By HELEN MALANI, shopzilla.com

Lots of people are pinching pennies these days, and all of us are being careful not to count our eggs before they hatch. Join the ranks of the fiscally responsible while still swinging with the fashion forward by using a few tricks of the trade to stretch (and enhance) your wardrobe without stretching your dollar too thin.

After a season spent focusing on women's swimsuits, cute lounging clothes and the top ways to increase your bust, I think it's high time to pay a little attention to the masculine side of things.

From cowboys to glamour girls, it seems that everyone's got a place for jeans in their lives. After all, is there anything that makes a backside look better than a well-fitting pair of blue jeans? Read on for tips on how to make the best of what you've got and find the creme de la creme of web-based denim.

The times, they are a-changing, and so, some women wish, would their appearance. A recent study (see note) showed that 89 percent of women want to change their appearance, but only 39 percent have ever even considered going under the knife to do it. If you're among the majority looking to shake things up in the looks department, there is temporary help aplenty.

At one point during last year's Super Bowl, 99.9 million people were glued to their TV sets. Now, the NFL doesn't have quite that many viewing fans each week, but there is a passionate and dedicated group who plans their weekends around it. If hiking, spiking, and running the ball is your idea of a good time, read on for tips on how to get your whole family in the game.

With increasing airline fees consistently making the news, some people are skipping air travel to avoid the hassle and expense -- and who can blame them? But if you're still compelled, by force of adventure or terms of employment, to take to the air, consider a few products that may help ease any travel pains.

Many, many people have done their back-to-school shopping for already and, well, congratulations to them. They should stop reading now and enjoy the particular peace of mind that only the well-prepared can.

But this column is for my people; the last minute, still-need-to-find-a-great-deal people. Here are some tips:

It may feel like summer vacation just began, but millions of you on-top-of-things shoppers are already doing your back-to-school shopping. I say, if you're contributing to the $7.9 billion going to K-12 clothing alone, at the very least spend wisely and shop stylishly.

There are few things worse than hearing, "You look tired."

So, if the time is right, take matters into your own hands and trade in that lumpy bed for the mattress of your dreams. Since this can be a confounding process, I called in Cindy Wenger, vice president, specialty bedding for Sealy, for a little expert help. Here's the 411:

Summer time! Fun time! I-have-GOT-to-get-a-handle-on-this-hair time!

Women have the shorter skirts, shirtless days abound for men and everyone has bathing suits and the body-hair issues they bring up to contend with. It's a veritable minefield, but read on for some innovative and, hopefully, helpful products.

Want to Wear Short Shorts?