Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. – Harriet Tubman Tomorrow March 1, 2013, we will be celebrating … Continue reading
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{To Buy or To Wait} Is it Time to Upgrade My Phone?
This is a battle on many levels. Droid vs. Droid. Need vs. Is it Really a Need?. Buy vs. Wait. Gloves are up, the bell has sounded, round one has begun! Before I jump in the ring gloves up, let me tell you how I got to myself into internal battle of buy vs. wait. Last night I was unloading the car at my parents’ house how when I realized the front pocket of my CNN hoodie was wet…that’s right, the same front pocket that held my beloved G2 phone. I checked the phone, which wasn’t that wet since I had a protective case, wiped it dry, and settled in at my parents house for a visit. It wasn’t until I looked at my phone 30 mins later that I realized, I had water damage. I immediately opened the only package of rice I could find (black beans and rice), poured it into a ziplock bag, and put my phone in the bag. Sidenote: rice really is a lifesaver and I will forever keep a bag of plain white rice in my pantry for emergencies. I should have left it there, but listening to the advice of others, I decided to try to blow dry the phone…BAD IDEA. My beloved G2 went lights outL. I buried the G2 back in rice…added a box of Caribbean rice for more absorption and a better scent and went to bed. At the point, there was nothing I could do. This morning when I went to check on the phone it appeared to be dead until a few hours ago when it cut back on. I talked to my carrier who told me it could be good to go or it could unexpectedly die again. I have no room for the unexpected when my phone does triple duty as the cell, the home, and the office. What is SHE going to do?
Droid vs. Droid
![galaxy-s3[1]](http://shemakescents.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/galaxy-s31.jpg?w=560&h=422)
Technically, I qualify for an upgrade that will force me to change my plan and have to pay $149 for the phone. Actually, $149 is a great deal I found online because the phone retails at $599 and it is in the store for $300+. However, the great deal is through midnight and I hate rushing into financial decisions…especially when my credit card balance has been going in the wrong direction since the holiday season began. While I love my phone, it does has some issues that were prevalent before the infamous water bottle spill…like being able to maintain a call without the phone restarting itself. So droid vs. droid. The allure of the new and shiny Samsung Galaxy III appears to be calling my name. It does everything my phone does, but more.
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
| G2 | ||
| I like it. | The phone had issues before the water damage | |
| No additional cost. | There are still visible signs of water damage | |
| I know how to use it. | My current plan could change (this could be good or bad). | |
| I just ordered 2 cute phone cases that I got for a really good deal on Amazon.com | I will eventually want/have to upgrade the phone and it was discontinued last year | |
| Samsung III | ||
| It is AWESOME! | I will have to pay for the phone. | |
| I can use it as an hot spot for internet of other devices | My current plan could change (this could be good or bad). | |
| It doesn’t seem difficult to learn since it is a droid too | I feel rushed to make a decision before the sale ends at midnight |
Need vs. Is It Really A Need
This is a big girl battle. As college student, the need/need? conundrum was something I didn’t consider because I didn’t have a mortgage and credit card debt back then. Is this really a need or a high priority want? My dad seems to believe this is a want that will be a need in the future. If water had never spilled on the phone, would I even be entertaining the thought of a new device? Truthfully, no. Does it make a difference now? Possibly, I mean I am taking time out to write a post about it, so it is something that has my wheels turning. But what about the other things on my high priority want list? I have been looking to upgrade my computer for the SMC office which in comparison to the oh so awesome Samsung III trumps the phone.
Buy vs. Wait
Normally people email me questions, but this time I am coming to you. You have my thoughts, you have the pros and cons, what would you do?
Love to hear your thoughts!
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Thank you for visiting! If this is your first time, check out our Money Journal and Coupon Central, to get you started. You also may like to subscribe for FREE updates to receive all the latest tips, tricks, and deals to inspire … Continue reading
{Eat on the Cheap} Healthy Eating on a Budget
I got this question in from a reader who connected with me through my about.me!
Hello there! I am curious, I am wanting to start using the envelope method but I’m wondering how to go about spending the amount given for me in the grocery amount when on a diet. Diets are super hard to stick to especially when you are on low budget. Any advice?
MyKudos to you for making two great decisions eating clean and trying not to go into debt doing so. The envelope system, by Dave Ramsey, is such a wonder tool that has helped me reshape how I think about money. Truthfully, it may take a few visits to the grocery store for you to figure out exactly how much goes into your grocery envelope. My latest goal that I have implemented into my own life is to set realistic goals. Once you figure out how much is realistic to spend for your budget, lifestyle, and family size, then you are really to maintain a consistent amount every check.
My second recommendation would be to plan your meals on a weekly basis and make a grocery list based on the meals you plan to cook. There are a number of sources that provide recipes to help you eat cleaner by planning your meals in advanced. Choose My Plate is a government website that helps you plan motivational menus on a 2000 calorie diet, provides tips to help you save, and suggests foods that are great for your diet. Here is an example of a sample menu for the week. Another great source is Pinterest, which is filled with thousands of recipes from people across the web who share similar tastes and goals as you. Now that you have an idea of what you want to prepare for the week, then it is time to make the all important grocery list. I really like this grocery list from MomAgendga and I recommend never stepping into a grocery store without a completed list.
Other tips to consider:
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Never shop on an empty stomach…it often causes people to over shop and over spend.
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Wear your most fabulous heels to the grocery store: Look good, feel good, right? Well, yes… but wearing your most fabulous heels (which often ends up being the ones that hurt the most) will force you to stay on track so you can get exactly what you need and get out of there so you can get home to more comfy shoes or…no shoes at all. It may sound crazy, but I keep my heels on after work ONLY on days when I have to run errands where I may be tempted to spend!
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Get a shopping/accountability buddy: My good friend, Kema and I used to make our grocery lists and go shopping together. It made the experience fun, we used that time to catch up, and we helped each other stay on target and budget.
For other tips, check out these 10 tips from Choose My Plate on Eating on a Better Budget
What is your favorite budget shopping tip?
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{Kiss & Makeup} I Should Have Tossed My Old Makeup…When?
I am getting a head start on my “out with the old, in with the new” in preparation for 2013. Admittedly, I am a beauty product junkie. I love trying the latest colors in nail polishes, textures in foundations, and scents of the newest perfumes, which is probably why I love Birchbox so much! I’m sure I have plenty of makeup that needs to be replenished and it’s a project I take on when I’m in one of those “toss everything” type of moods, otherwise I feel like I’m throwing my dollars spent on these products…right down the drain. Trends change, peoples taste change, however, the number one reason why this beauty product purge is so important is purely scientific. Like food, the components that makeup everyone’s favorite beauty products eventually goes bad. For those brave enough to continue to use old products, beware…
How long should I keep makeup in my kit?
Mascara: is a must for everyday wear! “This is the makeup item you should be most vigilant about: As the brush is taken out, applied, and put back in the tube, it brings with it any bacteria that has collected along the way”, explains cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer in an article for Allure Magazine. Can you say eww? Don’t wait until your mascara is clunky and hard to get back in the tube, at that point you are risking pinkeye and sties.
Lip gloss/Lipstick: Lip gloss is my second must for everyday wear. On a basic level, I rock the CO Bigelow Mentha lip shine EVERYDAY!!! They run about $7.00 a tube, however I wait until the after Christmas sale from Bath and Body Works and I get the holiday gift set of about 10 tubes for $7.00. I usually grab two packs and they last me about a year. Good thing the shelf life of lip gloss and lip stick is ONE YEAR!
Eye shadows: Without looking in my vanity and makeup kit, I know I have some eye shadows that are in dire need of being tossed. For whatever reason I keep them because I LOVE the color or it reminds me of ….idk, something, or I again, feel bad about throwing away a $20 eye shadow I may have only used twice. But when you think of all the gross bacteria that over time accumulates on your products, it is safe to say that after 3 months, they should be tossed. If you are still feeling bad about tossing eye shadows, check out this alternative for tossing old eye shadows from the blog Never too Much Glitter. This blogger takes recycling to a whole other pretty level. I bet you never thought you could turn eye shadow into nail polish, did you?
Foundation: I only wear foundation on my face for special occasions and when I want my face to be one consistent color. I do, however, use it almost every day as a base on my eyelids. This should be replaced every 6 month to a year. If you wear creamy foundation, you should stay more on the 6 months side of the timeframe.
Nail Polish: Guess what, nail polish does not attract bacteria. You can keep it as long as it is not thick and chunky!!! Whoo hoo!
Operation “Kiss & Makeup” starts this week for me, how about you?
What products do you need to toss TODAY?
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{Wise Words} Your Joy…
{Money Journal} The Pros and Cons to Credit Card Upgrades
On a given week, my mailbox is flooded with credit cards upgrade offers that I immediately place in the recycle bin. It wasn’t until about a month or two ago that I received two separate offers that made me go hmmm…, maybe I should find out more. So off to the bank I went to speak with a representative about the Limitless Card and the Cash Back card.
The Limitless Card
The first offer that intrigued me was one the limitless card, known to me as the Discipline Tester. I sparingly use my card anyway, so a limitless card would actually help boost my credit score because it eliminates the debit to credit ratio for that card. There are several downsides to this type of card, though. For those who are not careful, the limitless factor could entice one to live beyond one’s means; thus, putting the cardholder further into debt. Another disadvantage to this type of card is the higher interest associated with the card… like say around 22%, which would skyrocket even more if you were ever late for a payment. In my opinion, this card is a NO GO!
The Cash Back Card
A cash back credit card is one that offers a percentage spent back to the card holder. It’s great because you can get money back for things you would buy anyway, like gas, groceries, and sometimes travel expenses. It’s also great, because you can have the cash received applied to your credit card bill, into a checking or savings, or in some cases applied to your mortgage. It’s downside- some people get so caught up in the cash rewards that they spend more than they were initially planning on saving. Therefore, you are basically spending money to get a deal…again, NOT GOOD!
Between the two cards, I did choose to upgrade to the cash back card. I found myself briefly falling into the spending trap of the cash rewards card. On a positive note, the cash back rewards seem to be accumulating much faster than the reward points system of my previous card and I will use that money to in turn, pay down my debt. More updates to come as I feel how it is working out.
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{Wise Words} Here’s to Good Women
