These days, I listen to a lot of talk radio. I heard something a few months ago that stuck with me from Dave Ramsey. You can not spend yourself into wealth. Basically, you can buy all the $1,500 shoes that you want, but it won’t make you actually wealthy. If anything, it makes you actually less wealthy.
This brilliant statement came to use when a friend of mine was whining about her entire check going to pay for rims for her new car. Those of us having dinner with her, were older, wiser, and repulsed when she told us her check was $800 but the whole thing was going for the fancy wheels.
I especially ripped in to her in stating that was ridiculous and trashy to spend $800 on rims when they were living literally paycheck to paycheck and unable to get ahead. Then she informs us that the $800 was only a payment on the rims and that the actual total cost was $2,100. At that point I congratulated her on officially being ignorant white trash. ( Of course, you must understand that she’s not white, she’s hispanic, I was only being funny and making a point at the same time. Sorry, but if you’re going to be my friend, I’m going to be real when you open the door and ask my opinion.)
This is the point at which I realized that decision making skills were impaired in her household, and recommended she and her husband go to Financial Peace University and get a clue. I also shared the sentiment about not being able to spend yourself into wealth.
SIDEBAR: I started writing this blog, early Sunday morning, made breakfast, then went to church…at which point our pastor announced that Dave Ramsey was coming to do some financial classes at our church! Funny! Apparently financial stress is responsible for 50% of all divorces.
And with that, I bring you my Biotch On a Budget blog post.
I have plans. Life plans. Generally, life plans require funding. While I do splurge on a handbag or whatnot here and there, I have reached the point where I think it’s fun to mix in less expensive bargain pieces with a nice bag or great shoe. I feel that, generally speaking, accessories are everything, and saving on garments and certain accessories can help lesson the financial blow of being fabulous.
Anna Nicole smith once said, “…it’s expensive being me,” as she say in court justifying her lifestyle as she fought for her share of her dead husband’s estate. Sad story, but I identified with her statement! It is expensive to present yourself to the world every day!
David Yurman ring, Tiffany & Co gold bracelet, Michael Kors bag, Kenneth Cole boots, Michael Kors watch, everything else…CHEAP!
I do not have a rich, dead husband…so there is no alternative except to spend wisely. While I do get a lot of products and items for free through my blog…I also do end up buying a lot. I’ve made a game of “being me for less.” I prefer to know I can afford to travel here and there, rather than wearing my vacation money on my body!
Two weeks ago, I was checking out some pink aviator glasses by Rayban. They were fabulous, and the friend that was with me kept telling me to buy them. They were $170. While I have splurged on glasses before, I don’t need expensive glasses all the time.
I told her that I was on a budget, and that I could find comperable glasses for less. The glorious thing about getting older, is that you do actually get smarter and you care less about impressing people you don’t even know. I decided that I was fabulous enough without $170 pink Raybans, and found something similar for $6.
When she challenged my fashion authority, I set out to build a blog around my lovely new $6 sunnies! I set out to find a cheap dress as well, and dress it up to disguise the fact that I only paid $17 for it!
This black shift style, high neck dress appears to be fashion forward. The arm holes are cut in a conservative fashion, in a way that conceals armpit folds, and looks to be futuristic. (Very few people have attractive armpit areas. Just sayin.)
It is the perfect medium weight fabric, so it can be worn any season and this type of cut looks good on any body type. It’s loose fitting and comfortable.
I paired it with a faux fur, short waisted, bell sleeved jacket, which I constantly get compliments on and which also cost very little….$14. Most of the people that approach me this season, when I wear this, think it’s very expensive but it’s only because I pair it with expensive items, such as this pink Michael Kors Hamilton bag.
The pink aviators are fun, and I am sporting the new MAC lip color, Miley Cyrus. I am a fan of MAC because they have not gone to crazy with their pricing. I do not feel that I need $52 lip stick. I just don’t.
…and this was my Bitch On a Budget blog post. This outfit saved me hundreds of dollars just by shopping smarter. Sometimes, the fit of an outfit is so exceptional that you may feel it’s worth the extra money, and that’s great! By saving on some things it helps you to have more disposable on other things.
The old Sex and The City series repulses me for many reasons, but one of which, is how often the main character would spend on expensive dresses and shoes, but then be worried about her bills all night long as she was out on the town. She kept spending to keep up her appearance as she searched for Prince Charming to come along and bail her out. What if Prince Charming never comes? Or worse…he shows up with a mound of debt just like yours? And child support to pay for another 10 years? Then what? So be fabulous, but get on a budget and allow yourself a certain amount for beauty and clothing every month.
Wow! This post got serious. I’m talking to you like I do to my friends now. If your wallet is super fat, then ignore me, but if you are like 85% of most Americans, you have debt and you are living paycheck to paycheck. One of those 85% text me the other day…asking how she could make extra income…yet I see her out eating and drinking on Facebook two days later. You know I called her out, right?
Blogging is fun, especially outfit posts, but I don’t want to make people feel as if they must go out and spend all the time, so I will try to continue to be more transparent on the financial aspect of each post!
