I'm Doing a No-Spend Month... Sort Of.

I'm Doing a No-Spend Month... Sort Of.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

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Hellooooo, February! Inspired by the ever-stylish, world-traveling Priya over at Priya the Blog, I've decided to take on a modified no-spend month. 

Yeah, yeah, maybe you wouldn't call that a no-spend month, but... bear with me, OK? Life isn't black & white! I'm trying here!

So what does a "modified no-spend month" mean to me? As Priya outlined in her recap of a "no-buy year" - that's right, she did this for all of 2019 - I've set a few rules for myself. I'm not saying I can't buy anything because A) that's absurd, & B) that's setting myself up to fail, like suddenly starting a celery-only diet when all you've been eating is pizza.

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What I Do & Don't Pay For

What I Do & Don't Pay For

Friday, March 9, 2018

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Where does your money go? I loved Kimi's recent post about what she does & doesn't spend her money on; I always think it's interesting to see what other people invest in & where they choose to scrimp. I thought you might enjoy the same look into my life, so here you go!

What I Pay For

Going Out to Eat 

I'm not a great cook, & I don't like to cook - but more than that, I just really like food made by someone else. I go out to eat with some frequency (probably too high a frequency) because, well, I just enjoy it. I try to keep it healthy (or I try to try, at least), but I don't foresee a time when this won't be high on my list of things worth paying for.

Massages

I certainly don't get massages often - maybe once a quarter - but when I do, I never regret a penny of it. I had back surgery when I was 12 years old, & I still suffer from chronic pain & have some nerve damage around my spine. To be honest, even professional, deep-tissue massages don't exactly hit the spot (see again: nerve damage), but they're still worth it.

House Cleanings

Mike & I decided to hire a house cleaning company to come spruce up our place every few months. I don't want to throw him under the bus or anything, but he's notttt exactly the neatest or cleanest person, & I'm not a neat-freak, but I do like a certain level of organization - & am not a great cleaner myself. This seems like a worthwhile investment not for our marriage.

Coffee Shop Lattes 

Yes, I have a coffeemaker, & yes, that means I could easily make coffee at home. But do I? Never. For starters, I really like my lattes, & I can't make those at home. But more importantly, going out for coffee is often my only daily interaction with people who aren't my husband. Because I work from home, I don't have a lot of daytime opportunities to engage with other humans, except online. My latte budget is really more like a "keeping me from going crazy from loneliness" budget.

Having My Hair Colored

I am going significantly grey, but not in a cool or attractive way, which means I'm not yet ready to embrace it & allow it to happen. I love having my hair professionally colored, ensuring that it actually looks complex & dynamic & shiny & pretty, instead of whatever I'm able to do for myself from a box.

What I Don't Pay For

High-End Brands

This applies to most products, including clothes, shoes, hair, & makeup. While I'll splurge very occasionally on something brand-name, most of my clothes & shoes come from Target & Old Navy... & come to think of it, nearly all of my makeup comes from Target, too. I'm not particularly brand loyal, for the most part, so aside form my iPhone, there's nothing expensive I feel I can't do without.

Manicures, Pedicures, Facials, etc. 

I can count on one un-manicured hand how many times I've had my nails done in the last decade. I don't actually really like having my nails painted; I feel like my hands are suffocating. I like it slightly more now that I've discovered gel polish (which I had done for my wedding), but it's still not something I'm willing to pay for on any sort of regular basis. I've never had a facial & have only gotten pedicures when someone else has purchased it for me as a gift.

The Latest Technology

I kept my last iPhone until it straight-up died after two & a half years of use. While I'd love to have an iPhone X, I just can't see paying $1,000 for something I know is going to be made obsolete within the next year or so.

Having My Hair Colored

Wait, what? Didn't I just say...? Yep, this is one of those things that I waffle on. I love getting my hair done - & of course, it looks so much better when I have it done professionally. Often, though, I just can't bear to shell out for it, so I do it myself, out of a box. I even have a go-to box color.

I'm sure I'm missing some things, but these are the first ones that come to mind. So tell me: What goes on your spend/skip lists? 

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My Year of Less: How I'm Trying to Have Less Stuff

My Year of Less: How I'm Trying to Have Less Stuff

Thursday, February 22, 2018

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I've been reading Cait Flanders' personal finance blog for a few years, on & off. Sometimes, when I feel guilty about my inability to manage my finances, I skip her posts in my feed reader & move on to whatever's next. Sometimes, I save up a bunch of her posts & read them all at once for a double dose of inspiration & reproach.

When I saw that Cait had written her first book, I knew I had to get my hands on it - & that was before Vogue named it one of "7 Nonfiction Books to Change Your Life in 2018." Equal parts memoir & self-help, it's called The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store.

Whew, that's a verbose title - but the book itself, of course, is all about thoughtful minimalism.

This month, I listened to Cait's audiobook & started thinking of all the things I've purchased lately that I probably (OK, definitely) didn't need. Here's an abridged list: a dermaroller; a deck of tarot cards; this weird, twisty workout board; a leg lamp lapel pin; a curling wand I can't get the hang of using; & this cat toy that my cats have zero interest in.

There are many, many more ridiculous purchases lurking in the shadows, I'm sure.

I decided it was time to embark on my own Year of Less, whatever that means to me. I don't have the same personality as Cait or the same priorities; I wouldn't want to own just one pair of jeans, & I care more about makeup & skincare products. I'm also never going to give up my lattes, expense be damned, because going to the coffee shop to get them is sometimes the only socialization I get in a day. (Ah, that work-from-home life.)

Still, I finished the book feeling inspired & motivated to try my own version of a Year of Less. Maybe it won't be a year, & I'm sure I'll never be as thoughtful & intentional about it as Cait is/was. But I've started making small changes & have already begun to feel the benefits of these efforts. I feel calmer, more at peace, less claustrophobic - & I want to feel more of that.

We'll see how this transpires, but here's what I'm working on & what's next.

1. Social media clean-up 

I unfollowed 80+ people on Instagram, mostly brands & accounts that haven't posted in months. Not only am I excited about a cleaner, less cluttered, more thoughtful Instagram feed, I'm also looking forward to a lot less temptation to buy, now that I've unfollowed every brand I've ever loved.

2. Inbox clean-up

Using unroll.me, I unsubscribed from all extraneous email subscriptions, another way to keep myself from being tempted to buy things I don't need. I also unsubscribed from email lists for causes I only semi care about, allowing me more energy to focus on those that really matter to me (Planned Parenthood and Everytown for Gun Safety, especially).

3. Financial clean-up

With Mike's help, I'm going through my bank statement, line by line, to determine what I spend the most on - & where I can & should cut back. I know the answers, to some extent - coffee, eating out, Lyfts - but I think sitting down & budgeting will be really helpful.

4. Home clean-up

I've packed up three bags of stuff for giveaway & am always on the hunt for more. I also threw away any opened beauty products that I don't use & gave away any unopened items I didn't have plans to use. I also tossed nearly every sample I owned because for the most part, I never use samples.

5. Closet clean-up

I'm still running a Poshmark store, though I haven't sold anything for awhile. I've gathered a few high(ish)-value items - Frye boots, a Kate Spade bag, a Michael Kors watch - & am planning to list those on Poshmark, eBay, Facebook, and/or wherever else is appropriate. I may donate the rest & shutter my Poshmark shop entirely, just to be rid of it all. 

6. Bookshelf clean-up

I don't have a ton of books, but I do have a few I look at & think, "Never gonna read that, don't even want to." So why am I still hanging onto them? I'm planning to gather them up, consign what I can at Visible Voice Books or Loganberry Books, & put what's left in my neighborhood's Little Free Libraries.

7. Wedding clear-out

I've got a bunch of wedding stuff to try to sell in a local Facebook group for brides-to-be, including centerpieces, a beautiful sash I didn't wear, two never-worn rehearsal dinner dresses I rejected, & a massive backyard canopy we almost used as a wedding chuppah. My guest room will breathe a sigh of relief if I can get rid of all of this stuff!

That's where I am for now, with more, I hope, to come. I may or may not keep you updated along the way, but as I begin this effort, I'd love to know: How do you feel about minimalism, intentional ownership/purchasing, etc.? Do you have any tips for me?

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9 Ways to Save Mad $$$ When Shopping for Holiday Gifts

9 Ways to Save Mad $$$ When Shopping for Holiday Gifts

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

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It's mid-November, & my holiday shopping is officially in full swing. If you're like me (thrifty, budget-conscious, and/or Jewish), you're always looking for the best deal - & don't necessarily want to wait in 4am lines on Black Friday to find them. Below are a few of my favorite ways to save money (& bring in a little side income) while shopping online during the holiday season. 

If you have a tip or site I don't yet know about, pretty please comment & let me know.

1. Regular Old Coupons

OK, this one is a gimme, but let's not underestimate the value - like, literally - of doing things the good, old-fashioned way. Most sites offer coupons of their own, especially on & in the lead-up to Black Friday. Find them in your mailbox & on the sites you're shopping themselves.

2. RetailMeNot

Having trouble finding aforementioned coupons & coupon codes? This site is my favorite retail roundup for discount codes & sale information for nearly every site I've ever wanted to shop from. Just search the site for the store you're shopping, & see what coupon codes pop up. You don't have to register to use the codes, though it seems like being a member of the site offers additional bonuses. Can any of you weigh in on this?

3. Newsletter Bonuses

Plenty of websites offer discounts for first-time shoppers when you sign up for their email newsletters. Already signed up? Uhhhh, I'm sure you have a second (or third, or fourth) email address, right? And if that's unethical, well... look, I never said this guide was on the up-&-up. Just do it. The 20% off will be worth it (& you can unsubscribe as soon as you're done).

4. Honey

This easy browser plug-in is another way to identify coupon codes on the sites you're using - everywhere from Macy's to Papa John's, & the site stacks coupons whenever possible. What I like best about Honey is that when you shop on Amazon, it tells you where to find lower prices, & it also lets you set 60-day price-drop notifications, should the items you're looking at go down in cost. Honey also offers cash back, though I've never used that feature because I'm too obsessed with...

5. Ebates

Ebates is, hand down, my favorite way to save/make money while shopping, not just at the holidays but year-round. Install the browser plugin &, when you shop, Ebates will let you know how much cash back you can get through them when you buy from each site. Once a quarter, Ebates sends a fat rebate check to your PayPal account. I've saved $200+ since I started using it! They also offer travel rebates & in-store rebates when you submit your receipts. In other words, go sign up for this immediately. 

6. Groupon

You're rolling your eyes right now because who even uses Groupon anymore? But I'll tell you: I do. If you're shopping for experiences or stocking stuffers, in particular, Groupon is still full of excellent gift options - and they offer \cash back through Ebates (6% right now!), which means you're saving extra. From electronics to clothing to personalized items to homegoods, Groupon is definitely worth revisiting while you're putting together your shopping list.

7. Amazon Associates

Affiliate marketing for the win! If you're a blogger, you've got to start using Amazon Associates, the quick & easy way to bring in a few cents every time one of your readers buys something you recommended to them. Just run your Amazon links through their simple URL creator to make unique-to-you links to use in your blog posts. When you reach an accumulated $10 in profit, Amazon will deposit a gift card into your account.

8. Social Media

Think you can't get discounts from small businesses? Think again. These sites, while unlikely to be on RetailMeNot or Groupon, often share their discount codes on their social media accounts. If you're interested in buying something from an Etsy shop, for example, your savings can be two-fold: Use Ebates to get cash back from Etsy itself (right now it's at 1%, but I've seen up to 5%), then check the seller's social media accounts - especially Instagram - to see if they're running any good deals you wouldn't have found out about otherwise.

9. Poshmark

This is more of a side-hustle than a couponing opportunity, but it's still worth doing if you're looking for some side cash. I recently checked out how much I've made in the four years I've been using this app, & I was honestly blown away! Awhile back, I wrote the post "How to Run a Successful Poshmark Shop," which I hope will help you in your side-hustle endeavors. And don't forget to use my code HMUGD for $5 credit on your first purchase!

Looking for additional side hustles to bring in money for the holidays? Check out The Laughing Girls Guide for five sites that will help you find your holiday shopping (or, like, the rest of your life). I, for one, am about to be all over those ebook opportunities.

Am I missing anything? What tricks do you use to save money when you shop? Let me know - & if you try out any of the sites I've shared here, especially Ebates & Honey, please consider clicking through directly from my site so I get a little bit of referral kickbacks myself - & can save even more. Happy shopping, friends!

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The Times When Money Can, Actually, Buy Happiness

The Times When Money Can, Actually, Buy Happiness

Thursday, August 3, 2017

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A new study finds that money can indeed buy happiness - if you use it to save time. And a new study in my own life shows that this is indeed true, especially if I'm spending money to save myself the time & hassle of cleaning my home, something I haaaaate doing & am notably not-great at.

In my birthday wishlist post, I mentioned that I bought myself the gift of hiring someone to come clean my apartment. Mike suggested it, actually, & I was all in. Sure, we only moved in two months ago, but hardwood floors get dusty very fast, & our cats shed a lot, & our bedroom has carpet, &, well, cleaning is just not our strongest suit. Our home wasn't dirty, by any means, but it definitely needed some work... which neither of us felt fully equipped to do.

"Let's book it as soon as possible," he said. So we did.

I made an appointment online with Cardinal Maids, which I'd called once in the past but never actually used. There's a longer story there, one I couldn't share on the blog at the time: Basically, my then-landlord screamed at me & made me cry in front of the cleaning lady, & the cleaning lady gave me a big hug & a coupon for a future service before leaving (without cleaning my place, which is part of the long story). In short, it was a really bad day, & her kindness went a a long, long way - so when it came time to book a housekeeping service, I knew I wanted to go back to that company.

It was really easy to book online, & they have straightforward pricing that made clear exactly how much I'd be paying & for what. I also found a $30-off Groupon, which brought down the cost a little - though I knew it would absolutely be worth the full price.

The morning of my appointment, two cleaning ladies arrived a little bit before their scheduled time of 10:30am. They even called me to tell me when they were on their way! I was afraid it might be awkward that I'd be there the whole time, working from home, but they told me they'd clean my office last so that I could work throughout their cleaning. I put on a headset to take my morning call, & I mostly couldn't hear the vacuuming at all.

The whole thing only took about an hour because we didn't have them clean our guest room (which is still filled with unpacked boxes), & they didn't have to do much in the office (which isn't really set up, aside from two desks). They dusted, swept & mopped the floor, scrubbed the sinks & shower & toilet, & even took out the trash.

When they were done, I stood in my living room & basically just twirled around like a princess in love with her castle. Everything was so freaking sparkly-clean. There were no tumbleweeds of cat fur blowing in the ceiling-fanned breeze, no jam-like residue tracked in from the mulberry tree in our front yard, no slivers of carrots & onions on the kitchen floor that sometimes escape Mike's cooking creations. It was like our home was a hotel.

Truly, I can't explain how happy I was to stand barefoot on a freshly vacuumed rug, sunlight streaming through the windows, & take in this spotless apartment. Sure, it was an added expense - but if we have to cut back on a night out or a few frivolous purchases here & there to work it into our budget, so be it. What's extra income for, if not to make your life easier every now & again?

This is an expense I'm happy to pony up for. Because that kind of happiness? Well, it turns out you can buy it, after all.

Have you ever hired someone to clean your home? What's your favorite time-saving "money can buy happiness" indulgence, when you can afford it?

Note: This is not a sponsored post, & I paid full price (aside from my Groupon) for my service with Cardinal Maids. I just liked them so much that I wanted to raise them up! 

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Let's Talk About Weddings, Money, & Really Bad Advice

Let's Talk About Weddings, Money, & Really Bad Advice

Monday, July 17, 2017

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Even if you choose to go the most minimalist route possible, weddings cost money. And if you're anything like most brides, you'll probably get caught up in at least part of the hoopla & hype that surrounds the wedding industry, whether you want a big bridal party or tons of gorgeous flowers or a poufy cupcake of a dress or a destination ceremony in a tropical paradise. And if you want all of the above? Well, it's gonna cost an arm & a leg, at the very least.

I'm in a Facebook group for CLE brides- & grooms-to-be, & as is the case in any local Facebook group, it's often a source of utter weirdness. From hideous dresses to maid-of-honor horror stories to plain old "WTF are you thinking?" plans, there are plenty of posts that make me cringe. Today, though, one caught my eye, & I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

One woman posted asking for advice on the following abridged-for-the-blog situation:

"My wedding is August 18th and we are having trouble affording the rest of the reception costs ($1400). It's basically a choice between having the reception and paying the bills this month. With the wedding being so close everyone has chosen their food options so how would I go about switching the menus to just cake and some appetizers?"

Whoa.

My first reaction is "How the hell did you get into a scenario where you're having a wedding you so badly cannot afford to be having?" I assumed other commenters would say the same thing, perhaps more gently - but you know what they say about assuming. By & large, the other commenters did not share my view.

For starters, one commenter wrote:

"I applaud you for being willing to be responsible with your budget. People tend to loose their sense when it comes to weddings." 

Wait, I'm confused. Is it... is it responsible budgeting to get so far in the hole that you have to rework your wedding at the last minute? Somehow I didn't think that was how responsible budgeting worked. And it gets worse. Though some people shared helpful ideas for cuts to make instead, here are the most jaw-dropping bit of "advice" group members provided:

1. "Payday loan! They have installment loans, try Mountain Summit or maybe Money Key...hey nobody wants to do it but you have to have your reception!"
2. "I received money before my wedding esp from people who were not going. To be able attend it was around 500 total but it helped with last min expenses."
3. "There are alot of 0% apr credit cards right now for 12+ months.....check out credit karma it will give you best options."
4. "I knew a groom who had abismal credit, he was able to get a personal loan for the rest of the costs. Might be an option."
5. "Is a credit card an option? $1,400 is such a small amount in the grand scheme. If people come expecting a meal, they will be hungry and super pissed to find just cake and apps."
6. "Not the best idea but get a loan, and pay it off after the wedding. I'm sure lots of ppl will give you cash for a gift."
7. "You cannot ask people to come to your wedding after they are already expecting a meal they chose (and they are bringing you gifts and money) and just give them appetizers and cake. You need to find a different option or cancel all together."
8. "Just say that your caterer quit last minute and you had to choose something else, and on last minute decisions it ended up being appetizers."
9. "We're in the same boat...Ive been selling stuff on FB, opened 2 new accounts at Huntington, deferred my car payment, and got a loan with hopes to pay off after the wedding."

Mike & I initially planned to have a very low-key wedding, but we're fortunate that our parents offered us money to help cover the cost of a larger wedding. I don't take lightly that gift, & I recognize that many couples aren't in similar situations in terms of familial or financial support. 

But look: At the end of the day, you should only be having a wedding you can afford. If you can't afford it, that money isn't just going to magically appear. If anything, new expenses are going to crop up - but new funding probably isn't. Make a budget, get creative, make cuts along the way, et cetera, but you should not find yourself, a month before the big day, choosing between paying your bills or financing your wedding.

If you can't afford your bills in order to pay for your wedding, you shouldn't be having the wedding you're planning to have. If you plan in advance to take out a small loan or something of the sort, OK - but having a strategic financial plan is a far cry from "Oh, shit, this ship is sinking, & I've got to take out a sketchy payday loan just to provide the meal I promised my wedding guests." Why did you plan that freaking wedding?

Maybe I'm being overly judgy here. Maybe I'm going to get nasty comments about this post - & honestly, if you've got a different POV that I'm missing, I'd love to hear it. But as someone who is very frustrated with the wedding industry & the many gratuitous expenses it insists are vital, I can't help but be aghast at the idea that people are going bankrupt just to have a wedding that looks like the movies. Aren't we smarter than this?! Aren't we more realistic than this?!

Real life isn't the movies - & real weddings don't need to be, either. Save the cash for your life together, not for an all-out wedding day that will leave you with a mountain of debt to start out your marriage.

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The Tech-Friendly Way I'm Saving More Money

The Tech-Friendly Way I'm Saving More Money

Monday, February 6, 2017

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In the last few years, I've been trying to get a lot better about saving money. I'm 32 years old, & I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck my whole life. I am fortunate to make enough money to save a significant amount from each paycheck. The problem is that I often dip into my savings in a pinch, or to pay off some bill, or to pay my taxes, etc. I'm also still trying to pay off my student loans, my car loans, &, most pressingly, my credit card bill.

In addition to my regular direct-deposit savings, which are automatically taken from my paycheck & deposited into a separate savings account before they ever make it to my checking account, I've started using Digit.co.

You connect Digit to your primary bank account, where it analyzes your income & spending habits. Every few days, Digit transfers a small amount of money from your checking account to your Digit account; their no-overdraft guarantee ensures that they won't take too much. You can fiddle around with the aggressiveness with which you want Digit to save for you, & you can put withdrawals on hold at any time.

Based on my income & savings habits, Digit takes a few bucks from me every 2.48 days. The average withdrawal is $12, but that will vary depending on your income & spending habits. Digit is designed to work within your lifestyle, not to go against it - & the end result is that you save money without even realizing you're doing it. Since joining three months ago, I've saved $320+.

Digit texts you on a regular basis to let you know how much is in your savings account and how much it in your Digit account. Want to access the money you've saved through Digit? Again, just send them a text & they'll begin the transfer process. I confess that I "took" $200 from myself to pay off a medical bill. I felt guilty about it until I realized: Isn't that what savings are for?!

For the cautious among you (& we all should be, when it comes to money & the Internet), Digit uses state-of-the-art security measures & doesn't store your bank login information. Not convinced? It's been written up by & its safety confirmed in trusted publications like Wired, Forbes, Fast Company, & the New York Times.

If you're interested in giving Digit a try, you can sign up using my referral link. I get $5 for every person who uses my link, but I also just think this tool is worth sharing. This isn't a sponsored post - just me telling you about something I like.

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How to Run a Successful Poshmark Shop

How to Run a Successful Poshmark Shop

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

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Now, this is certainly no business blog - never has been, never will be, not least of all because I am not a businesswoman. That said, I've always had a knack for bringing in a little bit of extra money when I need it, from selling my beloved Michael Kors purse on eBay in college to freelancing for Hearst's now-defunct The Mix (RIP) for some travel cash earlier this year.

As I blogged this spring, one of my favorite side hustles is Poshmark, a mobile app for buying & selling clothing, shoes, accessories, & more. Originally just a sales forum for women's goods, Poshmark recently expanded to include men's & children's gear, too - which means there's potential for more profit than ever.

A few Poshmark users have commented to ask me for tips boosting their sales & making their closets more appealing. I thought I'd share those thoughts here.

1. Take clear, well-lit photos.  

Not a master of the beautiful flat-lay? Me neither. But as long as you take clear, well-lit photos, you don't need to go crazy with the details. I take all my photos against a solid-colored wall (ideally a white one) during peak sunlight hours, ensuring that clothing is hung from a clear hanger, with sleeves hanging neatly at the sides & everything as wrinkle-free as possible. People want to see what the clothes look like!

2. Set your prices a little bit high - but not too high. 

Buyers on Poshmar will haggle; it's just a part of the culture. Assume that potential buys will try to bring down your prices, & then price your garments accordingly. People like to feel like they're getting a deal, but this also keeps you from getting ripped off. The other upside to this is that when someone decides not to haggle & makes a purchase at your face value, you'll make a little bit more than expected!

3. Include measurements.  

Poshmark makes buyers nervous because they can't try on the clothes, & they can't return them. Take away some of the guesswork by including measurements, like shoulder to hem & armpit to armpit. Do all this when you photograph & list the garment; otherwise, you'll have to dig it out of storage later when someone asks about a specific measurement.

4. Use SEO best practices.  

Good marketers know that search engine optimization is everything when it comes to helping the general public find your product. On Poshmark, this means writing a description that includes keywords your potential buyers would use. Write detailed descriptions that includes terminology customers may search for, including alternative phrases (tee/T-shirt, blazer/jacket, etc.) Does the piece include some special feature? Include descriptive words like "peplum," "scalloped," "high-low," etc., where appropriate to make your items easily searchable.

5. Be up front about flaws.

Is there a small stain that you just haven't tried to remove? Note that it's there but that it may come out with a spot treatment. Is there a run or a small rip? Say so. It won't necessarily prevent people from buying - but your honesty will ensure that buyers can't return the item by claiming that your description didn't give them the full story.

6. Respond to inquiries & offers.

This is a no-brainer! Respond to questions in a timely fashion to keep potential buyers' interest piqued & to set yourself up as a reliable buyer. Offers expire within 24 hours, so get to those quickly (& don't be afraid to turn down an offer that lowballs you).

7. Share other closets.

Though it may seem counterintuitive, share items from other users' closets with your followers. I can't say for certain, but I suspect that Poshmark's algorithms actually favor users who aren't selfish with their shares; the more I share, the more people seem to find me! Of course, that could be because it also fosters goodwill with other users, making them more likely to share your closet in return.

8. Participate in parties.

Poshmark hosts themed "parties," sort of like virtual trunk shows, a few times a day. Join in & share your listings into the party to get them in front of the eyes of potential buyers who might not otherwise find you. If you're lucky, your item may be chosen as a "host pick," meaning it's highlighted by the folks at the party's helm. This can be huge for sales!

9. Add a personal touch.

This is a little extra touch that can go a long way, reminding buyers that their clothes are coming from a real person's closet & not a big-name company. Let buyers know when you've dropped their package in the mail, or if you're running on a delay. Include a little note in your package to thank them for buying & to encourage them to leave feedback to boost your seller score.

***

And that's about the gist of it! Fellow Poshmark sellers, have I left anything out? It's not brain surgery, but it can feel overwhelming for new sellers, especially for those who aren't communications-savvy to begin with. Think of Poshmark as an opportunity to market your own closet - & the better job you do of it, the more likely you are to rake in some side cash!

If you join Poshmark, use code HMUGD for a $5 credit. Enjoy! 

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How I'm Consigning My Unwanted Clothes... Using an App!

How I'm Consigning My Unwanted Clothes... Using an App!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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I went through a period of time when I, uh, bought a lot of clothes. Like, a lot-a lot. It was mostly when I lived in New Hampshire & New Jersey, where I didn't know many people (read: any people) & got bored a lot. I had extra disposable income & zero hobbies, & so I just... went shopping.

These days, I like to think I'm more discriminating about my purchases. I'm more careful with my money, & I'm more comfortable in my very specific style, so I don't just buy stuff to see what sticks.

But what to do with all the many articles of clothing I bought back in the day that aren't my jam? I had a bit of an ego-crushing experience in consigning awhile back, which turned me off to trying again. But instead of just giving all my clothes over to Goodwill, I tried something else: consigning online.

Enter Poshmark, a consignment app. They never use the word "consignment" in the description - they just call it "shopping other people's closets" - but that's what it is, really. I first found out about it through fellow blogger Kate, who works for the company (& is, unsurprisingly, so well dressed).

Here's how it works: You list your clothing, accessories, shoes, purses, or whatever in your personal Poshmark shop. You set your own prices, & you can upload photos & sizes & all of that right there in the app, & then voilà - your listing is live. There's no charge to list items, like on Etsy, & there's no timeframe for taking listings down, like on eBay. The only catch is that Poshmark takes 20% of each sale. Yes, that's a lot, but for items I would otherwise donate, any profit is a welcome profit.

Once you make a sale, Poshmark sends you a shipping label (buyers pay a flat shipping fee), which you simply print out & affix to the package before dropping it in the mail. When USPS scans it in, you & the buyer will both receive tracking, & when the package reaches its destination, the buyer uses the app to either accept the delivery or to contest the sale. (That happens if there's some issue with the item, like a hole or a stain. If Poshmark decides their complaint has merit, the buyer ships the items back to you & no money changes hands.) Once the buyer accepts the item, money is deposited into your Poshmark account, & you can either use it for in-app shopping or have it direct deposited into your bank account at any time.

I've been using Poshmark for about four years now, & while it's not, like, some steady stream of massive second income, it's a nice little side gig, like an ongoing garage sale. A year ago, I made enough to fund a trip to Nashville for a friend's bachelorette party, & I'm currently saving up for... well, I don't know what for, but something indulgent, probably (like more clothes...) My stock of leftover clothes will eventually run out, but in the meantime, it's been a great way to make a bit of easy cash.

Oh, & I've bought stuff, too! I mostly use Poshmark to find items I love but need to replace, like the Target sandals I wore out or the Lauren Conrad blazer I wanted two of. And when I was in search of a navy blue bridesmaid dress, I bought four options on Poshmark - & just re-sold the ones that didn't work for me.

And no, I don't get anything for writing this post. I'm not in cahoots with Poshmark. I've just really enjoyed using this app, & it's brought me a nice little wad of side cash - so I figured you might want in on the secret! Isn't that the joy of blogging?

If you want to try Poshmark, sign up with code HMUGD for a $5 credit. You can also follow my closet at @heysuburban (they won't let me change my old username, ugh). Hope you love it as much as I do.

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6 Things I'm Done Spending My Money On

6 Things I'm Done Spending My Money On

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

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Look, I'll say it: I'm not great at financial stuff. I'm just... not. I don't know where to begin, I'm paying off a bunch of credit card debt, & I have a soft spot for shopping on bad days. I'm trying to get better about it because the idea of being a full-fledged adult with so ncushion is terrifying, but it continues to be a struggle for me.

In an effort to save some dollah bills in the year to come, here are a few items I've decided to stop paying for. Most of these were easy decisions, & I don't think I'll miss having these things in my life. In fact, writing them down like this, I'm excited to kick them to the curb & pocket the money I'd usually be spending on them to save for something else - like, you know, the future. Or a trip to Thailand.

I told you I'm not good at this, OK?

1. Spotify Premium 

   I haaaate listening to music with commercials, so paying $10 a month for Spotify Premium seemed like an easy solution to avoiding one of my biggest pet peeves. But that was when I lived in D.C. & took public transportation everywhere - & it was also before I discovered podcasts. These days, I listen to the radio or The Shepod when I drive, & I find myself listening to Spotify very rarely. When I do, I can suck up the stray commercial or two if it means saving $120 a year.
    

2. Weekday booze 

   This is a good one to cut down on both for my wallet and my waistline. Mike & I do all kinds of fun things around Cleveland, but going out often means going all out, ordering an appetizer & a craft beer along with our meals. I'm committing to not buying alcohol at restaurants anymore, & if I do, it will be just one (like when I'm at a happy hour or trivia night). I'm not sure how much this will save me, but surely it's a good call, right?
    

3. Books 

   My librarian mom & bibliophile boyfriend are probably gasping in horror right now, but fret not, dear ones! I'm just not buying anymore books - because it is so easy to get them for free & on the cheap elsewhere. I've started taking advantage of Amazon's Kindle First program, which gives me one free new book a month, & I have four library cards, which makes it easy to check out tangible books & borrow Kindle books through OverDrive, which curbs my occasional late-night, "I want to read thus-&-such book right now" syndrome. Not sure how much it'll save me, but I have a feeling I'm about to do more reading! (That reminds me: Are we friends on GoodReads?)
    

4. POPSUGAR MustHave Box 

   You already know about this because I wrote a no-holds-barred rant last month about my waning love for this company. December was my first month in two years without a MustHave Box, & while I thought I'd miss it, I really didn't - & I missed it even less when Stephanie sent me angry tweets & photos about how crappy this month's box was. A quick scroll through the company's social media accounts tells me we're not the only ones unhappy with their customer service, & while I miss the way the boxes used to be, I'm happy to have another $40 in my pocket each month.
    

5. A top-tier health insurance plan 

   For the last whole-knows-how-many years, I've been paying for my organization's Tier III health insurance plan, which is the "best" & therefore the most expensive. The reason for this? I am a hypochondriac with significant back problems & some low-grade mental health needs. But also, I'm lazy, & figuring out the differences between everything seems time-consuming & difficult. I'd rather just pay more for the convenience of, well, the convenience. But this year, our insurance options changed, & the middle-tier option sounds just fine. I'm switching down & will save more than $200 a month!
    

6. Feedly Pro 

   My reasons for cutting this service are similar to my reasons for cutting Spotify premium: I thought I'd "need" it more than I do. I let my account for Feedly Pro, an RSS reader, lapse this month, & though they're still running a holiday special that would allow me to renew for $45 instead of $65, I just don't find myself using the added features enough to justify the cost for another year. The free version is treating me just fine so far.

What about you? How do you save money & what else should I cut?!

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No Such Thing as a Free Lunch Except When You Live at Your Mom's House and/or in the Midwest

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch Except When You Live at Your Mom's House and/or in the Midwest

Sunday, December 7, 2014

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I saw a psychic of questionable legitimacy* in the fall of 2013, right before I moved back to Washington, D.C. from New Jersey. She told me a lot of things that turned out not to be true, but at the time, life in chaos, it was a conversation I found comforting. The one thing she said that I found particularly reassuring was that when it came to finances, I wasn't going to struggle as much as I feared I would. At the time, my then-boyfriend's military career had been paying for my life, & I had become fairly irresponsible with money. I was looking at a serious standard-of-living downgrade when I moved to the city & started paying $1430 a month to rent a singular room, & I was terrified I was going to end up destitute.

D.C. is expensive, to be sure, & the cost of living is one of the reasons I left after only a year - but I think calling myself "destitute" would be a biiiit of a stretch. For that, I am relieved.

Still, something I've noticed right off the bar about being on the East Coast versus being in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, is that when it comes to Midwestern living, my sense of expensiveness is severely skewed. To some extent, I already knew this. During past trips home, I was absolutely giddy to rediscover that I could get pleasantly tipsy on a mere $3. But as I readjust to real life here, I find myself constantly surprised by the cost of things - or the lack thereof, really.

• I'm in a Facebook group for residents of my hometown, the absurdity of which I've written about in the past. Recently, a woman posted to the group saying that she was hoping to rent a three-bedroom house in town for no more than $650 a month. I had to re-hinge my jaw to my face after it slid to the floor in amazement. In D.C., you can't pay rent on a goddamn cardboard box for that price.

• In that same group, a number of people have complained about the cost of hamburgers at BurgerFi, a new fast-casual burger joint that opened in town last weekend. Their customizable, grass-fed burgers are approximately $6. Every time I read one of these complaints, I want to type-scream, "Don't like it? Go to McDonald's, man, & let the rest of us have some nice things that aren't even that nice!"

• My best friend & her husband were in town over Thanksgiving, & we met up at my favorite hometown restaurant. I ordered a size of mozzarella sticks & a cup of soup, like I have every time I've gone there since age 15, & then I ordered two cups of soup to go. My whole bill - for three meals - was $14, which is just a few bucks more than what I paid for lunch on a near-daily basis in Dupont Circle.

• A new movie theater opened in town on Friday, & today I looked into a midday showing of Mockingjay. When I exclaimed to my mother, "A matinee is $6.75!" she responded, "That's crazy! That used to be the cost of a night-time movie!" Turns out, she felt $6.75 was expensive... whereas I felt it was basically free.

• My mom was really, really excited the other day about gas being $2.54. In fairness, I have literally no idea how much gas normally costs because I haven't had a car in a year (& even when I had one, I rarely drove). Is $2.54 cheap? I think so? Cool? (I'm scared of the cost of having a car, which is a fear I need to face real soon.)

I am relearning what counts as expensive here - though to some extent, I hope I don't lose my sense of East Coast pricing, either, because I don't want to be one of those people who travels back to The Big City & gasps, "My God! I don't know how anyone manages to live here!"

Anyway, I'm saving money here, & it feels pretty good. A nice thing about living with my mom is sometimes she sometimes makes me food, which means I don't spend all of my hard-earned money on meals out. (Note: I still cannot cook & do not really try. When left to my own devices, I usually eat almonds, Craisins, & large chunks of Brie. Together. Like salad or trail mix.) This morning when I woke up, she had a plate warming on the stove for me: blueberry sausage with a sweet potato & apple hash, topped with real maple syrup. Remind me never to complain about living with her ever. (Hi, Mom.)

Moral of the story: Ohio is, like, free. I'm having a hard time readjusting to a lot of things here, but the cost of living is not one of them.



*REDUNDANT, I KNOW.

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The JDate Disaster: The Final Chapter

The JDate Disaster: The Final Chapter

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

7 comments

If you've been following along, you may have read about my "JDate Disaster," which went down two Sundays ago. I got a little, err, irate when JDate refused to refund my money for a five-month subscription I didn't even know I had, having engaged in a verbal battle with a supervisor who treated me like I was something she'd stepped in.

Last night, I finally mustered up the courage to call JDate back to try to convince them to refund me one more month. They'd initially agreed to just one, then reluctantly to two, but for a few reasons, I felt three was the only fair amount & wanted to try to make my case. I was more than a little terrified, in part because my first experience went so awfully - which you can probably tell by some of the absurd (yet true) things I initially said about the incident.

Anyway, last night I spoke to a different supervisor, hastily explaining my entire story, assuming she knew nothing of it. A few minutes in, I practically choked on my surprise when she said, "Oh, you're the one who wrote the blog post, right? I'm familiar with your account." Turns out someone at JDate stumbled across my post & sent it along to the CEO. Ummm, whaaaat?! She said that after much staff discussion, "everyone" decided I'd received the correct refund. Embarrassingly, it sort of sounded like they all sat around a staff meeting or a lunchtable with copies of my post.

This story has, for me, a happy ending. I made my case (or else I whined a lot), & the woman I spoke with reluctantly but kindly agreed to refund me a third month. She offered me two months free instead, but the truth is that I'm just not interested right now. I'm interested in JDate-the-Service but not JDate-the-Company - I'm not comfortable returning to a company that I feel has maligned & disrespected me so badly. While I may return eventually (though probably only a free account!), I need some time to lick my wounds. And hopefully to give the folks at JDate time to forget what my face looks like so that if I ever do return, no one sends around a staff email going, "OH! THAT BLOGGING GIRL IS BACK!" On second thought, maybe I should just stick to meeting men the old-fashioned way.

Especially because I've been doing a little digging & have found that JDate is no stranger to this sort of online dating debacle. Wikipedia, clearly the Internet's most reliable source, says, "The Better Business Bureau of the Southland, Inc., found Spark Networks services (including JDate) had an unusually high rate of complaints, due in part to 'deceptive sales practices, unauthorized credit card charges, and difficulty canceling services,' etc." I also found this feisty 2004 post from the now-Internet-famous @EstherK lamenting the site's poor customer service. While it's a relief to know I'm not alone, I really wish the Jewish community's most popular online dating forum were a little more reliable.

But whew - I can't wait to see that $120 make its way back to my back account. And you can best believe that from here on out, I'm going to keep watch over my bank account like a mama bear looks out for her cubs.

As I write this, I realize there's every possibility that the folks at JDate will somehow run into this post, too. If so, I'd like to tell them this: Denise is a keeper. She was firm, skeptical & notably annoyed with me, but she was never disrespectful. Even if she hadn't given me that third month back, I probably would've written this retraction post. Honestly, if I'd just spoken with her in the first place, I never would've felt the urge to write the initial post. OK, or I would've - but maybe it wouldn't have been quite so cranky.

Anyway, thanks for the third month. Hasta la vista.*




*Yes, I just ended this post with "Hasta la vista."

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The JDate Disaster: My $120 Mistake

The JDate Disaster: My $120 Mistake

Sunday, May 31, 2009

16 comments

Back in December, I was feeling slightly sad & single. Like many sad, single folks around the holiday season, I began to lament my singledom & as a result fell prey to an offer from JDate.com, the Jewish dating website, which is fairly popular (though I use that term loosely) among Jewish young professionals, especially in big cities. Anyway, they offered a "one week free" special over Chanukah, & I took the bait.

But then I remembered a few things:

A) Online dating is lame.
B) I personally confirmed that online dating is lame by going on one JDate date last summer; it was a huge bust.
C) I hate small talk, which is an online dating staple.
D) Most guys on JDate are schmucks. Or I am a schmuck.
E) And so on & so forth, all the way through the alphabet.

Thus, I opted not to renew my "subscription" to JDate, if you can even call it that, canceling the auto-renew function, which is a bullshit function to begin with. I didn't think about or log in to JDate again for months.

In April, I logged into JDate again & was surprised to find that the email feature worked (one that's only available to paying members). Figuring it must be a glitch, I utilized it to read old messages random Jew-boys had sent me, & then I didn't log in to JDate again. Now, a month later, I still haven't.

Now, I've certainly heard JDate horror stories before, but they typically involve sketchy boys & bad sex. This, however, is a nightmare of a different variety: Today, I spotted a $39.99 charge on my debit card. The money-taker? Why, JDate, of course! I immediately put in a call to corporate, where I was told that because I logged into my account in April & didn't call to ask why I had access to premium features, I wasn't eligible for a refund of any more than one month.

After much anger on my part & much patronization on the part of Amanda, the JDate supervisor I spoke with, I haggled my refund up to two months. But:

A) That's not good enough. They should at least refund me until I first logged into JDate in April.
B) This is highway robbery. It was clear to them I had no idea I'd been subscribed to their services for five months.
C) This woman literally played into every nasty stereotype about Jews & money, but I couldn't bring myself to say so.

I'm going to call back tomorrow to speak to someone else about getting the third month back, someone who I haven't already lost my cool on. I requested that they cancel all my JDate affiliations, deleting my account in its entirety, & I have now committed myself to proclaiming the ills of JDate to every single Jew I've ever met. Either maintain a free account or go out & meet some people in real life: Do NOT give these jerks your credit card information!

And yes, I realize that the OTHER moral of this story is that I should monitor my bank statements better. As JDate Amanda so kindly reminded me, "It's your own responsibility to keep track of your financial activity." Thanks, Mom. Actually, even my mom wasn't that obnoxious when I told her the story. But you can bet I'll be keeping a much closer eye on my meager finances from now on, lest JDate or any other auto-renew criminals try to pull one over on me again.

If only I could put as much passion into trying to find my besheret as I have into being furious with JDate...

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Wasting my Wallet Away

Wasting my Wallet Away

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

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This is me, selling my soul to the city for $295.83 (or more) a week.

8/22 --- Kramerbooks, “The Rules of Attraction” --- $14.75
8/22 --- Buffalo Billiards, one draft Yuengling --- $6.50
8/22 --- Starbucks, grande iced chai latte (with gift card) --- $1.62
8/23 --- Elephant & Castle, happy hour --- $13.00
8/23 --- Starbucks, venti iced chai latte --- $5.89
8/23 --- Starbucks, grande iced chai latte --- $5.28
8/23 --- Potbelly's, chicken salad sandwich --- $4.61
8/27 --- CVS, assorted necessities (i.e. shoe inserts) --- $43.71
8/27 --- CVS, assorted necessities, part dos (i.e. eyeliner) --- $15.77
8/27 --- ATM withdrawal --- $20.00
8/27 --- Washington D.C. Metro, SmarTrip card --- $20.00
8/27 --- The Big Hunt, two Yuenglings --- $11.50
8/27 --- Google.com, new domain name --- $10.00
8/27 --- Starbucks, grande iced Passion tea & sandwich --- $7.04
8/27 --- Starbucks, grande iced chai latte & croissant --- $6.22
8/27 --- Baja Fresh, bean burrito & churro --- $5.43
Pending --- Kramerbooks, “Glamorama” --- $15.81
Pending --- Tortilla Coast, chicken flautas & three Bud Lites --- $18.00
Pending --- Washington D.C. Metro, SmarTrip addition --- $60.05
Pending --- Starbucks, grande blueberry frap & croissant --- $6.60
Pending --- McDonald’s, egg McMuffin --- $4.05

HOLY SHEIST. This ain't gon' last long, folks.

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