SavvySugar

I'm Asking: Does TV Inspire Your Destination Dreams?

SavvySugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:45:32 -0700

Admittedly, I tuned into a couple episodes of The Bachelor this season. Not only did I watch pilot Jake fly - "on the wings of love," no less - into Vienna's arms, I got quite a few glimpses of St. Lucia. Now, to honor the recent surge in publicity and popularity, almost two dozen of the island's resorts have joined together in a Red Rose Romance promotion with special discounts for trips booked by March 31, and completed by the end of the year. While some are pricier - like the four-night Proposal Package at the rose ceremony location, Cap Maison (starting at $3,400, bachelor not included) - there are plenty on the more reasonable splurge side.

I'm definitely reminded of my fabulous honeymoon on this isle, and of so many other places I'd love to visit after seeing them on the small screen (like Vancouver). When you think about vacation wishes, are they ever fueled by places you spotted on television?

Share Your Successful Budget Tips

SavvySugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:14 -0800

You want the truth? Creating and sticking to a budget is a pain. It takes dedication, daily effort, and compromise. We each develop our own smart saving style and tricks over the years, which is why we started the How Do You Save? group for you to divulge your winning tactics. We want you to dole out your advice to other SavvySugar readers trying to save a little moola and learn from their experiences - particularly as we all buckle down and try to set a smooth savings course for 2010.

Share your budget tips with SavvySugar readers. Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then post your tips in the How Do You Save? group.

I'm Asking: What Was Your Greatest Achievement This Week?

SavvySugar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:45:35 -0800

Whether you work a 9-to-5 or not, there's a reason most of us have mixed feelings about Fridays. Another week down. Another week of financial, career, and life goals that we may or may not have reached. Maybe you finished a major project, took public transportation, packed your lunch, or impressed your boss. Whatever your achievement, share it here and pat yourself on the back!

Photo copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.

Your Two Cents: Do You Initiate Chitchat in the Elevator?

SavvySugar — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:00:23 -0800

Elevator rides sometimes make me feel like I'm living in an alternate universe...just for a minute or less. There's the awkward "will they hold the door or not?" exchange, the reaching for the button and then there's the ever uncomfortable chatter with people you may or may not know based on floor selection, casual acquaintance or friendliness. I'm a conversation starter when it comes to elevator banter because I can't stand to wait and see if co-workers will spark chatter. Sure, sometimes it's fumbly, but I'm more comfortable saying something than saying nothing. Do you initiate elevator talk or do you wait for the music or someone else to speak?
Photo copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.

What's the Most Realistic Work-Based TV Show of 2009?

SavvySugar — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:04 -0800

I love a good workplace TV show. Between the crazy comedy and the drama that can occur in our real-life offices, you've gotta admit, some aspects of these shows aren't totally off base. So, while I'm hoping no one out there really has to deal with a co-worker like The Office's Dwight, I'm sure someone has to put up with the antics of a similar character in her own workplace. Even if that's not that case, we want to know your pick for the most realistic work-based show. What gets your vote for the most believable work scenario on TV?

Wanna see what else wowed us this year? Check out some of the biggest headlines of 2009 and cast your votes in my Best of 2009 polls!

Money Tip: Aim to Quit Your Pricey and Unnecessary Vice

SavvySugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:06 -0800

With New Year's in sight, it is suddenly the time of year we all start thinking about our goals and resolutions. Maybe your aims are high, like saving more money than you did in 2009 or enrolling in a certification course that will help advance your career, but don't forget you can reap big rewards from small change. Even budget alterations that seem minor, like picking brand names instead of store brands, packing your lunch an extra day a week, cutting back on utility use, or finding a cheaper dry cleaner - even hand-washing garments at home more often - can add up.

I love having mani-pedi dates with my two closest gal pals, but when I realized we were sometimes going twice a month and therefore spending about $600 a year on nail care, I invested in a few OPI shades and suggested we only get professional polishes for special occasions.

Do you have a pricey and unnecessary vice? And if so, what would it take for you to drop it?

The Most and Least Stressful Jobs Might Surprise You

SavvySugar — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:50 -0800

The personal lives of the Grey's Anatomy characters are more dramatic than most, and coupled with their chaotic jobs at Seattle Grace Hospital, it's no wonder they're constantly strung out. Surgeons have the most stressful jobs compared to all the rest, according to a recent list compiled by CareerCast.

Twenty-one stress factors like deadlines, life-and-death situations, and physical demands were considered to determine the rankings, and given the pressure-filled long hours that go with being a surgeon, it's hard to think of a more stressful job.

Here are the rest of the professions that topped the most stressful list; not that the job of photojournalist isn't highly demanding and tiring, but I'm surprised to see it ranked third.

Surgeon
Commercial Airline Pilot
Photojournalist
Advertising Account Executive
Real Estate Agent
Physician (General Practice)
Reporter (newspaper)
Physician Assistant

To see the least stressful jobs, read more.

Actuary
Dietitian
Computer Systems Analyst
Statistician
Astronomer
Mathematician
Historian
Software Engineer

Do any of the jobs on these lists seem out of place to you? Are there certain professions you're surprised not to see on either list?

How Much Would Popular TV Roles Earn in Real Life?

SavvySugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:03 -0700

Workplaces are one of the most popular settings for primetime TV shows. With the endless possibilities for dramatic and humorous story lines, it more than makes sense. Paychecks are rarely part of scripts on the small screens, but in real life those workers would be making real money. Can you guess how much people with professions like magazine editors and detectives earn on average? Take the quiz!

Photo courtesy 2009 ABC, Inc.

Take the quiz

Do You Manage Other Employees?

SavvySugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:15:21 -0700

Ask Savvy: How Do I Tell My Co-Worker Her Lunch Stinks?

SavvySugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:34:38 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I work in a small office with four other people. I am lucky in many ways - they are smart, funny, and friendly. We coexist well, and three of us usually grab lunch together or send one person out for takeout. Our fourth co-worker is a nice woman, but she is the quiet loner of the group who doesn't partake in our lunch missions. In fact, she brings in strange, saucy food everyday, heats it up in the kitchen right near our workspace, and eats it at her desk. It stinks. And I'm not talking about a faint scent of food that passes in 10 minutes. I'm talking about really, really smelly grub. My most outspoken co-worker has asked her to open the window on occasion, but she seems totally oblivious that the rest of us are suffering. How can I tell her that her lunch makes us sick without offending her?
Thanks,
Sensitive to Scents Sally

Savvy says: Smelly lunches at the office are no laughing matter and a very common problem. PartySugar has tackled this phenomenon before and says bringing stinky food is a major breach of office etiquette. I agree with her. Most SavvySugar readers admit they judge their co-workers by their lunch smells or have been bothered by a co-worker's food before. You don't want to resent this woman because of her lunch. To see what I think you should say, read more.

If you worked at a larger office, I would suggest talking to HR and having them do the dirty work for you by sending out a blanket email about shared space, eating in the kitchen, and making sure to open windows midday for proper ventilation. Given your office size, it sounds like you will need to take matters into your own hands. Start by mentioning "it smells like food" a few times and asking if you can open the window. If you do this throughout the week she'll catch on and be more conscious about her lunch. If she doesn't change her habits immediately, talk to her and be completely honest. Tell her you appreciate that she wants to eat in the office so she can push through work, but you have a queasy stomach and any fancy food scents upset you. Ask her if she wants to eat outside on a park bench with you (the breeze will blow it away). Focus on your sensitive nose and stomach and not her strange food and she won't be offended.

It's likely that she will alter the food she brings in or become more conscious about her lunch once she realizes it is bothering you, but if things don't improve you may just have to make it work. After all, she may think your food is disgusting too. You can always use the half hour it takes for the smell to dissipate to grab your lunch or take a walk around the block. Like it or not, you will be sharing space with your co-workers so long as you work together, so you just have to bear the scents.