In the world of Save. Spend. Splurge.
ONE.
You know, I’ve always felt that in some ways, life really was easier in the past before there was easy credit.
Maybe if we had less access to easy credit it would be so easy to spend $15,000 – $20,000 on beauty services and products per year, or maybe it’s all of our faults as bloggers (guilty as charged!) for enabling people to spend.
And I thought my current $1700 for 2013 (until end of October 2013 for makeup, toiletries and spa/grooming) was bad….
Instead, you could just take one of these 5 steps to increase your net worth by $25,000 a year while earning $50,000.
Think it’s not possible? Then you should read the logistics on how it’s done. It’s not easy but it is doable.
TWO.
You know, I can’t REALLY believe that smokin’ hot 28-year old Bar Rafaeli can’t land a boyfriend.
That’s just.. crazy talk. Unless she’s some sort of closeted weirdo.
There’s something a little off.. or maybe men are just too intimidated to ask her out and she doesn’t mix in “normal” circles of non-celebrity and non-Hollywood friends.
Or maybe this is a Marilyn Monroe complex where after the mystique wears off, she’s just a normal, super tall, super hot girl with flaws like everyone else.
THREE.
Belle of Capitol Hill Style gives you the basics of building a dress wardrobe for work. Every item on that list? CHECK. I’m a dress fiend.
So really, if this Chrysanthemum dress was not made in China by Pink Tartan, I’d seriously consider buying it because of its sheer beauty.
Or if I were a guy, this $20,000 bullet-and-knife-proof suit.
FOUR.
Have you ever thought about how long you want to live?
Apparently what you eat and what you do has very little to do with it, it’s more your genes and then your happiness level (or lifestyle) that determine how long you live.
FIVE.
I have had an unhealthy obsession as of late of wanting to design and make my own clothes. I can’t ever find anything I like on the rack, and this frustration makes me want to learn how to sew.
So when I saw this amazing DIY midi circle skirt, I gasped..
You could also style this skirt EXACTLY like Blair did, although her skirt was not DIY.
You might also want to take a look at this guide to making sure that your clothes fit the way that they should.
SIX.
I tell this to myself all the time these days because there are sometimes better things to do.
Like ogle this J. Crew photo shoot behind the scenes.
Or learning how to tie my scarf in a new way.
SEVEN.
I love Banksy’s work. He’s taken over NYC now.
EIGHT.
I read a lot in British fashion magazines about how to “be more American” (read: assertive), so learning that New Zealanders are just as passive, doesn’t really surprise me.
It seems like we North Americans on the whole are quite assertive, although I will say that Canadians have a tendency to be more passive-aggressive than Americans.
NINE.
Yeah.
I should have listened to the advice of people far smarter than me, like Carl Icahn, although his return on his Netflix stock was over 450%!
I probably would have sold at 100%. Silly me.
Although maybe you should just read this list of Rich Habits versus Poor People Habits and take a few lessons from some evil billionaires on how to get rich (hint: index funds.)
TEN.
While I think cashmere (quality cashmere, not cheap Uniqlo or Joe Fresh cashmere) is a fantastic purchase, it pains me to read when people call clothing items “investments”.
ELEVEN.
Just look at the price tag and crack the retailer’s price code by way they end the prices with .97, .49 and so on.
30 Comments
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save. spend. splurge.
I am only referencing the article’s premise of what they claim is true. Please click on the link and read it.
I am already a freak about personal health, as I don’t eat processed food, nor do I plan on leading a sedentary life.
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Natalie
Wow… what the fudge…? The article about the price codes…..? Super interesting stuff!
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Kandice@The Simple Year
Yay! Weekend reading for me. Definitely gonna dig through those links. Hope you’re feeling well!
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Tania
I definitely think we are greatly affected, as a society, by easy access to credit. We wouldn’t buy more car, handbag (or in the recent history, homes) than we need or could afford without it. There is so much psychology at play in selling luxury items as well as offering credit. I remember in college all the free stuff they used to give away if you signed up for a credit card (i.e. really nice stadium school logo blankets/hoodies at the football game for example). My life for sure would have been different (& it still can be) without access to credit. Her debt reduction is impressive too, it was a great post.
Those dresses are great and I’d agree a dress is the perfect foundation. It’s minimal too as is so versatile. A jersey dress can go out to dinner with heels/statement necklace, out on a weekend day with flat boots/hat or to work with jacket/pumps. I keep a few business attire outfits on hand, just in case, and they all involve a dress.
Have you heard of Yoshiko Tsukiori or Hisako Sato? I’m always lurking on their sewing book listings on Amazon. They are so cute and look so simple. Very Japanese too, which I love. Both are from Yohji Yamamoto’s fashion school.
The fashion blog that wrote about sweaters is so beautiful! I don’t mind when people talk about investment dressing in terms of buying classic higher quality pieces vs cheap or trendy. But lol I can see why it would irk you. I never think of sweaters as long time purchases. No matter how high the quality and how much you care for them, they do get fuzzy, faded and worn at a certain point. It’s one of those things I almost always buy on sale or secondhand new with tags. I love wool because of its breathability and it’s interesting now to hear many minimalists or travel around the world types rave about just that and I see lines that offer sportier styles like tanks that can be worn in warmer climates. I always look at the fabric content because acrylic makes me itch and I’m allergic to rabbit fur. So, it is wool and cotton for me but I do love a good cashmere wrap/scarf in an air conditioned office of theatre.
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save. spend. splurge.
@Tania: We had free credit card gifts too. Hats, t-shirts.. that’s why everyone signed up 😐
I have no heard of any of those designers (designers?) but I am definitely going to check them out. I would LIKE to learn how to sew but I’m scared… I’m not very handy or crafty but I would like to make my own things.
Sweaters are definitely not long-term purchases, but once they get ratty they turn into house sweaters (just to keep me warm but not to go out in public in).
Acrylic doesn’t make me itch but it makes me sweat up a storm.
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Ariana Auburn
#1- I am scared of credit cards. Evil things.
#2- She ignores the law of supply and demand: The Good/Right Man is always on low supply (but always on high demand).
#3- I always go for the professional look at the office.
#4- The article isn’t 100% correct: my great-grandmother lived to be 98 and was miserable/constant pain for the last few years of her life.
#5- Making a skirt like that is SO worth the effort once you’ve found the fabric you love 🙂
#6- I feel the same way about Pinterest: its like porn for the crafty mind.
#7-Banksy’s work is awesome.
#8- It’s hard to be assertive in another country. Unless it concerns money, then it is necessary to be assertive. It can make a difference between getting ripped off or saving money.
#9-I do 70% of the habits. The other 30% don’t apply to me (no kids)
#10- I saved money by viewing my clothes as things to cover my body with.
#11- I’ve become a master at reading those price tags after working in retail for so long 🙁-
save. spend. splurge.
@Ariana Auburn: I love that you replied to each of my points!!!
I really wish I could sew. *sigh*
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Kyle | Rather-Be-Shopping.com
Wow, I really wish I had invested in Netflix at the start. I also love the list of 20 Things Rich People Do Every Day, I need to get off my butt and do more reading, no doubt! Thanks for including my link in your cool list.
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MatthewChat
I think the answer to #2 is on a side bar in the article you referenced:
RELATED: SEE IT: BAR REFAELI KISSES GIRL FRIEND ORNA ELOVITCH
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save. spend. splurge.
@MatthewChat: Ooo maybe. But she says that she does have an ideal man in mind…
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Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life
Thanks for the link back. I have made the mistake of calling some of my clothes “investments”. You’re totally right in that they’re not. I just think of my lululemon pants that way sometimes because 1. they’re ridiculously expensive and 2. they’ve outlasted 5 pairs of express yoga pants.
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save. spend. splurge.
@Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life: Just call them a pair of really.. awesome.. longwearing… low cost-per-use pants.
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Done by Forty
You always have such interesting things to write about. I think my wife would like it…when she’s done with her research and back in the states, I’ll point her to your blog.
As for Bar, I heard a quote a while back along the lines of, “Show me a beautiful woman, and I’ll show you a guy who’s tired of her crap.” It’s kind of a crass quote but I love the sentiment: we’re all flawed, we’re all going to have stuff that annoys the crap out of a significant other, and that superficial beauty is as susceptible to hedonic adaptation as anything else. You get used to it.
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save. spend. splurge.
@Done by Forty: HAHA! Don’t point her to my blog unless she wants to waste lots of time and start feeling like she wants to go shopping (just kidding).
I’d agree with that quote. I think everyone is human with flaws that others can’t or don’t want to see in themselves or others. It’s just a question of finding your match and trying to get along.
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Debbie M
One stock strategy is that once you make 100%, you sell half–the rest is all gravy!
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save. spend. splurge.
If only it doubled like that like clockwork 🙂 Sometimes you have to take the money and run.
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Jane Savers @ Solving The Money Puzzle
I can hem pants and sew buttons back on and make children’s Halloween costume but I couldn’t sew anything respectable.
Thank you for including my link. Easy credit has sunken a lot of lives.
Bar Rafeili is probably still hung up on some guy she used to date and no one else can compare to the romanticized vision of that guy.
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save. spend. splurge.
@Jane Savers @ Solving The Money Puzzle: I can also hem pants (no sew tape), sew a basic square for a pillow, and buttons…
Other than that, it’s all going to the tailor.
Poor Bar. Even pretty models have problems finding men.. but I do reckon it’s because of her high expectations.
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Emily @ Urban Departures
Oh, I love circle skirts and have been considering making the one from the tutorial you linked to; I’m just trying to find the perfect fabric now. I’m also in love with Atlantic-Pacific’s grey pleated skirt in the link: http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.ca/2013/11/equipped-for-season.html
P.S. You’re links are distracting! Haha.
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save. spend. splurge.
@Emily @ Urban Departures: Blair has some seriously sweet style.
You might want to check out Penny Pincher Fashion too. I am currently IN LOVE with her looks.
Oh and Allie from Wardrobe Oxygen.
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PK
Where have you bought your cashmere? Do you have an opinion on the cashmere v. superfine merino battle? I’m a fan of merino and lambswool strictly for the durability factor.
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save. spend. splurge.
@PK: Thrift stores. 🙂 $30 for cashmere. Although I am partial to White and Warren for their travel wraps, but I found their sweaters a bit itchy (I have eczema and am very sensitive). Otherwise, it’s trial and error. I find that any cashmere sweater below $150 – $200 @ retail is not worth even trying on, because it is SURE to make my skin itch.
I like merino and lambswool for durability but again.. I have eczema. I need super soft, non-itchy fibers.
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Chris
Have to disagree with your conclusion here again I’m afraid. You summarized as follows; “Apparently what you eat and what you do has very little to do with it, it’s more your genes and then your happiness level (or lifestyle) that determine how long you live.” Unfortunately you missed one very important point. Although genetics may play you a better or worse hand, it turns out that 80% of people die prematurely due to lifestyle factors (ie what you eat and what you do (exercise, sleep, substance abuse). Good living may not make you live past 110, but is likely to get you close to it and let you feel good most of the way there. What you do will determine how close you get, and how many of those final years will be lived in poor health. Just as an aside, it turns out that we actually control many of our genes, and have the ability to turn them on or off, strangely enough through our actions such as exercise as well as by what/how much we eat. So no getting away from personal responsibility, either in health or personal finance. Take care.