If there's one phrase I hate more than douchebag (although it's a close call) it would have to be - "I can't afford that." It drives me bonkers! Most people CAN afford "that," they just choose not to (right Evan?). It's a big difference if you think about it.

Saying you can't afford something gives all the power to a magical object out there looking to tease you. It knows you want it, but guess what - You can't have it! "Hah!" it laughs to itself. Little do they know how wrong they are. Sure, some things really are off limits (mansions, private jets, playboy bunnies) but the majority of stuff IS attainable - we just don't desire 'em enough to trade our money for the other things we could do with it. We've got houses to save for and debt to pay off, ya know?

We are the ones who decide where our money goes and how to prioritize it, not some $50 tee or 60" flat screen. So tell those jackals to back off. They're not in control of us, WE are. We may secretly lust after them, but we're not about to wreck our financial goals for the quick high... at least not today ;) And even if we did that would still be okay because it would be OUR choice - not theirs. We're the empowered ones here, it's important to remember that.

But before you nix it from your vocabulary (because I know you will now, right? RIGHT?), let's get these objects out in the open for everyone to see! We're not afraid of them - we just prioritize our money! We like money, and we like having options. So pray tell, what is something YOU can afford but choose not to? Here are some of the answers my V.I.P. Crew holler'd with:

• New cars, mountain bikes, Louboutins, flat screens, computers, $300 jeans, soda makers (what the?), canoes, golf clubs, fishing boats, blenders, sewing machines, furniture, Wiis, hair cuts, and on and on and on...
  

There's nothing wrong with prioritizing our money guys. It's time to empower ourselves and acknowledge we hold a lot more buying power than we let on! We're rock stars, and we're proud to spend intelligently ;)

Labels: get motivated, get your brain right, money management, saving, shopping

You know the times when you've got something wayyyy cheaper than it should have been? And not because there was a discount, but more like a mistake?

Well, we had another of these last weekend and wondering what you would have done ;) We can't could go back and change it or anything, but it's always a fun topic to discuss on personal finance blogs. (in fact, it was a similar article from I Pick Up Pennies that reminded me of this)

The Item in question: Bocce Balls

While the Mrs and I were returning all our holiday gifts that didn't pass the test last weekend, I came across a set of bocce balls! And not just regular ol' bocce balls, but Eddie Bauer sleek ones ;) I wasn't specifically looking for them or anything, but when I saw they are marked down to $27 from $40 I got excited! I've been playing a lot with my boys lately and thought it would be cool to pick up a set and introduce it to my family - esp during our yearly beach trips. (If you've never played bocce on the sand, you've gotta try it! So fun.)

The "Situation:"

When we went to pay for these magnificent set of balls (that's what she said?) they rang up as $7.99! And even odder, as "Socks." Now, obviously they weren't socks so we asked the cashier to take it off and try again. So she did, and it again showed up as socks for $7.99. We explained to her yet again that something was wrong, but she was just like "it must be on sale even more," and some of the people in line also started commenting like "Wow, you got a great deal there!" No one seemed to care, and all parties were content on us just going about our merry way. So we did. It wasn't until we got to the car when we realized someone had literally TAPED the bar code off from a ripped package of socks and pasted it there on the bocce set. WTF? We thought about going back and trying again (for the 3rd time), but we drove off instead.

Are we bad people?

I'm about 1 for 3 right now with these things (the first was taking gas @ 33 cents, and the other was going back to pay for a skipped beer charge), and each one of them seem to have the same variables going on - the cashier messes up, we bring it to their attention, and they either fix it or they don't. I feel like we *should have* gone back and tried AGAIN with this one, but at what point do you just say F it and move on?

Labels: bargains, in the real world, morality, shopping

On Fridays, it's beer ;) haha...okay okay, it's really pizza. BUT, if you were ever wondering when to buy other important things (say, like houses, cars, electronics) then it's a good thing you're here! But only if you're good at planning and waiting for when the time's right.

Check out this sweet graphic I was forwarded by one of my newsletter readers (thx Kelly!):


According to LifeHacker, these are the Best Times to Buy Anything, All Year Round! I'm neither patient, nor a good purchase planner, but it's good to keep in the back of our minds, no? Maybe download the high res version and save for later use? If you know of any hardcore frugalites you could always sneak onto their computer and save it as their wallpaper ;) I bet they'd love that...

You'll have to click on over to view the products in detail by month, but here's a condensed version for for ya (pay attention to the current Winter things):

• Best things to buy in WINTER: Air conditioners, gas grills, houses (for price), luggage
  
• Best things to buy in SPRING: TVs, houses (for availability), boots & winter gear
• Best things to buy in SUMMER: Big appliances, furniture, laptops, cars
  
• Best things to buy in FALL: Shrubs, trees, and bulbs (that you can store), car parts, wedding dresses, HDTV and home theater equipment.

Makes sense to me! Most of these are off-seasonal items. And as LifeHacker found out, also times when "sales are slow, when new products are just about to roll out, or when every single retailer is selling at a discount." Now I just gotta remember this stuff!

Labels: bargains, money hacks, shopping

This is a guest post by Daniel Packer

"I walked home to save bus fare."
"Gee, you could have saved a lot more by not taking a taxi." - old joke


We make a huge deal about the amount we save on ordinary items. "I bought this $4,000 TV for only $2,800. I saved $1,200!" I hate hearing that. Big deal. In that case I saved $1,000 by not spending $1,000 on lottery tickets.

This line of thinking leads us to think that what's really important is how much we spend, not how much we save. Who cares if you saved $5 a month by getting "free" HBO if it meant upgrading to the premium service which included a sports package you didn't really need but also came with a $15 price tag?

If you're spending money, you're spending money. Not spending even more isn't a big accomplishment. I am not going to pat you on the back.

The only time I can think of when I actually saved money is when I negotiate. When I haggled down the price of my haircut, I was ready to pay $20, but getting it for $15 was just a bonus. After years of my family being on the $160 phone plan, I negotiated it down to under $100. I wasn't overpaying, I was simply paying what everyone else was paying. But by doing some research and negotiating with the customer service representative, I was able to cut costs while still getting the same service. In these types of situations, we actually save money that we would have otherwise spent.

People need to find a better way of calculating how much they are saving. Instead of adding up everything they could have spent minus what they actually spent, we need to focus on what we're really saving: The percentage of take-home salary that we put in various accounts. In this case, all that matters is what we save, not how much we spend. Who cares if we had $300 in restaurant expenses for the month if we have a fully funded emergency fund and contributed the maximum to our retirement accounts? And that's what really counts.

After all of your expenses (housing, utilities, food, shopping, etc.), are you saving the 10-15% of your paycheck you planned?

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This is a guest post from Daniel Packer over at Sweating The Big Stuff. Daniel writes about negotiating, budgeting, and saving, while maintaining a high quality of life. To read more, subscribe to his feed or follow him on twitter.

Labels: guest post, saving, shopping

I've been meaning to play this little game for a while, but my lack of memory and A.D.D-ness has stipulated differently.

These exercises are awesome because they get you to stop and *evaluate* your true spending habits - something we tend to glaze over every now and then (and which I blame on excitement and bargains!). Regardless of the culprits, I'd like you to play along here and be as open and honest as possible. There are no right or wrong and answers of course, but if you catch yourself typing out numbers that shock you, it might be best to rethink your habits ;)

Okay, I'll go first....here are my answers along with Krystal's and Fabulously Broke's (the originators of the game, of which I edited to include guy versions so that I may participate...I haven't worn a dress in quite some time, you know.) This is how much I would honestly, and at the very MOST, spend on:

CATEGORY Purse (or Wallet): Winter jacket: A pair of (knee-high) boots: Formal dress (or suit): Pants (inc. jeans): Computer: Tennis Shoes:

J. Money $20 $100 $40 $100 $40 $1,500 $40

Krystal $200/100 $350 $250 $300 $150 $3,000 $250

Fab. Broke $200 $400 $300 $200/$100 $50 $1,000 $50

As you can see, I don't like spending that much money on things. But, I also NEVER ever EVER pay full price either. If it's not on sale by at least 20% (and usually 50%), I won't think twice about buying it. At least when it comes to clothes/electronics/etc. So that means I'm still getting valuable products for my money, not *cheap* ones. Sometimes you can't get away with it for groceries or lunches and other things that rarely fluctuate, but for most others you can. You just have to be patient and have some self-control ;)

Your turn! How much would you spend on some of these guys?

Labels: shopping

My first radio interview, can you believe it? The theme: Be prepared for Boxing Day. Which is apparently a huge shopping day in Canada ;) Here, you'll know it as December 26th - or the day after Xmas, aka my birthday. So while I wasn't able to listen to these clips scattered around Canada last week, I did get my hands on the mp3!

But before you check it out, I gotta give mad thanks to Scott Simpson who's not only a long-time reader of this blog, but put together and DID this interview with me. So thanks for the opp my good sir! And for anyone who likes off the wall crazy music, check out some of his songs he's made - they're hilarious, in a good way ;)

Now, for your listening pleasure, here are the clips! (I wonder if I sound like I type?)

(if the player doesn't show up, click here to listen)

Labels: in the media, shopping

Guest post by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval

As the authors of THE POWER OF NICE and THE POWER OF SMALL, we know first-hand how our small, kind actions can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others, and consequently our own. And contrary to what you might think, things as seemingly trivial and simple as making small talk with a stranger can have life altering consequences.

Don't believe us? Just listen to Sandy and Annamarie tell their story:



From holding the door for a coworker, to making casual conversation with the cashier at the corner store, the opportunities to effect positive change are all around us, and you can discover them, too. The key is to shift your outlook and retune your focus from the big picture to the small details... and the holidays are a perfect time to start.

Sure, hitting the mall and loading up your shopping bags full of fancy toys, designer clothes, and high-tech electronics is fun and feels good, but we believe that making small, kind gestures as a token of affection can feel even better. In fact, by harnessing the power of small, you can make a little go a long way and discover that sharing holiday cheer with friends and family doesn't have to cost a thing. So, whether or not you're pinching pennies this season, why not try these tips for a SMALL, NICE holiday?

Write a letter.

When we were reading this month's Real Simple Magazine, we came across an idea from a reader that really hit home. Each year, in lieu of a store-bought gift, she writes a heartfelt letter to each of her relatives, expressing her feelings of thanks, love, and respect. Although inexpensive, the looks on each of the recipients' faces year after year show how valuable the letters really are.

Offer your services.

If you're a great cook, why not become a personal chef for the day? Love kids? Channel your inner Jo Frost and become a "supernanny" for the night. To make it more festive, design your own "gift card" on your computer or by hand, redeemable any time. Giving your friend or relative (especially a busy mom or dad) a bit of time to relax is a gift you can be sure they will appreciate!

Call an old friend.

With the popularity of online social networking, reconnecting with your long-lost friends is as easy as clicking "search," but once you've found each other, why not give him or her a call instead of writing on his or her wall? The opportunity to catch up over the phone will raise both of your spirits.

Make a donation.

Show your loved ones that you care about the issues that matter to them by making small donations in their honor to charities you know they support. With just a few dollars, you can make a real difference to non-profit organizations of all kinds while letting your friends and relatives know you're listening.

So this year, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of blowing your budget on lavish gifts for all of your friends and family, remember that there are other less expensive yet just as meaningful ways to show your generosity. By harnessing the power of the little things, this holiday season and throughout the year, you'll find you're well on your way to creating a nicer way of life for you and all of your family and friends.

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Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval are the CEO/Chief Creative Officer and President, respectively, of the Kaplan Thaler Group and the co-authors of the bestselling books Bang! and THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness. Their newest release, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, debuted on the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestseller lists and is available in stores now. You can catch up with them on their blog, follow them on Twitter, or find them on Facebook.

Labels: charity, holidays, life, saving, shopping

It's funny, the older and wiser I get, the less stuff I feel like replacing. I mean, if they get the job done I say keep on using them baby! Why get rid of old stuff just because it's a little out of style?

No one LIKES to go out and buy new stuff when they're forced too - say, when your refrigerator breaks down or the dryer gives out - but upgrading for the hell of it has always seemed a bit wasteful to me.

Plus, I also like to think it helps with my newly-found minimalistic ideology (which is a lot harder than I originally thought, btw). By making use of all the stuff we've already got, we're not forced to go out and bring in NEW things just to keep up. I'm still in the baby steps of labeling what IS and what ISN'T important in our house, but I did come across a handful of items that my frugal side can be proud of :)

Here are 5 things I still hold onto even though they're super old and super out of style:

1. My hand-me-down mattress. From my parents. Who probably slept on it before I was even born...which means they...uhhh...change the topic! CHANGE THE TOPIC!
2. My $15 hell of a sale Craigslist table & chairs. Because I mean, they were $15 dollars! For an entire dining room table - WITH chairs! Which I am sitting on right now (just one of them, not all 4) along w/ the table (now "blogger desk") which I am happily typing away on at this very moment. Sure it's halfway sanded off and colored in two hues, but you know what? It still works just as good as it did 5 years ago! And you know what else? It was only FIFTEEN dollars.
3. A halfway framed Skyline of NYC. I say halfway framed because it was full of broken glass when I rescued it on the street corner years ago (which I cleaned up), but I kept the framing part around it in place. It's since been featured on 5+ walls over the course of 5+ moves so far!
4. A rusted pizza pan - This is probably the silliest of all the things we continue to use because it's the easiest to replace! But again, it still works like a charm when cooking our pizzas and covering our skillets (we use it as a lid and also a hot plate for almost everything we cook! haha....). It's pretty much our go-to pan.
   
5. My 3-piece vintage suit. I bought this bad boy or $18 bucks at a Salvation Army and have worn it to pretty much every Wedding and other fancy pants events (literally) since I've owned it. You know that guy from The Mentalist? I like to think I look like him when strutting around in it ;)
   

And honorable mentions goes to my awesome, yet horribly ugly, green velvet chair, my 15 year-old trunk, and my favorite ragged shirt w/ 10+ holes which are now a part of my nightly pajamas.

The point of all this, of course, is that there's nothing wrong with holding onto stuff that's as old as our grandmothers. If you can maximize their usage - great! Keep that replacement money in your pockets and let it save up until you *really* need a newer thingamabob. The longer you can resist, the bigger your chances of growing that nest egg!

Labels: frugality, shopping

It's true, they're awesome. And they also want to give you two $25 gift cards! Well, they actually gave 'em to me to so I can blog about my experience, but I thought I'd pass them along to you instead ;) I don't need any free money to pimp them out - I already love them! T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have always been some of the best places for frugal rock stars to shop.

Plus, I'm on a record for the least amount of stores visited this year. Which will unfortunately be broken as soon as I start shopping for Xmas in a bit...bleh.

But back to the free gift cards! According to the National Retail Federation, the average family is planning on spending $682 this holiday season - but if you win of these $25 gift cards, you'll only need to spend $657! (Oh joy!) That number seems pretty high to me anyways, so hopefully you find ways to cut costs even more (may I suggest making things, or gifting your "services"?) Either way, I have two $25 gift cards to give to someone - one for T.J. Maxx, and the other for Marshalls. If one of these sound good to you, please answer this question:

What's a good gift for a 20-something guy? (I need some ideas for myself! haha...)

1. Drop a comment with your answer.
2. Tell me WHICH card you want. (I will divide up the entries per card.)
3. Leave some way to be contacted! Blog, twitter, email (name (at) email (dot) com works)

That's it my friends! Enter by midnight on Friday, and I'll draw up the winners via Random.org and then post them up HERE on this very same post (so bookmark it or check back later, or just see if I contact you ;) ). Here's to great bargain shopping!

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PS: If you sing, they're also giving away a $5,000 shopping spree if you submit a video and win.
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*CONTEST OVER* And the 2 winners are.... Kara for the T.J. Maxx Card, and Investing Newbie for the Marshalls Card! Congrats guys! And thanks everyone for participating :) We've got a HELLUVA great giveaway lined up for next week so get excited!!!

Labels: giveaways, shopping

Today marks a special day. A day when men get to make fun of women, and women try to make fun of men (they do like to try, don't they?).

Yup, welcome to the Battle of The Sexes my friends! Brought to you by Debt Ninja, Fabulously Broke, Krystal at work, and yours truly - J to the motha f'in Money.

Today's topic: Why being the opposite sex is bad for your financial situation.

I must admit, at first I was a little leery about doing another man vs. women post since I'm a huge fan of the ladies (ow ow!), but after Fabulously Broke started talking smack I got my game face on and now here we are - laughing about how much money you women blow on shoes! (and by women, I mean the "average" women, not you fine frugal folks, right?). If I had a dollar for every pair of shoes my lady friends have, I could have gone three rounds of my $100 Lottery Project!

I did a little recon work and realized your closets are slammed full of these bad boys. I knew you had more than us cavemen do, but good golly o'molly - it's like a miniature mall in there! High heels, low heels, rain boots, snow boots, shoes falling apart, shoes that have never been worn, sandals, slippers, ballet shoes, what the what? As stunning as they make you feel (and look, I will admit), women sure like giving up the money for 'em.

In fact, it's even more mesmerizing lining up the differences like so:

MEN Pair of tennis shoes (2 maybe?) Pair or two of dress shoes Pair of boots Pair of sandals Pair of cleats

WOMEN Pair(s) of running shoes Pairs of casual sneakers (3) Flats (at *least* 5 pairs) Wedges Classic black pumps Low heels mid-sized heels high-heels (black, 2 pairs) high-heels (non-black, 3 pairs) Strappy dress shoes Open-toed dress shoes Dress boots (black) Dress boots (brown) Stripper boots Rain boots Snow boots Ugg boots Boots without heels Boots that don't even look like boots Gladiator sandals Flip-flops Platform sandals Mules (wtf?) Clogs Ballet slippers (even though not IN ballet) Comfy slippers

When it comes down to it, the average women spends a crap ton on shoes - much less than us man species. And on underwear too come to think of it (lingerie anyone?). Unfortunately I must stop there for fear of retribution from the Mrs....It has certainly been a while since I last picked her up something purrty. Which, btw, is something I firmly believe in men taking care of every once in a while. Nothing says I Love You like some black laced undergarments ;)

So, women of the internets, what say you about these shoe habits? Am I horribly off-base? Are you at least picking them up on 50%+ discounts? (Please say yes...please say yes)

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After you comment, be sure to check out the other battlers of the sexers today - I'm sure they have something just as feisty to say about us behemoths:

- Debt Ninja: Boys rule, girls drool
- Fabulously Broke: How men cost women more money (hah!)
- Krystal at Work: Who spends more - men or women?

Labels: men vs women, shopping

That's what a friend told me the other day when I mentioned I blog about money ;) It's such a simple line that I couldn't resist sharing... "If you can't pay for it, don't buy it." Yes, I like that.

The only problem with these sexy one-liners, though, is that it's much easier to say/think than to actually DO. Or hold yourself accountable for that matter. What does "I can't pay" really mean to you? That you don't have enough cash in your pocket? That your credit cards are maxed out? That you're over budget and afraid J. Money will yell at you (I wouldn't, but I like the way you think)? There are a ton of ways you can opt out here by simply saying it doesn't apply to you.

But what if we cut up a sticky and plopped it right there in your wallet or purse? In big black sharpie it would read "Sure you want to buy that?" What do you think would happen if you saw that every single time you took out a credit card or dug for cash? I know it would get ME to stop and think for a quick second or two. I'll probably continue on buying whatever it was I wanted 95% of the time, but at least then it's a conscious decision I'm making ;)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that these awesome sound bytes & ways of thinking are great to ponder from time to time, but we'll usually forget it the second we click away. You make it into something actionable though, and you never know what might happen!

Labels: advice, debt, shopping

Don't you just love all these crazy named-days?! Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Shipping Monday, it's marketing brilliance at its best. I was trying to get away from this myself, but it's kinda hard when you're personal finance blogger ;) So instead of fighting it, I figured I'd at least share some of the tips I think might actually help you! My all-time favorite being Black-Friday.net.

I plan on skipping the early part of Black Friday myself, but since I love some good drama I can't resist all of it...I'll probably hit up the usual suspects around noon and see what happens. Best Buy & Target are always fun cuz crap is flown all over and all the associates look like zombies. haha...I don't know why that amuses me.

Back to the Black Friday Tips

There's a killer book I was recently made aware of called "Retail Hell: How I Sold My Soul to the Store Confessions of a Tortured Sales Associate" by Freeman Hall - a former handbag manager at Nordstrom's. Apparently he knows bad behavior well, routinely dealing with shoppers who try to return worn handbags filled with used tampons and braziers, splatter fitting rooms with bodily fluids, and who cheat, lie and beg to get the almighty discount (hah!).

Here are some of my favorite tips from the book...and mostly because they're funny:

Case the Place & know what you want ahead of time - Check out the store the day before Thanksgiving (that's today!) so you can make a beeline to the items you've coveted. Talk to sales associates to get the low down on what will go down. Also, not everything is on sale during Black Friday. The best deals are advertised because the stores buy them in bulk.

Bring Your Ads If You Want To Price Match - Target and Walmart are offering the same exact printer, but Target is selling it for $10 cheaper, and you're at Walmart. Unless you have a copy of the ad to prove it, Walmart WILL NOT PRICE MATCH. Unfortunately, they're not just going to take you at your word and give you the item without proof. So if you forget the ad and the cashier hasn't been provided with a copy, expect to pay the higher price.

***Shop Gladiator Style - You are going into sale war. You are a shopper on a mission - think of this day as the Olympics of shopping. Leave uninterested spouses and children at home and bring teenagers who can run fast. (Gladiator shoes not recommended.)

Do the Black Friday Google - Don't have the time to go through the papers? Can't remember who has what from the ads you saw on TV? Do the Black Friday Google. There are hundreds of websites with Black Friday sale information, like www.black-friday.net where you can peruse the latest sale ads and updates at all the stores. You can also go to your favorite store's website for the sale skinny like www.target.com/blackfriday

Make Friends with an Associate - It's the best way to get the inside scoop on everything. A day or two before Black Friday, check in with them. Often times, they have been briefed on the exact location of all the hottest items their store will be selling, and how many they have. They usually know the quickest way to get from one to department to another. Tell them what you're after. Listen to their advice. Plan your strategy.

Have a Black Friday All-nighter Party - Afraid you won't wake up at 3 am to get in line? Then don't go to bed! Stay up and have a Black Friday All-nighter Party with friends! Make Black Friday-tinis with vodka, blackberry brandy, black raspberry liqueur and lemon twist. And you may not have to wait too long, as some outlet stores actually open at midnight on Turkey Day. Shop all night - sleep all day!

Be wired, not tired - If decide to drag yourself out of bed at 3 am, make sure you energize with massive amounts of caffeine. You know your limit. Maximize your jittery potential without needing Mylanta. Have snacks with you or hit the drive-thru before you get in line. It's going to be a long morning and you don't want to spend it in the bathroom with coffee stomach.

Put it in park fast - Don't waste time circling the lot eight times in hopes of getting a coveted location. It will only take away from time you could be using to get those great deals. As a plus, taking a distant parking space can help you walk off the half a turkey you ate yesterday.

Stampede tip - If you find yourself in an unruly crowd, try to make your way to its edge, where the flow is lighter. Stand straight with feet firmly positioned. Stay calm and conserve oxygen and energy by not yelling or screaming. Brace your arms out in front of you, creating an air pocket for protection. If you see someone down, try and help them up. Or try blocking other people from walking over them.

***Build Team Black Friday - Find out what stores your friends are going to and build a Team Black Friday. See who needs what. Split up with lists and hit different stores. It can save time and win you your sale prize.

Leave Dead Weight Behind - Leave uninterested spouses and others at home and bring teenagers who can run fast and be bribed.

Stay Black Friday Focused - Shop the advertised necessities. Things that aren't on sale or the hot items of the year will still be there tomorrow. So hold off on buying the groceries and underwear until later. Every moment you spend picking out socks for Aunt Gertrude is a moment you could be missing out on a $5 microwave.

Leave your Black Friday Diva at the door - Kindness and a smile go along way. Sales associates will be more willing to help you if you treat them nicely. They might give you a coupon you don't have or inside info on shipments. Being rude, snappy and taking a sales associate's head off because the store ran out of an item fifteen minutes earlier isn't going to make it magically reappear, and the only thing you'll get is thrown out of the store.

Don't use Sob Stories and Lying on Sales Associates - Putting on an Oscar performance of how poor little Katie will be so disappointed because she can't have that new Barbie for Christmas isn't going to get you one. Sales associates have heard it all before and they have no magical wand to make your sold out item suddenly appear. At most, all you'll get is "I'm sorry, Katie will have to wait till next year."

Do use Sob Stories on Shoppers - While flirting, crying, begging, bribing, and bullying won't work with sales associates, it may be your perfect Black Friday weapon with other shoppers. If you need that Barbie for Katie, make sure your tears are flowing and you have a lot of cash on you.

Remember "no" means "no" - If the sales associate says they're out of an item, then they're out! Asking the cashier to check, and then asking for a manager to do the same thing is going to waste everybody's time. Including yours. And no, they do NOT hold certain amounts of items in the back for the cashiers/associates/managers. It's the biggest shopping day of the year and retailers aren't going to be holding out on the shoppers by hiding stock in storage. If they say they are out then they are out.

Expect to be touched, pushed, and perhaps even shoved - These sales can at times bring out the worst in people, and often times the words "personal space" cease to exist in favor of getting the best deal on the hottest item. If you're shoved aside because you're moving too slowly for the liking of the person behind you, try to remember that the store can't control it, and often times, unless you've been hurt, won't do anything about it either.

Have a back-up plan to pay - If your credit card is rejected the first time, it's going to be rejected no matter how many times the cashier tries to run it. So make sure you have a back up method to pay for things so you're not going home empty handed. And, no they won't hold everything. And no you shouldn't try to make a run for it.

Hold your Black Friday horses - Be patient at the checkout. You've gotten everything on your list and it's down to the home stretch...but there are 56 people in line ahead of you. Take this moment to relax and collect your thoughts. Focus on your next stop instead of tapping your foot and sighing expectantly. The line won't move any faster.

***Do a Random Act of Retail Kindness - Do something nice for a Sales Associate on Black Friday. Their Thanksgivings were ruined and they are working long hours. Buy them a drink or candy bar. Pick something up off the floor. Or just be friendly. It will make their day - and yours! You will gain Shopping Karma points as well!

Okay, that is all.Black Friday is still 2 days away and I'm already tired of it. The main thing to take away from all this - PLAN AHEAD! You will save hours, if not dollars, when shopping your heart away. And even more importantly, enjoy Thanksgiving with your loved ones :) I will be hanging out w/ the fam taking in lots of good food & gossip, and I hope you do too! God bless everyone!

Labels: one of my lists, shopping

I like random questions like this because it gets you to stop and think about your spending habits. It's also fun to see how you compare to your peers :)

I know some who spend $300+ a month, while others have gone an entire YEAR (or three) without wearing anything new. I seriously don't know how they do it. Blogger Mapgirl just just calculated her amounts and she's only spent $373.98 this year! Incredible. I know we all have different shopping goals and all, but she's a GIRL! How could she beat me? haha...

I don't consider myself a hardcore shopper or anything, but I've def. spent more than $370 for the year. I don't have the patience to sort through all my c/c statements and add them all up, but if I had to guess I'd say I've handed over at least $600 this year. And compared to previous years of $1,000-$2,000, I've surely come a long way.

I have a shopping budget of $100 every month, and about $75 of it is set aside for clothes and accessories (man jewelry and all). And to be honest, I really haven't had the desire to go out and really look for stuff since I gave shopping up last year. The only times I end up looking around is if I have time to kill at the mall or I'm perusing some hot sales at Express or TJ Maxx or somewhere. And even then I usually only buy t-shirts since I wear them to work everyday with a pair of jeans. Luckily, spending $10 or $15 here and there will hardly get me into trouble. It's when I start looking for jeans or shoes that I end up dropping more than I'd like.

Since I budget everything though (in categories - "shopping", "food", "mortgages") I always know roughly what I'm spending. And all the money saved UNDER budget makes for some great motivation :) Plus, since any extra is sent directly to my savings account, I can look forward to spending it on something really important down the line.

Are you happy with the amounts you've been spending on clothes?

Labels: budgets, money management, shopping, where our money goes

This is a guest post from Kim Fusaro. It's geared toward women, but the principles still apply to us men!

I'm probably best known for my bad spending habits - I chronicle them daily as Glamour magazine's wayward personal-finance blogger, Little Miss Fortune. But in my 100-plus posts, I've managed to pick up some pretty good habits. And those are the ones I'm going to share with you.

See, after years of buying expensive clothing I recently learned an important lesson: You can't buy style. When I realized this (and the fact that I couldn't handle the credit card bills that came from all that shopping!) a funny thing happened. I started spending less - and looking better. I still shop (quite a bit!), but I shop smart. Here are the top four rules I play by.

1. Quality trumps quantity for wardrobe staples.

Buying crappy shoes (or handbags or dresses) is so easy. They practically call to you - and they're so friggin' cheap! But six weeks later, the heel snaps off (or the handle breaks or the hem falls out) and the junk you bought with your hard-earned cash is clogging up a landfill. If you love wandering through brick-and-mortar stores (I find it soothing), leave your plastic at home.

When you see something you love, note the brand and style, then go home and find it cheaper on the 'Net. For example, I saw a fab pair of shoes for $120 in a department store. They're a brand I know and love (nice) and they're made from real leather (double-nice). Still, I don't have $120 to spare right now. I took a quick spin on Google's shopping page, where they turned up on Shoebuy.com for $87 with free shipping - getting warmer! A little more digging uncovered a 20-percent off coupon, which brought the grand total down to $70. That's maybe $20 more than two pairs of plastic pumps, but these'll last for years. (For the record, I still didn't buy them!)

2. Don't invest in trendy stuff.

Trends, by definition, don't last. Of course you'd love a motorcycle jacket and a statement necklace and a neon dress right now. But pull them out next fall, and you'll likely be asking yourself, "WTF?" To stave off an electric-pink case of buyer's remorse, pick your favorite trend then embrace it on a smaller scale. Instead of a pricey Day-Glo dress, for example, cinch a neutral-colored shift with a brighter-than-bright belt for a mere $30.

3. Accessorize already, damn it.

Speaking of belts, the fastest way to update any outfit is by adding some baubles and bling. Say, for example, you have four weddings this fall. Start your look with a simple cotton dress ($30); I think gray is more versatile (and less boring) than black. For wedding one, top it with a bright-violet shrug ($20). Wedding two, steal a tip from the September issue of Glamour: Buy a couple yards of wide satin ribbon (around $5 at a crafts store; I'd love an ultra-bright yellow with the gray dress) and cut the ends at an angle to prevent fraying. Wrap it around your waist two or three times, then tie it in a bow or a big knot. So pretty! Wedding three: I'd layer two of these four-strand beaded necklaces ($14). Wedding four: Let's top the dress with a flirty little black cardigan ($30). So there you have it, add your favorite black strappy sandals and you've got four wedding looks for under $100. Phew! (With a blazer and pumps, the dress is work-worthy, too!)

4. Know which beauty goods are worth the splurge.

I'm a sucker for a well-placed advertisement. And no one does ads quite like the beauty industry. You can make me look younger? Thinner, you say? With brighter eyes and smaller pores and miles of flawless skin? Where do I sign up? I've paid top dollar for fancy-pants beauty goods and bought the cheapie stuff, too.

Finally I wised up and asked a real-life doctor what was worth the dough. His thoughts: Don't spend big bucks on fountain-of-youth face wash. It's not on your face long enough to do anything but, well, wash it. Pick one that's pH-balanced, like good ol' Cetaphil. Every day a new miracle berry-emulsion-essence-of-peptide-firming-youth-enhancing ingredient comes out. Stick with products that contain scientifically proven anti-agers: A toner with salicylic or alpha hydroxy acid and a night cream with retinol, vitamin C, or coenzyme Q10. And don't forget the sunscreen.

So that's how I'm pinching pennies and staying pretty. What'd I forget? Do you guys do the clothing-swap thing? Shop online consignment shops? Would you rather have cash than clothing, any day? (That, I just don't get!) Or do you manage to stay $exy without all this shopping? (If so, tell me how!)


--------
Kim Fusaro (aka Little Miss Fortune) blogs for Glamour and has a wicked following (I LOVE her stuff). If you like what you saw, check out her site and show her some love :)

Labels: girl stuff, guest post, shopping

I feel like I want to be a Minimalist right now :) I know it's a lot easier said than done, but in theory it sounds awesome! Fewer things to worry about, less clutter in the house, less maintenance costs, less less less!



I've been thinking about this for over a week now since the Frugal Bachelor started hitting on it. And then even MORE when he linked over to The 100 Things Challenge by the Minimalist King himself - Leo @ Zen Habits. Damn that really got me thinking....what the hell am I doing collecting all this stuff?! Do I even *use* half of it? (answer: no)

Before I get into it all though, here's a great explanation of what minimalism is by ecollo:

"When the term minimalism is used, it often refers to art that is stripped down so it only includes the bare necessities. That same principle applies to the minimalist lifestyle. The idea is to de-clutter the area around you and to avoid accumulating more by simply not buying things you don't need."

YES! I like, I like! Now, anyone who knows me in REAL LIFE would probably tell you that I represent the opposite of minimalism ;) I have frames & art all over my walls, drawers stuffed with trinkets, collections of things I can't give up, boxes of 8th grade notes, etc etc...in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if people mistaken our place for an antique store! Or at least a thrift store. haha...So yeah, this would def. be a challenge for me. But like I said, in theory I'm all about it!

Minimalist Lifestyle = Fewer Things On Mind

As I get older, I'm realizing that the more stuff I have the more stuff I have to WORRY about. I really hate that. I could honestly say that I love 75% of the items I own, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the mental price tag. I mean, how could I appreciate what I really own when I'm in front of the TV or laptop all the time anyways? I dunno...

The other side of me asks me what the hell I'm talking about ;) I LOVE all the artwork and pictures watching over us as we roam the halls. They scream LIFE, HAPPINESS, CREATIVITY - so what's bad about that? Nothing I don't think, as long as I keep and appreciate *those* belongings and instead rid myself of the other junk lying around. I guess that's the first step here - dividing your stuff up into things you absolutely enjoy, and then all others under it. No real gray areas - either you love it or it's "so-so" and it's taking up space. (there's probably a 3rd category of things you *need* like tools and such too, but not sure where that fits in with this lifestyle)

Minimalist Lifestyle = Less Clutter

If the brain power wasn't enough, the physical part is. Every day we go through our front door, see 1,000+ things instantly, and then brush most of it away to concentrate on the items needed that very second. And that's just the first level! If you have 2 more (like we do), the same thing occurs every time you walk through. It's not the end of the world, but I bet your brain would feel a lot better seeing LESS stuff around the house. Or I guess less UNNECESSARY stuff as we have already determined (or at least I did with the art everywhere - if those aren't important to you they go right into YOUR so-so bin).

And guess what? The fewer things you own the less maintenance/upkeep you have to shell out money on! No more fixing unimportant (to you) gadgets, toys, collections, etc etc. I'm telling you, if you could pull it off I bet you'd be a lot happier :)

And having less clutter around the house is just the first half of it all. If you can clean things out, and STICK to it, the desire to buy more and more stuff would diminish along with it. After all, if you keep buying things they'll go right back on the shelves and drawers that you just worked so hard to freshen up, right? That means less money going out the door, and a fatter savings account. Or at least a house full of *must haves* if you subscribe to the "buy something - throw something else out" rule.

Buy Something - Throw Something Out

If you/I can pull this whole minimalist lifestyle off, I think this is a rule that would help us stay on track. Say, for example, you DO get all your belongings down to 500 (or whatever # you choose) and you want to pick up a new such & such. You have to then ask your self - "Will I enjoy, or need, this item more than any other of my 500 things?" If that answer is Yes, then go for it! And then sell/donate the item you want to replace it with. Simple :) If you were Mr/Mrs. Perfect of course.

So what do you take from all of this? Well, it all depends on how happy or not you are with your lifestyle. For me, I could use the de-cluttering. I don't think I could get my life down to only 100 items or a liter bottle full (seriously, that's hardcore), BUT I could certainly cut it in half. Perhaps a 1,000 items challenge? I dunno...I just find this whole minimalism stuff incredibly inspiring.

Labels: goals, life, minimalism, money hacks, shopping

It may not be possible @ all stores, but if you can - start picking up as many winter clothes as your budget permits. My bro just got a great a$$ deal over at Banana Republic due to them clearing shop (he picked up like five $60+ sweaters for only $14.99) I've also seen Gap, Express, and Old Navy unloading a bit too.

You might get last year's "oldies", but most people won't even notice/care for that matter. It's a match made in heaven for us frugal shoppers. Quality clothing at a fraction of the price! Another smart place to look is outlet centers and places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, etc. If you've got one around your hood, I'd also check out Rugged Wearhouse - I've gotten clothes there at 75% off retail, including Nautica jackets for $25 and Armani jeans for only $20!

If you're seeing any other stores cleaning out their inventory, let us know :)

Labels: money hacks, shopping

Ever since I gave you guys up a while back, things just haven't been the same. Call me a little girl, but I miss you guys! Remember when I'd wake up all giddy and full of coffee just waiting to shop? Or when I was so bored that only YOU, my best friends in the whole world, could cure me of my malaise? I really hope you're doing well w/out me.

While I'm a bit saddened by our prolonged silence, you'll be happy to know that the Mrs. and I are doing quite well. I've been filling my time blogging about personal finance over here (a little bit about shopping too, don't you worry), and the Mrs. just finished out her first year of grad school! Can you believe she pulled straight A's? It's all quite exciting, let me tell you.

What's more, our savings have grown quite stupendously and we no longer have any more credit card debt! You see, what I've come to realize over these past 2 years is that I can shop at my own pace without *needing* to shop. It's not as fun as the olden days, but it sure makes for a more peaceful lifestyle. If only you could see how stress-free we are now!

I do miss you all terribly though, and we promise to come visit soon. I wanna hear all about your new products and sales going on! Are you all surviving this economy okay? I really do hope so. Well, I better go and drop this in the mail now friends. We miss you, we love you, and we can't wait to see you all again! Don't forget about us over here...

Your old-time pal,

PS: Do you remember our dear friend Holly? Well, you guys lost the bet - she survived an entire year without shopping one single time! How crazy is that? Please be sure to send her your congratulations, you know how hard that must have been for her.

Labels: life, money management, shopping

I used to just throw 'em out and go shopping again, but now I've got a secret!

Know what your boy J. has now? (it's exciting, get ready...) My very own seamstress! aww yeahhhh bow chicka wha wha! haha....i crack myself up.

But is it wrong that I feel like a total P.I.M.P. paying someone to fix up my jeans? It's seriously the coolest thing ever. I drop 'em off one day w/ big freakin' holes and rips in them, and then a week later they're back in action again! I can't get over it, it's so cool.

Do any of you use someone like this? Did you even know this profession *existed* anymore?! (or am i crazy?)

A year ago I would have cried for a hot minute, thrown 'em out, and then gone shopping for their replacements. Which is all fine and dandy, and I do indeed have to do that with some of my clothes, but when you find the most perfect fitted jeans in the entire world it can be a pain to pick up again - esp. at great deal. I have 3 pairs of Armani Exchange jeans that I found for $20 four years ago (originally priced at $100+) and if it weren't for my new best friend The Seamstress I'd be one sad boy.

Now, before you start hating, I know the most frugal way to work this out is to just sew 'em up myself. But a) I'm a dude. and b) I'm a dude ;) Sure I can learn and figure it out with a little patience, but I've got things to do like blogging and watching reality tv shows on my spare time! And the Mrs. is all hocked up on studying for Grad School so i'm surely not gonna bother her. It would seriously take some time to fix up some of these bad boys - they were torrrrrn apart boy.

So, for a cool $35, I now have 4 "brand-spankin'-new" jeans again (woohoo)! That comes out to what, $8.75 per pair? Not too bad, it would cost AT LEAST that to find just one pair again. And now my prized possessions have some more flair to 'em ;) So that's my secret for the day - I pay someone to fix my clothes. It could be worse!

Labels: awesomely awesome, frugality, shopping

Awww yeahhh! Not only is it Boxing Day (although not really sure what that is?), but it's also a day of mad discounts and sales all over town :) And what better time to shop than when your pocket is full of present money?

Of course, having your birthday right after the man upstairs DOES have its drawbacks, but there are a lot of pros too: You're always around friends and family, everyone's all chipper and in a good mood, and you have like a kajillion days off of work!

I really wouldn't change it for the world....although funnily enough i do remember changing it to November 26th growing up. This way people would actually ATTEND my bday parties, and i never got gypped on the old 2-for-1 present deal and all. Hey, you gotta be crafty when you're a kid, right?

So yeah, i've really come to enjoy this shopping tradition over the years. It's pretty sweet because i can pick up anything that i didn't get the day before - and at usually a lower cost! We usually hit up my favorite stores first- TJ Maxx, Rugged Wearhouse, Target, the mall - and then take a time out and share a nice family lunch together downtown. It really does come close to a "perfect day" :)

And on that note, i leave you all to a very merry Friday! May your weekend be full of love, and your pockets full of the blingy bling. J. Money.......OUT!

Labels: awesomely awesome, holidays, shopping

I almost forgot! Today, December 18th, 2008 is FREE SHIPPING DAY :) Check out http://www.freeshippingday.com/ and click on the merchant to get it while it's hot. Sometimes it pays to be procrastinators! And most stuff is guaranteed by Xmas eve too...

Labels: bargains, shopping

Maybe now that i have a budget set up i'll actually start BUYING the presents :) Seriously, i haven't bought a single thing yet...i don't know if it's because i'm lazy (the most likely), uninterested, or just plain tired right now, but i'm hoping to shake it off soon...

The good news is that i was able to muster up enough energy last night to put together a decent list of ideas! So i'm thinkin' this weekend will be the start, and possible end, of my Xmas shopping this year. Well, at least for everyone but the Mrs...i always have to put a bit more thought into hers due to the whole husband stuff and all ;)

I've also decided to keep being generous this year, despite the world crumbling around us. I still can't afford a crazy amount of gifts - i'm actually hoping to get a bonus this year to help pay for it all! - but to me, it's a huge chunk of change. Here's what we got:

As you can see, $50 is the sweet spot around here...it used to be $20 but i find that it takes wayyyy more work to get some goodies under that range, and usually i can only find 1 good thing at that price. With $50, i can get a few things and usually have enough to make stuff as well which i like :)

And the "random" section comes in nicely so i don't have to go through one of those, "Oh $hit, i have to spend MORE money now cuz i forgot that thing/person!" I find budgeting it in keeps me calm, and then even happier if i don't use it!

So where do i fit in with the average person this holiday season? Well, luckily my girl Erin over at TrueCredit.com sent me some interesting stats they conducted with Zogby International about holiday spending this year. Check it out (with commentary):

• The majority of U.S. respondents (54%) plan to spend less this year than they did last year. hum...def. not me, these #'s are almost exactly the same as last year.
• An overwhelming majority (73.3%) will use cash and savings to finance their holiday purchases. not me again! still on the ol' credit card gameplan...although technically i'll be paying it off in cash next month.
• Most people (44%) are controlling their overall spending by shelling out less money per person this season. yeah, that makes sense...def. one way of doing it
• Nearly one-third of respondents (32%) will buy items on sale. That's it??? that surprises me. every single thing i'll buy will be on sale, believe you me!
• 2 in 10 people will “set and adhere to an overall spending limit”. That's it??? maybe they're just talking about those who will "adhere" to it ;)

Alrighty, well that about covers it. Now let's just hope i kick it into high gear and go make something of myself, eh? Good luck out there everybody, you can do it too!!!

Labels: budgets, gifting, shopping

Now that's an attention grabbing title! haha...I've been coming across a lot of hooplah lately surrounding the idea of gift cards lately, so I figured i'd drop my own 12 cents. (I don't know why people say "2" cents, i don't think there's any logic to it is there? I'm changing it to "12" cents)

Did you know that billions of dollars go UNUSED by not cashing in these cards? The numbers vary depending on where you're reading, but about 10% of them never make it out alive. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it IS basically throwing cash in the trash. Those poor Washingtons never stood a chance :(

"There is no way a $100 bill would sit in my drawer for a year," said Bob
Butler, founder of Cardavenue, a Web site for buying, selling and swapping gift
cards. "But people will let a $100 card do that. . . ." - blog.cleveland.com

SO TRUE! I don't think i've been that bad in the past, but I've definitely slipped and let a couple expire over the years. I just forget, but at least i'm not the only one ;) When it comes down to it though, "they" say it's better to spend it sooner than later. Especially now a days when a handful of companies are going under (The Sharper Image, Bombay Company, etc) where the plastic is worth as much as a pile of turds.

But what if you can't stand the store? Or it's too far a drive, or you really don't need anything?

Don't like your card? Trade it in!
According to good ol' Butler quoted above, "If you don't want this money, go get other money. ... I think our biggest issue is, people don't realize there are alternatives." I couldn't have said it better there Bob.

I, personally, had not idea there were places online where you can trade them in! And sometimes even for cash! Freakin' genius if you ask me. Here are a few places offering such services, courtesy of the same business blog over at cleveland.com:

Cardavenue.com: Fee: 50 cents plus 3.95% from sellers and traders and shipping.
Leveragecard.com: No fees. Users pay shipping and subject to marketing efforts.
Plasticjungle.com: Fee: 10% for buyers and sellers; 35% to 45% if selling for cash.
Swapagift.com: Fee: $1.99; 30% to 40% of value.

I haven't tried any of them myself, but i'd love to hear if anyone else has!

Don't want to trade it in? Re-gift it (*gasp!*)
I really hate to admit this, and i came close to leaving this part out, but it IS an idea :) If you're not one to buy things just for the sake of it, why not re-gift it? Or even more, what if your budget is tight and you're about to attend 5 weddings?

Well, for the first time ever, I used a gift card last night to buy gifts for someone else. We had $200+ in Bed Bath and Beyond credit, and we really don't need anything else since we got so much from our wedding. The Mrs. has been dying to use it for the handful of weddings we have coming up, so I finally just gave in...and I feel great about it! Our budget is still in tact, and we didn't let the money just dry up.

Yes it would be better to use it on yourself since the giver of it probably wanted you to do so, but if it makes you happier using it for others I say go for it. If the giver ever asks what you picked up on their behalf, just tell them "financial peace of mind". haha...

The point is, you should really just DO SOMETHING with them and not let them rot away (as I so elegantly put it). Someone wanted you to enjoy life a little, and it's about time to make their wishes come true...or at least someone else's ;)

Labels: gift cards, gifting, randomness 3000, shopping

Nickel posed a great question the other day asking "What is your biggest financial vice?" His was eating out 3-4 times a week for lunch, and it seemed the same for many of the other commenters as well. Although my favorite so far is the gambler who lost $20k last year (ouch) - that's definitely a vice alright! But who doesn't love Texas Hold'Em?

So here i am trying to figure out my own biggest vice, and for once in my life i can't place it! I seriously don't spend my money as crazily as i used to. If you were to ask me 6 months ago, I would have no problem coming up with them - TJ Maxx addiction, Eating lunch out 5x week, and lottery tickets to name a few.

The biggest, however, would have been my sporadic splurging! I can't remember all of them, but I'd say i had at LEAST 4 big ones last year. As i mentioned in my ode to splurging article the other week, this included a little bling action & a little electronic action. I'd never take them back (i love those presents to myself!), but i sure as hell haven't splurged this year.

But what about now? Where do my naughty George Washingtons go? Well, if i had to choose one, and you know i do, i'm gonna have to go with Expensive Bananas. That's right buster, you heard me. If I have a strong hankering for one of those delicious beauties, there is no stopping me on how far i'll go to get one.

While they won't ever kill my budget, you'd be surprised at how much they go for in places. Here in DC they range from 75¢ to $1.00, depending on where you get them - a fast food joint, a street vendor, the train station, etc. Unfortunately my craving usually takes place at an airport, where i've been known to drop an entire $1.19 (gasp!).

What about you guys ? Does your financial vice beat mine?

Labels: shopping, splurging

What are the odds? Seriously, i totally made that day up when i posted about it yesterday - how freakin' insane! I literally had no idea whatsoever - it was actually my boy Jonathan over at MyMoneyBlog.com (my all-time FAV pf blogger) who notified me of it. I tip my hat to you good sir.

I followed his advice and googled it, and sure enough it's a *holiday* (or *holidate* as some call it). Here's some interesting info from KOOPERSMITHin' -

NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY [copyright] 1994 slated annually for June 18
Celebrating its 15TH Year in 2008

Celebrated 63 Days after Income Tax Day (April 15TH), this HOLIDATE is designed to jumpstart the Economy (as Recessions have been plaguing Societies since Biblical Times). One will instantly recall the terms of "7 Years of Feast followed by 7 Years of Famine, Hardships and Troubled Times." Abundance vs. Depletion can be classically traced back to Egyptian Days where Shortages were offset by Periods of great Wealth. Some Things don't change, but merely remain in a Cyclical Balance throughout Time. This is the leading Force to be reckoned with.

They even have e-cards made for it! haha... Man ... this is either one silly a$$ coincidence, or i'm the coolest person ever ;) (I'm not looking for an answer on this one).

So Happy National Splurge Day everyone!!!

Labels: randomness 3000, shopping, splurging

I'm tired of my poor friend, the word "splurge", getting so many negative reviews all the time - it's really not fair. What's so bad about giving in every now and then? We can't be rock star savers all the time, it's just not natural (plus it's REALLY boring).

So, in honor of this magical word - I hereby proclaim today the - "It's Okay to Splurge" day!

It's not smart to go overboard with it, of course, but you know what? You sure as hell can do it responsibly, and that's really the key here. Splurging can be VERY refreshing, and bring many a joys into your life ;) I mean, the definition itself is freakin' sexy!

Thefreedictionary.com has it right:

Splurge(splûrj) - (v) To indulge in an extravagant expense or luxury.

Ooh la la, sounds fun! "To indulge" in an "extravagant expense". Man, just thinking about it gets me all riled up. haha ... That doesn't mean that you *have to* go blow money on something crazy, it just means that we take a few seconds to reflect on all of the positive effects of splurging:

• You get to feel alive!
• You get to do/buy/go somewhere new!
• You get to do something you're "not supposed to do" - always fun ;)

If there's been something you've REALLY wanted, and think it'll make you feel sexy, I say go get it! It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow, but you deserve to pick up something you've really been dying for. Just try and not go crazy overboard, ok? And if you need a limit, go with $200.

While I, for once, don't have anything currently on my list to get, here are a handful of items i picked up last year - aka my personal "splurge year". (i'll count the wedding as the only item in '08)

All of these items I wear/use literally every single day:

• Diamond earings - It was about time to replace my cubic zirconias with REAL bling. While i picked them up on a Kohls 60% + 15% + $10 off extra special savings day, i am that much closer to being a baller for real ;) Holler!
  My watch - I wanted a pretty nice one for once, and one that also blings. This time i used a store on eBay and got the hook up with 1/2 off the listed price.
• 62" Tv - What better way to watch reality tv, eh? No need for a flat screen, totally high level for my use, so i got an old school looking "projection screen" type. You know, those bulkier ones that can fit in the corner? Thus, cutting off at LEAST $2k. Oh, and i also applied some giftcards towards it to really knock down the price.

Saving, investing, and budgeting is important for sure, BUT every now and then you have to treat yourself to something you're really excited about - that's what gets you through life baby!

Labels: randomness 3000, shopping, splurging

Update: I FINALLY finished it :)

I MEANT to only spend $30-ish dollars, but i get so caught up when i'm looking around and starting an art project. Every now and then an "image" of something i want to do pops into my head, and i have to do it right away before i forget. Or get lazy, which i often do ;)

In this case, it's a blue/reddish painting on canvas that i'm envisioning. It just really sucks that there's no way to put down EXACTLY how you see something in your mind down on paper. Sorta like when you have those awesome dreams, but you can't ever physically "save" them anywhere (except in your brain).

If someone could please invent a Memory Camera, that would be great. thanks. Anyways, so now that I have this vision or whatever, i took a trip to Michaels to pick up some supplies.

Here is what i was SUPPOSED to get:

1. large canvas
2. paint brush
3. 2 colors of paint

And this is what i ACTUALLY got:

1. large canvas
2. 11 brushes, all diff. shapes and sizes
3. 3 colors of acrylic paint
4. a "sample" box of 10+ colors of oil paint (returned)
5. palate (returned)
6. and a bottle of turpentine (will explain) (returned)

Dang, what am i thinking!!! Here's what: Do i need acrylic or oil paints? Which will work better for what i need? What if i need to paint small strokes vs. large strokes? Do i even HAVE enough paint? Will i even get close to my vision? haha....needless to say, i just grabbed a bunch of stuff and will use as needed.

I asked a guy who "looked like he could paint" about the diff. between acrylic and oil, but it's a bit more than i can handle at this point. So i'll prob. end up returning the oil paints (yup!) and the turpentine (yup!) needed for cleaning up, and pocket back the $30 (so expensive!). I'm gonna try and paint using just acrylic if it works out right, so we'll see what happens.

It just goes to show that if you're not careful (or good at averting your eyes), you can spend a LOT more money than you mean to. On a side note, this money comes from my Fun Fund ... so i'm allowed to use it anyway i want, no questions asked :)

Labels: art, fun fund, shopping

MAN, this is a lot harder than i originally expected! It's been easy at work so far, but i realize i am so used to going shopping over the weekends as a form of entertainment :) But hey, one more week into the challenge and i'm still getting A's. You should be proud of me as all day Saturday, Sunday, and esp. yesterday w/ the holiday, i came super close to just hopping in the car and checking out my fav. stores.

It's like when you were a teenager and you LOVED going to the mall to meet friends and all. I am still that way today, except that the mall, although v. fun, has been substituted w/ scattered stores across town.

Usually this would include a nice little route covering 3 thrift stores, and 2 discount stores (like TJ Maxx). I never go overboard by any means, but dropping $50-$100 a weekend on stuff (some would call it "junk") would be no problemo. Not to mention i'd enjoy the 3-4 hours of entertainment value.

It's that feeling of being out and about I suppose, except I pay for it while shopping. You know what i ended up doing instead this weekend? I took a nice walk around our lake, watched a cple movies from Comcast On Demand, my newest addiction!, worked on this bloggy blog, and then escorted my lovely fiancée around town to run some errands. Bare in mind, one errand was at DSW and i saw a freakin' awesome to the max pair of shoes that normally cost $100+, was on sale for $79.99, and THEN on another sale at 40% off! That was a pretty hard one to let go, but i did it. Proud of me?

Here's to challenges & frugalness!

Labels: challenges, shopping

It's Lent season which means .... it's time to give something up! It actually started last Wednesday, but I didn't have my blog up then so let's must pretend we're back in time a bit shall we? And for those who aren't familiar with Lent, it's basically the 40 day time period before Easter where it's customary to "fast" or what i used to call "give up something small that's not hard to do but you'll technically be in the right!" haha ... that was the old me though. These days I like to play by the rules, both for the church AND for the personal challenge :) And I gotta say, it's definitely rewarding.

LAST YEAR I gave up all Sodas! can you believe that?? AND not only did I last the entire 40 days, i went another 3 or so months after w/out fail. After a while it was really easy and I actually didn't mind at all as my body felt great. I was about to extend the goal to a year, but realized I needed to stop making these random challenges just for the hell of it*, and have since limited myself to drinking it on the weekends only.

THIS YEAR I wanted to do something more financially friendly and decided to put myself to the ultimate challenge: NO BUYING RANDOM CRAP. Also known as "discretionary income". This is *huge* for me as I am the king of all kings on thrift store shopping, Craigslist purchasing, and eBay bidding! Not to mention the weekly shopping trips to Express, Rugged Wearhouse, and Ta Ta Ta TJ MAX. I'm one of those people who shop when their sad/happy/energized/or just plain b-o-r-e-d. And no i'm not a girl (but i do love girls! errr ... my fiancée. I love you honey!) I'm also one of those people marketers love as i am attracted to all things blingy and packaged nice.

I guess I should also clarify those things i'm allowed to spend on, especially so I won't try and wiggle my way out of it in the future.

Things allowed: Mortgages, Utilities, Bills, Food, and anything that improves my wealth or brain (such as mutual funds, finance books, magazines, etc).

Things NOT allowed: Gadgets, Lottery Tickets, Artwork, Decorations (why am i capitalizing all these?), furniture, track jackets as i have wayyyyy too many, t-shirts, and anything on Woot.com, sellout.woot.com, or shirt.woot.com which will be extremely hard!

Okay, that about wraps it up. So far i haven't spent a penny on any of these and my spirits are still high. I think this is exactly what i needed to re-organize my finances and get my budget back on track and alive. Funny enough, i also have wayyyyyy more time on my hands.

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*Once on a flight to Greece a few years back I watched "Supersize Me" and decided to see how long i can go w/out eating McDonalds, my FAV. place at the time...to this day i STILL haven't touched a thing from there! Sure I've been to Wendys a few hundred times, but i still feed like The Man :) As of today it's been 1193 days and my record continues to grow...but who's counting?

Labels: goals, religion, shopping