Dallas - March 31, 2006

The Ten Is Mightier Than the Sword

Ten Under $10

Alexander Hamilton: coolest founding father and your financial albatross. We found ten unforgettable ways to get by on a ten spot. All in the pursuit of happiness.

1. Classes at Dirt Cheap Yoga are just $8. So much for the high cost of inner peace. (Reverchon Park Recreation Center, 3505 Maple Avenue; 214-227-3610 and Samuell L. Grand Recreation Center, 6200 East Grand Avenue; 214-670-1383.)

2. Remember, kids, safety first. The Cup-a-Cake cupcake holder lets you shake, toss, and turn your sweet without fear. The $2.99 price tag? Icing. (The Container Store, 5203 Alpha Road; 972-458-9228 and 7700 West Northwest Highway; 214-373-3131.)

3. Prettier than a drugstore brand and more fun than a trip to the tub, Apothecurious’s fresh soaps come in organic scents like avocado, chocolate almond, and honeysuckle — and cost only $1.75 an ounce. (2928 North Henderson Avenue; 214-515-9299.)

4. Stop inching along, bookworm. The clever Thumb Thing helps you keep your page for just $3.95.

5. An old-school ice cream soda from Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Soda Fountain is the perfect way to feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The $3.05 price tag is positively ancient. (117 West Hickory Street, Denton; 940-384-1818.)

6. Skip dinner and a movie and go straight for the good-night kiss with the two-sided Joujou lollipop. Cheaper than popcorn. And sexier than rubbing buttery fingers at the bottom of the bucket.

7. A dingy smile is not an umbrella. Alan Stuart’s fancy toothbrush wards off gloom (if not rain).

8. Do the crossword and save the environment with scented Smencils, made from recycled newspapers.

9. Add priceless panache to your table with porcelain napkin rings in whimsical designs like pinwheels, alphabets, sunbursts.

10. Want a better mousetrap? Forget it. Instead, settle for a better mouse pad. These work-friendly creations feature elegant leaves, bright flowers, and intricate patterns.

Financial aid made easy. No politicians required.