worth the money | Well Heeled Blog

Sephora Friends & Family Sale – 20% Discount

Written by WellHeeled on November 1, 2009 · 6 Comments

Use code FF2009 (I think it’s only good online or via phone orders). This sale is good until November 2. So if you have been eying something at Sephora, act quickly!

I got the some goodies for myself (always wanted to try the Minerals Veil, and I need the hanging purse for an upcoming trip) and a few other small items to serve as gifts / stocking stuffers for Christmas. I’ve been saving my gift cards for this event, so I spent a grand total of $2 for my haul. Thank goodness for credit card rewards, because even at 20% off, Sephora is so expensive!

What do you want from Sephora?

You Know You Are Addicted To Argentine Tango When…

Written by WellHeeled on October 8, 2009 · 11 Comments

1. You see a dress you like in the window display, and wonder, ”can I dance in this?”

2. Fresh & Easy frozen foods aisle becomes not just a place to buy a bag of stir-fry for $3.99, but also an area to practice the tango walk.

3. You cannot suppress the big grin on your face that grows wider and wider with every turn in a practica.

4. The shoes you dream about have switched from Louboutins (shoes almost every women want) to Comme il Fauts (shoes tango-addicted women want). At least Comme il Fauts are much cheaper…

5. Tango lessons has replaced nice dining experiences as your motivational currency.

6. You harass try to persuade all your friends to go to tango classes with you.

7. It’s worth it to drive 45 minutes in gridlock traffic to get to your favorite instructor.

8. You look at your apartment’s hardwood floors and think (even for a moment)… can I rearrange the furniture so I have room to practice?

9. You are secretly glad that you can’t find classes you like on Wednesday nights because that has become the only night you can hang out with friends. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are all taken by tango classes.

10. You dance for 3 hours straight… and still want more. Much more.

My New Motivational Currency

Written by WellHeeled on October 6, 2009 · 3 Comments

One of my good friends asked me if I was interested in a dinner special at a very nice restaurant. The total would probably come out to around ~$60 with tax and tip included.

Normally, I am a big proponent of spending money for delicious food and good dining experiences, but my mind immediately calculated… $60. That’s a lot of money. In fact, that’s 4 to 5 tango classes! So I demurred to my friend. It’s not that $60 is unaffordable, per se, but that I think overall I get more joy from 5 nights of tango than I do from one (admittedly, very nice) night of dining.

Yes, it is true. My motivational currency has now switched from dining out to tango lessons.

Who AM I?

P.S. Guess what I’m doing tonight?

Tango a Go Go – It’s Exercise, It Must Be Worth It

Written by WellHeeled on October 3, 2009 · 6 Comments

I danced for almost 3 hours straight on Friday night – it was so fun. I was also exhausted. Who knew that a dance can be such a full body workout?

Because of exercise benefits, I’ve decided that I can devote more monetary resources to this addiction endeavor. So I’ve decided to buy 15 classes for $185. Individual classes would cost $15 each, or $225 total for 15 classes. In truth, then, I am saving $40 by buying in bulk, right? That’s not including the cost of practicas (practice sessions ~$5 to $10) or milongas (dance parties ~$10 to $15) that I might go to. But I’ll try to only select one or two occasions a month, to keep down the costs.

The 15 classes should last me a month and provide around 6 hours of dancing a week. I find running a little boring (although I really do want to complete a 5K – baby steps), I don’t play any sports, and I don’t belong to a gym. So those 6 hours of tango will be the only exercise I get for the week, at least for the near future.

Therefore, I’m going to consider the money an investment in my health (and happiness). Isn’t it amazing how much easier it is to spend money when you’ve decided it’s something that’s “good for you”?

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Answer: Totally worth the $80 I spent

Written by WellHeeled on July 13, 2009 · 13 Comments

Question: How do I feel about the most expensive meal I’ve ever paid for by myself?

The setting: Michelin-starred restaurant upon a hill.
The food: delicious and well-presented.
The company: my girlfriends and I, decked out in cocktail dresses and heels.

But what really stayed with me was the impeccable service – friendly, informative, unfailingly polite and never pretentious. The décor was gorgeous too – it’s as if I wandered into a dining room decorated by a very wealthy individual with very good taste (or an interior designer).

The entire dinner took almost 3 hours, including a pre-appetizer and pre-dessert compliments of the chef. All in all, a wonderful experience.

I ordered a prix fixe menu and the total tab came out to $80 including tax and tip. It was the most I’ve ever spent on a meal, for myself. That’s a special occasion type of dinner.

Funny to think that when I was in middle school, a $3 box of popcorn chicken from KFC was considered a special treat – by my 8th-grade culinary standard, I’ve definitely made it.

What’s the most expensive meal you’ve ever spent on yourself (excluding meals dined on the company, date, or parental tab)? Was it worth it?

Psychology of Presents to Parents

Written by WellHeeled on June 1, 2009 · 8 Comments

How’s that for alliteration?!

For June (combination Father’s Day and Dad’s birthday), I’m sending my parents to a weekend getaway.

Even though Mom and Dad explicitly told me that they “don’t need to stay in a nice hotel,” I feel weird sending them to anywhere that’s less than 4 stars.

It’s not that I’m a hotel snob, I’d stay quite happily at budget hotels or a hostel. But this is supposed to be a gift. To my parents. It’s suppose to be luxurious.

I don’t think they’d mind staying at a nice, 3 star place. Yet, a night at the local inn just doesn’t say “present” to me.

So because of a self-imposed threshhold on quality, location, and service, I’m looking at hotels in the $200/night range.

Thank goodness it’s for only one night!

Loyal AAA Customer

Written by WellHeeled on May 4, 2009 · 11 Comments

Because AAA is worth every penny of the yearly $47 dues when your car starts STEAMING as you drive down a crowded boulevard.

Every. Single. Penny.

Tomorrow I’m driving my car getting it towed to the mechanic’s. I really hope my engine is not damaged and the total cost of the repairs will be manageable.

I have a feeling there will be a lot of repairs coming up…

Experience, Not Stuff

Written by WellHeeled on May 21, 2008 · 25 Comments

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 the coastline of Patagonia, just me, the horse, and a cowboy tour guide. I rode on the beach as the waves lapped the sand.

So… spending $$$ to go to Disneyland? Fine. Spending $$$ on food at nice restaurants? Yes, please. Spending $$$ on prep classes? That too. Spending $$$ on a trip to Hawaii to visit a good friend? You betcha. Spending $$$ to go to graduate school down the road. Yes sir.

Money can buy me a lot of stuff or a lot of experience. New things lose their luster, but the memory of experiences can be savored over and over again. I think when I’m old and gray, my memories will be those of things I’ve done, places I’ve been, people I’ve met (which, granted, all require money in one way or the other… which is why saving is fundamental!).

image source: realsimple.com