Hi All!
Here’s a friendly reminder to start saving some money! It’s never too late…so why not start now?!
Like I’ve said, I use Capital One 360…and you should too. Partially because you can’t take money out for instant purchases 🙂 Open one here.
Chat later, maybe I’ll tell you a story about how I haven’t been in Home Goods for a WEEK!
But in the spirit of saving, I am writing to let you know about surviving graduate school and some tips from a basically broke student teacher!
I once had dreams of blogging like Kate. Even started one with a friend, and had it going strong for a while! But then I got the acceptance letter for my graduate program and life went a little haywire for a period of time. Two years later, I’m still at it.
But in the spirit of saving, I am writing to let you know about surviving graduate school and some tips from a basically broke student teacher!
For the first few semesters, my main financial concerns were school supplies, gas, and a new laptop.
So let’s break it down:
SAVE WHERE YOU CAN!
Computer:
I knew I wanted a Macbook, and I also knew it was out of my budget. But when I remembered I have an amazing friend who works at the Apple store, he hooked me up. He ordered me the laptop, used my credit card, his store discount, and then instead of paying for tax and shipping, he arranged for pickup in Delaware. A short drive from my home in Philadelphia, and I bribed another friend with a road trip and Starbucks. So we made a day of it.
Saved me BIG TIME! Laptop still going strong today, worth the investment.
School Supplies:
I needed the basics: folders, notebooks, pens, highlighters, etc. I remember when I was younger, my mom was the queen of never paying full price for anything. She watched the sale ads every week from June through August for sales, and I learned a thing or two.
Office Depot does their penny sale. Spend $5 and then everything else is a penny. I scored notebooks, folders, pencils, and a pencil case.
Shop Rite, believe it or not, has excellent sales as well over the summer. Notebooks range from 25 cents to 10 cents, sometimes even go down to a penny. Packs of pens range anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar. Pencils , folders, sharpies, you name it. And not even the knock off brands, legitimately good stuff!
Gas:
Okay, we all know the struggle of the gas pump. It’s hard, and gas prices flip flop every single day. So I found a few tricks.
If you travel the same route often, notice the gas stations! I made note in my head of who had the cheapest gas on my routes back for forth from class, and tried to plan out when I needed to fill up! Every cent counts at the pump!
Also I played it smart from the start. When it came time for me to get a car a few years ago, I made sure it was fuel efficient to the MAX! Aside from a Hybrid car, this was as close as I could get. Honda and I have become fast friends. My tiny silver Honda Fit quickly become the envy of my siblings and had them asking me to use it for their long trips out of town.
As much as I’m a girl who loves a good truck and SUV, I love spending less money at the gas station more.
Did I mention I’m trying to become a teacher? We are a group that needs to save when and where we can, because we ALWAYS need something!
I recently finished the dreaded semester of Practicum and am in the even more dreaded Student Teaching phase now! Stay tuned, I’ll write about how I learned to not go dead broke while doing my fieldwork next time.
I realize that my blog name is just the opposite of what I do on a daily basis– which is shop for unnecessary clothes and home decor…but, whatever sue me. Anyway, here are the things I’m loving lately:
Emily Ley’s Simplified Planner: Not only is this planner organized by month and day, you have the option to use the timed organization on each weekday page. The hours go from 6am- 9pm, so you’ll be pretty much covered, except for the rager you’re going to at 9:30…sorry about that. Anyway, I have the mini gold pineapples on my cover, but there are such great options if golden fruit isn’t for you. Sign up for their emails, you’ll get some great coups.
Kirklands: If you aren’t #blessed enough to have a store near you, go online and say buhbye to your money. No, just kidding..be smart and download their app. It’s a more organized home goods, and if you know me…I love a good home goods! They have pillows, furniture, and whatever else you def don’t need…but totally want. **Same goes for World Market. That place is a freakin’ castle of treasures.
Caramel Brulee Latte: Yes. This is a Starbucks drink…and yes, I’m aware this makes me look like a complete basic loser, but I’m in love. Go, get a holiday cup and enjoy the sugar coma for a couple hours…it’s worth it.
Lilly Pulitzer Romper: I got mine on sale, but there are plenty of options on the website for an alternative. The closest one to mine is this one. I am slowly buying outfits for my VERY late to the game “honeymoon” in February. I also snatched up this during my last trip in. **It was an essential, so I don’t want to hear it.
Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Deep Gray Matte: As if I wasn’t painting you a nice basic picture of myself just yet…here’s the final nail. This color is literally everything. I’m usually a Nars fan, but I traded in my loyalty for this color…and I’m not looking back, so deal with it. Buy it, and thank me later.
That’s it for now, friends. Stay tuned for an affordable gift guide next week!
Love you, mean it.
How many of you are in love with those old houses with huge entryways that are perfectly designed? No one? Just me? Ok, liars.
When we bought our house, we were super excited to just move in our furniture and start decorating. Needless to say, a year later…and I’m just starting to realize what I love. As my mother says, I have champagne taste, and I don’t exactly have a paycheck that gives me what I actually want…so I have to improvise. To add to that, we live in a ranch, so you literally walk right into our living room/dining room. Here’s how I made this space more “homey.”
The Overview
I wanted something that was practical with a touch of not so practical. (Get over it…how many pumpkins do you need? You aren’t making a pie) The little mirrors are less than helpful for checking your make-up before you go out the door, but they are cute and from Target, so they were affordable. If you want practical, Kirklands has some great pre-Black Friday sales going on right now. Each season, I plan on tweaking certain items so that it is seasonally appropriate. The more permanent items are more neutral.
The Deets
Mail tray: kate spade (60.00) Alternate mail organizers
Dots Vase: kate spade (140.00) Alternate without dots
Entryway Table(99.99), Bowl (10.99) , Runner (14.99) , Owl pair (14.99), “Happy Thanksgiving” plaque (5.99) , “Give Thanks” pumpkin (12.99) , pilar candles (4.99) : Home Goods
Candle: Yankee Candle (make sure to have a coupon…those jawns are expensive!) This candle is Apple Pumpkin. (27.99)
Birdcage: Michael’s (18.99)
The two most expensive items on the table were wedding presents, however…you can always find cheaper options. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be updating the table to be more seasonally appropriate for Christmas/winter. Can’t wait what kind of items I find! Stay tuned.
Love you, mean it.
Reason number 154 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:
Don’t you have some outstanding credit card balances to pay off instead?
Reason number 174 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:
Beach time is almost here! Save it up for a sweet vaca 🙂
Reason number 134 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:
It’s Valentine’s Day! Have someone buy it for you!
Reason number 33 why you shouldn’t go shopping today:
Think of all the money you could save by NOT buying that new dress today. Oh, forget it…it’s treat yourself o’clock.
#weallhaveacheatday
With the holiday season just around the corner, I figured I would share some interesting ideas for NOT going into debt this year. I know we all want to pamper and spoil our loved ones, but there comes a time that you have to draw the line inbetween being generous and being insane.
For those who have a big heart, but not a big paycheck: read on…
This year, I started saving for presents in August. I used my savings account as a safe haven for my money (literally). Today, I “cashed out” and once the money arrives into my checking account, I will be on my way to the bank with a crisp envelope ready to withdraw it!Â
Shopping on a budget isn’t the most fun. I know we would all love to have an endless amount of money, with sales and beautiful items at our fingertips ready for us to buy…well, the latter actually exists, but you get what I mean. This isn’t dream land, and we don’t have an endless supply of money.
Happy budgeting!
K
There is no doubt I stopped writing because I’ve been busy…but there is a side reason as well…I’m back at spending, but wisely. Is that a thing? Is bargain hunting bad? I sure hope not. It seems to me that there is no grey area with deciding to stop spending frivolous money. You either lose all hope, or you don’t even spend money on gas. I’ve decided to break all of these stereotypes. Let’s be real, rationalization at its finest here, folks.
Why deprive ourselves? Saving money is like dieting. When you deprive yourself of an ice cream cone or a cookie, you tend to break your diet more and HARDER. So, I’m proposing, save…but spend responsibly. (I sound like a beer commercial) Don’t fool yourself, because if you are an instant gratification gal or guy, you always will be…let’s look at the hard facts. How would you know? Take a second and think about the past couple of days. Did you think about how much better your room would look organized? What about how much better it would be if your kitchen plates were in a different place? And then think about your reaction. If you went out to Bed Bath and Beyond or the Container Store and GOT and organization rack without weighing out the pros and cons…you’re instant gratification. FACE IT. I know I know…now let’s get over it and DEAL.
Since we last spoke, I left my job because of unhappiness. I still work for the company, just in a different, closer place. BUT this cause a severe dent in my wallet due to lack of paychecks. SIGH. Talk about struggle. Here’s a tip: During unemployment…don’t spend. Seriously, you’ll need your extra cash while looking for a job…or in my case, racking up hours again so you have a reasonable paycheck.
I have spend less money on eating on the way to school or work, which I am very proud of myself. I have taken advantage of my savings account, and decided to start putting money in (for the long run…and my dream wedding) (just kidding?)
Okay, time to jet. My room has been painted and I am SO EXCITED to see it… pictures? Okay…whatevs.
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Happy Saving/Spending/Being Responsible?
xoxo
katemcgate.com 