Resisting Temptation

Learnvest recommends that no more than 4% of one's annual budget be spent on clothing! (see full article here!)

So as part of my effort to live on a budget, I have recently unsubscribed from all shopping e-mails. I was getting almost 20 per day. Not only has this helped me to cut back looking at a plethora of online stores, but it has also uncluttered my inbox dramatically. However, that doesn't mean that I have stopped e-shopping all together.

In fact today, I decided to browse at Neiman Marcus to look for this well-priced, work appropriate Alice + Olivia dress I had seen a while ago in the store. I have a bunch of work events next week and thought that it would be perfect. That's when Neiman Marcus online through this teaser in - if I spent $250 or more today, I would get a $25 gift card back (There were higher increments with even more money back, but there was no way I was spending that much). Suddenly I found myself wandering through rows and rows of dresses, skirts, and tops justifying spending that amount just for the deal, even though the dress I really wanted was nowhere to be found on the site.

Sales (and deals) are never really sales or deals at all, unless the specific thing you NEED is actually on sale. They trick us into buying things we would never buy if they weren't on sale or spending way more than we intended because we are so excited for the great deal we are getting.

I fall victim to this mentality all the time, so I am particularly proud of myself for NOT buying anything today! And let's face it, $25 at Neiman Marcus can barely buy an eyeshadow, so that $25 gift card would have turned into another budget-busting shopping trip that I simply should not take.

Bus v. Train - A Serious Dilemma

Last Friday, I spent $20 on a bus ticket, trying to be financially practical, and it took me over 6 hours to go 250 miles. I was also sitting next to a baby and in front of a girl who did not stop coughing, except for when she was talking on her cell phone. THERE WAS NO ESCAPE! Door to door my trip was about 7 and half hours. That is a long day of traveling. Returning on Sunday, I splurged on the train, and even with a 45 minute delay made it back in just over 4 hours.

Was my time worth the extra $120 I spent on the upgraded form of transportation? I think so!

The Cable Bill I Was NOT Expecting

I do not understand why Comcast cannot bill me like every other company - get a bill on a set day for a set range of time. No, they send bills whenever they feel like it with seemingly completely arbitrary date ranges. The bill I just received for example covers all of my service for part of August and all of September. That was a $222.74 bill for cable and internet.

Now its not that I mind having a cable bill that is $100/month. In fact, I completely factored that into my expenses. I know that this bill is a little steep, but for me having all the TV-related perks was extremely important - I watch a lot (some may say too much) TV. So yes, I have DVR (there are four shows that I watch going up against each other in the fall lineup!) and yes, I took that deal they were offering on HBO (have you SEEN Alexander Skarsgard?).

I guess what angers me is that even though I have factored in $100/month, I now owe over $200 because of these wonky date ranges and that is big chunk of my bi-weekly paycheck. I know I won't have to pay again for a while, but its just frustrating in the now.

Then again, what about dealing with the cable company is not frustrating?

Way To Save

I signed up for Wachovia's Way2Save program and I think it is kind of genius. Every time you swipe your debit card or use it to purchase something, one dollar is automatically transferred from your checking into your savings account. Spending and saving at the same time!

I saved $94 in the month of August :)