Category: Money

My Summer 2019 Thrift Store Haul

6/14/2019

By now you guys all know what a fashion-cheap-sta I am (did I just make up a new word right now, or is this already a thing?!). I love clothes, shoes, accessories, and hair and makeup, but I also am all about saving (and making and investing) money!
I am not the most comfortable person in front of a video camera, but I really wanted to make a haul video for you guys, my own kind of haul video-a thrift store haul video!
So check out my Summer 2019 Thrift Store Haul video below, with pictures following.

I hope you guys liked it! I wasn't tooo awkward in front of the camera was I? If you enjoyed it please give it a like and subscribe to my Youtube channel thaaanks!
And a very special thank you to Rocco for his adorable appearance!

The $54.90 Akira skirt that I nabbed for only $3.00.

My $1.00 clip on earrings that I am obsessed with!

Shop my earrings here-they're not $1, but still great deals!

My $.50 cardigan that matches perfectly the Bob Dylan pillow that is for sale on my Etsy Shop hint hint.

Who doesn't love espadrilles? And for only $2.00, I'm obsessed!

I got this whole thrift store haul in one fell swoop at my favorite thrift store while visiting my family in Ohio last month. My Mom flew me back to attend our family reunion, but I made almost a week long event of it. I had a marvelous time seeing all my relatives, and my parents and I had the most wonderful time eating at little local diners, and shopping at antique stores, flea markets, and thrift stores. My wonderful Father footed the bill for this thrift store excursion (as well as all my food), he's just the greatest!
You can see me in my black and white $3.00 dress above, with most of my crazy cousins (there's a few missing, there's I believe 31 of us)!

And all that for about $12.50! Aren't thrift store finds just the greatest?!
So what are you waiting for? Grab a twenty dollar bill and some friends, and head out to your local thrift store to stock up on your new (used) summer wardrobe!

Peace Love and Thrift Stores
Jess <3

1 Comment

Money Management Mondays Part 18; Redefine your Birthday List

5/17/2019

1 Comment

Money Management Mondays Part 18; Redefine your Birthday List

Greetings dear and wonderful readers! Thank you so much for stopping in and reading the blog today! It is true that I have not been posting as much as I used to (oh the days where I posted once a week! And now it's down to only once a month!), but this is as much as I am able to post for now with all that is going on in my life, so I am ok with that! But if you simply can not get enough of me, and you must have more of My Peace Love Life, why not check out some of My Favorite Posts? These start all the way back at the beginning (including my first post!), and you have 15 pages of posts to read, if that doesn't keep you busy I don't know what will! Or how about re-reading all of my previous 17 Money Management Mondays (posted below)?!
As for me, here are some of the things that have been keeping me busy;

-Tatty Zaps
Tatty Zaps, otherwise known as our tattoo shop that we opened last year! Nick has been doing a fabulous job of running the business, but I get to help with the social media aspect of it, and the finances, which has kept me pretty busy.
-Work
I have a lot of finance based goals for myself this year (including pay off my credit cards, which I did in March[!], and have $3,000 in an emergency fund [which I now am over halfway to!]), so it was important to me to keep working outside the shop, no matter if it is doing good or bad. So I have been working my normal waitress job, as well as working as a cater waiter, and doing focus groups whenever I can!
-Instagram
I have been doing a great job of keeping up with my Instagram page lately, and am loving doing it! I am very excited to keep growing my Instagram.
-My book
Yes I am writing a book! This has been taking up a lot of my time and energy lately, but I am just so excited about it, I am loving writing it! I am not exactly sure when it will be ready, but I do know that it will be released this year, so keep your eye on here and my Instagram page to be kept in the loop!
-Nick LaPinta
My husband turned 30 on Wednesday, so we of course celebrated his Birthday then and had a wonderful time, but I have been planning something else for him as well! With our business and our finances as they are, we knew that we couldn't do anything big on his actual Birthday, so I have been planning for some time now a big 30th Birthday surprise for the end of the year. I can't tell you what it is, because duh it's a surprise! But stay tuned for later this year to find out!
-Etsy
I have been making my wonderful t-shirt pillows and selling them on my Etsy Shop the last couple months. I have also just recently begun selling my pinup pictures on there too.

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.
16. Don't Make Excuses.
17. Don't play the bank's games.

And now for #18 in my Money Management Monday Series; Redefine Your Birthday List.

You remember how when you were younger, adults would ask you what you wanted for your Birthday (or Christmas, or Hannukah, or Easter, or whatever), and you would immediately answer enthusiastically about the latest toy or hot wheel or doll you wanted? Now as an adult when someone asks what you want for your birthday you probably think something like, "How about you pay my rent, buy me a new alternator for my car, or help me out with some of my student loans?!" You of course don't say these things, and instead mumble an unenthusiastic, "I dunno." Sound like you?
Well today on our Money Management Monday, I want you to redefine your Birthday list (and Christmas list, and Hannukah list, and Easter list), to not only save you some money, but to actually have an answer when someone asks what you want!
My husband and I, along our Money Management quest have discovered a way to redefine our Birthday lists, to save us a ton of money over the years, as well as answer that pesky and ever-present "What do you want for your Birthday?" question. Today is a very simple Money Management Monday. Here it is!

I keep a special notebook in my desk, and whenever I realize that Nick or I need anything, I immediately write it down in the book. Whenever I catch myself thinking, "I would really like to have this or that", I write it down in the book! Once you start doing this, I think it will surprise you the amount of items you have written down, it did me! Then whenever I get asked by someone what Nick or I want for our Birthday, I just pull out this list, and I have a very specific, good amount of present ideas to give them!

Making these lists has drastically cut down on the amount of things Nick and I purchase for ourselves, thus cutting down drastically the amount of money we spend!
Here are some examples of things we have received for gifts, and didn't have to spend any money on;

-I no longer spend money on cds (yes I still listen to cds) or records (yes I collect records), or dvds (yes we still watch dvds).
Whatever cd just came out that I want, I ask for it for Christmas! I love love love opening cds!
-An umbrella.
I lost my cheap little umbrella before moving to Atlanta, and soon found out that when you live in a city and walk a lot, you need an umbrella! So I added it to my list, and for Christmas my Mom bought me one of those super awesome reversible umbrellas, and whenever I use it people are always jealous of it!
-Most of our kitchen appliances.
I don't know about you, but spending my hard earned money on any kitchen appliance does not make me happy! We fortunately got most of our kitchen appliances as gifts when we got married (which was awesome!), but anytime we've needed any other appliance we just ask for it! And our families are really good about buying us fun new appliances that we haven't even had to chance to ask for!
-Socks.
I can not even remember the last time Nick or I bought socks. We always get them as gifts, and as an adult, I love getting socks! I'm not the only one am I?
-My sewing machine.
-Clothing, accessories, and shoes.
I don't usually even ask for clothing, accessories, or shoes, but my family always gets them for me (and I always love what they buy [they know me so good!]), cutting out the need for me to go out and buy lots of clothes, shoes, or accessories throughout the year.
-A French press coffee pot.
After I dropped and broke mine, my Mom swooped in and saved the day by buying me another one for Christmas!
-Home decor items I want, office supplies, plants (real and fake!), car parts, bedding, and lots more! Though you can take it too far-my family still makes fun of me for when I asked for toilet paper and canned goods as gifts right before we moved to Atlanta! Hahaha live and learn!

So what do you think, are you ready to whip out your own notebook (or a new notes in your phone) and start redefining your Birthday list? And Christmas is really just around the corner, so why not be prepared for that too?

Peace Love and Money Management
Jess <3

1 Comment

How to Save Money for Your Next Tattoo

1/3/2019

0 Comments

Greetings all! I hope the New Year finds you well!
Today I am kicking off 2019 with a fun blog post that I hope you will enjoy!

If you have been reading this blog or following me on Instagram lately, I'm sure by now you have figured out that my husband and I have just recently opened up our own tattoo shop, Tatty Zaps! Today's post is one part shameless promotion (if you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area come get a tattoo or piercing!), mixed with my love for managing money!
I decided to write this post because A. I love managing money, talking about money, and telling other people how to better manage their money, and B. My husband and I are constantly having people tell us, "I would love to get a tattoo, I just don't have the money for it." Well no more! Today's post is based a bit off a blog post I wrote three years ago, "My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel." If you want to travel and just don't have the money, go read that article after you read this one!
Let's dive right in!

Step 1. Make some decisions
What tattoo do you want to get? Do you want it in color, or black and gray? Where on your body do you want to get it, and what approximate size?
If you aren't exactly sure on all of these things that's not a problem at all-some people rely on the artist's judgment on some things since they're the professional. And Nick says that is perfectly fine with him! We are just trying to figure an approximate price for your tattoo. So once you have most of your ideas together, the next step is...

Step 2. Contact Nick at Tatty Zaps (or your artist and shop of choice)
Tell him all the decisions you made above, and ask an approximate price. He will give you a ballpark. No lower than this price, but no higher than this one.

Step 3. Figure out your timing
Once you've talked to Nick (or your artist of your choice) and gotten your ballpark price, now you need to decide when you want this tattoo. Do you want it right before a big holiday to shock your family? Do you want it right before a vacation to show off in all your pictures? Figuring in healing times, decide on what month you want your tattoo. How many months is that from now?

Step 4. Get your magic number
Take the highest number from your ballpark amount, add in a tip if you will want to leave one, and divide this number by the number of months you have from now until you want to get your tattoo. Divide that number by two if you get paid every other week, or four if you get paid every week.

And that number my friend, that little tiny number you see before you, is all the money you need to put aside every paycheck, to get your next dream tattoo.

Unless you want an exceptionally large piece, and only give yourself one or two months to save, that number is going to be smaller than the price of going out drinking every weekend, smaller than a $5 Starbucks a day coffee!

Want a nice $500 piece in four months and get paid every other week?
500 divided by four divided by two= 62.50

So the grand total you would need to set aside every paycheck, is only $62.50!
Only $62.50! That is only $125 a month for four months, and you can have a brand new tattoo that will last you forever!

And you don't need to spend $500 to get a beautiful tattoo at Tatty Zaps! Want a $150 tattoo in three months and get paid every other week? You only need to set aside $25 a paycheck!!!

Step 5. Start saving
Every paycheck, set aside in a separate savings account (bonus, you will be making interest on your money!), a piggy bank, or in an envelope hidden in your underwear drawer, the amount of money that you need. And that's it!

Ok so, what if you've read this, figured out your magic number, and are saying, "I can't save that amount of money every paycheck!"

Here is what I have to say to that;
-You're lying. Ok, maybe not. But! I do find it very difficult to believe that an adult person, with a job, can not save an extra hundred odd dollars a month!
-Read my complete Money Management Series. You should be able to save at least $100 a month with most of my money saving tips.
-Give yourself longer to save. If you need $500, but can't save $125 for four months, instead, save only $100 for five months! Still doable!
-If after all of this, you still can't manage to scrounge up an extra $100 or so a month, then you don't want it bad enough. You would rather spend your money on other things. And that is fine! If a tattoo isn't your priority, then you will not be able to save up money for it, and you don't have to! If you can't give up your daily Starbucks or cigarettes for a couple months to save for your tattoo, then continue buying your Starbucks and cigarettes. But, if getting tattooed is a priority, then I know that you will be able to find a way to save that money!

Tatty Zaps
Instagram
(678)539-7932
2531 Piedmont Rd. NE Suite 100 Salon 502 Atlanta, Ga

Peace Love and Tattoos
Jess <3

0 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

My Summer 2019 Thrift Store Haul

Money Management Mondays Part 18; Redefine your Birthday List

How to Save Money for Your Next Tattoo

I'm Jessica!

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives