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Budget-Conscious, Fashionable Handbags for Mother’s Day

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There is a popular quote that says that you can have everything you want out of life if you dress accordingly for it. I am not a fashion-conscious individual. It is the bane of the existence of the special woman in my life. When we go out on dates, she insists that I put on dress slacks, a dress shirt and make an extra effort to look stylish. I know its important, I really do.

However, I have just found it hard to care about most of my life. I am a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy. You shouldn’t care what others think of you. Until, you must. When you go out on a date, especially a first date, you must take care to look your best. If you are getting ready for a job interview, open toe sandals, nose-rings, and heavy metal t-shirts may not be the best options to make a memorable first impression.

I am accepting this as I get older. However, I still don’t understand how dressing in the exact same way, as a demographic, that a celebrity or fashion designer tells you to is stylistically fighting conformity? Maybe its all in the accessory? Mastering the art of matching accessory to clothing styles – is this the path of individualistic style?
Why am I going on and on about style and fashion?

Because Mother’s Day is coming up. Its always important to show your mother you care. Plus, Mom deserves more than getting a card and flowers every year. So, I have been researching budget alternatives to the expensive, luxury handbags that are always in fashion as accessories.

Style, Functionality, and Reasonable Cost

A genuine Louis Vuitton or Hermes handbag can cost in excess of four-figures, or more. While I want to get the most important woman in my life something she will love, that is beyond my pay grade. What I am learning is that style and versatility is important in a handbag. A woman likes a handbag that can be worn with multiple outfits, is big enough to store her valuables, and is uniquely stylish enough to always be in fashion.

Or, at least for the foreseeable future. That is why I have focused on recommending two Michael Kors handbags.

Michael Kors Karson Large Carryall Leather Tote Bag

This is a red leather handbag with metallic-gold colored highlights. It has a wide opening for easier access to interior contents. The double shoulder strap on this handbag measures 9.5 inches in length. Additionally, the Michael Kors logo is prominently and stylistically featured on the front. You can get this handbag for about $120.

Michael Kors Sofia Large Leather EW Satchel Shoulder Bag

This is an attention-stealing handbag colored a distinct Saffiano leather pink with metallic-gold accents. The interior features seven slip pockets and one additional zipper pocket. The nine-inch shoulder strap is both adjustable and removable. It costs about $140.

Consider Style Before Gifting

I have only offered some helpful recommendations. If you are stuck on getting a Mother’s Day gift, consider her style. Ask relatives or friends for advice. Consider what she might want, and wear, before dropping a $100 or $200 for a handbag.

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Doing Valentine’s Day On The Cheap

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Photograph Courtesy Of Beatrice Murch

Photograph Courtesy Of Beatrice Murch

On February 14th, millions of people will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with the people that they care about. For some people, this celebration will involve purchasing gifts and doing activities that are designed to show that they truly care. While the marketing industry may make you believe you need to spend a large amount of money to make your valentine happy, these shows of affection do not have to cost a lot. In fact, it is possible to have a great romantic evening and give great Valentine’s Day gifts on the cheap by following these suggestions.

Cook Something Special

Everyone loves to have good food on Valentine’s Day, but going to a great restaurant can be ridiculously expensive. Instead of going out, cook your valentine something special at home. You will save money and have more choices if you choose your Valentine’s Day dinner items from your local grocery store. You can use a new recipe or make a favorite that they do not get to have very often. If you are intimidated by the kitchen, many grocery stores offer fresh and frozen meal items that just need basic heating in the microwave or oven before they are served.

Make It A Movie Night

On Valentine’s Day, many of the restaurants and entertainment venues in your area are going to be crowded and noisy. A movie night at home can be much more romantic while still being economical. Renting a movie costs around $2, depending on where you go, and you can buy popcorn and soda at the grocery store for less than $4. Choose a new release that you have both wanted to see or a classic that you love watching again and again. Movie nights are becoming more and more popular so go to rent your movie early in the day if you want to have a good selection of movies to choose from.

Make Them A Personal Gift Basket

There are many different ways to put together a personal gift basket for the ones that you love. Some stores that sell beer and wine will allow you to make your own six-pack of single serve items so you can customize it to the exact taste of the recipient. For children, you can make a basket of small toys and inexpensive candy to give them. Other ideas include a basket of beauty supplies, a basket of candles and bubble bath, or a basket that includes their favorite treats. Use your imagination and give them things that they will actually use.

Set Yourself Up To Pay Cash For Christmas

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Paying for the holidays can be a big drain on your finances, especially if you have a large number of people you intend to buy for. Some people choose to place their purchases on credit cards or choose stores with lay-a-way options, but a much better option is to free up some cash to pay for Christmas in full. Here are some things that you can do now to give Christmas gifts to the ones you love without going into debt.

Save Your Coins

One of the simplest ways to pay cash for Christmas is to save your coins during the year, exchanging them for folding money shortly before the holidays. Some people go so far as to only pay with whole dollars during the rest of the year and keeping all of the coins that they receive back for their Christmas change jar. If you do not want the hassle of rolling all of those coins yourself, many grocery and convenience stores have coin counting machines located near the front of the store that will count the coins for you and give you a voucher for the total amount to redeem at the cashier.

Sell Your Unwanted Stuff

If you want to make some money and make more room in your home for the new Christmas gifts you are expecting, consider selling some of your old, unwanted stuff for cash. Many cities have resale stores that buy used movies, video games, housewares, or clothing from individuals that want to sell them and resells the items to people that do not want to pay full price for merchandise that is brand new. There are also many websites available that will allow you to sell your used stuff for a small fee.

Use Your Reward Points

More than 120 million Americans participate in at least one program that offers rewards for specific actions. You cannot typically turn these points into cash directly, but you have options for spending them that can be very beneficial during the holiday season. Many programs allow you redeem your points for merchandise that can wrapped and given as gifts. In some cases, the points can be redeemed for gift cards that the recipients can use as cash at their favorite stores. If you have a lot of points, the points are about to expire, or you won’t otherwise use them, using them to obtain Christmas gifts is certainly an option.

Why Saying ‘No’ Matters

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Are you one of those people who just can’t seem to say no to anything or anyone? If you are you may not realize the impact it is having on your finances, not to mention your health. As parents, it can be particularly demanding to have children involved in recreation activities and organizations that beg for your help. As a single person or married couple without kids, people may often assume since you ‘have nothing better to do” you’ll have plenty of time to volunteer or plenty of money to donate. Guilt may guide you into to doing more or paying more than you really wanted but perfecting the art of saying nope may save you both time and money.

How so, you ask? Here are some tips for saying no and better manage your time and money:

Saying No To Money Requests

Guilt is the driving force behind people’s inability to say no to others. In our lifetime, we will likely be asked to do a number of things we feel obligated to do. While we may always feel obligated, we might also feel uncomfortable doing the things we can’t say no to, especially when it comes to finances.

Have you ever been asked by a friend or family member for a loan? Do you regularly donate more money than you have for your kid’s fundraising efforts? Have you spent money you didn’t have because of peer pressure? Situations like these may seem out of your control but if you begin to practice the art of saying no, it will get easier.

Many people spend more than they can afford because they want to please others and be helpful. However, with the current state of the economy it is becoming more socially acceptable to say no when confronted with financial requests. Be upfront about your inability or unwillingness to lend money or cosign a loan. The longer you wait to tell someone no, the harder it will become. When it comes to school or extra-circular events spend only what you can afford and teach your children to focus on the benefits of helping others rather than the prize at the end.

Saying No to Time Wasters
Just like money is an important aspect in life, time is also something that is precious. Volunteering your time to help others is a wonderful concept but in some cases, people end up being taken for granted.

If someone you know asks you to help when you are operating at full capacity, don’t be afraid to say no. Outside of a life and death emergency, people will usually be able to make other arrangements and learn not to rely on you for everything. If you find that you have overcommitted yourself to too many projects, you need to sit and contemplate what activities you can drop from your schedule. Don’t let guilt be a factor. List your priorities, like family, work, school, and church and decide what activities can go. Over-committing yourself can be a drain on your finances and your health if you are taking care of your responsibilities.

Learn how to start saying no from the get-go when you are feeling too stressed out. It will not always be easy to refuse requests for help but for your own well-being and health, you need to practice the art of no.

Frugal Living at Christmas time

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When you are trying to save money and life a frugal lifestyle, whether by choice or necessity, Christmastime can add a lot of stress to your life. Here are a few ideas for celebrating the holidays without breaking the bank.

  • Cut your own Christmas tree- If you usually purchase a live tree, add a new tradition to the holiday by heading to a tree farm rather than a lot of pre-cut trees. The kids will love helping you pick out the tree and the act of chopping it down feels so traditional it is bound to add some old-school fun to your holiday.

  • Bake your gifts this year. No doubt about it- Christmas means food. We all love cookies, candies and special treats this time of year, but not everyone has the time or talent to make their own goodies. If the kitchen is your favorite place to be, you can bake up a bunch of treats and wrap them up as gifts. Jams, jellies, salsas and breads are also great gift choices for family and friends.

  • Turn your holiday into a true giving event by offering to help out at a local shelter rather than spending the day giving gifts to each other at home. There is no time of year as difficult to be homeless or alone than Christmastime, so giving up your holiday to help make the day special for those less fortunate is a gift that gives true hope, love and caring to people who need it the most.

  • Make your own wrapping paper. You can dress up your gifts with simple wraps like brown paper grocery bags, freezer paper or even newspaper that you decorate with paints, stamps and homemade decorations and create festive packages with a homemade charm. You can make your own bows by cutting up an old satin dress or blouse you no longer wear and using the strips of fabric to tie bows.

  • Give gifts that help the recipient be more frugal. Reusable shopping bags, battery chargers and those funny looking florescent light bulbs are great gifts that truly help others live frugally all year long.

  • Decorate your home for nothing. You can create beautiful decorations from nature for next to nothing. Pine cones, sumac, cranberries and evergreen branches are all easily found in many areas and can be combined to create centerpieces, wreaths and garlands to decorate your home with holiday sights and smells.

You can definitely have a special, memorable Christmas season while saving money and sharing love, kindness and caring this year. Try some or all of these ideas to have a very Merry FRUGAL Christmas.

How To Be Charitable When Money Is Tight

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When you manage your money correctly you reap rewards that go beyond financial security. Strong moneyvolunteers management skills often result in a person being in a position to not only feel safe in their own financial situation, but also help others in need. This giving back to the community is satisfying personally in that you know your time and money is helping others in need. Students with a human services degree and a finance degree can attest to these statements.

Unfortunately when the economy takes a turn for the worse, even those with great money habits may find themselves feeling the pinch financially. If for whatever reason you find yourself unable to donate money to your favorite cause, consider the following tips to maximize your contributions to those who need it most.

  • Time is a valuable commodity- Many charities and organizations created to help your favorite cause can benefit just as much, if not more, from a donation of time versus money. If you are short on cash or simply cannot afford to give money right now, consider donating your time. If you choose to take it one step farther, you can donate your professional services which will not only help the organization by saving them money, but you can benefit as well. You have the self satisfaction of helping in addition to being able to deduct the time and expenses from your taxable income at the end of the year.
  • Check with human resources- Employees of large corporations are often able to participate in a program which offers a matching gift from the employer. Your human resources department will have the information you would need to determine if your employer will match your donation, basically doubling the amount. What happens when you are unable to donate cold hard cash? Many of these same companies are also willing to donate money based on the number of hours you volunteer at your charity. For example, if you volunteer 20 hours of your time, your employer might match your hours with a donation of $250 hours.
  • Donate items- Short on time and money? Don’t feel bad, times are tough for everyone right now. That doesn’t mean however that you do not have anything to offer an organization in need of donations. Consider items you already have that you do not use. You can donate household items such as furniture, electronics and appliances that are in good condition to a local charity where they can either use, donate or sell the item to raise money.

While the main goal of donating your time, money or personal property to an charity is to help the cause itself, you can also receive tax benefits that only add to your personal satisfaction. Remember to keep track of your your donations if you plan on using them as a tax deduction. This is simply another way to manage your finances well so you can continue to help your favorite organization in the future.

Finding The Balance In Spending And Saving

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Okay, we get it. A huge portion of the population has managed to survive to this point with virtually no moneyjustice scale management skills. Now that the cat is out of the bag, there has been a spotlight shone on the lack of financial literacy and everyone is on the band wagon to manage their money better. Of course that is a good thing, however we are a nation that seems unable to live moderately. We either eat too much, spend too much, drink too much or work too much. With so much emphasis placed on eliminating debt and saving money, you can bet that some people will shift their priorities to the extreme. While some may say that you can never save “too much” money, it is important to remember to find balance in life.

How Much Is Too Much?

If you were to take a survey of 100 people and ask them how much money is too much, you would likely find that most people think you can never have too much money. As we all know money cannot buy happiness therefore it probably is possible to have too much money. After all, if you aren’t using it surely someone else could. In reality there are very few people in the world who have reached the “too much” level of wealth. Therefore the average person has a long way to go before they have to worry about exceeding their savings quota.

Get Started

The real challenge facing most Americans today is starting their savings. With many people losing thousands of dollars in the recent recession, rebuilding their savings could take years, effectively making the too much theory a moot point. If you do not already have a well padded emergency fund, retirement fund, rainy day fund and what could I possibly do with this money fund- then by all means do not worry about saving too much money at this point.

Why Balance Is Important

If you have ever known a person who compulsively saves you probably know what I’m about to say. For some people it is the act of saving money that is addictive versus accumulating wealth. That means that long after they have acquired enough money to last a lifetime, they continue to scrimp and save as if they were penniless. This type of obsessive saving can limit the quality of life and make it difficult for savers to part with their cash under any circumstances. Finding the balance between saving for your long term financial security and spending to enjoy the present is needed to find overall happiness. Remember you can’t take it with you, so you might as well enjoy it while you are here.

Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes

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Estate planning is not reserved for people who have a lot of money or assets. This is a common misconception whichestate often leads to inaction on the part of people who feel they do not qualify or need an estate plan. To put it simply, estate planning is basically making arrangements today to ensure your family doesn’t have the added responsibility of managing your property or finances after your death. To avoid making common mistakes, consider the following tips to get your affairs in order.

  • Understand the need for a plan. The first mistake people make has already been mentioned at the beginning of this article. If you don’t have an estate plan, you must know that any arrangements you fail to make prior to your death will fall on the shoulders of those you love the most at a time when they least equipped to be making important decisions.
  • Know what estate planning entails. Once you understand the need for an estate plan, the next step is knowing what is involved in the process. You will have to draw up a will, decide on a power of attorney to handle your affairs if you are unable to do so, and a living will or medical power of attorney to make sure your wishes are heeded regarding end-of-life situations.
  • Think twice before initiating joint ownership. People often decide the best way to pass assets to their heirs is by adding them as a joint owner. The possible negative consequences of joint ownership often outweigh the benefits. Not only do you lose absolute control of your property or assets, you run the risk of losing your assets should the person added fall on financial difficulty.
  • Saving the best for last is not always the best option. When it comes to leaving money or other assets to your heirs, there are certain benefits to giving away some of your money while you are still here to see them enjoy it. You can gift up to $13,000 per year ($26,000 to your spouse) tax free plus contribute to medical or educational bills if paid to the institution itself.
  • Enlist the help of a proven professional to help set up your estate. There is a lot to consider when setting up an estate, much of which is not necessarily easy to understand for a layman. There are Federal and State laws that must be considered as well as tax consequences that may turn a good dead into a financial hardship for your heirs. Before you begin planning your estate take the time to research and find a professional that can help you navigate certain areas where you lack familiarity.

Depending on the size of your estate, a little planning and forethought can make life easier for your family during a difficult time.  Take the time to make your wishes known, legally and rest assured that your financial affairs are in order.

Ten Financial Moves to Make to Survive and Thrive During the Recession

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appleMost of what passes for good advice on money management is common sense.  Indeed, we need to keep hearing about ways to be better at controlling our finances instead of letting them control us.  If we do, we will more likely stay out of serious debt problems and enjoy life better even when the economy isn’t so hot.

Here then, are ten wise moves that you can and should make with your money.

Invest in healthful living. Nothing is more important than becoming and staying healthy.   It makes less sense to plan for long-term financial success if your body is falling apart now.  Take the steps necessary to get healthy so that you can enjoy both your money and your family for as long as possible.

Teach your children about money. If they are very young, begin early to help them understand the fundamentals of good money management by putting them on an allowance and connecting good hard work with financial rewards.  Then, teach them to avoid debt and save their money.

Get good advice from a professional. There is no substitute for a financial advisor who can help you navigate your plans for your money.  This is true because they do not operate from an emotional standpoint with your money.  They do so from a logical basis, and providing solid advice will help you make better decisions.

Encourage retirement planning. Not only should you be putting away money for your retirement, but you should be encouraging your children and grandchildren to do so as well.

Watch for good buys and pay cash if possible. Right now might be a good time to make purchases that are considered ‘big ticket.’  This is because many retailers need the money and are making cuts in prices that are worth investigating.  Do everything you can to pay cash for those items as well.

Plan for time off. If you do not plan for a vacation or day off, it will never happen.  While that is not so profound, it is certainly no less true.

Improve your house. Make home improvements that increase the value of your house.

Pay down your loans. Reduce or eliminate balances on your loans in order to put yourself in a better financial position.

Give money to charity. Those who give, receive.  Not necessarily in monetary terms, but in a more satisfied, contented life.  There are many worthy charities that can take your gift and turn it into help and hope for those less fortunate.

Using these tips you can become a wise money manager.  We all can use that these days.