Wine for the Broke and Fabulous

Posted on October 31, 2010 by Laura Roberts

Originally posted at Shoestring Austin

I love wine. Since I’m both broke and fabulous, I’m also very budget conscious when it comes to my vino, so I’m always on the lookout for good deals at grocery and liquor stores. Since I know that often times—especially when it comes to wine—you get what you pay for, I’m usually willing to pay a bit more for the good stuff when I’ve got the money. But what about for the everyday wine drinker, who likes to have a glass with dinner?

If you’re pinching pennies like me, rest assured there are some truly great-tasting budget wines that will charm both your palate and your wallet. Two-buck chuck? We can top that with style.

Here are two of my most recent discoveries:

Gato Negro

Gato Negro (that’s “Black Cat” in Spanish, for all you gringos) is a Malbec from Argentina, one of my preferred wine countries. The 2010 variety is quite good, and at only $3.99 (at Randalls here in Austin) you might pass it up for being a little too cheap.

But don’t let the bargain-basement price fool you! Gato Negro is a great red wine that pairs well with spicy dishes like my homemade tacos or Beef Chili with Bacon and Black Beans, as well as anything with red meat (Bleu Cheese Bacon Burgers, anyone?) or pasta in a tomato-based sauce.

Sea Ridge

A California Chardonnay, Sea Ridge‘s 2009 variety is also an amazing $3.99 (again at Randalls). As the back of the bottle describes it, “This is a full, ripe Chardonnay with hints of tropical fruit, citrus, and butterscotch.” I tried it with a shrimp dish last night (see Shim’s “hot damn, shim does shrimp!” post at diet-of-insects for the recipe), and it was an outstanding, inexpensive accompaniment to the meal.

I would also recommend pairing this chardonnay with grilled chicken or a Caesar Salad.

More Cheap Thrills

Looking for something special for Thanksgiving, or a great gift for the holidays? Wine.com is currently offering some “spooky deals” over Halloween weekend. Check out their site for more cheap thrills, as you can save up to 50% on selections you won’t find anywhere else:

wine.com

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Last-minute Halloween costumes for the Broke and Fabulous

Posted on October 30, 2010 by Laura Roberts

It’s Halloween weekend already?!

Okay, think fast: you forgot to buy a costume and it’s time to hit the Trick-or-Treat trail. You may be judged at a costume contest, so you’ve got to be witty, sexy—oh, and low-budge. What’s a fabulous broke-ass to do?

Check these quick, last-minute costume ideas from ReadyMade and then raid your closet!

L to R: Freudian Slip, Cereal Killer, Bubble-Wrap Man (photo by Emily Nathan, via ReadyMade.com)

Or grab one of these super-cheap, totally redonk, pun-tastic ideas from Halloween.com:

  • “Carry a quarter and a hammer. What are you? A Quarter-pounder.”
  • “Dress in pink and carry a feather. What are you? Tickled pink.”
  • “Attach sugar-cubes or candy all over yourself. What are you? Sugar-Daddy or Sugar-Momma.”
  • “Paint a shoebox black and attach it to your back. What are you? A refrigerator magnet.”

Got a go-to costume trick or tip? Share some of your favorite last-minute Halloween costumes with us in the comments section, if you dare!

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Facial cleanser scrub-off: Aveeno vs. Clean Scene

Posted on October 23, 2010 by Laura Roberts

My go-to facial cleanser is Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Cleanser. It usually costs around $7 for a 6.7-ounce bottle, and you can find it everywhere: drugstores, WalMart, Target (which currently boasts the cheapest price at $6.49) and even in most grocery stores with a pharmacy or beauty aisle.

It’s inexpensive, it keeps my face clean and soft, there’s no residue, it’s non-drying and it even seems to be relatively natural in its ingredients list (as far as these things go).

Aveeno's "Positively Radiant" cleanser

I like it a lot, and have been using the same product for at least 10 years now. It’s one of my rare brand loyalties.

THE CHALLENGER

Recently, I made a splurge birthday purchase at Sephora.com and received a sample of a new product called Clean Scene by Murad. I had never heard of the company (seeing as I only shop Aveeno products for my face), but gave it a try this morning during my usual routine.

The “Craving For Clean” cleanser is a nice enough product, and the smell was certainly different from Aveeno’s (kind of a berry flavor, which some reviewers have found “medicinal” or just obnoxious with prolonged use). The consistency was about the same, as both products are described as “milky,” and both foamed nicely but were easy to rinse off after exfoliating with my loofah.

“Hmm,” I thought to myself, “This one could be a contender. Should I make the switch?”

I headed to my computer to check the price.

Clean Scene's "Craving for Clean" facial cleanser

At $17 for a 4.5-ounce bottle, I would have to say no way!

As mentioned, I am fairly brand-loyal to Aveeno, as I feel it works well for my skin (which is fairly normal, with occasional break-outs around my temples or jaw-line). While the two products were comparable in terms of foaming action, the consistency of the cleanser itself and the overall soft, clean feeling my skin had after use, I am definitely not willing to pay an extra $10 to get 2.2 fewer ounces of product.

So that’s what I mean when I say that I’d rather be fabulous than broke.

What’s your go-to facial cleanser, and how much is “too much” to pay when it comes to skincare products?

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