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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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Ugh = my $1,500+ credit card bill

by WellHeeled on June 19, 2008

I paid it off, but STILL. I have definitely had more cash OUTflow (to savings and spending) than I had cash INflow this month.

Basically, I’m operating at a deficit because I’m not willing to pull money out of my Freedom Fund. (I usually keep around ~$1,000+ in my online savings account as a cash cushion, and, well, now it’s way below $1,000).

Normally my bill (which covers 95% of my non-fixed expenses) is around $800-$1,200 every statement – what the H happened this month?

I know.

Eating out (pricey celebration dinners for various occasions)
Starbucks (I go there to study several times a week)
Test-related expenses (several hundred dollars)
Gas (almost $40 to fill up half-a-tank)
Ross ($15 dresses and shoes are my weakness)
Movies (Sex and the City x 2, Iron Man)
Target (new sheets, expensive shampoo, bath accessories)
Disneyland (the happiest place on earth costs $$$)

Cringe.

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Money Maus June 19, 2008 at 11:15 pm

But in the end it’s worth it, right? (Maybe Disneyland, but not the gas…) :)

Reply

dogatemyfinances June 20, 2008 at 7:02 am

I thought you weren’t buying clothes? You bought cheap plastic shoes? Those things hurt, and they’re trash a year later.

Reply

Well-Heeled June 20, 2008 at 7:29 am

Dog Ate My Finances – I can actually find pretty good deals at Ross.. those $15 shoes cost $100 on Zappos, and I get the thrill of the hunt. ;)

Oh, and I fell off my clothes hiatus about 4 months in. Which is Ross is now so dangerous for me.

Reply

paranoidasteroid June 20, 2008 at 9:00 am

Eh, I think that your list isn’t too ridiculous. As long as you’re not overspending every month, once is a while is more than OK.

I don’t think I could resist $15 dresses either!

Reply

StackingPennies June 20, 2008 at 9:25 am

I still haven’t been to Ross, but it sounds dangerous. I think $15 for a pair of shoes means it is ok if they only last a year, especially if they are trendy (but $15 for a $100 pair is even better).

Any tips for getting deals at Disney land, or did you just pay sticker price?

Once in awhile, it is ok. Plus test expenses? That is an investment!

Reply

Butter Eater Lis June 20, 2008 at 2:47 pm

You are doing SOOOO well though. You deserve it. Seriously, you are my not-spending idol.

Reply

Jonathan June 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm

June always turns into a big-spending month for some reason. The weather is finally nice, it’s vacation time, good movies are out. Blame it on the world turning :)

Reply

Fabulously Broke June 21, 2008 at 8:16 am

The happiest place on earth DOES cost $$ LOL!!!!

I’d say, try being more conscious with your spending – I get into those ruts too where I spend, and then I’m like: what’s another $5?

Ugh. Which reminds me, I need to enter in expenses for this week LOL

Reply

diningoncents June 22, 2008 at 2:45 pm

I think Jonathan is right, June is a terrible month for budgeting. With the warm weather, it’s easy to see why $15 dresses are so worth every penny ;) Besides, I’m sure you’ll get use out of them next summer as well!

Reply

So Cal Savvy June 24, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Without the actual numbers, it looks like your test was your biggest expense.

If this is so, you can’t beat yourself up for this. If this test is necessary for graduate school, and this education will allow you to be happier and (hopefully) wealthier then it is a non-negotiable expense. It sucks that it’s so expensive (BTW so is applying to graduate schools…), but if it helps you get the career you want it’s worth it in the long run. Give yourself some kudos for completing the test!

Reply

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