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Savvy Poll
Is It Rude to Regift?
Have you stashed away disappointing holiday gifts from last year only to disguise them as new presents for others this year? If so, you're not alone. According to Time, a recent Consumer Report survey suggests that 36 percent of holiday gifters will be regifters this season, passing along unwanted or unneeded items from season's past.
Does Renting an Extravagance Still Satisfy?
We rent apartments, cars, and DVDs, but as pop culture continues to influence our lifestyle, even couture is now available to rent. Sure we can't all afford the designer duds cropping up on couture runways from here to Paris, but as the New York Times reports, the recessionistas among us have found another way to get their hands on the coveted — and pricey — merchandise.
Modeled after the "rent-by-web" model, the new site, Rent the Runway, offers clothes from design houses like DvF, Heve Leger, and Catherine Malandrino, to name a few, for anywhere from $50 to $200 dollars for a four-night stay in your very own closet — even dry-cleaning's included in the cost of rental.The only downside, of course, is that fact, that after a couple nights of dancing in your designer number, you'll be forced to pack it up and send it right back.
Would You Trust $3 Appliances From Target?
Any bargain hunter knows quality and price aren't necessarily correlated. But a $3 coffeemaker? That's less than Starbucks and friends charge for several of their caffeinated menu items.
Would You Take an Affordable Clothing-Optional Vacation?
Clothing optional situations are typically limited to behind closed doors, but not if you're venturing off on a nakation. You don't have to bare it all on nakations — that's where the optional part comes into play — though you can if you want to. Besides the fact that participating nudists say that nude recreation is fun, there might be a financial benefit to taking a trip that encourages you to don your birthday suit.
Would You Let Someone Take Over Your Business?
Every week on Tabatha's Salon Takeover, hairstylist extraordinaire Tabatha Coffey takes control of a flailing salon and whips it into shape. Although I'm an avid viewer, I'm not quite so sure how I would react to real-life Tabatha in my work space — taking total control of my company's policies and the people I work with.
Some of the highlights include a full-out interior design makeover of the salon studio, and a complete revamping of lackadaisical company policies.
Your Two Cents: Is There Room in Your Holiday Budget For Charity?
The holiday season isn't just about gift-giving — even while the budget may be stretched, it's also the time of year to give to charity. It's no secret that things are tight this year. The recession is changing the way we holiday shop, but is it also changing our philanthropic spirit of giving for a good cause?
Miss Homeless Pageant: Charitable or Out of Line?
In an act of charity (?!), Belgium social worker Mathilde Pelsers and her daughter, 19-year-old beauty queen Aline Duportail, organized the first-ever "Miss Homeless" Pageant.
The pageant, which took place over two months and included 10 homeless female contestants, was designed to raise awareness for the homeless population, and awarded the winner, 51-year-old Theresa Van Belle with a one-year, rent-free apartment stay — and the title of "Miss Homeless."
While the motivation for the contest seems well-intentioned, the pageantry itself seems a questionable show of support.
Should Hooters Waitresses Have to Pay For Their Own Uniforms?
Hooters is one of the rare establishments where the workers' uniforms are more famous than the food. In some states, employees are required to cover the bill for their orange outfits, but New York isn't one of those places. That's why two New York women are suing Hooters for forcing them to buy their own work wardrobes.
Your Two Cents: Is Renter's Insurance Worth It?
Sure, it's always better to be safe than sorry, but sometimes being safe is costly and troublesome — and turns us off. Renter's insurance, for example, seems a necessary precaution to protect your rental apartment or home. But a recent poll among my friends revealed that even savvy, intelligent women are too bothered by the hassle and the anticipated cost of signing up.
Would You Take a Stanford Class on iTunes?
Maybe you're wondering if it's even possible to take a class on iTunes. It is now — and not just from Stanford, but from Yale, Wharton, Berkeley, and more. In a relatively new move, prestigious colleges and universities are making lectures, classes, and even written materials available online.
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