Guilt Free Shopping!

Now that you got your finances under control, you are probably trying to figure out how to get the best bang for your buck.

You may find it difficult to stretch your spending allowance as far as possible while not giving up your favorite thing to do SHOPPING.I know shopping to me is “MY HAPPY PLACE”. If I’m in a bad mood I go shopping!

Nothing can replace the feeling of getting a pair of killer heels or a top that looks like it was designed for you. Although my spending cash was cut in half I found ways to still adhere to my style but for less!

I still shop at my favorite stores but always look for the clearance section and took advantage of the coupons that store sends via email or snail mail. I also fell in love with http://www.retailmenot.com/ which has a ton of coupon codes and printable coupons.Below are some of my favorite websites for inexpensive trendy fashions and make-up.

Clothes:

http://www.15dollarstore.com/- EVERYTHING IS $15.00, YES $15.00

http://www.gojane.com-/ TRENDY, VERSATILE, GREAT SHOES AND BOOTS!

http://www.getheavenly.com-/ EVERYTHING IS 17.95

Make-Up:

http://www.eyeslipsface.com-/GREAT ALL NATURAL LINE, LOVE LOVE LOVE!

If you are looking for an expensive purchase for say, a Designer pair of shoes that you can not live without and the very thought of you wearing them gives a warm and fuzzy feeling.Shop for the best price through http://www.pricegrabber.com/.

Happy Shopping!

Buying and Donating

Because I have limited closet space and a penchant for bargain shopping, my closets can quickly become a chaotic mess. Due to this recurring phenomenon, I made a rule with myself that every time I decide to bring home new clothes or shoes I have to donate the same amount of old clothes or old shoes to a charity. The benefits are multiple – my little rule forces me to think twice before I decide to go shopping, thus decreasing my spending. I get a tax write off for the things that I donate. Things remain relatively organized in my closets. I always know what I have and what I need. And, of course, that warm fuzzy feeling you get from giving back to the community.

Weeding out clothes to give away is usually pretty easy – if it is stained, it’s gone – no matter how much I love it. If it doesn’t fit anymore, it’s gone. If I haven’t worn it in a year, it’s gone. You can’t save things until they come back in style – when things do come back in style they are always a little bit different than they were the first time around, and you still won’t want to wear them.

Also – make sure you get a receipt when you donate your items. You can only write off a few hundred dollars without receipts and no one needs an IRS audit.

Happy shopping and donating.

MONEY, DEBT, FEES, PAST DUE!

Some may cringe to hear the words MONEY, DEBT, FEES, PAST DUE! I know I do. I know I have a HUGE shopping addiction. Not only is it fun but it is a Happy Time and cheers me up when I feel sad.

However through out my 20’s I have learned the hard way about budgeting and money. I never really had someone to say this is how you should and this is what you shouldn’t do. So now that I learned how to manage my finances I feel a sigh of relief FINALLY! I am saving money, paying bills on time and maintaining a healthy spending habit! This is what I did and hopefully you will benefit from this!

1. I wrote down all of my monthly bills, debts, and income.
   
2. I categorized my spending over three months in to three categories: Food, Gas, Clothes, Health, Entertainment, and Misc.
   
3. I looked at where I was spending my money on what.
   

Sometimes writing things out gives you a different perspective on things. I knew I had to be more aware of my spending and cut back. I would ask myself do I really need that $10 lip gloss or would an off brand or $3 lip gloss do just as well? I figured I would probably lose it any way so $3 lip gloss it is. Once I analyzed what I was spending on what I was able to cut my spending by almost 50%! When shopping for personal products that weren’t necessities I would reassess my finds and ask my self Why do I need this and How is it imperative I have this product?

Also, I made a budget on an excel spread sheet. I took all my categories I spend on and bills and made a plan. I would take out my spending cash and once it was gone it was gone! I did not allow myself to over spend. This is just an example however you can really build this to your spending style and bills. I loved this because I knew each time I got paid where my money was going, how much I had and what I had to pay. This worked for me but being content with your finances means being disciplined and positive!!

Good Luck!!