SavvySugar

50 Most Powerful Women List Honors Youngest Woman Ever

SavvySugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:30:07 -0700

Fortune released its annual list of the 50 most powerful women in business, and while most of the honorees are in their 40s or 50s, the youngest woman to ever claim a spot on the list is only 33 years old. Marissa Mayer, VP of Search and User Experience at Google debuted the list at number 50, and it seems likely that she'll move her way up the list in years to come.

A self-proclaimed geek, Marissa was Google's first female engineer and her job is to oversee thousands of engineers while shaping the design of services like Google.com, Google Maps, Earth, Health, iGoogle. As one of the most powerful women in business, she is in the company of inspiring and accomplished women like Oprah Winfrey, Indra Nooyi (CEO of PepsiCo), Andrea Jung (CEO of Avon), and many more.

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Get a Whiff of Success: Grandma's Scent Sells

SavvySugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:30:14 -0700

Regular (ambitious) gal Jessica Dunne has demonstrated that a little niche goes a long way. The 32-year-old developed her first fragrance, Ellie, using $100,000 in savings and all of her savvy. Without any prior connections to the beauty industry, Jessica realized her dream of creating a perfume based on memories of fragrances worn by her grandmother, Eleanor.

A cold-call to Claudia Lucas, the perfume buyer at Henri Bendel in Manhattan, is what ultimately put Ellie on the market and has allowed Jessica to develop a second fragrance. Lucas was initially pleased with Ellie's bouquet, but she was sold on the story behind the bottle saying, "a brand is always a story well told."

Before she created her $180-per-bottle product, Jessica tested her hand in other areas like working as a sales assistant at Credit Suisse First Boston and managing an art gallery in Manhattan. Seems she's found her niche, and created one too, as a one-woman fragrance house with an appealing personal story.

Brilliant or Baffling: Compartmentalized Bag

SavvySugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:34:59 -0700

“My story connects with people, my story is the American dream about the girl next door who saw a problem and did something about it. People want to connect with the human side of a brand. They will have more loyalty to a brand that has a human side to it.” That's Jen Groover, entrepreneur and creator of the Butler Bag, talking about why her product is successful.

The mess that was Jen's purse frustrated her so much that she stole the dish rack out of her dishwasher and put it in her purse. Voila! Inspiration. Her bags run from $125 to $165 and her company is projected to generate about $15 million in sales this year.

Coming Up: Top Execs Have Advice For You

SavvySugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:58:36 -0800

The WSJ recently made its annual list of 50 Women to Watch, and taking the number one spot was Angela Braley, CEO of WellPoint Inc. As chief executive of the largest health insurer, her place at the top of the list goes to show how important the enormous issue of health care will continue to be in the near future.

There was a Q & A session during the Women Leading Business Conference, and I think the executives' advice for young women is pretty motivating. While they don't offer life changing advice or offer a specific recipe on how to rise to the top, their words might just remind you of how you want to portray yourself at work or why exactly you've been working so hard. To check out what advice they have just read more.

My favorite piece of advice came from Mary Sammons, Chairman, President and CEO of Rite Aid. She said,

Get out of your comfort zone. Anytime you have a chance to take on something new and different, you'll learn from it and are stronger, and you'll be a stronger person. Even if it doesn't work out the way you want it to, you'll be better prepared for the next thing. So take on the tough thing that comes along."

Amen, Mary. Did she motivate you or did another speaker inspire you more?

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Coming Up: 100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood

SavvySugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:58:20 -0800

Any guesses? Don't think gossip-worthy here, ladies. Think biz-worthy. The Reporter hosted their 16th Annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast this month, and keynote speakers talked about how much the industry has changed since the first annual breakfast. Sixteen years ago they struggled to get 50 people there but this year they oversold the event!

It was actually Queen Latifah that got me thinking about how much other women's efforts affect all of us. Here's what she had to say:

We rarely discuss the positive roles we can play in everyone else's careers. They say that behind every successful man is a woman, but there is also a woman behind every successful woman. I want to inspire self-esteem and a positive attitude and give my support to other women because no one else can drag us down like we do ourselves.

The way she says it sounds a tad cliche but the message behind her speech is a meaningful one. The purpose of events like this is to show off how hard everyone's been working, and to inspire other women to accomplish their goals. It's like a really big pep talk implying, "If we can do it, so can you." Check out BuzzSugar to see who made the list.

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Coming Up With a Wedding Budget, Part I

SavvySugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:30:18 -0700

Engagement is absolute bliss until you realize the long wedding planning road ahead. Sure, it's overwhelming: What will you wear? Who will be in your wedding party? Will you get married on the beach or in a ballroom? Curb the train of thought questions and focus on one thing at a time.

First thing's first: Come up with your wedding budget. It's certainly not as fun as wedding dress shopping, but really, what is? Your budget will determine how you can proceed with the details for your big day, so it must be set before doing anything else. To see my tips on figuring out a magic number, read more.

Nail down who is contributing to the marital cause. If there's more than one party paying, find out how much everyone can commit or use spending categories to divide the financial responsibilities. For example, his family pays for flowers, yours pays for the photographer, you and your fiance pay for the music, etc.
Footing the bill all by yourselves? Discuss how much you can afford to pay and how much you realistically want to spend on your wedding. You're in total control, so there's no reason to go into debt together. Create a separate savings account for your wedding fund and set up automatic withdrawals from your bank accounts each month. Be realistic: if you're unable to save enough by the time you want to get married, choose a wedding date further in the future.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

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5 Savvy Ways to Spend Smart and Save This Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:53 -0800

If you spent Monday through Friday monitoring your spending and trying to be productive and efficient, don't erase all your hard work with a wild weekend of spending. Consider these smart saving tips before you whip out your wallet this weekend.

The Deal Behind Spending Money to Save Money Gimmicks - Banks offering plans that deposit money into a savings account every time you spend money are encouraging their customers to build up their savings accounts, which is a good thing. But when the Consumer Reports Money Lab researched competing plans, it found that most of them aren't the best solution.
Cost-Saving and Social Weekend Ideas - When you work so hard all week long, it's tempting to just throw caution to the wind on the weekend and spend your hard-earned money without a plan. I'm all for enjoying your time away from the office, and have come up with nine weekend activities that won't break the bank. Spend less money while enjoying quality time with a friend or two by using one (or more!) of my ideas.
Put It to the Test: Would It Be Cheaper to Make It Yourself? - Perfecting your Orange Julius skills may not be as productive as it once was, but there is a prudent way to play in the kitchen.

For the rest of my weekend saving tips, read more.

Remember, It's About the Moments, Not the It-Bags - Lindsay Price reminds us what it's all about.
Learn How to Do Something New This Weekend - Self-sufficiency is the biggest asset you can have during this down economy. That means not borrowing money from your credit card carrier, but it also includes daily tasks that you often rely on others to complete.

Do you have a great tip for saving on the weekend? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account, then join the How Do You Save? group and share it! And you never know, it could be featured on SavvySugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Coming Up With a Wedding Budget, Part III

SavvySugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:30:17 -0700

Wedding planning might seem like a part-time job, and there's one tool that you might despise using at work but will be your best friend on the road to your big day. Spreadsheets can be a tedious annoyance when used for work purposes, but they're the best way to keep all of your wedding details organized.

Use one for your preliminary guest list and create another one for your budgeting needs. Enter all of the spending categories you can think of and then get to work. To see some tips on what to consider while creating your budget, read more.

The venue, food, and drinks are typically the categories where couples spend the most. However, because everyone has different priorities and the cost of weddings varies geographically, there's no standard percentages to use as guides. Determine if there are certain compromises you're unwilling to make and go from there. For example, if you're set on having a live band rather than a DJ, you may have to cut costs in other areas to stay on budget.

Use online resources and talk to friends who have been there and done that to get a feel for how much certain things will cost. Once you have an idea about the cost of the biggest-ticket items, you can begin allocating your funds as accurately as possible. Continue updating your spreadsheet as you book vendors so there's always a clear picture of your budget.

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Coming Up With a Wedding Budget, Part II

SavvySugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:30:08 -0700

Approaching wedding planning by handling one thing at a time is the best way to stay organized. After you've landed on a best estimate for your total budget, it's time to focus on the guest list. It may seem premature to start thinking about who will be receiving an invitation, but a relatively accurate head count is necessary before you venture out to check out venues.

After cost, the number of people you expect at your wedding is the second biggest actor in narrowing down venue choices. More importantly, the expected number of guests can dictate how you allocate your entire wedding budget. The money will be spent very differently if you're feeding 200 of your closest friends and family versus 80 of them, and don't forget about the cost of the actual invitations.

Get your family and his family to make preliminary guest lists while reassuring them the lists are not set in stone, and you and your fiance should create a list of your own. Any venues you visit will immediately ask how many guests you're expecting, so go in armed with the knowledge and get on your merry wedding planning way.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

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Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.