Spare Me:
THE $300 pair of designer jeans is now, courtesy of the recession, the $200 pair of designer jeans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/fashion/29JEANS.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss
Go to the Gap, Old Navy or get some Levi’s. Save your money.
Add comment October 30th, 2009
Have you tried the new gap jeans? They rock. Great quality denim, a bunch of different fits and cuts for tall and petite people (less $ to spend on hemming – woo hoo). Oh, and they don’t cost $200 either.
Add comment September 11th, 2009
According to In Style Magazine, in 2008, women spent more than 5 billion dollars on heels!
The breakdown by inches:
By anyone’s measure, that’s a lot of shoes!
1 comment August 3rd, 2009
Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour and covetable shoes and bags to selected H&M stores. Woo Hoo – talk about style on a budget!
The collection will be available from November 14 in around 200 stores across the world.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124522785484222715.html
Add comment July 28th, 2009
As told through shopping….
So, be a saint and not a sinner: Next time you hit the stores, try, just try, to exercise some shopping discretion.
Add comment July 8th, 2009
I am thrilled to announce my new book: So Many Shoes, So Little Money – A Girl’s Guide to Finance is now available on Amazon.com!
I use the language of fashion and shopping to convey money management fundamentals: The basic questions of how to budget, when to use credit cards, how to know which fashions to buy, what to do when you’re in debt and more ― it’s all covered. Each chapter draws parallels with fashion while delivering the primary message: If you want to be stylish, you must take care of your money―and the sooner the better. Managing your money truly is the new black.
Thank you!
Add comment June 16th, 2009
Consumer confidence is up – and most likely your urge to shop. There is a school of thought that suggests as follows: If you see an expensive item which immediately becomes a need – a burning passion you just can’t live without – walk away. If the desire continues unabated for at least five days and you can afford it, go back to the store. If the item is still there, your lust increases on seeing it again, and they have it in your size, congratulations. If it’s not there, or they are out of your size, consider yourself saved by karma. That way, you avoid acting on impulse and can know with certainty that you really want it.
1 comment May 26th, 2009
Warning: this is a very sad story about a pair of knee high, tan, go-with-everything Jimmy Choo boots. If you truly adore shoes you might want to stop reading. However, I should point out there is a good finance lesson at the end.
I rounded the corner unaware of the tragedy currently unfolding in my closet. There, in the corner, sat my cat with a determined look on his face. (Yes, cats can look determined.) On the floor next to him lay my gorgeous Jimmy Choo boots. These were not ordinary run-of-the-mill boots. These were not even ordinary Jimmy Choo boots – if there is such a thing. These were the perfect height, perfect color, perfect everything boots – the ones that looked fantastic with EVERYTHING – skirts, dresses, nice pants, casual pants, jeans, you name it and that I wore everywhere. These were the Jimmy Choo boots I had purchased on sale at 50% off!
Then, the boot wiggled. I kid you not. So, I did what any respectable woman does when faced with moving footwear – I screamed. My husband ran in. I pointed and shrieked, “my boot moved, grab it!” Peering intently inside he soothingly murmured, “it’s a field mouse, it’s fine. I’ll take it outside for you.” This was, in fact, good news but sadly not the end of my story.
With the mouse now safely free I inspected my boot. Was there blood? I peered inside, no, it was clean. Then my heart stopped. The inside was fine, but the outside….teeth and worse, claw marks. Game over. Cat =1 Boots = 0.
And, so it ends, my tragic tale of woe.
I will try to get them repaired (much cheaper than new boots) however, I do not hold out much hope. So now I am faced with a dilemma: Do I wait to see if I can find them on sale again? Do I bite the bullet and replace them? Do I find a cheaper alternative? Can I justify paying full price by dividing the purchase price by the number of times I plan to wear them? (It’s okay it’s a time honored practice.)
It is these daily decisions, the ones we are faced with constantly that affect our finances. How much we end up spending or saving in a given week, month, or year is the direct result of the decisions we make when faced with the unexpected.
2 comments May 11th, 2009
Shopping for big ticket items is no different than shopping for smaller stuff – except of course for the stress, price and worry that you are about to make a HUGE mistake. Seriously, there are a lot of things you will want to buy (a car, a house, an education, designer clothes, shoes and bags) which are a big investment and require a lot of money and/or a lot of debt. Making the right decision involves four things (plus courage):
Just think of big purchases as ultimate shopping. First, you must sort your wants versus your needs. Before you invest your hard earned money on anything that is expensive, you need to know why you want it, if it is the right thing for you, and if there is a more affordable substitute that will satisfy you.
Second, you must do your homework. I know it is hard work, but it is important to know what you are doing before you do it. You must do research. Every big ticket item you buy has these kinds of questions and more. You wouldn’t let someone buy you diamonds without knowing the four C’s would you? You must research the questions and figure out your answers. Do your homework by researching on the internet, asking your friends and family and by talking to professionals.
Third, you need to time your purchase. You need to know if it is the right time for you personally (why now and can you afford it) and if it is the right time to buy the item. Some big ticket items have times during the year when you will get a better deal. I know you know all about sales!
Finally, how you pay for what you buy has an effect on the total cost and whether this is the right decision for you. This is true for any big purchase. The more of your own money you pay the less money you will need to borrow and the cheaper the money you borrow will be. In addition, the less you need to borrow, the better your net worth and the better your credit score and the lower the interest rate. You need to save as much money as you can before you make you make your purchase so you will have to borrow less money to get it.
Add comment April 25th, 2009
“Buy less, wear it more” is a great mantra for the season. When faced with an impulse to excessively shop, just repeat over and over while backing out of the shoe department.
Fashionista Fact:
Even Michelle Obama is repeating outfits: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/michelle-obama-repeats-an_n_186783.html
Add comment April 16th, 2009