Category: Lifestyle
Splurge vs. Save: Fashion Basics Every Woman Should Own
I remember being in college trying to explain to my Dad how and why I spent $300 on a pair of Dolce & Gabbana strappy wedged heeled sandals. I tried to compare my growing shoe collection with his collection of art. Both deserve to be seen, both are an investment, and both, shoes and art, are an expression of personal style. My Dad redirected with one irrefutable point, shoes unlike art don’t increase in value over time. Ugh!! Looking back those shoes are still in great condition, 7 years later, which got me thinking. When faced with the choice to splurge or save, how do you decide?
Personally, I suggest splurging on the basics and saving on more trendy items. Check out my inspirations below!!
SPLURGE
SAVE
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What fashion and accessory items do you save and splurge on? Comment below or on our Facebook wall!
5 Important Tips For Student Banking
Check Your Account Daily
Everyone, not just college students, should check their finances daily. By doing this, you are always aware of exactly how much money you have at all times. Why would you allow someone to know more about your money than you?
Overdraft Protection
Two words… Overdraft Protection. Sign up for Overdraft Protection when you sign up for your account. Doing this will help you avoid penalty fees for going over your limit. I know someone who had about $400 in one month tacked onto her checking statement for overdraft fees and penalties. Obviously, she does not follow step one and two. Learn from her mistakes.
Set Realistic Alerts for EACH Account
The very same person mentioned in the tip above became my inspiration for this one. If your account consistently holds a balance under $100, setting your banking alert for $100 will not help you. Instead, pick an emergency figure that is more realistic for reminding you, hey you need to make a deposit. It will help keep you out of the red.
In the Choice between a Debit and Credit Card- Choose Debit
Debit equals your own cash and credit equals money borrowed plus interest. If you have the money in your account, swipe your debit card!
If Banks Can’t Offer the Basics… Walk Away
If the bank cannot offer you FREE checking, FREE online banking, and most importantly for the student, no minimum balance, then walk away because another bank will.
Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale on Now!!!!
I am seriously in heaven with the Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale for women and kids. Shoes, Clothes, Accessories…oh my! If there is anyone who wants to get me a very early birthday present, here are a few of my favs accessories from the sale. Check them out!!!
Chloe’ Scalloped Metal Trim Sunglasses
Judith Jack “Synergy” Ring
Cara Accessories Fabric & Chain Multi Strand Necklace
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Sneak Peek: DIY Wedding Programs and Dinner Menus
First Draft: The Front of the Program
This is what went to print… (Front Cover)
This is what went to print… back of program
Dinner Menus!!!!
Swap Party: Renew Your Wardrobe on a Budget
I have two words for you: SWAP-PARTY! For those of you who are unfamiliar, a fashion swap party is a creative and cost efficient way to renew your wardrobe and possibly clean out your closet at the same time. This Saturday, May 14, 2011 Fashion Envy, LLC and PGRDresses have joined forces to bring Atlanta the most anticipated SWAPINISTA DAY PARTY. Are you ready?
To participate you must bring at least 3 new or gently used articles of clothing and/or accessories. Think about the rules for selling to a consignment shop and apply those same rules here. Gently used… is not ambiguous so please bring your clothes to the swap party clean and in a ready to wear condition. Your items will then be ranked on a silver, gold, and platinum system that corresponds to swap bucks. Silver equals 1 swap buck and represents economy brands like Walmart and Target. Gold equals 2 swap bucks and represents department store brands. Platinum equals 3 swap bucks and represents designer label brands.
If this isn’t reason enough to grab your girlfriends for a chance to update your clothing and accessory game, please allow me to share my 3 top reasons for attending this particular swap party.
- The Vendor Suite. Discounts, freebies, samples…oh my!! Perhaps, Saturday will be the day you find out about a business you never heard of. I think this is a great opportunity to meet the represented businesses, don’t you?
VENDOR SUITE
Funky Flair Boutique
Metropolitan Frock
Sassy Mitchell
Cupcake Diva LLC
Carson Bryce Trading Company
2. The Pamper Lounge. Upon purchase of your ticket, you are given the options of spa and/or salon services. I chose the massage and I can’t wait!!
PAMPERING LOUNGE
Chair Massages by Develon Anthony
EyeBrow Threading by Baziara Campbell
Eye Make-up Application
3. The Feeling of Philanthropy. Do good feel good. Unclaimed items and a percentage of the proceeds will go to a non-profit.
See you at 2pm on Saturday at the Emerging Art Scene at Castleberry Point. For advanced tickets, click here.
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How to Get the Most Out of Coupons
Today, I will be providing information to answer an email question that was submitted to She Makes Cents via my About.Me page, which by the way you should totally check out!
I’m trying the coupon bit, can you please show me how to use them, I guess coupon 101, and how to get the most out of my coupons, I often see where folks buy $600.00- 1100.00 in value , but pay $50.00 or less, can you teach me how to do that?
First off, congratulations on making the decision to start reevaluating ways to make your money work for you and not the other way around. To be honest, I do not coupon to this degree where I buy “$600.00-$1100.00 in value, but pay [around] $50.00 or less”, but I have seen it done. If this is the level of couponing that you aspire to, then there are a few things that you must consider:
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Keep an ongoing grocery list. This helpful because it I find it easier to jot down an item I’m running low on or completely out of when I’m thinking about it. That way, it ensures that it makes it on my list. If I start a grocery list right before I go to the store, I risk forgetting something I actually need or spending money on products that I didn’t know I already had.
- You must be extremely organized. Keeping up with coupons to multiple stores can easily become overwhelming if you do not have a system in place. Reuse a folder or an old note book where you store your coupons. Find a way of filing that works for you. For example, you can store coupons by type of product (groceries, health and beauty, fashion, restaurants, etc) or by store.
- Don’t get tricked into buying things you don’t need. Stick to your list. Review your ongoing list before you actually go shopping. Then compare the list of items (including specific brands) on your list to your library of coupons you have compiled and filed away oh so neatly in your folder or notebook. Just because the coupons mentions that you have to buy three of the same products to get .75 off, doesn’t mean it is a good deal. Who really needs three containers of mayonnaise any ways?
- Know the stores’ policy about couponing. Some stores allow manufactures coupons and some don’t. In addition, some stores allow the practice of double couponing and some don’t.
- Read the small print. So this one is self explanatory, yet few people actually take the time to read the tiny print. Think about it for a second, they make it small for a reason. It’s better to know the limitations of the deal before your get to the cash register.
HOW TO SPEND $16 FOR $75 WORTH OF STUFF AT TARGET
CHECK OUT WHAT $20 AND COUPONS WILL GET YOU…YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE IT
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Cinco de Mayo!!!
It’s Cinco de Mayo; my third favorite holiday behind 4th of July and my birthday! When I think of Cinco de Mayo I think of great food, great drinks, great people, and a sense of community….oh yeah, and the Mexican’s army victory of the French. So how do you have a great Cinco de Mayo experience without killing your cash? Well it depends on where in the world you live. I live in the south of the US, so every Mexican restaurant will be offering food and drink specials. I’m too excited for words because I eat Mexican food (authentic and Americanized) at least once a week. Just remember, if you are restaurant bound, to get there early because this celebration starts early and lasts ALL night. If you live in a city where Mexican restaurants are hard to come by, NYC for example, I would suggest hosting a Tacos and Tequila Party with you and a couple of friends. It’s fun, it’s cheap, and it helps answer the daily question of “what’s for dinner (cena)?”
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The First Piggy Bank
Last summer will forever be burned into my memory as the summer of 27 Dresses….well maybe more like 6, but that is still doing the most. That’s right, I was in SIX weddings last summer and TWO the summer before that. And guess what? They are now all having babies and their due dates are within weeks of each other. Saturday, I attended the first of four baby shower’s for the spring/summer season for a princess that is scheduled to arrive in June. Shopping for the princess to be, I knew I wanted to get her something special because of the relationship I have with the mom. I also wanted to get the little princess something that she can use when she gets older and remember as something that her Auntie Danielle (yep, I assigned myself as an aunt) gave her before she was a born. So I got her this and I put her name on it:
A piggy bank from Auntie “She Makes Cents” seems like a perfect fit. Unfortunately, it broke before the mom and dad opened the gift (that kind of hurt my heart). The gift also got me to thinking about when one should start saving. When I was little, I used to pick up pennies from the ground and put them in a red rider wagon. I would be so excited to find pennies and I thought I was rich when I got my first hundred. I poured them on the floor of my room and counted them proudly. That is my first memory of me saving all by myself.
When did you start saving for yourself? How do you introduce saving to children?
Let me know your saving stories.
shemakescents 