’t use too much

Lenora E. Houseworth is a Chicago-area writer/editor, freelance makeup artist and self-professed beauty addict. ”I join PLRG as your all around beauty guide, here to solve any of your cosmetic needs. Look at me as your beauty genie: Whatever you want to know about makeup and beauty, feel free to ask me and I will do my best to find out for you. My obsession with all things makeup related goes back as far as I can remember and I believe anyone can and deserves to look beautiful on a budget. I can be found on Twitter @sisterbaby, www.sugarrimmedsweet.blogspot.com and by email at l_ houseworth@yahoo.com.

Frizzy hair, skinny lips, skimpy lashes, lumpy thighs - for every dilemma, there’s a product that’s claimed to solve it. But many don’t, and lots of us have been suckered into buying stuff that doesn’t work, which we all know PLRGs cannot afford to do.

And, poof, just like a fairy-godmother, the March 2010 issue of ShopSmart, from the publishers of Consumer Reports, appears and gives us the lowdown on bad beauty deals:

Lash Growers
Lash growers are regulated by the FDA as drugs. (Latisse is FDA approved, but ShopSmart doesn’t recommend it because of risks.) You’ll still see plenty of other “lash lengtheners” on the market though. Some have been issued warning letters by the FDA because they contain drugs.

ShopSmart says Stick with mascara. Lancôme Définicils, $24, was top-rated in their last test.

Hair Smoothers
Ads for Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT), a popular salon technique, claim that it leaves hair smooth and healthy-looking for months. But a main ingredient in BKT is formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen that is not banned by the FDA in hair straighteners.

ShopSmart says Try a straightening iron. They like Revlon Perfect Heat Ceramic RVST2001C, $30.

Lip Plumpers
The results for lip plumpers were unimpressive for increasing lip volume, though some, including products from Clinique and DuWop, temporarily smoothed lip lines a little.

ShopSmart says Try makeup tricks instead. Line your lips with pencil just outside your natural lip line, then dot highlighter just above the upper lip and just below the lower lip. If you want a more permanent pout, see a cosmetic surgeon for temporary injections.

Scar Eliminators
No product can completely eliminate a scar or stretch marks.

ShopSmart says See a dermatologist. Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and smooth skin so scars are less noticeable.

Bust Boosters
There are no ingredients that have been scientifically proven to enhance or firm the bust.

ShopSmart says Use a moisturizer or bust cream if your décolletage needs softening. Or try a push-up bra or bra inserts, aka “chicken cutlets.”

Under-Eye-Circle Erasers
Many products promise to erase under-eye circle, but they’re hard to treat due to enlarged veins and very thin skin under the eyes.

ShopSmart says Some eye creams with caffeine can offer temporary help for puffiness. If the problem is allergy-related, try antihistamines or topical hydrocortisone cream. You can also see your dermatologist for cosmetic surgery.

Double-Chin Slimmer
A $20 infomercial gadget called the Neckline Slimmer promises to eliminate a double chin with resistance exercise, but the device mainly exercises neck-flexor muscles that have nothing to do with a double chin.

ShopSmart says Try losing some weight or see a cosmetic surgeon. A scarf might also do the trick.

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”)

Now we know we said to be on the lookout for an article from Bob, come February, but with his “home team” the Arizona Cardinals being in the Super Bowl this year (he spends his winters in AZ) he has been finding it difficult to avoid bragging endlessly about their almost-champ status. He’s giving us the scoop on what to look for both on and off the field. 

That sobbing sound you hear is coming from NBC Sports executives as they get ready to bring you Sunday’s Super Bowl number 43 (or XLIII for those who took Latin in high school). No matter which sport it is, the network that televises the championship game hopes for a match-up of major market teams with massive fan bases.

This year, NBC has the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Arizona Cardinals. Not exactly major markets. This doesn’t mean it won’t be a good game. In fact, it could be a great game. Arizona features a wide open passing offense with three great wide receivers and a savvy, veteran quarterback. Pittsburgh is known for their suffocating defense. Something has to give.

Here are a couple of things to look for in this game.

• Arizona has used some trick plays in this year’s post season and they are likely to continue that trend in the Big Game. The element of surprise could be a big factor. 
• Watch for hair. Both teams. Hair everywhere. Dreads, braids, wild-ass fly away hair. This may not be a dream match-up for NBC, but for hairdressers everywhere, this could be the best Super Bowl of all time.
• Speaking of hair, watch for Pittsburgh safety Troy Palamalu. He looks like he washed his shoulder length hair with lye soap, dried it with a jet engine, and them ironed it- twice.

Don’t forget the half time show and the commercials. Bruce Springsteen is performing with his E-street band. (Note: the rhythm guitar player with the bandana is Stevie Van Zandt and is better known for playing Silvio Dante on the HBO show The Sopranos). Also, most companies break out their best commercials for this game. Keep an eye out for Budweiser and Go Daddy, as they usually set the pace.

Enjoy the game!

Keep an eye out for Bob Brenly’s column in our February Issue. He’ll be giving us the inside scoop on what the baseball season has in store for Chicago (and maybe letting us know which players are cute and single?)