the Netflix of....handbags??

I read about this website months ago and was intrigued - Bag Borrow or Steal is a membership site that allows you to "rent" designer handbags and other accessories. I have not tried it because I don't get that excited about designer handbags, but I do think it's a great idea for "affordable" luxuries.

Here's an example: the Prada bag shown here is listed at $2,195 but rents at $117 for a week.

Membership rates are pretty low - $10 a month or $60 a year. And the "Steal It" option is once you have it, you may decide you want to keep it. On the website, they will quote a cost for you and charge it to your credit card they have on file should you agree to the price.

If anyone is a member or subsequently joins after reading this, please let us know what you think!

Vote for ChaChing!

We've been nominated for a blogger award in Culture 11's LadyBlog contest in the "Healthy Living/Leisure" category! Vote for us here before January 26th.

CLEAN your Brita pitchers

If you have a Brita pitcher to filter drinking water (or something similar), PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to clean it! Just because it only has water in it doesn't mean that it doesn't get dirty, bacterial-ridden, or worse. I have seen some pitchers that send me running for tap water - yes our gross, DC, city tap water!

Follow the rule of twos: clean your pitcher about every two weeks and change the filter every two months.

It's quick and easy: take out the filter and set it aside. Take apart the other components. Wash each separately in hot water with dish soap, rinse thoroughly, then put back together. Just do it along with your dishes and it's not a separate chore!

Also don't leave Brita backwash in the pitcher. Every few days when it gets down to a small bit left, just dump it out before filling it up again. That water gets funky and disperses into your "fresh" water.

If you don't have the kind of pitcher that keeps the date of the last filter change on it, make a note for yourself on the fridge when you change it. Every two months is about standard - you really should every month if you've got four or more people using it in your household.

Finally, on the savings note, buy your filters in bulk! The cost difference is huge. Of course if you belong to Costco, buy them there. I buy mine in five packs on Amazon - it ships free with SuperSaver shipping and breaks down to about $5 per filter. When you buy them in onesies in stores like CVS or the grocery store, they can be as much as $10 or $12 a piece. Stock up and store them - then you only have to worry about buying them twice a year, which is also an important TIME saving!

Inauguration partying!

As promised: the dress and accessories per my previous post!

Upgrade your furniture - you're an adult now

If you've been putting off doing some furniture upgrades, you might consider doing that now.

I have searched high and low and I cannot find a better place for quality furniture at an affordable price than World Market - and that's during their non-sale times! But right now they're doing a huge semi-annual furniture sale that's absolutely killer. I almost bought this dresser because the price is sooooooo good at $230 but i really don't have room for it in my little place until I can move my home office out.

I have a gorgeous bar and dining table and chairs from World Market, as well as a set of nesting tables. The all-wood furniture is incredible - classy and sturdy with lasting style. It's time to toss the crap stuff you got second-hand on Craigslist or the flimsy temporary stuff from Ikea.

Seriously- this loft dining table (pictured here) for $250 or this cool backless Soho bookcase for $190 will do wonders for your place. Bookcases especially, for all us DC nerds - quit with that bowing particle board piece of junk and get a bookcase for a grownup. At these prices you can't make excuses anymore.

Recession Chic

This isn't really a life tip but it's an example of the ChaChing lifestyle. I scored some inaugural ball tickets through a family member and didn't want to spend a bunch of money on my getup since I'm trying to start a business. So after looking at some gorgeous gowns on Smartbargains (my go-to place) for around $200, I decided to be more creative:

1. I have exactly ONE long gown in my possession - black, A-line, with ribbons of the fabric at the bust that tie behind my neck in a halter. I didn't like the halter as much anymore and wanted it converted to actual straps that criss-cross. So I took it to my alterations lady and she fixed it beautifully - $15. She's cleaning it now - another $15.

2. I'll wear my gold Andrew Geller shoes I've had for a while (I never wear heels anymore so they're still in good condition).

3. I splurged on some new jewelry at Filene's Basement - three-strand dark pearlescent beads with matching earrings that will really bling off the simple gown - $60.

That's a total ball ensemble for less than $100. We call it Recession Chic.

I read somewhere that there's only one belle of this ball and that's Michelle; with that correct observation I can relax and have a good time. I'll post some pictures after the fact and y'all can see what you think.

i really wish people wouldn't say "consumer-driven health care"

...because we're really far from having that and it makes people think the current clusterf*ck we have now is because of "market forces" or something. Yeah you Slate!

Cosmetic surgery doesn't count, except to show people what happens when people to pay for certain services: the prices for cosmetic surgery keep going DOWN rather than UP like almost every area of actual health care.

Remind me to write a longer post about HSA's. It's late now.