Pucker up, broke people! Are your lips cracked up like mine are every winter? If they ARE then you’re in luck, I have a super-soothing lip balm remedy for you. And wait! Before you note that, you always buy lip balm and then put it in a pocket of one coat and then put your other coat on and then there’s no lip balm in your pocket when you need it – I have the solution to that problem too. This DIY lip balm recipe is quick and allows you to make enough for every bag and pocket in your possession. Just call me Ms. Fix-Your-Lips-For-the-Winter. Well actually, don’t because you’re going to do it yourself. (more…)

If it's good enough for Phil...

Not to get all Allure Magazine on you people, but here’s a pesky question I ask once a day, while lathering up with a dollar-an-ounce conditioner, imagining there must be a better way. What’s the best cheap conditioner? Is there some scraggly-hair salvation in those elephantine jugs of Suave and Pantene at Costco? Is there a secret drugstore brand that’s worth its weight in jojoba oil? So, Broketown, I put it to you. Speak your truth in the comments. Bonus points if your before hair looks like Phil Spector’s (cause you need ‘em).

Dr. Bronner: Budget hero or guy who tricked you into putting soap in your mouth?

According to the wacky, cultish 3,000-word rant on the label, when combined with adequate sleep, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap has the power to “clean body-mind-soul-spirit instantly uniting one! All-One!” I’m not sure exactly what that means, but the soap boasts more than 18 uses: a toothpaste and a household cleaner; a pet wash and a cure for lice. With eight varieties (one of which is only $8.99 at Trader Joe’s), this “magical multi-tasker” could be the solution to many of our financial freak-outs at the pharmacy register. So with a bottle each of peppermint and rose soap in hand, I set out to find out which of “Doctor” Emanuel Bronner’s loftiest claims to embrace, and which to avoid. (more…)

Tired of rich people and their blow-outs? Was that facialist (that I got on Groupon) right when she said I should be going monthly? Are those wrinkles, already?! Someone help! Enter Gwyneth Paltrow, and her latest blog post: The French Pharmacy. Yes, GP has a blog, called GOOP advising you what to do or buy. They are the most useless streams of information, especially for Brokesters. She gives a head’s up that the presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental is really where you should stay when in Hong Kong. She doesn’t understand, um, money, or lack thereof.  (more…)