Anyone who knows me knows I love to shop. There’s nothing like putting together a great outfit. I feel like I’ve created a masterpiece. I once told someone that “shoes aren’t just something you put on your feet; they are a work of art—like something to be admired in a museum.”

As much as I love to shop it’s important not to spend all my hard-earned money on fashion. There are many ways to dress well without spending a lot of money. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average household of 2.5 people spends $1,604 per year on clothes. Below are tips to help you save less on clothes and accessories.

Shop before you need something. Shopping on impulse or at the last minute can leave you with an overpriced item you don’t like. It’s best to plan ahead and give yourself time to research the best price and buy something you’ll love.

Look for end-of-season deals. The best time to buy a winter coat is after the winter season winds down and the spring shipment begins to come in. If you buy items during off-season you can save a bundle. The trick is to buy items you will wear and avoid buying something just because it is on sale.

Find bargains at resale shops. Resale stores carry stylish, gently worn pieces. You can resale your old clothes and earn a few bucks or just exchange what you own for something in the store of equal value. There is usually a fashion buyer on-site to personally inspect the clothes for wear-ability and style.

Checkout great deals online. Online shopping sites such as Ebay and Amazon are great places to buy clothes. To have a successful experience always purchase an item from a seller who has a solid reputation and lots of positive comments; check all measurements to make sure the item will fit you properly; and verify the price is reasonable by researching what it sells for now.

Mix and match pieces. Buy items that you can mix and match with a variety of pieces. Make sure you can wear the item for a variety of occasions. This will cut down on shopping trips and cost less money. *A good rule of thumb to buying shoes is to make sure you can wear them with at least five different outfits.

Invest in the basics. This is an old style rule. Everyone should have a nice, crisp white shirt; a good pair of black, tailored pants; a nice pair of blue jeans; and dress shoes. To cut down on shoe buying get one pair of silver, gold, black, flesh-tone, red, and your favorite color shoes. These are stable colors. You’ll be able to wear them with anything. Don’t buy shoes that are too trendy and I recommend investing in a really good pair since you won’t have to buy new ones for awhile (depending on how often you wear them).

Look for special promotions. Sign up with your favorite stores to receive coupons and special promotions through the mail or email. Many stores send out coupons to customers who have signed up. This will also inform you of special sales and clearance events.

Yes, fashion is an art. Managing money is a skill. Study styles in magazines and shop for similar, discounted items. Magazines such as Instyle offer a Fashion for Less section where the editors find inexpensive versions of some the season’s hottest pieces.

This past weekend I spent the better half of Saturday afternoon grooming our Golden Retriever, Mackenzie. It’s part of our monthly ritual that she tolerates and I’ve grown to enjoy. During our last trip to the tub (a tub that no human has ever bathed in, mind you), as I was laying out my grooming tools and blanketing the floor with old towels, I began to wonder, “how much am I really saving as compared to taking her to a professional?” I began totaling the cost of her organic dog shampoo and conditioner, the special toothbrush and toothpaste, the various scissors and other tools I had acquired, and decided that it would be interesting to determine the true cost of amateur dog grooming.

Dog Grooming: What’s Do You Mean Exactly?

For the purpose of this analysis, I’ve defined the dog grooming session as the following: a full body brush and once over using a desheding tool, trimming of the ears, legs, tail, and paws, nail trimming (if needed), a bath with shampoo and conditioner, teeth brushed, ears cleaned and conditioned, and balm applied to her paws.

A professional will likely use a dog blow dryer; I use old towels. A professional will likely provide a precision cut; I merely trim. The breed and temperament of your dog, along with your willingness to experiment with basic dog grooming techniques, will determine if grooming at home is an option for you. I’ve been grooming Mackenzie since she was a puppy so she’s used to the process. I like the shape of her natural coat so it didn’t take me long to learn how to trim or thin certain areas.

While I perform all of these activities during her monthly grooming session, some of the items above are done weekly (e.g., nails, teeth and ears checked, balm applied, etc.) and some are done daily (e.g., brushing). The breed of your dog, and your personal preferences, will dictate how often your dog should be groomed. Mackenzie is an inside dog who sleeps with humans so we like her to be as clean and fresh.

Start-Up Costs: Creating Your Dog Grooming Toolkit

Here are the tools I use: dog shampoo and conditioner, a nail clipper, a brush and deshedding tool, ear cleanser, three different types of scissors, a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, paw balm, and a cleansing body spray (perfect for between baths). Some of these tools are ‘capital’ expenses (i.e., the item will last for a year or more, scissors for example) while others will need to be replaced as they are consumed.

The total cost of the items I purchased came in at $205. Here are the details:

Shampoo, conditioner, ear cleanser, body spray, paw balm, toothbrush and toothpaste cost $85. The shampoo and conditioner alone cost $38, however, one large bottle of each will last me the entire year.

The brush and deshedding tool cost $45. A good brush will last you a long, long time and the deshedding tool is worth its weight in gold.

The three different scissors and nail clipper were $75. You might be wondering why three pairs of scissors, fair question. I started with a long pair of shears and quickly realized that one pair would not do every job. I purchased a pair of thinning shears to use behind her ears and a small pair ball nose of shears to use around her face and on her feet. Having the right tools has made all the difference.

Cost Analysis: Amateur vs. Professional Dog Grooming

Once I had determined what each tool cost, and how long I felt each would last, I calculated that my cost per grooming session during the first year was approximately $13. The good news is that, since many of the tools will last more than one year, my cost per grooming session will drop below $10 during year two! Now that I knew what it cost me to groom at home, I set out to determine what it would cost to have Mackenzie professionally groomed.

I called a few dog grooming facilities in the local area and found the cost of grooming a Golden Retriever to be approximately $65. Of course, as with any service, I’m sure you can find lower, and higher, prices depending upon your location, time of year, size of dog, reputation of groomer, etc. Using this rate as a benchmark, and assuming that I will groom Mackenzie monthly, here’s the cost comparison:

Amateur Grooming: $13.08 (cost per groom) x 12 = $157/year
Professional Grooming: $65 (cost per groom) x 12 = $780/year

Savings = $623/year

(It takes me 2 hours to complete the grooming process (prepare, groom, and clean-up), so that would equal 24 hours invested annually. My hourly rate would be almost $26/hour.)

Is it worth it? For me? Absolutely. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post I don’t mind the process and actually enjoy the time we spend together. It’s worth the effort just to see her prance around the house after it’s all said and done! What’s more, I’ve become very aware of changes as they occur. Earlier this year I found a small bump (less than the size of a pea) just underneath her skin. While it proved to be nothing, our vet was quite impressed that we noticed it at all. I doubt we would have noticed the bump if I hadn’t been grooming her myself and, if it had been something serious, at least we found it early.

So now that we’ve talking about the numbers, let’s talk about real-life. Even with evidence of a $623 annual savings by grooming at home, I do take Mackenzie to a professional twice a year. Once just before the start of Summer and again just before Thanksgiving. While this nearly doubles my annual grooming costs to $261, I recognize that my work does not equal that of a professional. I find that, using their work as a base, I’m able to maintain things the months in-between. The pre-Thanksgiving day groom saves me some time and, let’s face it, nothing beats a well groomed dog during the holidays. Here’s my adjusted cost comparison:

Amateur Grooming: $13.08 (cost per groom) x 10 = $131/year +
Professional Grooming: $65 (cost per groom) x 2 = $130/year (or $261/year total)

Savings = $519/year

Lessons Learned: A Few Things to Think About

-Create a schedule and stick to it. I brush Mackenzie every night for several minutes after our walk. I perform the monthly grooming session the first weekend of month which is also when she gets her heart medication and flea/tick treatment. I find that it’s easier to create a new routine by associating it with one that already exists.

-Buy the best tools that you can afford. When I bought my first pair of shears I went for the cheap one – big mistake. It literally wouldn’t cut her hair! I immediately went back to the store and upgraded to the next tier. Don’t be afraid to return something, especially if it didn’t meet your expectations.

-Don’t be afraid to experiment. I was a wreck the first time I tried to thin the hair around Mackenzie’s ears. It turned out fine but, even it hadn’t, it’s hair. It will grow back (and your dog will forgive you).

-Use a professional as appropriate. Just because you can do it yourself doesn’t mean you can’t get outsource the work from time to time. Part of my monthly grooming process is to add ten bucks to a plastic baggy that lives in my dog grooming basket so that, when it’s time the call the professional, I’ve already budgeted for the periodic expense.

I’d love to hear from you! Do you groom at home, use a professional, or do both? Share your money saving tips, tricks, and resources by leaving a comment!

Many of us exercise to maintain good health. Others want to lose weight or relieve stress. The motivation may vary, but exercise is a common theme in many of our lives. According to TIME magazine, more than 45 million Americans belong to a health club and we spend $19 billion a year on gym memberships.

While exercising is a key ingredient to overall wellness you don’t have to pay a fortune for it. Since February 2009 I’ve been practicing yoga – which I love. However, a monthly yoga package can be costly ($140 at my local studio). The high cost led me to look for cheaper alternatives. Here are some fun, frugal tips to keep both your body and bank account in shape.

Exercise at your local park. You don’t have to spend big bucks on expensive gym memberships when Mother Nature has already provided for you. Take a walk or go for a run at the park. The only downfall is the inability to exercise due to inclement weather. However, some people will exercise in rain, sleet, or snow.

Check out your local YMCA or other community venue. Many YMCAs or civic centers offer free workout classes at least once a week. You can find a variety of exercise classes from yoga to cycling even salsa dancing!

Take the bus. I rode public transportation for six years and found that riding the bus it is a great way to exercise. You’re walking to and from the bus stop which are at least a block away - sometimes further.

Borrow exercise videos at the library. The public library has an extensive collection of workout videos that you can check-out and return. The standard check-out period is three weeks and you can always renew once the check-out date expires.

Turn on the tube. You can get a vigorous workout without leaving your home. YouTube has great workout videos where you can follow along. Community TV programs such as PBS also offer workout programs during the day. Check out TV Guide for local listings.

Try the stairs. It’s so convenient to just hop on the elevator. Why not try taking the stairs sometimes? During your lunch break or right after work go up and down the stairs for a good cardio and leg workout.

Turn on the radio. I love listening to music and dancing to it. A few times out of the week put in an upbeat CD or tune in to the radio station and just dance around your room for 20 or 30 minutes. This is a fun, cardio workout.

Finally, exercise is good for the mind and body. Don’t forgo a healthy lifestyle just because money is tight. According to the American Heart Association, 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity consistently reduces the risk of many chronic health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and bone loss. It also improves self-image, promotes weight loss, and increases enthusiasm and optimism.