Penny Pinching is the Way to Go

With Christmas just over a month away, I have already started a list of people I need to purchase a gift for and the amount I expect the gift to cost.  This is a great way to stick to my budget. I have to congratulate myself, not for my low paying job, but because I am almost positive I am nearing the end of what I call my obsession for designer brands. I could easily charge a Michael Kors bag on my credit card and slowly pay it off over the upcoming months, but I don’t. I instead have come to realize that this isn’t going to make me Instagram famous. No matter how hard I try.

I realize there is a bigger picture: there are bigger things you have to worry about than spending frivolously… No matter how much I think a new handbag would bring in a new season or a new necklace would accent my new outfit, in the long run it isn’t the right choice.

It makes more sense to watch your pennies and only indulge in the smaller things such as my cup of Starbucks iced coffee, a milkshake, or a bite to eat once a week with the person I love when we have the same days off.  I am learning my lessons about what I preach about impulse buying, and instant gratification. It’s not ideal and not where I see myself in five years. For now, my wedding planning and purchasing a house are more important than that new handbag I want, or that Tiffany’s necklace I hope my fiance gets me for Christmas. 🙂

Happy planning and happy savings.

xoxo- Kate

Credit Cards, Promo E-mails, and Mailings! Oh My!

Let’s talk about the biggest trap around these days…Credit cards!
Now, I’m not saying its a complete trap, but much like life vests in the water, credit cards give you a false sense of security, and in this case, money. No matter how much money you make each week from a job, credit card companies will target you for everything you’ve got.

Here’s my advice: (thanks to my boyfriend)
Use your card for a purchase, but pay off the amount ASAP. Don’t wait until the end of the billing cycle. Why? Most of the time, you will reach for a credit card if you are short on cash. I do it too, and together we can stop this nonsense! On top of that, credit cards will give you a minimum payment each month. Most of us busy folk pay the minimum and go on with our daily lives. DON’T DO THIS! After each month, most cards have interest for an unpaid balance. So basically, your credit card is a ticking time bomb that increases in a balance just because you aren’t spending or paying off a balance wisely.

Credit cards aren’t your thing? Lucky. Well, I am going to reiterate a previous post. Promotional e-mails and mailings. These items are used as ploys by companies. (No matter your vice)
I like to think each time you click on an e-mail, a marketing employee for that company laughs manically. These people are marketing geniuses! That catchy e-mail titles, the amazing colors, the pretty pictures…anyone can get sucked in…right?

My advice? Get it together and unsubscribe. My friend and I recently went through our e-mails and purged our accumulated promo e-mails. Since I last wrote this post, more e-mails piled into my inbox to try and tempt me. Did I give in? Obviously. I have a weakness for Rebecca Minkoff! Don’t judge me!

As for mailings, refuse a mailing address when purchasing in a store. It’s for your own good. Sales people will try and convince you otherwise. Listen to me: no.
You aren’t being rude, you’re helping yourself.

Back to a clean slate tomorrow. Be strong, saving beauties!

K

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Healthy Saving

If you live in New York, you know just how much cigarettes cost these days. LORD. Not only would quitting this nasty habit help your health, it will help your wallet in the long run. If you smoke, take the time to sit back and write down how many packs you purchase a week– do the math. $35.00 a week? Yea…I know that pain. Luckily, I have cut down a LARGE amount, which makes my parents and my boyfriend very happy. I feel much better than usual. As of right now, I have 33 hours cigarette free. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.

What about all the money you spend on alcohol? Sit back down and add up all the drinks you had at the bar last night. LE SIGH. That’s the kicker isn’t it? When you think about it, you could drop over $100.00 in a single night, and not even remember it. Now, I’m always up for a good night at the bar, but let’s get real. We’re spending money on cigarettes and alcohol only to not remember the “great” night you had and feed into a life in the fast lane. Think about the amount of money you have, and how much you spend on items that will ultimately be bad for you.

Over my birthday weekend, I was able to go out for a couple meals, and found myself penny pinching in order to be able to eat lunch today.

Goal for today: Spend only what I need to. Don’t indulge in the pretty things you pass by in the windows. Make today a “healthy” saving day. Fight the urge. We’ll do this together!