Onyx Woman Network

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Flirting with 50

Between the Pages

Book Reviews

Terri Schlichenmeyer

Behind the Wheel

Top Auto Brands as Reviewed by Women.jpg

What Can You Do With an Extra $3,000?  Women-Drivers.com has answers on how to save money at dealerships

Some women hesitate to negotiate for a variety of reasons: because they are not

comfortable with it, for fear of looking cheap or because they do not want to be

perceived as not nice. Others, yet, have a “must drive off the lot today” or a “just get it over with” attitude. When this happens, women pay an average of $1350 more for their vehicle, which balloons to $3,000 over the life of a loan. 

The bottom line is women are quite capable of putting that extra $3,000 into their

own handbags and accounts. What would women do if they had that extra money?

Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate and President of Women-Drivers.com, in her

practical and to-the-point style, says “That $3,000 helps women take better care of

themselves or their families.”  For example: 

- A hefty deposit to this year’s Roth IRA 

- An emergency fund you’ve been talking about creating 

- Be used for the start of a 529 education plan

- Go a long way towards tickets to 5 Caribbean Princess cruises 

- Or, 20 designer handbags or 50 pair of shoes

- Or, 3 months of grocery trips for a family of four, or, 9 months for a single  

person

- Or, 120 Starbucks or Panera gift cards

How can women avoid paying extra money at the dealership? Fleming advises “Do your research, be well informed and stay empowered during the entire visit.” Women- Drivers serves as the #1 resource for women car buyers. Women-Drivers provides consumers the opportunity to write dealer reviews on their experience when Browsing, Purchasing or Servicing a vehicle at dealerships coast to coast. This allows women to support future car buyers in locating women-friendly car dealers in their

city. 

Pictured: Jarene Barnes 51, Ola Jackson (50), Sharon Burton (59) and Sandra Washington (59). (Photo by Ahmad Sandidge)

Wise Entertaining

Your Stylish Ways

More Ladies of Style and Substance

Buying Wine without Breaking the Bank

By Khadija Woods

                                        Buying wine can be a guessing game for the uninitiated.

                                                 With so many choices of grapes and regions, how do you

                                                 know you are getting something that will make your taste

                                                 buds happy? 

                                                 Many solve this problem by paying top dollar for wines

                                                 that have high ratings in wine magazines. Others look for

                                                 famous names that they have heard about in songs. While

                                                 these wines may seem a safe bet, paying more than $30,

$50 or even $100 does not guarantee that you will get the wine that you are looking for.

Exploring new regions and looking for varieties that are lesser known is a great way to

avoid busting your budget on wine. 

What better way to celebrate an occasion than with a shimmering glass of Champagne?

Unfortunately even half bottles of the classic French sparkler start at $20 with prices

reaching into the stratosphere for the best vintages. Instead, try an Italian Prosecco or a

Spanish Cava, two sparkling wines that you can find for less than $15. You can also do

what the Obamas did and try a South African sparkler such as the Graham Beck Brut NV.

Made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, it retails for around $18 and was the

celebratory drink of choice during the presidential election celebrations in 2008.

Chardonnay, whether it is crisp and fruity from France or full-bodied and buttery from

California can run past the 20s into the hundreds of dollars. If you like light wines that are

fresh and fruity, try a Torrontes from Argentina or a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa or

Chile. On the fuller side, a Viognier from Australia would be just the thing to pair with a

creamy pasta dish or even baked chicken.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold and fruity, dry red wine that works well with steak and other

hearty, meat dishes.  Tempranillo from Spain is a good alternative that can be found under

$20. Other reasonably priced options include South African Cabernet Sauvignon,

Argentinean Malbec and Chilean Carmenere.

First consider the style of the wine. Do you want something dry or sweet? Red or white?

Still or sparkling? Below, we list a few alternatives to wines that break the bank so that you

don’t have to. Don’t be afraid to consult wine websites or talk to the staff at your local wine

shop. They can take your sketchy description of “that wine you had at that place you loved”

and translate it into something that you would enjoy. Just remember, wine doesn’t have to

be expensive to taste good or be an elegant addition to any celebration.

15 Wines under $15

Here are a few suggestions for the penny-wise wine buyer. Prices below are an average of

the prices of these wines listed by wine shops and online sellers servicing the northeastern

United States. Check your local distributor for specific pricing.

*NV=Non Vintage

Sparkling

Segura Viudas NV Brut Cava (Spain) $8

Banear NV Prosecco (Italy) $10

Dry White

Casal Garcia NV Vihno Verde (Portugal) $6

Indaba 2008 Chardonnay Western Cape (South Africa) $9

Yalumba 2008 Y Series Viognier (Australia) $11

Buitenverwachting 2008 Beyond Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) $12

Oyster Bay 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) $13

Tamari 2009 Torrontes Reserva (Argentina) $13

Rose

Mulderbosch 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose (South Africa) $13

Dry Red

Alamos 2008 Malbec (Argentina) $8

Concha y Toro 2008 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere  (Chile) $9

Vina Cono Sur 2007 Pinot Noir (Chile) $9

Nederburg 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (South Africa) $10

Urban Uco 2008 Malbec-Tempranillo (Argentina) $11

Semi-Sweet

Dr. Loosen 2008 Dr. L Riesling (Germany) $12

                                     Khadija Woods is a Writer and Sommelier based in the Philadelphia area.

                                 

      

Every year the Jewish Women’s Council sponsors Designer Dress Days in Pittsburgh. I have been going for over 25 years. People from all over the country stand in line to get some of the greatest fashions at the greatest prices

These Wild Rose pumps are attention getters.

These shoes were displayed at the 2010 Trumpet Award’s as a part of the Walk of Fame showcasing civil rights leaders. This pair belongs to the founder of the Trumpet Awards,  and civil rights activist Ms. Xernona Clayton.

Mercedes Warrick

CEO

The Achievement Sanctuary™

Malkia Hyden's

Entrepreneur

Philadelphia PA

Shoe Stories

Lisa Perry

Stylist and Image Consultant

McKinney, Texas

June Cox

Vice-President - CEO Atlanta LLC

Frisco, Texas

Having style simply isn’t enough. It is when style compliments substance that makes for the right stuff.