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Beer Prices May Go Up

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:48:11 PST

Quick! Run out and stock up on beer!
Pretty soon gas prices won't be the only reason to think twice about another beer run. Turns out that the cost of barley is rising fast and an increase in barley prices could translate to an increase in beer prices too.

It also doesn't help that production numbers were already down, energy prices already up, and the cost of raw material (like aluminum) also up. In fact, several breweries have already raised prices due to the raw material costs, however, you might not have noticed since distributors have been eating the cost.

Those price increases aren't always felt in consumers' pocketbooks. Distributors and retailers frequently eat the costs themselves. But with prices shooting up quickly, that could soon change.

Bernstein Research analyst Robert van Brugge forecast that this year's barley price increases will impact brewers' cost of goods sold - or the cost of the raw materials used in production - by 1 to 2 percent in 2007.

The analyst said he believes brewers will be forced to pass along some of that increase this year to consumers.

So run out and stock up! It's recommended that most canned beer should be consumed within 3 months of bottling. However some strong ales can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months. Now, I'm not saying you can't drink it after 3 months, but it's definitely going to taste better if you drink it before.

Source: Forbes

5 Ways to Make Your Morning Routine Faster

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:25:54 PST

Do you find yourself skipping makeup and hair in the morning just so you can grab 15 or 20 precious extra minutes of shut-eye? Or worse, are you losing sleep to an overlong makeup routine? Don't do it! There's no need to suffer for beauty in the mornings, and we've got a few beauty tricks up our sleeves that can speed up anyone's maquillage. See five of our easiest ways to make mornings less painful below.

Johnny Depp Partied With McCartney and Springsteen Post-Grammys

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:20:09 PST

12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding

Kiplinger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:14:10 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Political theater over whether or not to extend the 2% payroll tax holiday has overshadowed the fact that most workers can do more to reduce the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks than anything cooked up in Washington.

The power-to-the-people ploy? Using a W-4 form to put an end to overwithholding from your paychecks. First, let's set the stage. Even as anti-Washington sentiment rises to a fever pitch, most middle-class Americans continue to allow the government to claim more than its share every single payday. The proof: In 2011, 109 million of the 145 million individual tax returns filed called for refunds. That's 75%. The average refund last year: $2,913. That's significantly more than even the highest-paid worker gets from a 2% payroll tax holiday.

Yes, we love our tax refunds. But we ask this simple question of those of you who get refunds year after year: Doesn't it make more sense to get your money when you earn it?

If you agree with us that the answer is a resounding "yes," we have good news. Unlike stubbornly high unemployment, it's easy to fix overwithholding. All you have to do is file a revised Form W-4 with your employer. The information on that little form determines how much federal income tax is withheld from your checks. The more "allowances" you claim on the W-4, the less income tax will be withheld.

Read on for more.

It's About Time: 3 Steps Closer to Back to the Future II

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:45:31 PST

We've seen film magic turn into reality before - remember, the tablet was first seen on Star Trek! Now for those who daydreamed of a life as cool as Marty McFly's as a kid, your turn has come. During this week's New York Toy Fair, Mattel announced plans to produce the pink hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II.

OK, there's no actual air hovering that will occur, but it's a 1:1 replica that will glide over most surfaces and make whooshing noises. Mattel will take pre-orders from March 1-20 for the hoverboard, expected to ship in the 2012 holiday season. There's a bit of a catch: Mattel needs you to get your fellow superfans to pre-order the product to bring it to production. As they say, "Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production. If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged. The price will be announced later this month."

It's up to you mini-McFlys to make the hoverboard a reality! The hoverboard, though, is just one of the products that can have you living like Marty; follow the break to see what else can get you Back to the Future.

How to Give a Head and Neck Massage For Valentine’s Day

BellaTV — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:15:26 PST

This Valentine's Day, why not give your sweetie a head and neck massage? It's easy to do, doesn't cost a thing, and is way more bliss-inducing than a box of Russell Stover candies. Watch as stylist Laura Kingston of Barnets in San Francisco shows you how to give a salon-style massage. (Just be sure to make sure you get a reciprocal rubdown, too!)

25 Pretty and Plush Pillows Under $50

Sara Yoo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:18 PST

My living room needed an overhaul, so recently we scraped together what we could to purchase two new sofas. They're my dream pieces, but their spare mid-century design screamed for a little adornment, and our investment left little in the way of a budget for throw pillows. Additionally, I forgot to account for the cost of what seemed to be simple decor items (often $100 or more) and the fact that I would need more than one! Fortunately for pillow shoppers on a budget, there's a plush supply of inexpensive options out there in a diversity of design styles. We've rounded up some of our favorites under $50 as well as some easy DIY ideas for sewers and non-sewers alike!

Source: California Home and Design

Savvy Confessions: To Pay or Not to Pay

Savvy Community — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:05:53 PST

This reader posted in our anonymous Savvy Confessions group, asking if she should crash at her friend's for free. Do you have any advice for her?

I recently moved to a new city to job search. My friend offered her place for me to stay rent-free while I job search. I've been here for a month now and I've offered to pay for half the rent, but she insists that I don't. She's been so gracious to let me stay, and I do my best to try to cover costs where I can (groceries, buying her dinner, etc.) However, I still feel bad for not paying rent. While I really want to pay her part of the rent, it also really helps me cut costs not having to pay it since I'm still unemployed. Should I force her to take the rent or just tell her thank you for offering me her place to stay and pay it forward to her in the future?

Pose your own anonymous questions or off-load your work confessions by posting in the Savvy Confessions group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

One-Minute Makeover Tip: Kick Up Your Colorblocking Quotient

Marisa Tom — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:00:08 PST

We're constantly looking to reinvent the way in which we style our most beloved items of clothing - that is, without having to endure the consequences of a costly shopping spree. By combing through the arsenal of chic Fab community looks and tapping into our editors' fashion prowess, we've whipped up an easy way to soup up your wardrobe with just a quick trip to the back of your closet. Today, let's go bold and vibrant: mix-and-match cool color combos.

The best part about colorblocking is, hands down, its endless potential for fun, playful, and totally unexpected color matchups. This may be a good time to brush up on the ol' color wheel. Some of our favorite complementary pairings are: minty green with bright tangerine, deep violet with saffron yellow, and neon pink with crimson red.
Use these color combos to emphasize your shape and your strong knowledge of silhouette proportions. We love seeing contrasted hues against a long-short hem or in the mix of soft vs. hard structural edges.
To execute this look, it takes almost no effort at all. Find your favorite colorful pieces and pair 'em up. The effect is striking, but super simple to achieve. Whether it's a colorblocked sweater-and-jeans combo or a sweet juxtaposition of a bold dress over opaque tights, it's a zippy way to spice up a look.

Photos courtesy of Smileforstyle, BrittandWhit, and Erikets