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Welcome Frugalistas!

What exactly does frugal lifestyle mean?  I believe it’s being smart and savvy in your choices. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you and you will come out ahead.

This blog and website offers frugal tips and money saving ideas to help you live a richer life. Save money on everyday living. Start living the "Frugal Lifestyle" today.

Spend Less  • Earn More • Live Better

Christmas Greetings

12/25/2013

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Peace, love and joy to you and your loved ones!
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Savvy Vacation

12/20/2013

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Happy Frugal Friday!! Jim and I just got back from gorgeous Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was perfect weather the whole week we were there. Pristine beaches, luxe resort accommodations, delicious food... all in all, one of our best vacations ever! 

That's me in the picture at our resort's courtyard, over looking the chapel. The architecture is quintessential spanish hacienda (which I love) with stunning landscaping and views of the Pacific Ocean from every room. 
 
In booking the trip, I used some of my savvy and frugal ingenuity (of course). We have had our "vacation ownership" for 10 years now, it is similar to a timeshare, but way better - since we are not locked in only one destination or one resort for a specific week(s). We had some credits expiring (which I did not want to go to waste) so I searched for the best holiday getaway that was fun yet frugal. I settled on Cabo San Lucas, since it was close enough to Los Angeles, which meant airfare should be fairly reasonable. Plus, it was the perfect climate (vs. the caribbean, which would be too humid). 

I booked our airfare through Priceline.com, which is usually a couple of dollars less than other fare sites. Towards the end of my transaction, it asked me if I wanted to apply for their rewards card - so I did and got approved instantly, plus I received a $50 credit on my new Priceline Visa card. Savvy!

I picked Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, a 5 star luxury resort, plus it had several great reviews. This is one of the best resorts in the entire Los Cabos area, I hear this is where the cast of The Bachelor Season 11 stayed. Here are a few beautiful pictures of the resort.

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Normally, it would cost upwards of $500+ per night - but since I booked it via our vacation ownership through RCI's exchange program, I only had to pay the exchange fee of $100 (which is half of their normal exchange fee, since I took advantage of RCI's special promotion). Savvy!

But our savings got even better!!! Since the resort caters to mostly Americans and Canadians seeking a home away from home, they are in the business of selling vacation ownership or fractional ownership at their resorts. So, we had to attend a 90-minute presentation (which ended up being 2 hours for us) while we feast on their delicious Mexican breakfast buffet (one of the best I've had). Although their offer was tempting, we were smart enough to not buy on impulse. However, their "gift" for sitting through their sales pitch was a $250 credit towards the restaurants in all four of the Pueblo Bonito resorts. How awesome is that... and believe me I made sure we used most of that $250 restaurant credit. Savvy!

Since there are a total of 3 other sister resorts within Pueblo Bonito, we took their free shuttle to and from each resort and to dine in their other delicious restaurants. We took the local bus to San Jose Del Cabo, which only cost $4 total one-way. Savvy!

Overall, our trip was fun, relaxing, adventurous (we went on an outback camel safari) and decadent. You really can have a luxurious vacation without breaking the bank. But most importantly, the memories we have are forever priceless.

no one deals like we do!
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Frugal Holiday Decor

12/3/2013

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Happy December Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. My tradition each year is to break out the holiday decor exactly on December 1st. Since our spanish house is small, I don't decorate with a traditional large Christmas tree, instead I used smaller trees and wreaths throughout.  

I want to share a few items on my coffee table vignette (see photo above) that I've collected over the years, either from thrift stores, yard sales or gifts from friends. Since my current home decor has hints of Paris, I incorporated them with my holiday decor in the living room pulling the red color to unify the look.  Look for more photos and tips throughout this holiday season. 

  • Faux tree with burlap base - $9 from Big Lots!
  • Basket jug (I added twigs) - $5 from Veterans thrift store
  • Two candle holders (I painted them white) - gift from a friend
  • Large tray on coffee table - $3 from garage sale
  • Ceramic baby Jesus - gift from friend
  • White coffee table (not shown) - $8 from yard sale
  • Eiffel Tower burlap pillow on wing chair - $15 from Marshall's
  • Fleur di lis ceramic coasters - $6 on sale from Carlsbad antique shop

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    What does living frugally mean to me? Well, it does NOT mean being cheap, quite the contrary, I believe it’s being smart in your choices, such as how you spend your money everyday. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you. I always strive to spend less on almost everything.

    In this challenging economy, some of us have had to cut back on our expenses. Wouldn't it be nice to still have the things or services you want and need but not have to pay full price or even better, get them for free? 

    Choose value and quality over quantity or fads and you will come out ahead. The great benefit of being frugal is that it eliminates waste and clutter which in turn helps our environment.  By doing simple changes towards more “green” and frugal ways, together we can make an impact on our planet. 
        

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    About Me

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     Hi, my name is Marissa Winfrey and I have been living the frugal life ever since I can remember. I have always looked for great bargains and getting the best value for my money without compromising style and quality.

    My background is in visual display and interior decorating. It’s always been my objective to recommend cost effective solutions to my clients. I, of course, practice what I preach! I have furnished my own homes mostly with furnishings and decor items from my own little vintage boutique, estate sales, discount stores, flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores and even curbside discarded furniture!

    My frugal practice goes beyond the home. I offer money saving tips on just about everything, from shopping to travel and everything in between. I hope my blog and website will inspire everyone to be their own Frugalista.

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Read and learn about useful tips and tricks from experts on how to live "the frugal lifestyle" everyday!  Check out the books below, to see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.
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Living The Savvy Life:
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living
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It's Not About Being Cheap.  Living the Savvy Life isn't about being a cheapskate, a miser or a tightwad.  It's about having security and peace of mind by spending less than you make.  It's about knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make intelligent fiscal decisions. 

​It's about being penny-wise on the things that are less important to you so you can spend money on the things that are important to you. It's about choosing to purchase only the things that you love and make you happy.  
It's about finding, attaining and maintaining balance.  Are you ready to start Living the Savvy Life?

   
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​Thrifty: 
Living the Frugal Life with Style


Best-selling author Marjorie Harris offers a timely and entertaining guide to living the richly frugal life. From tips on how to haggle to becoming a frugal fashionista, maintaining your home on a budget, and thrifty gardening, travel, and entertainment, Harris provides essential guidelines to living a quality life on less. Written in her trademark witty, engaging, and accessible style, Thrifty is packed with simple and savvy tips drawn from Harris' own fulfilled, thrifty experience. Bonus tips come from renowned experts such as best-selling author Margaret Atwood, chef Jamie Kennedy, actor R. H. Thomson, travel writer Sylvia Fraser, and The Globe and Mail's style columnists.
  
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: 
Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy life to its fullest. The key to achieving an active and satisfying retirement involves a great deal more than having adequate financial resources; it also encompasses all other aspects of life -- interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical well-being, mental well-being, and solid social support. 

What sets this retirement book apart from all the others is its holistic approach to the fears, hopes, and dreams that people have about retirement. This international bestseller (over 110,000 copies sold in its first edition) goes way beyond the numbers that is often the main focus of retirement planning in most retirement books.
   
To see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.

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