Emma Stine $25 Gift Card Giveaway

Written by WellHeeled on May 24, 2011 · 18 Comments

Raise your hand if you like beautifully designed jewelry at affordable prices.

Raise your hand if you like a $25 gift card to make the jewelry EVEN MORE affordable.

That’s where Emma Stine comes in. Ever since I found this jewelry company through fashion blogger Style Pint’s review, I can’t stop browsing the website. Disclaimer, I have never purchased anything from them before – I asked for a giveaway for you guys instead. That’s why I’m so excited that one reader will get $25 towards the purchase of a shiny new piece of jewelry. Please note, only readers in the U.S. are eligible.

To enter:

Leave a blog comment with the link to your favorite piece of jewelry on Emma Stine’s website.

Additional entries:

1. Twitter: Tweet this post: @WellHeeledBlog is giving away $25 Emma Stine Jewelry Gift Card http://tinyurl.com/emmastine

2. Facebook: One entry for a post on your wall with a link to this giveaway: WellHeeledBlog is giving away $25 Emma Stine Jewelry Gift Card http://tinyurl.com/emmastine

3. Blog: One entry for a post about this giveaway

Please leave the links with the additional entries in the comment so I can count them.

The contest ends Thursday June 2. Winner will be announced on Friday June 3, and will have 48 hours to email me and claim the prize.

The Engagement Ring: Do you know how much he spent?

Written by WellHeeled on April 28, 2011 · 82 Comments

CB and I are pretty open about our finances. We share our goals and make saving a big priority. I have learned, however, that openness has a limit – CB absolutely refuses to tell me how much he spent on my engagement ring.

Okay one more ring shot! (I actually can’t wear the ring yet because it has to be resized and insured. So please indulge me my pictures.)

On the one hand, I’m really curious – and a little scared – of how much he spent. On the other hand, I am also relieved because I can just go on enjoying my beautiful ring without feeling like we should have saved the money for something else.

Here’s what I do know: CB got the ring at Costco – woohoo! – and that the price fit into his budget and he paid for the ring with cash. That makes me happy. He drove to Costcos all over town trying to find something that he knew I’d like but that he also found pretty (I wouldn’t say that we have the exact same taste when it comes to rings). The fact that he put so much time and energy into picking out a ring that I love, all by himself, makes me very happy.

I’ve talked about my interest in nontraditional engagement rings. I had thought that we were picking out my ring together, so when I was looking at rings I concentrated on mostly moissanite and gemstone rings under the $1,000 mark. We share our goals and make saving a big priority, whether buying gifts, doing a free IRS efile, or grocery shopping, but on this point CB is a being a traditionalist and keeping mum about the price.

So, I feel a little guilty about the money. But call me a hypocrite because, well, I adore my very traditional diamond engagement ring. I love the bezel setting. The milligrain edging. The pave diamonds. I’ve never worn a diamond before, and wow, does it sparkle. In fact, I love this ring so much that I have decided I will keep it as my only ring. It can double as my wedding band. Plus, no need to buy an additional ring.

Ladies, do you know how much your ring cost? Do you WANT to know? Also, does anyone wear only their engagement ring, no wedding band?

Small Frivolous Purchase Is the Ultimate Pick-Me-Up?

Written by WellHeeled on February 28, 2011 · 19 Comments

Last weekend while strolling through an Urban Outfitters, I spied a rack full of belts on sale. One of them, the Ecote Sparrow Stretch Belt, caught my eye – it fits very well, and has an interesting hardware detail that I haven’t seen anywhere else. And, it was only $10 on sale (marked down from $24, the price still in effect online). So I got it. It’s a great belt, and I have already worn with the dresses and cardigans (cinching the waist – see, I AM learning from style bloggers!). Yes, it has only been a month and I have already broken my No Accessories Rule I’ve set out in my stab at minimalism.

Later that day I was chatting with a girl friend, and she asked me how my day was. I told her I bought a new belt, then I added, “$10 isn’t too much to pay for happiness.” I meant that tongue-in-cheek, but a little part of me realized that it’s true – buying the belt really did bring a jolt of happiness. ecote sparrow belt 2 Small Frivolous Purchase Is the Ultimate Pick Me Up?

Why do these little purchases make us happy? Before anyone say it’s a phenomenon limited to women, I know that when CB is feeling down, a $10 DVD is a little pick-me-up for him. I think most people use these small, arguably frivolous purchases as pick-me-ups. I may prefer a used book, a tube of lipstick, or a package of cookies; someone else might want a cheap bottle of wine or 5 songs from iTunes.

Dave Bach would cringe at this “Latte Factor”, but I don’t really feel compelled to stop these purchases. I am not sure what it says about my personal finance discipline or lack thereof. I arrange my finances by making the high-impact decision once (maxing out my 401K, for example), so I can have room to enjoy these small indulgences and still meet my goals. Still, there is something vaguely disconcerting about shopping to feel happy.

Do you make these small purchases? And do they make you happier?

Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Non-Traditional Engagement Rings

Written by WellHeeled on January 8, 2011 · 78 Comments

Nope, I’m not engaged! But I will be.. sometime. When we do get engaged, we will be picking out the ring together. Like many women, I always thought of a colorless diamond solitaire as THE default / traditional engagement ring.

I’ve mentioned before that I’d rather have a great trip than an engagement ring. Then my friends started getting engaged (one in particular has an especially gorgeous ring!) and I was surrounded by diamonds. What’s wrong with having a great trip AND a ring, right? In a moment of bling-induced weakness, I told CB that, er, perhaps I DO want a diamond. I believe my exact words were: “I know I am a sucker for all the marketing, but they are so shiny…”

Say what you will about the diamond industry and its many problems (and let’s be honest, I don’t think mining for any type of gemstone is sunshine and roses), DeBeers is a branding genius and market maker and credit must be given where credit is due. Diamonds are fiery, precious, and hard enough for every day wear, and just beautiful from an aesthetic perspective.

Upon closer reflection, however, I realized that while I like and appreciate diamonds, I just don’t want a diamond enough to spend $5,000 or $6,000 it will take to get something that we like or to spend $1,000 and get a diamond of lower quality. A little voice inside me says, “$6,000 amortized over 50 years of marriage (optimistic one, aren’t I?) will be just a little more than $100 a year! So if you really want a diamond, go for it.” Then another little voice chimes in, “but do you really, really truly deeply do want a diamond?”

Once I started to move beyond the “diamond = engagement ring” paradigm, I started thinking about something a little bit more nontraditional. For example, how about something colored AND not a diamond? When I was growing up, ruby was my favorite gemstone. Red is my favorite color, and is, conveniently for me, also the color associated with love. When started googling ruby rings. I’ve found a picture of the ring I really like (see above): a large ruby surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. Best part is, many gemstones can be created in labs, which means they are cheaper than mined stones and free from the ethical issues that might arise with mining.

I am not 100% confident, but it’s looking more and more likely that I will be sporting a nontraditional engagement ring.

Do any of you have a nontraditional engagement ring? (i.e, a color gemstone or a non-diamond engagement ring?) How did you come to that decision? Have you regretted not getting a diamond?

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J. Crew Double Cloth Lady Day Coat is calling me

Written by WellHeeled on December 29, 2010 · 16 Comments

I haven’t seen much that has caught my eye during this round of post-Christmas sales, but I do like J.Crew’s Double Cloth Lady Day Coat very much. And, it’s still available in my favorite shade, Dark Plum. (It appears that every December, I am tempted by J. Crew’s offerings).

Here is what J. Crew says about this coat:

A feminine, flattering silhouette with a beautiful drape. Distinctly textured wool/nylon from Italy’s Manifattura di Carmignano mill, known the world over for its exceptional woolen fabrics. The mill’s double-cloth is one of our all-time favorites, and you won’t find it anywhere else—Manifattura di Carmignano makes it exclusively for J.Crew. Rounded collar. Long sleeves. Inset waistband at high waist. On-seam pockets. Functional buttons at cuffs. Repp-stripe tie-silk piping. Fully lined. Hits above knee. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

It is listed at the sales price of $238. Then, there is the 30% off Final Sale, bringing the total down to $166.60, which will quality for free shipping. Add in taxes, the total would come out just a shade under $185.

But, do I really need a coat now? And should I get on for Final Sale, without possibility of exchange / return if the sizing doesn’t work out? My head says no. But my shop-happy heart says yes…

With any luck, it will be sold out soon and the decision shall be made for me.

Chocolate Will Be As Expensive as Caviar in 20 Years

Written by WellHeeled on November 11, 2010 · 25 Comments

Remember my chocolate budget? Well, I better start saving much more money because in 20 years, chocolate is going to skyrocket in cost. According to a chilling article by Gizmodo, the world is running out of chocolate!

At the rate we’re going, chocolate is going to be a rare—and extremely pricey—commodity within the next twenty years.

What will the shortage mean? $11 Snickers bars, sooner than you think. Pretzels given out for Halloween. Or more candy made from carob, a poor substitute for the sweet and sticky real deal. And a tectonic shift in how we view our mochas, according the Nature Conservation Research Council’s John Mason:

“In 20 years chocolate will be like caviar. It will become so rare and so expensive that the average Joe just won’t be able to afford it.”

Imagine all the things that would be affected by this shortage: hot chocolates, s’mores, mochas, Spanish mole dishes, Hershey’s Kisses, chocolate croissants, brownies, chocolate cupcakes….

I wish I had something more cogent to say about this shortage, something about market pricing or consumer behavior. But all I can say is…

NOOOO!

Sushi: An Expensive Culinary Habit

Written by WellHeeled on June 9, 2010 · 30 Comments

I am far from the suavest of sushi aficionados (try as I might, the most adventurous I get in terms of raw fish is with tuna sashimi, and I love rolls). Even at a more pedantic level of enjoyment, however, sushi is an expensive culinary habit.

Case in point: Last Saturday night CB and I went to a new sushi restaurant that had gotten rave reviews from my friends. The place did not disappoint and was entirely reasonable for a nice Saturday evening meal. Still, for two people, with no drinks, the total tax & tip came out to $50 for three specialty rolls (with all of my favorite ingredients – spicy tuna, unagi, crab, roe, avocado, cucumber, tuna, and salmon), and a bowl of green tea ice cream. The food was beautifully presented and delicious, the service was friendly, and the atmosphere cozy.

It was a wonderful dinner, and I view our $50 bill as money well spent. After all, sushi are truly works of art – it costs money to prepare the labor-intensive dishes and to purchase high-quality fish and other seafood. At some other restaurants, the cost of sushi can go as high as your wallet will expand (or is it contract?). I doubt that I will develop the sense of adventure or sophistication necessary to truly enjoy sea urchin, squid, or octopus sashimi. I do know, however, that I’ve graduated from $5 spicy tuna rolls at the mall sushi shops, and I don’t think I can go back. We’ve all heard of lifestyle inflation. This might be the very first step on my road to sushi inflation.

How often do you eat sushi? Are you willing to spend more on sushi than on other meals? What is your favorite dish?

The Great Temptations of Etsy

Written by WellHeeled on May 13, 2010 · 14 Comments

I shall share three items that have caught my eye on Etsy, then hope that if you buy it, you will let me know in the comments so that I can live vicariously through your purchase.

For the world traveler:

I’ve always wanted a map to decorate my walls, and this would fit the bill perfectly. You can also purchase the picture with different colored canvases. At $160, it’s a surprisingly affordable piece of larger-scale art.

For the lady with style:

This 4-strand glass and bead necklace has a quiet elegance about it – you can wear it to the office with a black shift dress, toss it on with jeans on a grocery run, or dress it up with a satin A-line gown at a wedding. $38 without shipping.

For the businesswoman:

Every since I’ve gotten business cards for my new job, I’ve wanted a chic but sturdy business card holder. This silver-toned holder with the raised seahorse on the front is 90% class, 10% whimsy. $48.

Every time I am tempted by a purchase, I ask myself, would I rather have this ________ or would I rather save the money for the Galapagos Fund? So far, dreams of seeing the giant tortoise usually win out. Yet I cannot deny the appeal of the map. Or the necklace. Or the cardholder.

image source: Etsy.com

Clicking on the pictures will take you to the seller’s listing.

5 Year Travel Plan: Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality

Written by WellHeeled on May 4, 2010 · 60 Comments

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 Adventure.

Plenty of people have a 5-year plan for career and educational goals. So why not have a 5-Year Travel Plan? Two years ago, I posted on my Big Ticket Travel Dreams – since then, I’ve accomplished 1 dream on my list (Disney World). Most of the destinations overlap. Here are the destinations on my 5-year Travel Plan (the 5-year mark also coincides nicely with the entrance into my 30s).

New York City:

I’ve been to NYC quite a bit in the last few years, but CB has never gone. NYC is lovely in May/June, so perhaps we will plan for a Labor Day weekend 2010 or a Memorial Weekend 2011 trip. I’d like to stay at least 5 days and 4 nights and squeeze in a Broadway show. A back-of-the-envelope calculation puts our budget at about $1,500.

Japan:

CB really wants to go to Japan. I’ve been to Tokyo and Osaka for a short while several years ago, but I’ve never been to Kyoto, the former imperial capital and arguably Japan’s most historical city. I’m not sure how much a trip to Japan would take in terms of both money and vacation days – $5,000 for two including airfare? 8 days? (2 days for travel, 6 days for play). Debt Hater booked a 4-night stay in Toyko & airfare package for only $1,200 in 2009. This will be a 2011 or 2012 trip.

China:

CB lived in Beijing for several months while I’ve spent time in Southern China. My aunt and uncle work and live in China, so we can stay with them when I’m in their city. For the rest of the trip, CB and I will be on our own (although my uncle can probably wrangle some travel discounts for us). Plane tickets will be around $1,600 for two, with another $1,000+ in lodging / meals / travel within China costs. $4,000 for two for 2 weeks - doable?

China is so huge and there are so many things I want to see that I’d like to devote at 14 days to this trip (2-3 days will be lost to traveling to & from the US / overcoming jet lag). I would like to go to China next year, which would push Japan to 2012. Or, I could try to squeeze China and Japan into two weeks, which would use up all my vacation for the year. 2 weeks is a little short for these two countries, but at least we’d do the bulk of the overseas flight in one go.

Australia and/or New Zealand:

CB has proposed these destinations for a potential honeymoon trip. If it were to be a honeymoon trip.. I want it to be at least 10 days! Budget: no idea. I expect it to be fairly high because of the travel costs (round trip tickets to Australia will be at least $2,500 for two) and because we’d probably want to splurge. So… $7,000?

I would want plenty of snorkeling, relaxing, and eating. And of course, indulging in the world-class culture that Sydney or Melbourne offers.

Greek isles:

Oceans the color of lapis lazuli and beaches as white as sugar – sign me up please! I’ve been dreaming of the Greek Isles ever since I saw my first picture of Santorini. I’d like to spend a day or two in Santorini, but also visit the other, less well-known islands in the area (Paxos – doesn’t the picture look enticing?). Budget: no idea. I assume this trip would also cost a pretty penny (or $2,500 to $3,000 for a week?).

France / Italy / Spain:

I would love to do a tour of Western Europe. Sunflowers of Debt Chronicles estimated that her 15-day London-Paris-Germany tour cost $8,000 to $9,000 for two, so I expect that’s about the range CB and I would be look at. Maybe we can shave $1,000 off if we got really good deals or stayed in hostels, but I think a trip of this magnitude would cost at least $7,000. Perhaps this trip will get pushed off until we are older, however.

Galapagos Islands:

Say hello to the dream! People don’t tend to equate savings with romance, but CB and I are committing our financial resources for a future adventure together – what can be more romantic than that?

The cost of trip will be $10,000 to $12,000 for two. We are basing our budget on Lindblad Expeditions. Not sure that’s the operator we will select, but I know that I want a company that offers small groups, safe and comfortable ships, great food, knowledgeable biologists and scientists as tour guides, and a reputation for respecting and protecting the fragile ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. For operators of similar caliber, I assume that the high prices will be here to stay. I want to do this trip in 2013, before I head to business school.

Thinking about all these travels have really put things into perspective for me – perspective on how much money we’d need to save! New York, Japan, China, and Australia alone will cost almost $18,000. Galapagos will be another $10,000. At the risk of being discouraged, I think this is a good exercise – I don’t want to keep “talking” about how much I want to go to Galapagos or Japan or Greece but never taking the steps to make those dreams a reality. (To be honest, I have no idea how I’m going to fund these travels and max out my retirement accounts at the same… I guess that’s all the more incentive to make sure I perform well enough at work to get the full bonus and refrain from needless purchases).

image source: (1) wired.com, (2) finnair.com, (3) travel.nationalgeographic.com, (4) textually.org, (5) greece-holidays.sunvil.co.uk, (6) photos4travel.com, (7) gliving.com

Share your 5 Year Travel Plan destinations in the comments! Or, if you have advice / feedback about the places I’ve listed here, I’m eager to hear your thoughts.

I Have A Netbook

Written by WellHeeled on May 1, 2010 · 15 Comments

Last year I wrote a post on the netbook. I’ve wanted one for a while now, but always resisted actually buying one, because I didn’t need it. But last night, CB told me he had a surprise for me. Guess what it was…

A brand new ASUS Eee PC 1005PE seashell with a 10.1 screen and up to 14 hours of battery life! And, he even bought extra RAM to install in my netbook. The tiny netbook was humming nicely running updates by the time he showed me my surprise.

CB wouldn’t tell me the price because he wanted me to just enjoy my new (just because) present, but I figured it was probably somewhere around the range of $300+. I hope he got a good deal on it. I’m happy I have a shiny little netbook that I can carry with me everywhere. Oh the whole world of possibilities.

This netbook will come in handy when we go traveling or when I want to write something during lunch hour or after work. It’s so light and easy to handle compared to my full-powered laptop that I’m sure I’ll be bringing it along on many more trips.

In other news, our Galapagos Fund has $780.40 in it. I’ve been funneling to it any money I make in a freelance job. I don’t have an exact goal for where I want it to be at the end of 2010, but I’m going to shoot for $2,000. Of course, retirement savings come first.

image credit: carl144 via flickr.com

Shopping for Mattresses: How Much Would You Spend?

Written by WellHeeled on March 8, 2010 · 39 Comments

Over the weekend, a friend (“Sandy”) and I went shopping for mattresses. After 10 years of sleeping on the same spring mattress, Sandy has decided it’s time to upgrade. I decided to tag along.

Shopping for mattresses can be hectic – you are trying to decide on a piece of furniture that will arguably have the biggest impact on your life. An uncomfortable couch makes you uncomfortable maybe 3-4 hours a day. An uncomfortable bed, on the other hand, will hurt you for 6-9 hours and make you feel badly for the rest of your day.

Adding to that, most mattress places don’t have standardized coding for the beds they sell, and unlike car shopping, there are no published MSRP guidelines to help you negotiate a fair price for your mattress. So it’s difficult to compare Bed A from Company A to Bed B from Company B. I’m glad that I’m not the one who needs to buy a mattress right now.

We stopped in a Sit ‘n Sleep. There we tested several mattresses at different price points. Sandy’s maximum price is around $500, but just for the heck of it we tried out a few mattresses in the $2,000 plus range. We might not be able to afford them, but laying on them and daydreaming is free, right?

Trying out mattresses might be the best part of shopping for mattresses. Some of the expensive models were comfortable, some of them were really comfortable, but one in particular, the Aireloom Luxury Latex, was amazing. That mattress somehow managed to be supportive and firm but soft and luxurious at the same time. Felt like you were laying on a cloud… it was difficult to keep my eyes open!

At $2,000, the Aireloom was much more than either of us could spend, but we still lounged on the mattress for a good 15 minutes. We also tried out a few pricier Aireloom models that sells for $4,000 or $5,000 but didn’t find them as comfortable as the Luxury Latex one.

Though $2,000 is a lot of money, I can imagine myself buying a mattress that cost that much if I absolutely loved it (and if reviews indicate that the foam wouldn’t just give out on me after a year or two), but only after I have a home of my own and will be settling down in one place for 7-10 years. After all, sleep makes up one-third of our life and has an enormous impact on our quality of life, right? A mattress might be something to splurge on.

What’s the most you would spend on a mattress?

Dream Room Library In My Dream Home

Written by WellHeeled on December 8, 2009 · 22 Comments

I have a future dream room in my future abode – a library (which in practicality, will also have to double as an office / study and maybe a guest room).

One of my favorite Disney movies is Beauty and the Beast, and my favorite scene is the one in which Beast surprises Belle with her library in the castle, filled floor to (a very high) ceiling with books, books, and more books. All hardcovers, of course.

(sigh – isn’t this room magnificent?)

But since life is not an animated Disney feature, I’ll planning a much scaled-down home library. One feature that I really do want to have is a wall of floor to ceiling bookshelves. I also would like a secretary desk, comfortable yet stylish reading chairs, and perhaps a chaise for those days when I just want to lazy an afternoon away with a book.

Here are a few inspirations I’ve culled from the web:

(Elle Decor 2007 Laird Residence) – I love how bright and tranquil this room feels. The yellow pops of color go beautifully with white shelves and the beige-toned furniture. The vase of pink flowers matches the throw on the sofa and adds a touch of charm.

If I can’t devote an entire separate room to a home library, I might have to appropriate a wall of the living room as my library section. I love the curtain idea, very dramatic and fluid way of concealing the shelves. I may want to do two panels and just tie them off to the side to frame the wall of books. Again, the combination of light-colored sofas and pink flowers is lovely.

(inspired by Carrie’s post on a home gym).

What’s your dream room in your dream home? A library? A home-gym? A dance studio? A movie theater?

Luxury Sample Sale Websites – Do You Buy?

Written by WellHeeled on December 7, 2009 · 16 Comments

Luxury sample sale websites are the hottest new trend in online shopping. I have memberships to four such websites: Gilt, Ruelala, HauteLook and Ideeli. Fortunately for my budget, I have not yet made a purchase on any of these sites, though I was tempted to do so many times by their colorful frocks, supple leather goods, glittering jewelry, and stylish footwear.

As a New York Times article said, these sample sale websites target consumers’ desire for a great deal (prices are up to 70% off retail) with the urgency of Today Only! sales.

The concept seems tailored to recessionary times. Any guilt that consumers feel over spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary items can be replaced by bragging rights for finding a killer bargain, like a $4,500 diamond necklace that was recently on sale for $2,250 at Gilt.

Whenever I am browsing on these sample sale websites, I have to be careful that I don’t buy more than I need or really want. The temptation to do is strong, because I think I’m getting a great deal and because there’s a giant clock counting down the minutes until the deal expires. The good news is that while most of these sites don’t offer cash refunds, they will let you send back your items for a store credit if you are hit with buyer’s remorse after you’ve clicked the “buy” button. Final sales are usually nonrefundable, so don’t buy unless you’re certain of the sizing and the style.

Because -

A dress, even at 80% off, even by a famous designer, even if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy, is not a deal if it is at odds with your style or figure, or is more than you can comfortably afford. I think sample sale websites are a great resource for getting luxury at a discount in the convenience of your own home, as long as we keep those facts in mind.

Would You Rent Your Clothes For A Party?

Written by WellHeeled on November 12, 2009 · 16 Comments

Rental has gone from your old standby’s (DVDs, cars for the weekend, etc.) to high fashion. Bag, Borrow, or Steal (Avelle) rents out high-end purses and accessories. Wear Today Gone Tomorrow offers designers dresses rentals at 5%-10% of their retail price.

And now a new business has come into the mix: Rent The Runway also offers consumers the opportunity to rent dresses at a fraction of what they would cost. A $3,000 dress by Christian Siriano (the 4th season winner of Project Runway) can be rented for about $200.

This is another sign of the transumer transformation – the idea that instead of pursuing an ownership model, consumers can pay for a leasing lifestyle instead. Rather than spending $1,000 on an evening gown that you only wear once, for example, you can rent the same gown for $100 for a night.

Renting luxury has become a way for people to (a) spend money on only when they want to use an item, (b) achieve a level of luxury that would be above their means if they had to own the product, and/or (c) introduce more variety into their wardrobe without the corresponding cash outlay.

It’s a good idea not to buy a dress that you won’t wear more than once, and renting a dress once would be cheaper than buying it. It can even be a “green” method – effectively hundreds of people would be “sharing” one dress. (Although then you get into the impact of shipping / dry-cleaning, etc., so I’m not sure what the net effect would be).

This rental model has existed before in wedding gowns and in men’s formal wear – but it’s only recently when renting regular lady’s formal wear has become an option. If gents can rent their tuxedos for a swanky gala, why can’t ladies rent an Oscar De La Renta or a Caroline Herrera?

Still, I would rather save and get a $500 dress that I really love then to spend $100 to rent a $1,000 dress 5 times. Despite it all, I suppose there are still elements of ownership, especially when it comes to personal items such as clothing and accessories, that appeal to me.

Would you rent your clothes for a party?

Do It Yourself Jewelry – Does It Save Money?

Written by WellHeeled on November 9, 2009 · 9 Comments

014 300x225 Do It Yourself Jewelry Does It Save Money?

I made this pendant over the weekend – CB’s mom has a lot of tools and beads to make her own jewelry, and she nicely said that I can make something on my own. So while CB was out working on his car, I just grabbed a pearl bead and some silver wire and went to work.

For someone who has never wire-wrapped before, I was very happy with how the necklace turned out. The pearl looks as if it’s floating in an orbit of silver, and I maintain that the unevenness and asymmetry are intentional and only increase its charm.

Although I love this necklace (partly because I made it), I don’t think making my own jewelry would be saving any money, per se. Quality beads / materials / tools can get quite expensive. CB’s mom has a large cache of materials to work with – but it costs a lot of money to build up such an inventory. Then, there’s the monetary value of the time that one spends working on the jewelry. Jewelry-making probably won’t turn into a full-fledged hobby for me, but it’s nice to be able to make something pretty once in a while.

One of the good things about making jewelry is that it can potentially turn into a money-making hobby. My one excursion into DIY jewelry, however, made me wonder how much of a profit those wonderful Etsy jewelers turn.

More expensive items has bigger profit margins, but on etsy the prices are all fairly low for jewelry. $100-$200 seem to be around the high-end of the range for jewelry prices. Especially people who sell a pair of earrings for $10 or less – how do they make money? After accounting for the time they spend making the piece, the raw materials cost, and the fee they pay to list on etsy, the profit margins must be quite thin.

How Much Are You Willing To Pay For Handbags?

Written by WellHeeled on October 28, 2009 · 21 Comments

prices and bags1 1024x307 How Much Are You Willing To Pay For Handbags?

I love my new leather satchel that I’ve purchased a month ago. I can really tell a difference in quality in that bag’s material and construction versus the faux leather purses that I’ve bought in the past. Considering that those purses often cost $20-$40, I consider the extra cost money well spent.

But I am ALSO glad that I didn’t pay over $100 for my leather bag.

As I’ve used the bag 2x – 4x a week, I notice little scuff marks or scratches on the leather. I try to be careful, but wear and tear is bound to happen. If I had a really expensive bag (say, $500+), I would be scared to set it down!

Also, I believe that the higher you go up in the handbag scale (i.e. from a $20 Payless purse to $50 Nine West to a $500 Coach purse to a $1,500 Prada bag), the marginal improvement in quality decreases and the percentage of the incremental cost that goes to the “brand” increases.

For completely illustrative purposes, this is how I think of it: the $30 difference between Nine West and Payless might be allocated 80% quality ($24) and 20% brand ($6), whereas the $1,000 between a $500 Coach bag and a $1,500 Prada might be allocated 40% quality ($400) and 60% brand ($600). The quality will still be better every “step” up in branding you go, but you will be paying a proportionally greater differential for the brand.

This is not to say that paying for brand is wrong or unwise. In fact, with a designer brand you are usually buying good design, superb construction, innovative styling, cache, a special purchasing experience (i.e. if you purchase the bag at Neiman Marcus instead of at a sample sale), recognition, etc. If those aspects are important to you and you can afford it, then more power to you! (And the economy thanks you).

I just don’t think I can take the psychological pressure of carrying around a bag that costs more than my rent. Which just goes to shows – I shouldn’t be owning such a bag. Right now, I think ~$200 / bag is my limit.

Investment advisers have counseled clients to see if their asset allocation pass the “sleep test” – I think material possessions should be viewed in the same way. If the thought of losing a $2,000 bag makes me break out in hives (or a $40,000 car whose every dent will be like a dagger to my heart), then owning these things probably won’t bring that much joy to my life. I’d worry too much!

$330 Pair of Flip-Flops

Written by WellHeeled on August 27, 2009 · 16 Comments

You read the title right.

I am usually an advocate of spending more on quality shoes, but, as I’ve come to realize, “more” and “quality” are all in the eyes of the beholder.

Now, behold this pair of Hermes calfskin flip-flops.

Hermes flipflops $330 Pair of Flip Flops

On the one hand, I wonder how in the world a pair of flip-flops can reach 3 figures. I hope the little illustrated wings are real because for $300+ a pair these babies better be able to make me fly.

On the other hand, this pair of flip-flops is probably the most affordable item at Hermes, given that a Hermes Birkin bag costs $5,000+. Yet, I can more easily justify the purchase of a bag – wouldn’t flip-flops just get dirtied and ruined?

How much would you spend on flip-flops? I say my thereotical limit is around $20, but the most I’ve spent on a pair is probably ~$15. Secretly, though, I wonder if there’s something extra special about calfskin flip-flops.

Guess I’ll never know!

The Luxury of Fresh Flowers

Written by WellHeeled on August 25, 2009 · 10 Comments

My fascination with Mrs. Dalloway began with the first sentence, in which the female heroine decided that she was going to buy the flowers herself for her party that night.

Well, my friend bought me a gorgeous bouquet of purple, blue, and pink hydrangeas for a get-together this weekend. The bouquet was so big that I split them into two arrangements – a smaller one to place in the living room and a larger one to serve as the dining room table centerpiece.

hydrangeas The Luxury of Fresh Flowers

To keep my flowers fresh for as long as I can, I follow these steps:
(1) cut the stems at an diagonal
(2) change the water every day
(3) make sure there’s enough water in the vase
(4) trim the low-hanging leaves so none is submerged in the water
(5) remove the wilting flowers
(6) keep flowers out of direct sunlight

These steps should help me to keep my flowers alive for maybe two weeks. I didn’t start buying (and appreciating) fresh flowers until a few months ago. Before, it seemed like an extravagance. But now that I have had blooms gracing my coffee table or brightening up the kitchen, it’s hard not to just stop by the local farmer’s market and pick up a small bouquet for $3…

Do you buy fresh flowers? What are your favorite kinds?