Handbags..

Ahh the lure of the new handbag ..

One of my biggest temptations, along with the mere shoe and shiney accessory, is for a fabulous, functional and wonderfully NEW handbag.

Side pockets, front pockets, zips, compartments, straps and 'flaps' have me gripped with longing. When I come by a $30 or even $10 bargain, I almost yelp!

I have friends who faithfully tote around their 3 year old 'Fossil' or whithering 'Witchery' but me, I prefer a cheaper model with a frequent turnover. After all, not all bags will go with all things, right!?

I have succumbed to the temptation to purchase far above my means in the past. Then I found that to begin with, I felt so paranoid about keeping the damn things shiney and clean and new looking that I dared not put them down anywhere or wear them anywhere that may soil, and it took the fun out of taking them out at all. Then, after a couple of months, even the Oroton didn't do it for me anymore... Off to Ebay, they went, to find a better home.

I do have a couple of very well made, multi purpose leather classics and also some pre-loved labels that will be passed down to future generations but overall I confess, I am a handbag whore. I go from bag to bag as each situation and season changes. I have totes,satchels, shoulder bags, back-packs, bum bags ( for travel purposes only), clutches, and crochet numbers.

I love compartments and functionality and versatility. I love colours and neutrals and textures. I love little zippy things that go in the bigger ones to keep everything tidy and separate.

I DON"T like; gaudy, bulky, flashy or knock-off bags. I don't like ones that fall over when you put them down ( unless they are very small and you can hang them on your chair) I'm not a fan of the polka dot or the bow but understand they too have their place. I hate sharp corners that stick into me or scratch. I do not like Fendi, Prada or Gucci or the like, mainly because when I was younger, only rich old ladies with gold clanky stuff had them, but also because no one would believe they were real if I did have one.

I don't like bags that have too small an opening for me to see my stuff in.

I don't like bags that make noises. ( I know that sounds weird but trust me, some do seem to make strange sounds when you move them )

So, as long as I am otherwise eco aware and environmentally friendly and continue to recycle ( when I can actually bare to part with my beauties) then it's ok to indulge myself....

Right?

Oh, and did I mention..

I also like shoes...

; )

B

Beware the Bubble Skirt

Buyer Beware!

Fads and trends that go out of date quicker than milk, make you broke and become filler for the clothes cupboard.

That cute bubble skirt, harem pant or catsuit today, can be a source of shame and debt, no matter what the 'Label or "Brand'.

Just cos it's designer, doesn't mean it'll stay "IN" indefinitely.

If you got it on sale, chances are, you'd better wear it to bed because it was already on it's way out.

A bargain is only a bargain if you'll actually wear it!

Don't get me wrong, deals can be found, all I'm saying is that the faddy-label stuff is best left on the rack.If you must have that bubble skirt, get the 'Supre' knock off version, so when you're done, you can chuck it!

I have that many clothes it is embarrassing. I have hung onto clothes I have loved, frocks that don't fit, jeans that have dated and shoes that are squashed and have a funny tongue thingy going!

Stuff that has cost me way too much to get rid of!

Sad isn't it!

The tiny stuff I have managed to pass on or even ebay, but some things I just cannot part with.
If I have forked out a pay packet for it, I just can't let it go.
It may come 'IN' again, right?
If, down the track, these things do come back into fashion and I have had a superb 'pair of' or
'colour in' that item, and got rid of it, I stew.

As a result, I have a vault of what can only be described as 'Costume Clothing'.

All my friends know where to come if they have a fancy dress or bad taste party. I have it all..
Boas, Platforms ( still very cool), vests, jackets, tassels, leathers, low waists, high waists, pantsuits, jumpsuits, catsuits... you get the picture.

The thing is, you have to work out your purchase cost per wear ratio.
If you have paid a bomb for something and only wear it once then it cost you that entire amount to wear it. BUT, if you paid top shop for it and wore it everyday and then to bed , then it really was worth the grocery sacrifice.

The sizes....
Well that really is another matter...

EEK! The Credit Card Statement

EEEk!
Ok well, with all my planning and budgeting and my resolve to prove that it IS possible to have the things we desire AND make the monthly payments on time.. I did overlook one small detail...
My already up- to- my- arse debt!

So, in came the statement and I am happy to report that I am just on the lean side of my $5000 limit.

Now, I'm calculating that at 18% per annum, that's going to cost me around $900 a year in interest or $75 a month that I could be spending, so that has got to go.

I've opened a ME account and have organised $20 a week to go in that and now will also have to make a big dent in the Mastercard as well. Especially if I want to use it again.

I have to pay more than $900 a year or I won't pay it off so I need to double that and divide it by 12 to find what I need to pay a month, which is $150. SHIT! And that will still take me over 5 years!!!

How I am going to wrangle that out of the budget and past the warden is another thing!
I'll have to trim some out of grocery money and petrol!

I do still have my resolve though and by giving up the not-so-essentials, I am sure we can still get this right....

It's not as bad as some of my friends and for those of you with more debt than I have, don't be disheartened. Every little bit helps and you do have to start chipping away at it.

I start this Thursday....

xx

Hellooo Loverrr!

Still with me?
Well if you are, you are either like me or you know someone who is…

Someone who gets a glimpse of something shiny and new or just irresistible out of the corner of your eye and you just have to take a further look.

Someone who has an eye for a bargain and will always think of someone who would benefit from the purchase.

Do you (almost) have a bag in every colour, pants in every style and shoes for every occasion?

Do you have things in your cupboards that you haven’t even worn or used but you know you will, one day…

Do you get off on the sheer high of the acquisition?

And yet, we are made feel guilty for our pleasure!

How many of us have dumped shopping bags or shoeboxes before we get home?

Most of us, that’s who!

Shopping’s fun, that’s why we do it.

And yet, it can get us into sooo much trouble…

The Credit card bills and late payments, less grocery money because you’ve spent it on make-up, juggling final notices and car payments and worrying about the rent or mortgage. Stress, Stress, Stress!

These things are NOT FUN!

Well, I’m here to tell you that shopping is NOT a bad thing.

O.k., I will admit that problems can and do arise but, with a bit of forward planning and strategy, we can all enjoy that urge inside us to purchase!

WE CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

Hiding the evidence

I came home yesterday as pleased as punch with myself.
I have successfully bought myself 2 outfits and two pairs of boots for a hundred and twenty bucks!
Unbelievable I know, a store was closing down and were getting rid of pieces as low as ten dollars each...
A tunic style top, pants, long sleeve shirt dress, leggings, another black top and the two pairs of boots, one black and the other tan.Amazing!
Imagine my joy!
Anyway, I also bought some things for presents to put away for people, bought myself a coffee and was quite chuffed until I got home and realized the hubby was home!
Shit!
It's not like I was worried about getting in trouble for my splurge ( ok, well maybe a little ) it was more that I was so excited and wanted the feeling to last and not be squashed by the negatives of "Where is the room in the budget..?"
"Nice for some of us to be out shopping while the rest of us work", "You don't see me out buying new clothes" In the gruff Dad type tone, yadda yadda yadda, you know the spiel.

I just wanted to bask for a while in high of the purchase and be proud for a while of the great deal hunter that I was.I don't know about you, but I love the thrill of the discount buy and the smell of new fabric and the sweetness of the store attendant as she slips your new things into an enviro bag.
So...
I hid them.
I was like a little kid, squishing everything into one bag and shoving them under the picnic rug in the boot of my car until later, when I planned to sneak them into the house and disperse them into drawers and cupboard to be later referred to as 'that old thing' or, 'I got it for ten bucks ages ago...'

Later in the evening, the kids are in bed, the dishes are done and I'm starting to lounge in front of the telly. Hubby comes out and hands me a wine and comments that he's in need of some new shirts and shorts and wouldn't be nice to have time to shop...
I smile and nod my head and murmur that I could have a look for him after work one day during the week and switch to talking about upcoming events, totally nonplussed.

The next morning...

I've juggled the morning chaos hour, made lunches, gotten ready for work, scrambled to get out the door on time to get the kids to school and to go to work and I go to get into the front seat of the car and...

On the front drivers seat is my huge bag with all my beautiful things folded neatly and perched upright, leaning on the steering wheel!

BUSTED!

I laughed out loud and then drove off wondering what I'll say tonight....