Ideas on becoming a spend thrift

Time to share my money saving tips and tricks. Yes, I understand you have heard some of these before, implement some everyday, or don't care to work so hard to save money. I am writing this blog to all of my friends and family that think I spend a lot of money. What they don't realize, is how thrifty I am every day and able to leverage my cash and goods to even out in the wash.


1. Sell your old clothes, jewelry, purses, dolls, etc on Ebay or Etsy to pay for your next wardrobe. You can buy almost all of your designer goods at the Premium Outlets (sign up to get coupons online) and usually resell them at a profit when you are tired of them. Make sure you take extra good care of leather, hang all of your clothes instead of using a dryer and only by classics or limited edition styles that become collectible.


2. Pre-plan your trips and vacations! Spend some real time online researching where you are going and what there is to do and see. We usually take a 4-5 day vacation, which saves a lot of money, opposed to 7-10 days. I shop extensively for the best prices, sign up for deals and join frequently fliers email lists for sales. Buy discount tickets online, look for coupons you can use while on the trip and always have a budget. We usually have a garage sale to earn extra money to pay for our trip. We only take cash to pay for things, and keep a daily budget. Consider getting snacks, drinks and small meals from a local grocer for your room, it will save eating out 3 times a day.


3. Always look polished without breaking the bank! I do at home facials, give myself pedicures and manicures weekly. Once you buy your supplies, they will last 6-12 months.You can learn how to do these services online or from magazines and books. Get rid of tired, faded, old clothes! Freshen your wardrobe with tshirts and accessories from Walmart, Target, Forever 21, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's and Sam's. Clean your shoes, yes, condition leather and clean off dirt on a regular basis - nothing looks more unkept than a person with dirty old shoes.....
Never buy anything that doesn't make you look good! Know what colors and cuts look good on you. Make lists of what you need for updating your wardrobe, and never buy something just because it's cheap! It's better to shop for a bargain on something you need than buy something cheap you will never use or wear. Buy basics!!! You can wear basics for years  with a few updates, belts, shoes, etc.


4. Cook your own food! Stop wasting money eating out several times a week. You should only dine out if it's a special occasion, or you have a gift card. Plan your meals and shop only once a week, using coupons from the newspaper, online and the store fliers. Stock up on sale items you use frequently, avoid buying the "deals" if you wouldn't normally buy it at full price. Stop wasting money on junk, pre-packaged and frozen meals. Make fresh meals from whole food, you will save a lot of money, have better health and lose weight. Budget your shopping, know how much a meal will cost, make sure to include several cheaper meals 3 or 4 days a week. Such as: soups, sandwiches, pasta, gourmet salads. I think if you can make a fresh meal for 4 under 10.00 you are a great cook! It's not hard, just do a little research on "the food network", they have amazing recipes.
Never buy bottled water, unless you are traveling or it's necessary. Buy a home distiller and make your own distilled water, carry your own bottled water with you. (I use a Waterwise 9000)

Pale Shades I love

Pale Shades I love by vrymary726 featuring long sleeve tops

The Nudist - Well Sort Of....

I feel like a nudist in this palette, but fresh! Yes, white and nude combined sound like a fleshy deal. Don't fret this look is not void of color or style. Verymary Jewelry has amazing gemstones to compliment your nude palette and many fun styles. My love of white has continued for 26 years, since my high school days. I found that I could use white to "tone down" some of my crazy get ups and make them more stylish, instead of costumish. I have a very pink undertone, so white looks amazing on my skin tone. If you have trouble wearing white next to your face, wear a pair of white pants, a skirt or a white jacket. Shades of nude and white can cross over to any event, workplace or day of the week outfit. The great thing about white, oxiclean will get out ANY stain. Dress shown is available on Ebay - Halston, Shoes- BCBG, and Brahmin handbag, Brahmin.com

My Love Affair with Nine West Shoes

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a shoes fanatic. I call it collecting...eh em..www.ninewest.com
As we all know, it's in the materials and fit when it comes to shoes. The smell of the leather, the texture, the sole, the heel and the comfort. I used to find that good shoes were comfortable, but not always stylish. So, I suffered to wear "hot" shoes or looked dowdy to wear comfortable ones.  I officially fell in LOVE with Nine West shoes about 6 years ago. I was on a trip to NYC and bought 4 pairs at the great sale they were having. They proved to be the most stylish and comfortable shoes I had ever worn. OF course I wear other shoes that are comfortable and stylish, like Vince Camuto (used to be with Nine West), Calvin Klein, Sam Edelman, Unisa and Mia. But, the first place I always look for new shoes is online or stores is Nine West.  I actually have my eye on a new pair of Vince Camuto's for spring/summer - just need the perfect sale : ) I am loving all the nude shoes, they have been a staple in my wardrobe for most of my life. I am hunting a great pair of turquoise sandals/flip flops. (IF you see them, please post on here where I can find them.) There is an amazing shoe store in NYC called, Shoegasm .....The smell in that place is amazing and the selection of European imports is to die for.
Boutique 9 is exquisite, stylish and very high quality and my first choice when in my budget. 9 West shoes fit a nice medium size 8 foot like a glove! They don't pinch, not too wide or narrow, don't scuff up, heels wear evenly and long. In fact, when I finally get rid of a pair of 9 West, they still look close to new! Yes, my friends love my cast offs. So the next time you need a great pair of shoes to make your look more up to date and want style-comfort-affordability, look at 9 West! BTW, if you sign up for emails, you will get the most amazing deals ever!

Your feet will thank you and so will your ego, from all of the compliments....

Nudist

Nudist by vrymary726 featuring christian louboutin shoes

love the nude feeling of these pieces

My latest Shoe Passions......Ooooo Gorgeous Shoes ;)

My biggest passion: SHOES! Ever since I was a small girl of 3, I have been obsessed with shoes! I would love to visit my Aunt Joy, she had the closet of shoes and purses every girl dreamed of having. I would play for hours at her house in her shoes and purses. As I am told, by the time I left, there was a trail through the entire house of matching shoes and purses. Then comes the real reason (Freudian reason) I am obsessed with shoes. When I was 4 or 5 my mother threw out my favorite blue suede lace up shoes while I was asleep one night! Apparently she didn't have any idea where they could have disappeared to???? "News Flash Mom", They didn't just walk away by themselves..... When we discuss this incident, she assures me she doesn't remember the shoes, but assumes they looked and smelled bad, so she had to get rid of them. (I think she just didn't like them)
From that point in my life until I was a teenager, I would sleep with my shoes under my bed, for fear of the "shoe monster". I would dream about my shoes, the sound they made when I walked in them, the smell of the leather, the feel of my feet in them and how great my outfit looked paired with them.
Today, at 42, I am still obsessed with shoes! I really haven't counted lately how many pairs I own, it might be embarrassing to know. The most magical thing about shoes, is that they always fit! You can go shopping and not find one dress, pants or shirt that fits right, but shoes.....they fit! You can transform an outfit with gorgeous shoes and boots. You can make yourself taller with a nice heel or platform! I am "unofficially "5'8 with my magic lifts on!
With the perfect pedicure and the right walk you can get everyone to pay attention to your jeweled up feet and forget that you gained weight. That's right "shoes are magical"! I even buy shoes as a souvenir from my travels! No more plates, buttons, thimbles or postcards, SHOES are the best reminder of that fabulous trip or vacation.
So the next time you feel fat, can't find anything to fit, or feel short, go buy yourself some nice leather high heeled pretty shoes!

My new favorites won't post, so if you go to look, the one's I want don't ship until November....Boooohooo
www.ninewest.com

Missing my White Jimmy Z skirt!

I don't know if I am mourning my youth or truly missing my JimmyZ skirt......
I have been having dreams of myself in the various JimmyZ skirts I owned in my teens and twenties. My very first skirt was a knee length white JimmyZ wrap, looked awesome with my neon shirts and my bikini top! It was comfortable to dance, walk and bike in. O' man I have visions of myself in my little red Mazda truck, surf board and beach bike in the back, heading to Ponce Inlet in my JimmyZ skirt! I was stylish and RAD and felt free and sexy in that long white skirt! My next skirt was a light denim color with white Velcro bands, ooooo so chic! And for my 22 birthday I bought a black one, extra short that matched my swim suit. I recall visiting Michigan that summer and wearing my JimmyZ skirts, everyone was quite impressed and perplexed. As a surfer, I assumed everyone wore surf ware, but not in Michigan! I was quite the center of many conversations and was stopped quite often in public to be asked what I was wearing and how could they get one! Yes, JimmyZ was awesome, comfortable, versatile, flattering and coveted. I recall going dancing in my JimmyZ, it was the most versatile piece of clothing I think I have EVER owned in my 42 years on this earth. I call recall all of the trips, dates, and fun times in that long white skirt, I was some type of magical cotton that transformed me into someone really cool! I really wish I would have saved those skirts, even though they wouldn't fit my 40's figure today, I would still have the found memories of youth and style to pull out and reminisce. sigh......I love  and miss you JimmyZ......