cheaper

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

It breaks my heart to say that I found that I didn’t have the impulse to spend my money on the beautiful items on the website.

March 18, 2015March 18, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

Hi Saving Beauties! Let’s just talk about a little thing called a vice. Mine? kate spade. Ugh, my favorite types of handbags, and my ultimate splurge items all come from kate. I’m not sure what they are trying to do to me…sending me e-mails about a “surprise” wedding sale with 65% off of everything wedding. Sigh. But, after looking through all of the sale items (yes I looked!) I am happy to report back to all of you, I didn’t break. Yes, that cake topper is a must…and yes those “Mrs” earrings are to die for…but I don’t need them. It breaks my heart to say that I found that I didn’t have the impulse to spend my money on the beautiful items on the website. Not that I’m not KICKING myself over it…but I am becoming more responsible with my money. I’ll give you an example: As you all know, I have to pay my own phone bill now, and I’ve discovered that by spending a mere $100 on a totes adorable handbag is very tempting, I could also use that money to save up for my guy’s birthday present AND pay my part of the phone bill. My logic that “what’s 100 dollars going to do anyway?” has been thrown out of my Mazda 3 window like no one’s business. I need that $100 for me to LIVE…and you do too. If you have the extra money, be my guest: kate spade. I do strongly advise you to enter (if you dare) and practice self control. Let’s call this approach-avoidance therapy. Go in, look at the items, and DON’T buy anything. One tip: After you receive the e-mail…because they are tricky and make you enter it in order to see the sale, go to your inbox and UNSUBSCRIBE. We’ve talked about this before. I feel like a broken record 😉 Anyway, tune in for another post later this week. Love you…mean it Kate

Inspiration

February 22, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

Reason number 101 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:

You honestly don’t need anything else in your closet. You aren’t going to wear it anyway 😉

Money Saved in Your Lunchbox

January 26, 2015January 23, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

I work at the mall…and I’m fairly lazy in my cooking escapades. We can see where this is going. Mall food. The worst, girl! Please. I’m telling you, I just want a simple hamburger and I’m paying more than what it would cost for a couple of gallons of gas in my car. I literally just can’t do it anymore. It’s not worth the money and the stomach pain.

It’s pretty simple to start meal prepping…ok, it’s simple for your fiancé to start meal prepping. The one crucial piece of advice: Make food that will keep for at least 48 hours. This means, no avocado for day 6.

It’s hard to start, but it’s easy to keep it going. In two days, I’ve seen that my bank account is staying at the same balance. Just, don’t spend that hard saved cash on some stuff you don’t need, like a super adorable shirt. Because…I didn’t get that today or anything.

This week, we made chicken salad, couscous, and celery with some mayonnaise. On the side, we made quinoa pasta and tossed it with some poppyseed salad dressing. I packed a water and a fruit bar!

Next big post should be some meal prep recipes! Stay tuned!

xoxo- Kate

Inspiration

January 24, 2015January 23, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

Reason number 23 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:

Driving to the mall in ice/sleet/rain/snow is a bad idea. Unless, you can walk…then you’re screwed. Get those snowshoes out!

The Tricks That Stores Play On You

January 23, 2015January 23, 2015 katemcgate9 Comments

So, I feel that being an avid shopper has led me to uncover some tricky tricks that ALL stores get you with. It seems logical, but lethal. Sometimes, it’s not easy to detect these “bargains,” but to the trained eye, it is fairly simple.

Sales are a great way to increase a store’s money flow. When the word sale is However, sales are not always the greatest of bargains. Watch out for final sales and non-included items. It’s easy to play tricks on the common folks, and final sales can be a bitch to try to return. My advice? Try to weed out a bad deal with your common sense. It’s not that hard to ask an associate about the details and fine print of a sale.

Another issue I have with retail stores is the impulse buy section at the cashier and in the line. I literally think that cashiers take enjoyment out of taking more than enough time to ring you up. I know for me, I look around, touch a couple of items that sparked my interest, and I give myself a stern talk before I add the new impulse item to my bill. I don’t know what makes me more mad: the fact that the store actually got me, or that the cashier knowingly takes her time ringing me up.

Stores usually have large re-merchandising shifts that take up to 8 hours to completely revamp the look of the store. This way, the customer is more prone to purchase items that have a “focus” display. On top of that, music is carefully chosen in order to make you bop around and add more things to your cart…and they make sure there is a space for you to sit down and enjoy the ambiance.

Here’s my real opinion. Ya’ll are just losing control. Get it together, make sure to utilize your budget, and don’t drop your guard. Salespeople can be very convincing if you don’t want to be mean. Conclusion? Kindly say no. Tell the salespeople you don’t need their help…unless you really do. For some reason, I feel like I want to become friends with these people. TBH, they literally don’t care about anything but your money and your purchase. Gather your belongings and move along.

xoxo-kate

The Hidden Secret

Here’s a tip

January 14, 2015January 11, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

Here’s a quick story for you:

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a conversation with my mother. We were talking about saving money, and how to do it successfully. She had mentioned that her assistant principal uses a giant vase to count up her extra money. The vase is kept next to the fireplace, and she and her husband drop in their coins and extra dollars whenever they get a chance. At the end of the year, they take a vacation to Disney World! I’m not in the market for extra vacations, with buying a house and “being” and adult just around the corner. However, I did take my mom’s suggestion to start saving for our honeymoon!

Although this whole carrying cash thing is new to me, I’ve realized that every cent counts, and adds up pretty quickly! Dropping in money everyday can be a simple task to forget, but don’t!

My hubby-to-be and I have already saved $80.00! It’s not much, but it feels great! You know it’s love when you love saving money with each other!

A Credit Card Is Not Your Friend

January 9, 2015January 7, 2015 katemcgateLeave a comment

Today is a good day. I finally paid off my credit card…in full. Oh, I can’t tell you how good it feels to finally be out of debt! Well, except…you know…freakin’ Sallie Mae.

Here are a couple tips that helped me when I was trying to swim out of this black lagoon:

Don’t put small purchases on your credit card We all know it’s tempting, but don’t do it!! Putting on small purchases are easier to forget than an impending big charge. The less you put on a credit card (or debit card for that matter!) the better. I have become a big believer in trying to carry cash with me, and only using cash!
Swallow your fear: submit big payments If you get a paycheck for $800, and your other bills are paid, put $100 into savings and submit a BIG payment. Try to put $200-$400 for the month. The bigger, the better. You will feel like a huge weight is being lifted!
Don’t swipe after you make a payment. We’ve all been there, we think that since we paid off some charges, we can continue to swipe! Our credit line is up, so why not? I’ll tell you why…because being confident about your money can be lethal. Obviously not at all times, but when you get cocky, it can be bad.
Use your card for a specific thing. Whether it is for gas or food…keep it as such. Don’t go crazy using your credit card for frivolous purchases. The up side of this is that several credit cards have a special for cash back or double points for a certain thing. If it’s offered, use it. If you get double points for food and entertainment (ie: movies)…use it for just that. You can get some super fun things! (ie: points to use towards cash, gift cards, or your cc balance)

Try it, and get back to me!

xoxo- kate

Holiday Shopping Etiquette

December 5, 2014 katemcgateLeave a comment

Ah, the season of grumpy parents and bratty children has begun! I’m so excited! Partially because I am neither…but because of Caramel Brulée Lattes at Starbies. But, that’s another post…for another time. However, if you don’t know what it is…click that link, educate yourself, and get back to me…pledge.

Cool- we’re all caught up? Great. Let’s get started. Last year, I blogged about budgeting and making sure you all knew the tips and tricks to stick to your budget. This year, I’m talking about etiquette. Someone has to– might as well be me.

Who To Buy For:

Your direct family. This means parents, siblings, and yes…your in-laws too. Get a “couple gift” if need be, but don’t be a rude sister/brother-in-law. It leaves a bad taste in a person’s mouth.
A significant other. Depending on the seriousness of your relationship, gifts may have to be purchased for his or her family members as well. If engaged, get it together.
Your BFF. Talk to her/him. Determine a budget and stick to it. No one wants to be embarrassed when exchanging gifts.
Your Close Friends. If they are all in the same close knit group, do a Secret Santa sort of deal. If they aren’t, work it out individually. Some friends don’t want to give gifts, and would rather just have a fun night together. I get it, and I’ve done it.

Who Not To Buy For:

That crazy coworker who bought you a candy cane.
Your Dunkin’ lady…your Starbies barista may be another story: She just gets you..and I get that.
Your “friend” who you see once a year to “exchange gifts.” Please, let that end…sooner rather than later.
Your customer at work who knows what kind of car you drive, and the type of coffee you drink. My advice? Don’t drink the coffee she brings you when she comes in to buy stuff. Just saying…
Your coworker’s child. Unless you are close, which I doubt, refrain from this practice. You’ll be broke by the time that kid graduates from kindergarten.
Your boss. We know, it’s important to suck up. Write a card with meaningful thank you. If they wanted a gift, they would have given you a raise.

That’s it. Don’t buy petty, nonsense gifts. This time of year, it is so easy to go crazy and shop for anyone you’ve ever had a conversation with. Don’t do it. It’s not cute. As always, stick to a budget, and always remember to avoid a credit card charge!

xoxo- Kate

The Latest and Greatest in Dupes: Fashion Edition

November 27, 2014November 27, 2014 katemcgate4 Comments

We all can’t have the closet filled with names like Alexander McQueen and Betsy Johnson like Carrie Bradshaw, and we definitely can’t have a closet filled with tweed, fabulous Burberry dresses, and preppy headbands like Blair Waldorf. What’s a girl on a budget to do? Let’s take a look at the latest in winter fashion.

Take a look underneath my reg sendoff..

xoxo -Kate

Outerwear

Capes: I LOVE capes. I love everything about them. There’s something so…American Horror Story: Coven about them. They put an outfit together and make your presence say, “Uh, it’s me..bow down.” Loves it. Don’t love the prices. Some capes can go for a couple hundred. Obvi, they’re the cute ones. So, I found one that is simply to die for, and under $50.00. Who loves me?

Boohoo.com: Dora Aztec Wool Look Cape: $44.00

Holiday Parties

K, so who loves tartan? Just me? Whatever..I’m obsessed. The awesome thing about tartan is that the pattern can be found in pants, cardis, skirts, and dresses. Below are some phenom “party” pants. Go crazy, just don’t break the bank.

Holiday Tartan Cocktail Ankle Pants: $148.00

New Year’s Eve Dresses

Everyone knows you need a flashy little number that everyone will be too drunk to remember what it looks like. Whatevs..I see why you want it. So, here are two almost identical dresses.

Vineyard Vines, Sequin Rope Dress: $398.00

H&M: Sequined Dress: $34.95 — H&M Sequined Dress: $34.95

Bow Tie Shirts

These are amaz. They remind me so much of Blair Waldorf. Jeez, throw a cape on and an adorbs midi skirt, and you’re ready for anything!

Bring It to the Boardroom Top, ModCloth: $39.99

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Bow-tie cotton shirt: $845.00

Cozy Flannels

Flannels are in and better than ever. We love flannels. They can surprisingly be dressed up, and obvi dressed down. Anyway you look at it, flannels are here for the long haul! (And we are super excited!)

Boots

Le SIGH. Love these things. I would live in riding boots if I was able to. Whether it’s an over the knee boot, or just hitting mid-calf, boots are an essential when it comes to colder weather. Let’s take a look at a price difference. Now, if you’re a complainer and can’t see that they look PRACTICALLY the same, you have set yourself up for failure. Do you know who notices brands on shoes? People with foot fetishes.