THIS WEEK: EXTRA BAGGAGE….

Kathy’s husband is an extremely hardworking television news photographer.  She swears he’s a wonderful generous man, but he’s never quite grasped the etiquette of how much (or not) to tip service providers.  On one of his last assignments out of town, his social confusion caught up to him big time!

After unloading a 35-pound camera, a tripod with a 50-pound case, another case filled with batteries, chargers, and a computer, he and his reporter filled out the paperwork and left the equipment with the Skycap without giving him a tip.  As they walked away the skycap called out to my friend, “Sir, this is a complimentary Skycap service.”   Kathy’s well-meaning man replied “Yes, thank you” and kept walking.  The Skycap repeated.  “SIR, this is a COMPLIMENTARY skycap service.”  Still confused, he didn’t understand until his reporter pulled out a some cash and handed it to the man.

Of course, whether the airlines charges a fee for skycap service or not, that money is going to the airline – not to the baggage handler.  So, what is your tip obligation to a skycap?  Is tipping optional – or always necessary? How much do you tip per bag?  Is Kathy’s husband cheap, frugal or just confused?

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How To Save On Your Next Adventure

by Brandi Savitt- March 5, 2010

Do you dream of exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica, or seeing the Great Migration of wildebeests across the Serengeti?  Maybe you’d prefer the beaches of Thailand or sipping wine under the Tuscan sun? If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I have always loved to travel. When I began to explore the world in college, traveling on less than a dime was my only option, and the no-frills only seemed to add to the excitement and sense of adventure of each trip. However, after spending a bathless month wilderness training in the Cascade Mountains, sleeping in the pouring rain on the livestock deck of an over night ferry from Greece to Turkey, and getting kidnapped for hours and locked in a carpet store in Morocco,  I no longer have the time or the gumption to travel ‘no budget’ renegade style.

But, if you’re like me, daydreaming about how to find the time and money to go on your next adventure without cutting the wrong corners and sacrificing EVERY luxury, read on for tips from travel expert Gregor Gomory of Global Basecamps on how to TRAVEL SMARTER and save so you can enjoy a Fab & Fru trip of a lifetime!

Timing Is Everything

When most people plan a big trip, they first decide where they want to go and then they figure out when they can take vacation.  Gregor says to avoid outrageously expensive airfare and overpriced accommodations, do the opposite!  First figure out when you can go, and then research the most affordable places to travel to that time of year.

Remember, places like Australia, much of South America and parts of Africa are in the southern hemisphere so our summer is their winter. Of course you don’t want to travel somewhere during monsoon season just to get a cheap flight, but you’ll be surprised that when you really DO YOUR HOMEWORK and get the right advice, you’ll discover the hidden gems.

For example: Summer is the MOST expensive time to go Europe or Southeast Asia.  However, Gregor’s favorite (and the most affordable) time to travel to Costa Rica is in June – their ‘green’ or rainy season.  He says that the truth is that it does rain everyday, but typically only in the morning and then the rest of the day is absolutely beautiful and the country is not crowded with tourists!

Check For Big Events

It’s not just about avoiding the high season and holidays when it comes to saving on airfare and hotels, you must also be aware of any special events. For example, June is typically the perfect time to get great airfares to South Africa, but this year, South Africa is hosting the World Cup which has made ticket prices and hotel rates soar!

Top 10 Fab, Fru & Green Ideas From Eco-Expert Sophie Uliano

Forward by Stephanie Berenbaum- March 2, 2010

We  just loves Sophie Uliano! Sophie is the New York Times Best Selling author of “Gorgeously Green”, as well as the founder of a website by the same name. Thankfully, Sophie has assured us that going green can also mean more green in your wallet – how Fab & Fru is that!

Uliano is a passionate environmentalist who has developed an earth-friendly lifestyle that appeals to women who don’t want to compromise their glamour and style – sounds good to us! She is a fantastic resource for simple tips on how to live a more eco-friendly – and wallet friendly – lifestyle! So read on for top tips from our gorgeously green friend!

It always heartens me that so many of the hundreds of green daily actions that I can take actually save me money!

1. Install a low-flow AERATOR in all your faucets. An aerator cost the same as a pack of gum, it’s easy to install, and it helps cut back on water waste so you save $$$$ as well as a precious resource.
2. Brew your own organic, fair-trade coffee or tea at home and put it in a large reusable mug for the day. This might keep you out of the very expensive coffee shop and will save a few trees worth of paper cups.
3. Pack your lunch in reusable containers to take to work. This is a huge money & calorie saver, as a daily visits to the deli add up. Just think of all that packaging you’ll keep out of the landfill too!
4. It’s almost Spring, so why not start a herb or small vegetable container? If you live in an apartment with a balcony/patio or small outside space, you can grow a ton of herbs, which are expensive at the store. If you have a yard, no excuse – tomatoes, corn, egg plant – whatever you love to eat.
5. If your car needs washing, forgo the toxic chemicals they use at the car wash and do it yourself. You can make a great car wash from a couple of squirts of liquid Castille soap in a bucket of hot water, or to save water, try The Lucky Earth waterless wash.
6. Commit to cycling a lot this year. If you don’t have a bicycle, check out Craig’s List or Freecycle and challenge yourself to substitute a bicycle ride for one of your short car trips a day.
7. Instead of going to the nail salon, which is choc full of toxic chemicals, buy a bottle of pale pink non-toxic polish (I love www.nomiss.com) and learn to perfect an at-home mani/pedi (mistakes show up less with pale colors.)
8. Commit to cooking at home from scratch every evening for 2 weeks. This is one of the biggest money-savers of the bunch and is the greenest way to live. For great budget-friendly recipes, check out The Gorgeously Green Diet!
9. Hankering after a new Spring wardrobe? Call round a few of your girlfriends and organize a clothes-swap party. Chances are you’ll be sick of something that someone else would love to wear this year, and vice versa.
10. When you find yourself procrastinating some awful work by attempting some retail therapy online, ask yourself if you really, really need it? If you don’t, go very quickly (to take you mind off it), to www.nrdc.com and click on “Actions”. Spend the time that you might otherwise wasted shopping, signing a valuable petition. The good feeling from knowing you are helping to make a difference lasts much longer than a pair of this season’s shoes.

Many thanks to Sophie for her eco-friendly advice!  For more great tips, be sure to check out her website gorgeouslygreen.com!

Talking Dollars & Sense with Personal Finance Expert Beth Kobliner

I first met Beth Kobliner, author of the New York Times best-seller “Get A Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties”, when I was 24 and struggling to make it in Manhattan.   Apparently, I was a prime example of someone who needed to “Get A Financial Life”, so I was asked to appear on an NYC news show with Beth to discuss my spending habits (that was fun…)! You see, Beth’s book had just come out, and it was just the kind of advice I needed!

Constantly updated and revised, the book is as fabulous as ever, and  is one of Fab & Fru’s top must-read picks.  Beth does a great job of presenting financial info in a down to earth, easy to understand way – which as you know is not easy to come by.  Little did I know sitting there with Beth all those years ago that Getting a Financial Life would become my life’s goal as well.  Fab & Fru was delighted to have Beth answer some questions for us!

What advice do you have for a debt-ridden 20- or 30-something woman who thinks that she will never “Get A Financial Life” because she feels overwhelmed by the bad economy, too much debt, and too few job prospects?

Small changes can make a big difference. If you owe $1,000 on a credit card but pay only the minimum, it’ll take 12 years to pay off, with around $1,000 in interest. But say you pay an extra $15 each month, you’ll save about $720, because you’ll pay off that $1,000 in only three and a half years, costing you about $280 in interest.

Also, If someone is really overwhelmed, she might consider moving back home with her parents or other family members. If that’s an option, it could help her save on rent while paying off debt and getting back on her feet.

In the 14 years since Get A Financial Life was first published, what are the biggest changes you’ve seen in 20 and 30 somethings’ attitudes towards money?

Every generation has its own specific challenges, but we’ve never seen this combination of young people unable to get jobs and starting out their adult lives so deep in the red. The average college grad leaves school owing about $4,100 in credit card debt and about $23,000 in student loans.  And unemployment for this age group is hovering around 15.8%—more than double what it was ten years ago, and much higher than the national rate of 9.7%. This group is hurting financially before they’ve even had a chance to start making money!

As a result, I’m seeing more interest in personal finance among young people. Today’s twenty-somethings are mindful of the fact that they’re in a tough economy, and the high-paying jobs that were typical routes for recent grads (like corporate law positions and investment banking jobs) just aren’t guaranteed anymore, not even with an Ivy League degree!  And no job promises security today. The upside is that there’s been a surge of applications to Teach for America and the Peace Corps. These days, people are more concerned with helping others and finding meaning in their work.