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Outfit of the Week; $2.50 Thrift Store Outfit

7/27/2016

An entire outfit of the week for only $2.50?!! Yes indeed! That is what happens when you haunt your local thrift store, and then get kinda lucky too!

I wore this outfit last Saturday. Me and the husband took my lovely parents out to eat at a fancy restaurant. My parents work so hard, and have been going through so much lately, that they totally deserved this night out on the town, not having to worry about anything, and getting to eat some fancy and delicious seafood! We all had a great time, my parents are an absolute blast, and the greatest people ever. Anyways! On to the outfit!

But first, look at our puppy photo bombing our picture! Hahaha. We all got together for this picture, and all of a sudden I feel something on my leg. It's Ringo, pushing his way into the photo! SO cute!

My $2.50 Thrift Store Outfit of the Week;
- This beautiful dress was in the Clearance Section (yes, my thrift store has a clearance section! How great is that?!!) of my local thrift store. In the clearance section everything is only $.50! I don't usually find anything in the clearance section, it's usually ugly clothes that no one wants. But that day, I found this! I am obsessed with Peter Pan Collars on dresses, and while I don't think this is exactly a Peter Pan collar, it's close enough! I pulled this off the rack and my mom and husband were both like, "Yes, that is so you, you need to get it!"
It's from Charlotte Russe.

-These shoes!
I have been searching for a pair of summer wedges since last summer when I broke my espadrilles, and whilst I was browsing the shoe rack for a "new" pair of work shoes, I found these! They were exactly my size (what are the odds!) and were only $2.00! Too perfect!
They are Montego Bay Club.

-The anklet
I got this anklet in the Dominican Republic. The guy gave it to me for free! He also gave my husband a free necklace (I think he was doing it in hopes that we would buy some of his souvenirs he was selling, which we did, haha)!

The key to getting great thrift store finds like this, is to go to your small local thrift store. Not Goodwill, it's too expensive! I live in a small town, and we have "The Harvest Thrift Store." All of its proceeds go to missionaries all around the world, plus most clothes are $2 and under! Find the little thrift store in your area, that donates to a good cause, donate your old stuff to them, got there regularly (it's great for birthday and Christmas gifts!), and be sure to check the clearance section!
Have a wonderful week all you wonderful people!!!

Peace Love and Thrift Store Ootw
Jess <3

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A Financial Checklist for Traveling Abroad

7/24/2016

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A Financial Checklist for Traveling Abroad

Hello wonderful readers and fellow travelers out there!
Today I have for you a guest post from Frank Lee!
I like to talk a lot about traveling; all the fun places to go, and cool things to do, so on the opposite (but crucial) side of that, Frank is going to help you navigate through the very important, and sometimes tricky topic of handling your finances when you're traveling abroad! Be sure and take notes kiddos!

"Traveling involves a lot of planning and forethought and while we take care of many things, we often forget to take care of the most important thing we need – our finances. There are some basic steps which you may not need to be reminded to follow such as making copies of your bank account information and credit card, but there are a number of other steps which can make you trip more enjoyable by keeping your money secure and accessible on a foreign trip. Having access to cash at hand along with other modes of payment in a foreign land can make all the difference between an enjoyable trip and a trip you regret taking. A lack of cash can make the journey much harder as instead of enjoying, your energies will be more focused on making ends meet and just going by.

Talk to Your Bank
One of the first things you need to do before you embark on a foreign travel is to make sure that your bank knows you’re going out of the country and your credit card is going to be used at multiple locations all around the world. Usually banks have red flags which are actually designed to keep your money safe but they can be counter-intuitive in this case as breaking your usual patterns can get your account frozen or it could result in your credit card being declined when you’re buying some essential items in a faraway place and have run out of your cash. This could lead to some very embarrassing situations so save yourself the trouble and talk to the bank about your travel and how long you’re going to spend in which country.

Set Up Online Account
An online account gives you the freedom to manage your funds from a remote location which is a very convenient option when you’re traveling overseas. The control of your account will allow you to stay on top of your transactions. It also gives you the ability to set up automatic payments and pay your utilities and other bills when you’re on the go.

Multiple Payment Methods
Although your method of payment depends on your destination but it’s always a good idea to stay prepared for the worst-case situation. Keep all your options open by carrying a credit card, a debit card and cash in both your currency and the destination country. You only need to keep small amounts of your currency and more of the local currency since that is what’s going to be the most widely accessible method of payment.

Check Exchange Rates
One must familiarize himself with the exchange rates before embarking on a journey to a foreign land to understand the value of the local currency against the foreign which will help in understanding the amount of cash one needs to take with him or her. Search for the conversion fees which you may have to pay to the money exchangers for the conversion of money and weigh it against getting the money converted in your own country.

Get an ATM Card
ATM cards are a great alternative to carrying large amounts of cash which is an unsafe thing to do in a foreign land. There is always the option of signing up for an ATM card with no fee from an online bank which gives you the freedom to take cash out without paying large sums of money in transaction fees. The important thing to remember is that you don’t necessarily have to open a new account in a different bank, you should consult with your own bank first as many banks often waive ATM fees for certain checking accounts.

Keep Cash Handy
Cash is the one thing which you can be sure about that it won’t leave you estranged in a foreign land. US citizens are lucky in the respect that a majority of the world is willing to accept US dollars at their face value and by paying in dollars you automatically save the conversion fee you may have had to pay to a financial institution. A lot of things which you may buy from the foreign destination can easily be bought from home at discounted prices from Groupon.
Although you can exchange your money at the airport but that’s usually an expensive option, the alternative is to withdraw money from an ATM. Just remember that no one rejects cold hard cash especially when you’re ready to pay. Keep a few hundred dollars with you for times when you can’t access cash any other way but keep it in small denominations to avoid becoming a target of a mugging incident."

Thanks for all the tips Frank! I will definitely be doing these things on my next trip abroad!

Peace Love and Finances
Jess <3

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Money Management Mondays Part 16

7/18/2016

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Welcome back to Money Management Mondays my lovely readers! Today I have the 16th installment of this money saving series, to help you each in your own money saving paths!

To refresh your memory, here are the previous 15 Money Management Monday posts, go back and re-read them if you need to;

1. Don't own a smart phone.
2. Don't have a car payment.
3. Don't smoke cigarettes.
4. Don't play the lottery.
5. Purchase my Financial E-Course.
6. Live Cheaply
7. Be Positive about Your Money.
8. Financial Course.
9. Decide what is important to you.
10. Simplify Your Christmas Shopping.
11. Save (and Roll) Your Change.
12. Don't Drink a lot.
13. Keep Track of Everything you Buy for an Entire Month.
14. The No Spend Month.
15. My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel.

Money Saving Secret #16. Don't Make Excuses.

When I first started doing my money management series, and started selling my financial coaching packages, I had a very rude person e-mail me and tell me that I shouldn't be giving people advice on money, because I have no adult responsibilities, and that if she didn't have $700 in rent every month, then she too would be able to save as much money as me. Well, I went on to tell her that she doesn't know me at all, so therefore, has no right saying that I have no responsibilities, when in fact, I do. The second thing that struck me about this bitter angry person, was that she was making excuses as to why she's not able to save money. Who forced her to get a $700 apartment? Who said she couldn't get roommates? I obviously don't know her situation (as she doesn't know mine), but I do know that she is making excuses to me, as well to herself. She is telling herself that it's not her fault that she is living unhappily, and without money! She is not willing to question HOW she can change her situation, by downgrading to a cheaper apartment, getting roommates, picking up a second job, or any other money saving secret I have shared here!
When it comes to money, I have found that people are very good at making excuses. Whether it's to themselves, or other people.

So, what I want you to do today, is make a list of all your excuses and reasoning for why you can't be saving money like a mad-person and living a happy, financially free life. For example; 1. My rent is too expensive 2. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day 3. I just like shoes too much etc. Write the list. Then study that list carefully. Are any of the reasons good enough reasons? Is there any way to get rid of any of those excuses, or to at least diminish them? Think carefully, and figure out for yourself if these excuses are just that; excuses.

custom bobbleheads

Peace Love and Finances
Jess <3

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Outfit of the Week; $2.50 Thrift Store Outfit

A Financial Checklist for Traveling Abroad

Money Management Mondays Part 16

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