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Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness

Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness

"Those who say that money can't buy happiness aren't doing it right."  Have you heard that joke before?  Well, it turns out that there is more than a kernel of truth in there. People are generally bad at buying happiness because: 1. We buy to keep up with the Joneses / ...

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Hair, Hair, Everywhere – the Recession Edition

Hair, Hair, Everywhere – the Recession Edition

I wrote a hair post in both 2007 and 2008, so I suppose it's only appropriate to continue the tradition in 2009! This post is dedicated to recession's impact on hair budgets. The recession is a major reason why I've been neglecting my hair a bit during these past several months: ...

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Experience, Not Stuff

Experience, Not Stuff

Experience, not stuff: I've decided to make this my mantra to live by. It'll be hard, because I like nice things (ex: shoes), but guess which of the following I remember the most? (a) A $100 leather jacket purchased in Buenos Aires, that I've worn ONCE in 3 years. (b) A $45 hour-long horse ride on ...

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What Sex And The City Taught Me About Love, Life, and Money

What Sex And The City Taught Me About Love, Life, and Money

Sex And The City: The Movie is coming out in May! I am so, so excited, and I'm betting that many Sex And The City feel the same way. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda - you ladies have been missed! (By the way, I love the photo below - head-to-toe ...

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5 Year Travel Plan: Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality

5 Year Travel Plan: Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality

I've been struck by a bad case of the travel bug lately... I haven't been out of the country since 2007, which seems like a long time. CB and I are saving for Galapgos, but we also want to travel quite extensively in the intervening months before our Big Galapagos ...

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Graduate School: (When) Should I Go?

Graduate School: (When) Should I Go?

Graduate school is a significant undertaking both in terms of time and money. During the last few months, I've felt some pressure from concerned family members about going to graduate school. I know they only want the best for me, but I'm glad I followed my gut instinct and ...

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Should Parents Pay For College Education

Should Parents Pay For College Education

A college education has, for a large percentage of society, become the de rigueur entry-level degree. "Should parents pay for college education" is a question where the answer is always, "it depends." In today's economic climate, I imagine that many parents are having the difficult talk with their kids ...

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Free GMAT Study Resources

Free GMAT Study Resources

Taking and prepping for standardized tests isn't cheap, fortunately, there are many free study resources available online. I've taken advantage of most of these resources when I was preparing for my test last year. Hopefully you will find them helpful as well. Free Online Study Materials The GMAT Uncovered by ManhattanGMAT: A ...

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7 Steps In Overcoming Rejections In Job Search

7 Steps In Overcoming Rejections In Job Search

Rejections during job search are disappointing, to be sure. Nobody likes to be told that they were qualified candidates, but the management has decided to go in another direction. In this environment, however, rejections are common-place through out the job search and interview process. After the initial disappointment wears off ...

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How to Host a Dinner Party On a Budget

How to Host a Dinner Party On a Budget

Hosting a dinner party is always fun, but right now I need my get-togethers to be budget-friendly as well. Remember when I made crab cakes? That was for a group of 5 or 6 friends. The crab cakes were delicious and everyone loved them, but, crabs are expensive! Two pounds ...

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Pure Altruism - Does it Exist?

Pure Altruism - Does it Exist?

Every time the holidays come around, feel-good human-interest stories surface. This is a time to give to others, help those in need, and realize that the world is not as cutthroat or as competitive as we may believe. But is it true? Can people be purely altruistic? The authors of Superfreakonomics (the ...

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The Price of Addiction To Argentine Tango

The Price of Addiction To Argentine Tango

It's happened. I fell for the sultry dance, hard. (I even made its own category!) I leave class with a big smile on my face. I read Argentine tango forums and blogs. I fall asleep thinking of boleos and molinetes. I'm not sure how my wallet feels about the possible financial ...

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Old Cars: Unsung Heroes of Personal Finance

Old Cars: Unsung Heroes of Personal Finance

New Cars are shiny, gleaming, loaded with the latest technology and features. New cars get the big commercials on TV, where they swerve confidently in snow storms, zoom down idyllic country lanes, and maybe even dance a little to the sound of a state-of-the-art in-car sound system near a trendy ...

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Disney World Recap

Disney World Recap

I realized that I haven't really talked about my Disney World adventure (aside from the Dining Plan review) on this blog yet... and well, that oversight must be rectified! If you have any specific questions about Disney World, please ask away and I'll do my best to answer. We Got To ...

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Job Fairs: How to Prepare So You Stand Out

Job Fairs: How to Prepare So You Stand Out

Job fairs can be a great opportunity for applicants to interact with many different companies. But if you don't prepare adequately, job fairs can be a disaster. Last week, I attended a job fair - prior to the event I debated whether I should go. I had heard the horror ...

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How To Practice Safe and Responsible Credit Card Use

How To Practice Safe and Responsible Credit Card Use

Wait, you mean you never had a credit card education class in school? Okay, me neither. The quality of education these days! But there's no reason that high schools or colleges shouldn't offer a class like this. After all, credit card education isn't an awkward topic like the other type of ...

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C.A.S.H. still saves me cash

by WellHeeled on March 17, 2008

It’s now the middle of March, and I still haven’t bought any clothing, shoes, or accessories since the end of December 2007.

Which means I made it through after-Christmas sales, New Year’s Day sales, Holiday Clearance sales, and now am in the process of resisting Spring sales.

Which means, I really, really want to buy something!!

I stopped by Target this weekend and was instantly assailed by lovely print frocks and jersey dresses and cute ballet flats, all under $20.

Me walking out of the store with only cookies & cereal = willpower!

P.S. A big thank-you to everyone who commented and delurked. It’s awesome to know a little bit more about my readers. :)

P.P.S. The Save-O-Meters have been updated. It’s a slow & steady journey but I will get to the finish line.

You May Also Want To Read :

{ 1 trackback }

Spring (or shoe?) fever « Well-Heeled, with a mission
March 30, 2008 at 9:23 pm

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Camilla March 18, 2008 at 4:51 am

Your will power is awesome! The equivalent for me is trying to get through a month without buying any dvds, and it’s not happened yet. Nnngg. Must… have.. more… shows!

Also, you mentioning the Save-O-Meters reminds me that i was going to ask you – where do you get the code for those? I keep seeing them everywhere, but my searches on Google are turning up nothing. I want some! I want to embed them in my Desktop so i can reminded of my progress every day.

Reply

gildedbutterfly March 18, 2008 at 5:21 am

Wow! Congratulations! That’s a huge accomplishment. :)

And the progress may seem “slow and steady,” but you’re already 1/4 through your cash goal and almost to your retirement goal. You are WELL on your way. It’s just the 3rd inning itch you’ve got…You’ll get there!

Reply

ljkesler March 18, 2008 at 5:48 am

I can’t believe you made it out of Target with so little. I was just discussing with a friend the other day how Target has a funny way of adding extra things to your cart while you’re in the store.

I haven’t bought any clothes/shoes/etc for myself since November, but I’m really looking forward to getting a new spring/summer dress in the next few weeks, but it’s more of a necessity than anything. I don’t think I can get by wearing the same dress to 2 weddings that are 1 week apart in the same circle of friends.

Congrats on your progress!

Reply

thuy March 18, 2008 at 6:55 am

I started reading your blog a few weeks ago, and it is great to see someone have the strength to save! being in my mid twenties, majority of my friends have pushed aside 401Ks for expensive trends. thanks for giving me hope that I too can not succumb to temptations to reach my ultimate goal have saving money.

Reply

rachel @ master your card March 18, 2008 at 7:49 am

Well done on your fantastic willpower. I have a problem though – it is not clothing that I like buying but nice food – I can easily come out of a supermarket having bought 20 items instead of the one that I went on for.

Reply

Alec March 18, 2008 at 8:29 am

It’s funny how everyone seems to have little weaknesses which are hard for other people to understand. I can’t understand how Camilla buys so many DVDs a month, and how Rachel can come out of a supermarket with 20 items instead of one, but they probably would think my shopping habits are strange. Perhaps this is something to keep in mind when we’re trying to take control of our financial weaknesses.

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SavingDiva March 18, 2008 at 9:34 am

Congrats! I’ve unfortunately bought a lot of clothes, shoes and accessories already this year :(

Reply

quarterlifegirl March 18, 2008 at 10:01 am

Your willpower has left me amazed!! My weakness involves “treating” people to things. I usually blurt out things like “hey, lets do lunch…my treat!” before I realize what I’ve said. At least I usually have good company when that happens, hehe.

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sjean March 18, 2008 at 11:44 am

Great work! What do you do with your “extra” retirement savings that doesn’t fit into your Roth IRA?

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Camilla March 18, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Too true Alec, and something to bear in mind when we think others are doing way better than us.
For example, i don’t drink, and the amount of people that say “oh my god you’re so goooood!” is huge because they think i must be exercising some immense willpower to avoid the stuff. Fact is i can’t stand alcohol, so it’s no effort at all.
So i guess sometimes it’s good to remember that not everyone is tempted by the same things, so when it seems everyone else is so much more controlled than us, they’re actually just being rampantly uncontrolled on other things instead! :~P

Reply

Lindsey March 21, 2008 at 7:54 am

Congrats…
I have been “good” although not as good as you.
Bought a camisole and cardigan sweater at Target a few weeks ago. Then had two Jcrew gift cards expiring. Tried to find something practical within the budget but couldn’t, really. So I threw in $40 of my own (out of a slowly growing clothes savings account) and got a really cute, classic jean skirt that I am very excited about.

Question, how did you create your save-o-meter.
Would like to do the same…

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