I have always enjoyed writing.....well, except for required college papers. When I was young, I would write stories.,,that I never finished. When I worked out of the house, I enjoyed writing lengthy emails and proof-reading them before I hit "send". Starting a blog was a no-brainer for me when I decided I had way too much to say and wasn't possibly going to post it all on Facebook!
I thoroughly enjoy blogging...it's so awesome to have a platform that's all mine to write whatever and however I want! Aside from a children's book that I plan to write some day, I had never thought about writing anything other than my blog. Actually, that's not true - I have thought about submitting an article to Our Iowa magazine sometime in the future.
Last week, I received this message from a friend of mine who writes for magazines, that went something like this:
"My editor just messaged me and asked if I knew any writers in Ames. I highly recommended you and he really wants to talk to you. What e-mail address should I give him? I think the job is yours if you want it. No pressure."
Uhhh...WHAT?!?!?! Haha. I think about it for a few minutes and then decide "why not?!" and give her my email address. 30 seconds later I get a very short email from the editor asking for a link to my blog so he can view my writing. AHhhhh, No!! He can't view my blog....it's so full of all sorts of grammatical errors!!! I give it to him anyway, along with the message that "It's MY blog, I do what I want!" (I could tell he was super laid back and this wasn't a very formal process, so I felt free to be candid with him).
I quickly went to my blog to see what he was going to be reading first and saw so many errors in the very first paragraph.....so, I immediately emailed him with my edits of the first paragraph...and reminded him I really don't give a hoot about the "rules" when I write my blog. His comment was something like, "Well, since you knew how to edit that, I think you will be fine." So, he gave me my first assignment (with VERY little detail I must add), and told me to turn it in in 5 days.
5 DAYS?!?!?! No way!! How am I even going to find someone to interview, let alone get the story written in that short amount of time. 4 days later.....I was finished and had my story submitted.
Let me tell you something. Writing for a magazine (at least this one, which by the way, is Ames Living), is so much different than writing a blog!!! Like, I'm talking day and night here. Where my blog is all about my experience, my feelings, my opinions, etc....a magazine story has absolutely nothing to do with me and I can't even reference myself in any way, shape, or form. That was extremely challenging for me.....I love to write about myself ;)
James read my first story before I submitted it and said, "This is boring; this isn't you. Where is all the humor and exclamation points?!?!" I reminded him it isn't about me at all and I'm just delivering information essentially. But, I agreed with him that it was definitely not as exciting as writing my blog. I decided to scratch the first story and start over the next day....my second attempt was much better. I tried to add a little humor to it, but the editor took it out after I submitted it to him :( Boo!!!
Anyway, the editor decided my first submission wasn't terrible and, as far as I know, it will be published in the September Ames Living magazine. What's really crazy, is that he assigned me the cover story for the following month!!! Eeeek!! He only gave me two-and-a-half weeks to find and interview 3-4 people and write the story, which is 4x longer than the first story he assigned me. Additionally, I am also writing a second small story for that issue too...also due in 2.5 weeks. This will be a true test of my ability to meet a deadline!!
As crazy as this all still feels, I'm super excited to have been given this opportunity (THANKS, Courtney!!!) and am looking forward to becoming a "real" writer someday ;)
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Adventures in Moving, Schaack Style.
You never can predict where the Schaacks will end up. My sister-in-law says James and I buy and sell more things than anyone she's ever met. As James always says, "Everything is for sale for the right price." So....we sold our subdivision lot that we were going to build on.
As you may recall, I once told you how excited I was for that lot and subdivision. James, however, was never very thrilled with it. He has always preferred that we buy multiple acres away from people. Early this summer I was driving some back country roads and the beauty and peacefulness of the farmsteads I was passing really pulled at my heart strings. I thought, "What did I get us into with the subdivision lot?!?!" I have always thought it would be neat to live in an old farm house, but more than anything, like James, I want freedom and space. Those are two things that definitely do not come with subdivision living, at least not the one we owned a lot in. It was originally the attraction of having neighbors that made me want to live there, but as we have had neighbors all summer now, I realize it's really not that great, and I would prefer to be on an acreage. Plus, even though all the neighbors we met in the subdivision were very friendly, neither of us really felt "at home" there.
As James and I met with builders and tried to create a custom floor plan, it was obvious that neither of us was overly excited. It just didn't feel as fun as it should have and we didn't have that fire lit under us to keep the project moving. Seperately, we we were each checking the internet daily trying to find some place else to build. I have always been open to an existing house and one day I saw this beautiful victorian farm house for sale and texted it to James. I didn't even expect a response at all, let alone the one that I got: "Wow. I could live there, Let's go see it soon!" What?!?!?! So, we drove out to check it out that evening and then called our realtor to have her set up a showing. She called us back and delivered the unfortunate news that the sellers accepted an offer the day before. Darn! But...this opened our eyes a little to look for more than just bare land. We broadened our search to include existing homes and looked at several acreages with said homes.
At this point, we both came forward about definitely not wanting to live in the subdivision and we let the neighbors know we were going to sell it, in case they wanted first dibs (so that no one would build next to them). The following day, a neighbor with horses called us and asked to purchase the lot to be used for their horses. We easily agreed on a price and 5 days later had it sold and closed.
One of our favorite past times is to drive around the countryside. We loaded the kids into the van one Sunday morning and drove around an area we hadn't seen yet, that I thought James might like. We both really enjoyed the scenery and decided to focus on that specific area. It also happens to be very close to his current work facility. I was planning to tell our realtor to keep an eye on this area too, and hadn't gotten to it yet when she sent us info on a place coming up for sale....in that area!! And even better, on a paved road!! James used to say "It's not country living unless you live on gravel, " but has since changed his mind about that.
James looked at the aerial map (and all of the other technical maps that look foreign to me) and got incredibly excited about this place. It was nearly exactly what he had been hoping for. There was timber, tillable ground (for income), pasture ground and outbuildings. We didn't have any pictures of the inside of the house, but the one exterior picture we had was all I needed to see. The ONLY thing I have cared about for the exterior of my next house is that it have a long porch. And wouldn't you know it...this one did! As we figured this place would be a hot item, we called our realtor right away and expressed our very high interest in this place and requested to see it the second it was available. Unfortunately, the sellers weren't going to be ready to show it for 5 more days...but our awesome realtor was on the ball and got us the very first showing.
Over those 5 days we did some more research on the place to get information on the soil, possibility of splitting the acreage, did a drive by, etc. We were pretty certain this was going to be "the one". A few hours before we got to see it, we received pictures of the interior. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be and I was a little disappointed....but still hopeful.
When the time finally arrived, we made the turn into the property and made our way down the long drive. I was already in love and hadn't even stepped foot into the house yet. We got out of the van and I turned 360 degrees in my spot, taking in the view from every angle. Yep, in love! I thought positive thoughts and headed into the house with the rest of the clan.
Surprisingly, we really loved the layout of the house and it wasn't near as bad as I thought from the pictures. I mean, blue carpet and green countertops are easy to change out :) Even Rylee, who had zero desire to go see this place, was already picking out her bedroom. "We have to buy this place," I thought. From a construction stand point, James was pretty blown away with how well it was built and there were plenty of features he enjoyed as well.
By far my favorite part of the showing was what came next. You see, I have always dreamed of a large flat country yard for my kids to run in. We didn't have this at our last house as it was super hilly and one could easily twist their ankle running through the yard. The large, flat, beautifully manicured lawns are what have always attracted me to farmsteads I see on the side of the highways. So after the kids had seen every room in the house, they asked to go outside. I opened the front door for them and when they took off running full speed into the yard, my heart melted and I held back tears. Wyatt even fell down and rolled around a bit. At this moment I knew this place would be ours. Rylee has expressed her feelings about country living a lot this summer...she has no interest in it. But, after running through the yard for awhile, she told me she loved it and wanted to live there. She also asked if we could keep the horse, dog, and kitties that were there.... maybe we can get a goat instead.
We were at the property about an hour and a half and made an offer before we left. We knew there was another showing after ours. Long story short...we both made offers and endured an incredibly long four days, but were finally blessed to make a deal with the sellers. We couldn't be more thrilled and are hoping for a smooth next 45 days until we close!!! Now, to find a subleaser for our rental....
Although we are beyond excited for this place, it means a change in schools for Rylee.....just a week before classes start. I'm probably stressing about this way more than I need to. We already had the school supplies for her original school, and had been planning to attend the four events at the school this week. I had taken Rylee to the school several times over the summer to tour it and get used to the idea of going there. We also had a play date at the playground there with some other kids who would be in her class. I felt we were both prepared for this new transition. And now we start over....
Luckily, the new school district still had some spots available and they have the same start date as the school she was originally going to attend. I have explained to Rylee why we are switching schools and she is more than okay with it. Phew! I have a good feeling about this new school already, as the principal was extremely friendly, provided me with wonderful information, and really helped me feel better about this last minute change. I think it will be seamless.
We welcome positive thoughts for our next 45 days until we close, and if anyone knows of a family or students looking for a house to rent, send them our way!
As you may recall, I once told you how excited I was for that lot and subdivision. James, however, was never very thrilled with it. He has always preferred that we buy multiple acres away from people. Early this summer I was driving some back country roads and the beauty and peacefulness of the farmsteads I was passing really pulled at my heart strings. I thought, "What did I get us into with the subdivision lot?!?!" I have always thought it would be neat to live in an old farm house, but more than anything, like James, I want freedom and space. Those are two things that definitely do not come with subdivision living, at least not the one we owned a lot in. It was originally the attraction of having neighbors that made me want to live there, but as we have had neighbors all summer now, I realize it's really not that great, and I would prefer to be on an acreage. Plus, even though all the neighbors we met in the subdivision were very friendly, neither of us really felt "at home" there.
As James and I met with builders and tried to create a custom floor plan, it was obvious that neither of us was overly excited. It just didn't feel as fun as it should have and we didn't have that fire lit under us to keep the project moving. Seperately, we we were each checking the internet daily trying to find some place else to build. I have always been open to an existing house and one day I saw this beautiful victorian farm house for sale and texted it to James. I didn't even expect a response at all, let alone the one that I got: "Wow. I could live there, Let's go see it soon!" What?!?!?! So, we drove out to check it out that evening and then called our realtor to have her set up a showing. She called us back and delivered the unfortunate news that the sellers accepted an offer the day before. Darn! But...this opened our eyes a little to look for more than just bare land. We broadened our search to include existing homes and looked at several acreages with said homes.
At this point, we both came forward about definitely not wanting to live in the subdivision and we let the neighbors know we were going to sell it, in case they wanted first dibs (so that no one would build next to them). The following day, a neighbor with horses called us and asked to purchase the lot to be used for their horses. We easily agreed on a price and 5 days later had it sold and closed.
One of our favorite past times is to drive around the countryside. We loaded the kids into the van one Sunday morning and drove around an area we hadn't seen yet, that I thought James might like. We both really enjoyed the scenery and decided to focus on that specific area. It also happens to be very close to his current work facility. I was planning to tell our realtor to keep an eye on this area too, and hadn't gotten to it yet when she sent us info on a place coming up for sale....in that area!! And even better, on a paved road!! James used to say "It's not country living unless you live on gravel, " but has since changed his mind about that.
James looked at the aerial map (and all of the other technical maps that look foreign to me) and got incredibly excited about this place. It was nearly exactly what he had been hoping for. There was timber, tillable ground (for income), pasture ground and outbuildings. We didn't have any pictures of the inside of the house, but the one exterior picture we had was all I needed to see. The ONLY thing I have cared about for the exterior of my next house is that it have a long porch. And wouldn't you know it...this one did! As we figured this place would be a hot item, we called our realtor right away and expressed our very high interest in this place and requested to see it the second it was available. Unfortunately, the sellers weren't going to be ready to show it for 5 more days...but our awesome realtor was on the ball and got us the very first showing.
Over those 5 days we did some more research on the place to get information on the soil, possibility of splitting the acreage, did a drive by, etc. We were pretty certain this was going to be "the one". A few hours before we got to see it, we received pictures of the interior. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be and I was a little disappointed....but still hopeful.
When the time finally arrived, we made the turn into the property and made our way down the long drive. I was already in love and hadn't even stepped foot into the house yet. We got out of the van and I turned 360 degrees in my spot, taking in the view from every angle. Yep, in love! I thought positive thoughts and headed into the house with the rest of the clan.
Surprisingly, we really loved the layout of the house and it wasn't near as bad as I thought from the pictures. I mean, blue carpet and green countertops are easy to change out :) Even Rylee, who had zero desire to go see this place, was already picking out her bedroom. "We have to buy this place," I thought. From a construction stand point, James was pretty blown away with how well it was built and there were plenty of features he enjoyed as well.
By far my favorite part of the showing was what came next. You see, I have always dreamed of a large flat country yard for my kids to run in. We didn't have this at our last house as it was super hilly and one could easily twist their ankle running through the yard. The large, flat, beautifully manicured lawns are what have always attracted me to farmsteads I see on the side of the highways. So after the kids had seen every room in the house, they asked to go outside. I opened the front door for them and when they took off running full speed into the yard, my heart melted and I held back tears. Wyatt even fell down and rolled around a bit. At this moment I knew this place would be ours. Rylee has expressed her feelings about country living a lot this summer...she has no interest in it. But, after running through the yard for awhile, she told me she loved it and wanted to live there. She also asked if we could keep the horse, dog, and kitties that were there.... maybe we can get a goat instead.
We were at the property about an hour and a half and made an offer before we left. We knew there was another showing after ours. Long story short...we both made offers and endured an incredibly long four days, but were finally blessed to make a deal with the sellers. We couldn't be more thrilled and are hoping for a smooth next 45 days until we close!!! Now, to find a subleaser for our rental....
Although we are beyond excited for this place, it means a change in schools for Rylee.....just a week before classes start. I'm probably stressing about this way more than I need to. We already had the school supplies for her original school, and had been planning to attend the four events at the school this week. I had taken Rylee to the school several times over the summer to tour it and get used to the idea of going there. We also had a play date at the playground there with some other kids who would be in her class. I felt we were both prepared for this new transition. And now we start over....
Luckily, the new school district still had some spots available and they have the same start date as the school she was originally going to attend. I have explained to Rylee why we are switching schools and she is more than okay with it. Phew! I have a good feeling about this new school already, as the principal was extremely friendly, provided me with wonderful information, and really helped me feel better about this last minute change. I think it will be seamless.
We welcome positive thoughts for our next 45 days until we close, and if anyone knows of a family or students looking for a house to rent, send them our way!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Annual Iowa State Fair Trip
Well, the score today was ISF- 1, Emily- 0. For the first time that I can remember, I didn't make it longer than 4 hours at the fair and did not get to see everything I wanted to nor eat many foods.
Last year I went to the fair 3 or 4 times, including a 14 hour day, and would have gone even more if I could. This year I had a hard time getting excited about it for some reason. I may have even skipped this year (okay, maybe not), but Rylee has been talking about "the big fair" all summer. We got our discounted tickets a few weeks ago and started talking about the things we would do at the fair. We settled on today for the day we would visit, and asked my aunt to watch the kiddos in the afternoon so James and I could spend a majority of the day there without tired cranky kids. It started out to be a great day.
We left the house at 7:40 this morning, hoping to get there early enough for good (free) parking in the street and have a few hours of cooler weather. The kids were so excited, particularly Rylee who actually remembers the fair from last year. Once we got inside the gate, she asked to do the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit. This is always a hit. On our way over there (of course it was on the other side of the fairgrounds), I stopped to get us some mini donuts....those never disappoint!! They were very warm, sugary and perfect! Wyatt got to do the Little Hands on the Farm for the first time this year and he loved it too. They chose a rice krispie treat (Rylee) and chocolate milk (Wyatt, via Daddy) for their treat at the end of the exhibit.
Next we visited the animal learning center..not very many babies yet..just some adorable little goats. The drinking fountain in that building has very cold water, FYI!
Following that, we walked through all of the animal barns. We saw horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, bunnies, a giant elk, etc. We got to pet a few as well. We always like to stop and talk to the "patrol" horses who are usually very friendly.
And of course, take our annual "how many hands tall?" picture.
We stopped to watch some cows being milked at the dairy barn and then headed towards the playground to let the kids run around a bit. The playground turned out to be super boring, but on the way we saw Bandaloni, the one man band, playing and enjoyed listening/watching him for a few minutes. This was the first I have ever seen him (I think).
About this time we had been at the fair two and half hours and it was getting pretty hot. Rylee came to me and said she was hot and ready to go to her aunt's house....but first, she wanted to ride one ride...the giant slide. She wanted me to ride it with her, but I rode with my niece a couple years ago and had a hard time holding onto a child with one hand while keeping my other on the mat because I was sure it was going to come out from under me. So, she rode with her daddy. Wyatt and I watched them go down, and recorded it per Rylee's request. When they made it to the bottom of the slide, Wyatt said, "My turn!!". I told James he wanted to go too and we debated whether or not he was big enough...ultimately we decided to let him go for it. He loved it and I got some video of him as well!
After the slide, we met my aunt back at our van and loaded the kids in for her so she could take them back to her house for lunch and naps. She parked her car in our spot so we didn't have to find a new spot :) On the walk back in to the fairgrounds I started to feel very weak. I was super hot and sweaty, needed food and more water. I thought I had been keeping hydrated, but looking back, I don't think I did as well as it seemed. James said he could use some A/C, so we headed into the Varied Industries building. Right as we walked into the door, I was sure I was going to pass out. I went to find a place to sit while James got me some water and a chicken sandwich. I drank and ate a little and was actually starting to feel worse. I was pretty sure I either going to pass out or vomit...both would have been equally bad. I started thinking about how pissed James was going to be if we had to leave and tried to get through it....but I was feeling even worse as the minutes passed and finally told him I needed to leave. Once we got back outside away from the crowd that's always in the VI building I started feeling slightly better, but figured we should just go anyway before I got over heated again.
So, not only did I only last 30 minutes after ditching the kids, James didn't get a single food item at the fair....normally he gets several and had one in particular that he was looking forward to. It included a visit with an old neighbor friend who owns a food stand that he only sees once a year -- at the fair. Not to mention, he used a day of vacation from work. I felt pretty horrible. I probably should have just visited the first aid building for a little bit to recharge and then tried to get another hour or two in. Ugh, even my 2 year old did WAY better than me this year -- he was pretty impressive to be honest!
I have to say I'm actually not really bummed to have missed out on any fair foods myself. I never really have any specific foods that I look forward to. Normally, I just kind of get whatever sounds good at the time I'm hungry. On our way to the fair this morning I was thinking about the fair foods and honestly, couldn't think of a single thing I HAD to get. I am glad I at least got the mini donuts though.
Exhibit wise, I'm a little bummed to miss seeing all of the amazing photography, and the 4-H building. I'm always so impressed by the talent in this state when I visit these 2 places...particularly the 4-H projects. Overall, just being at the fair and surrounded by so much agricultural information makes me so proud to be from this great state. I know several people who don't go to the fair and "don't get it", but I think it's a great representation of our state and a great place to be reminded of how much our state does for others.
See you next year, Iowa State Fair.
Last year I went to the fair 3 or 4 times, including a 14 hour day, and would have gone even more if I could. This year I had a hard time getting excited about it for some reason. I may have even skipped this year (okay, maybe not), but Rylee has been talking about "the big fair" all summer. We got our discounted tickets a few weeks ago and started talking about the things we would do at the fair. We settled on today for the day we would visit, and asked my aunt to watch the kiddos in the afternoon so James and I could spend a majority of the day there without tired cranky kids. It started out to be a great day.
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| "Mom, take our picture!" |
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| Planting crops |
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| Heading to market to sell crops |
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| First "cow milking" experience |
Next we visited the animal learning center..not very many babies yet..just some adorable little goats. The drinking fountain in that building has very cold water, FYI!
Following that, we walked through all of the animal barns. We saw horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, bunnies, a giant elk, etc. We got to pet a few as well. We always like to stop and talk to the "patrol" horses who are usually very friendly.
And of course, take our annual "how many hands tall?" picture.
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| Last year...she has grown 1 hand. |
About this time we had been at the fair two and half hours and it was getting pretty hot. Rylee came to me and said she was hot and ready to go to her aunt's house....but first, she wanted to ride one ride...the giant slide. She wanted me to ride it with her, but I rode with my niece a couple years ago and had a hard time holding onto a child with one hand while keeping my other on the mat because I was sure it was going to come out from under me. So, she rode with her daddy. Wyatt and I watched them go down, and recorded it per Rylee's request. When they made it to the bottom of the slide, Wyatt said, "My turn!!". I told James he wanted to go too and we debated whether or not he was big enough...ultimately we decided to let him go for it. He loved it and I got some video of him as well!
After the slide, we met my aunt back at our van and loaded the kids in for her so she could take them back to her house for lunch and naps. She parked her car in our spot so we didn't have to find a new spot :) On the walk back in to the fairgrounds I started to feel very weak. I was super hot and sweaty, needed food and more water. I thought I had been keeping hydrated, but looking back, I don't think I did as well as it seemed. James said he could use some A/C, so we headed into the Varied Industries building. Right as we walked into the door, I was sure I was going to pass out. I went to find a place to sit while James got me some water and a chicken sandwich. I drank and ate a little and was actually starting to feel worse. I was pretty sure I either going to pass out or vomit...both would have been equally bad. I started thinking about how pissed James was going to be if we had to leave and tried to get through it....but I was feeling even worse as the minutes passed and finally told him I needed to leave. Once we got back outside away from the crowd that's always in the VI building I started feeling slightly better, but figured we should just go anyway before I got over heated again.
So, not only did I only last 30 minutes after ditching the kids, James didn't get a single food item at the fair....normally he gets several and had one in particular that he was looking forward to. It included a visit with an old neighbor friend who owns a food stand that he only sees once a year -- at the fair. Not to mention, he used a day of vacation from work. I felt pretty horrible. I probably should have just visited the first aid building for a little bit to recharge and then tried to get another hour or two in. Ugh, even my 2 year old did WAY better than me this year -- he was pretty impressive to be honest!
I have to say I'm actually not really bummed to have missed out on any fair foods myself. I never really have any specific foods that I look forward to. Normally, I just kind of get whatever sounds good at the time I'm hungry. On our way to the fair this morning I was thinking about the fair foods and honestly, couldn't think of a single thing I HAD to get. I am glad I at least got the mini donuts though.
Exhibit wise, I'm a little bummed to miss seeing all of the amazing photography, and the 4-H building. I'm always so impressed by the talent in this state when I visit these 2 places...particularly the 4-H projects. Overall, just being at the fair and surrounded by so much agricultural information makes me so proud to be from this great state. I know several people who don't go to the fair and "don't get it", but I think it's a great representation of our state and a great place to be reminded of how much our state does for others.
See you next year, Iowa State Fair.
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| Isn't HE one beautiful cowgirl?!?! |
Sunday, August 2, 2015
The Evolution of My Cell Phones
Do you remember your very first cell phone?? Let me guess....was it this one??
The good ole days...all you could do on your phone was talk or play snake. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could change your phone cover frequently. I never did that. I loved the cover I originally got with my phone and didn't change it for a very long time, until my mom gave me an Iowa State one. I got a new phone (and provider) shortly after that cover change though...... Traded up for a flip phone!
It wasn't this same one, but pretty close. About the only cool thing it could do was change screen color by caller. I think there were 4 colors. I probably had all family members as one color, boyfriend as one, and friends as another.
When my roommate's boyfriend came home one day with this cool new flip phone, I had to have it. I switched providers in order to get it. This was the first phone I had with a camera and color screen. Super cool!!
About a year or so later this phone crapped out and when I took it in to get fixed, it was going to cost way more than I was willing to pay. I also wasn't due for a phone upgrade, so I had to buy a used phone from that store....unfortunately that day they only had 1. It was super boring and didn't do anything cool. The pull up antenna was flimsy too. But, I made due with it for about 6 months or so until this beautiful phone came out.....
Of course this one was only sold by the provider I wasn't currently using....so yes, I switched providers again. I could have gotten this same phone with the provider I had, just not in this color...and yes I had to have the red one! Also, I could have gotten the silver one my provider had for much less because it was upgrade time....but I really wanted red and was willing to pay quite a bit more for it. I loved this phone...a lot! That is, until the touch screen phones came out and I decided I needed one of those instead.
This one didn't have internet on it or anything like that, but I loved being able to move the little icons around on my screen. It took decent pictures too.
Sometime after I got this phone, I went into a cell store with my mom. They were trying to talk her into a phone with a data plan (internet)....mostly because that's pretty much what all the new phones had. I was appalled!! I remember telling the store rep that I would NEVER get a phone with a data plan and they better keep making phones that don't require internet. He told me how the U.S. is so behind the rest of the world, because everyone else has internet on their phones. I was not having it. I was about ready to give up my cell phone all together just to boycott data plans.
But, now I'm on my 2nd phone with internet (and another provider change for a total of 4 changes with 2 providers) and of course I just cannot imagine living without it!!! Many times I've considered getting rid of it, but there are too many conveniences that I just don't want to give up now. I'm constantly looking things up when I'm out and about...checking addresses for a place, or their hours, or phone number. Or standing in front of an item at a store and looking up the reviews for it, or price comparing. I also love that I can locate an item in a store via their app on my phone, or show the store clerk my coupon from my email or the store's app.
Recently, I've been enjoying the "map my run" app to tell me how far I've walked or jogged. I've also watched tv on my phone. Plenty of times I've also needed to look at the map on my phone (I still refuse to use GPS).
To be honest though, all of these things are just nice luxuries, and not necessary. I can still use the map I carry in my car, print my coupons from my email, ask a store clerk where an item is, call information for a phone number and then call the place to ask about location and hours. But to simplify things and carry all information in 1 spot, having internet on my phone really is a luxury I'm not sure I would want to part with.
Last week I pulled up at a red light and noticed the guy next to me talking on his FLIP PHONE! I thought, "Wow, haven't seen one of those in a long time!" And then my next thought was, "I bet his life is simple. Bet he doesn't spend a ridiculous amount of time on his phone. Bet he isn't distracted all day by his phone." In that moment I considered ditching my phone and data plan for a much simpler, text and talk only phone. And I knew exactly which one I would go back to.....
Hands down, the best phone I've ever had!! Never had a single problem with it. Never dropped a call. I loved the buttons, the lights. It was just simple and life seemed easier in those days. Don't you think?? Sure, we can access information so much quicker now, but do we really need all of that information that is shoved in front of us? I'm still trying to decide....
The good ole days...all you could do on your phone was talk or play snake. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could change your phone cover frequently. I never did that. I loved the cover I originally got with my phone and didn't change it for a very long time, until my mom gave me an Iowa State one. I got a new phone (and provider) shortly after that cover change though...... Traded up for a flip phone!
It wasn't this same one, but pretty close. About the only cool thing it could do was change screen color by caller. I think there were 4 colors. I probably had all family members as one color, boyfriend as one, and friends as another.
When my roommate's boyfriend came home one day with this cool new flip phone, I had to have it. I switched providers in order to get it. This was the first phone I had with a camera and color screen. Super cool!!
About a year or so later this phone crapped out and when I took it in to get fixed, it was going to cost way more than I was willing to pay. I also wasn't due for a phone upgrade, so I had to buy a used phone from that store....unfortunately that day they only had 1. It was super boring and didn't do anything cool. The pull up antenna was flimsy too. But, I made due with it for about 6 months or so until this beautiful phone came out.....
Of course this one was only sold by the provider I wasn't currently using....so yes, I switched providers again. I could have gotten this same phone with the provider I had, just not in this color...and yes I had to have the red one! Also, I could have gotten the silver one my provider had for much less because it was upgrade time....but I really wanted red and was willing to pay quite a bit more for it. I loved this phone...a lot! That is, until the touch screen phones came out and I decided I needed one of those instead.
Sometime after I got this phone, I went into a cell store with my mom. They were trying to talk her into a phone with a data plan (internet)....mostly because that's pretty much what all the new phones had. I was appalled!! I remember telling the store rep that I would NEVER get a phone with a data plan and they better keep making phones that don't require internet. He told me how the U.S. is so behind the rest of the world, because everyone else has internet on their phones. I was not having it. I was about ready to give up my cell phone all together just to boycott data plans.
But, now I'm on my 2nd phone with internet (and another provider change for a total of 4 changes with 2 providers) and of course I just cannot imagine living without it!!! Many times I've considered getting rid of it, but there are too many conveniences that I just don't want to give up now. I'm constantly looking things up when I'm out and about...checking addresses for a place, or their hours, or phone number. Or standing in front of an item at a store and looking up the reviews for it, or price comparing. I also love that I can locate an item in a store via their app on my phone, or show the store clerk my coupon from my email or the store's app.
Recently, I've been enjoying the "map my run" app to tell me how far I've walked or jogged. I've also watched tv on my phone. Plenty of times I've also needed to look at the map on my phone (I still refuse to use GPS).
To be honest though, all of these things are just nice luxuries, and not necessary. I can still use the map I carry in my car, print my coupons from my email, ask a store clerk where an item is, call information for a phone number and then call the place to ask about location and hours. But to simplify things and carry all information in 1 spot, having internet on my phone really is a luxury I'm not sure I would want to part with.
Last week I pulled up at a red light and noticed the guy next to me talking on his FLIP PHONE! I thought, "Wow, haven't seen one of those in a long time!" And then my next thought was, "I bet his life is simple. Bet he doesn't spend a ridiculous amount of time on his phone. Bet he isn't distracted all day by his phone." In that moment I considered ditching my phone and data plan for a much simpler, text and talk only phone. And I knew exactly which one I would go back to.....
Hands down, the best phone I've ever had!! Never had a single problem with it. Never dropped a call. I loved the buttons, the lights. It was just simple and life seemed easier in those days. Don't you think?? Sure, we can access information so much quicker now, but do we really need all of that information that is shoved in front of us? I'm still trying to decide....
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Paying With Cash
"Mom, why does everything cost money?!?!", Rylee asked after I said "No. That cost's money." for the sixth time in one day. Great question, Rylee. Great question!
Until 10 years ago, I really didn't know much about money. It wasn't really something that we discussed growing up, I just knew I needed money to buy things. Or did I?? When I was 18, I got this very pretty credit card; it was a great accessory in my wallet! It was only for emergencies.....if you count a new desktop computer, 5 pair of $100 jeans, and several concert tickets emergencies. Oh, and dinner out every other night and groceries and gas. Oh, can't forget the cell phones and new bed. But don't worry...I would be getting a real job after college and could pay it all off then.
I did have a good job after college. I actually made more money than a lot of my friends. But I might as well have been jobless, because I tried to live above my means. I had to have a fancy apartment, new furniture, décor, etc. I had a gym membership (at least I actually used it), even though my apartment complex had a "free" gym, I shopped and ate out a lot. Having a "real job" kind of went to my head and I wasn't properly prepared for life in the real world. I ended up with $7,000 on that pretty credit card! It was scary to be honest. Especially because I also had a car loan that still had 3 years left on it and an enormous college debt to start paying. At least I lived in a nice apartment with brand new furniture, right?!?!? Ugh! To make matters worse, I decided to switch jobs and took one that paid less than what I was making.
It was about this same time that I met James, who lived in a super modest (okay, it was a dump) basement apartment. He made much more money than I did and didn't have debt. Seeing that someone with the means to live the way I did, but choosing not to, was eye-opening! He talked me into cutting up my credit card. I got a 2nd job and eventually got it paid off. Somewhere between cutting up my card and paying it off, I was gifted the book "The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy" and it may be one of the most influential books I've read. Thank you SO MUCH to the person who gave it to me!!! If you haven't read this one, I highly recommend it. It helped me understand why a person does NOT want to "keep up with the Jones'". I have actually read it several times! I plan to pass it along to my children.
Fast forward to today....well several months ago... my spending was getting a little out of control. When you have kids it is so easy to buy them all kinds of things they probably don't need. It wasn't just the kids though...I got on a kick for a little bit to redecorate my whole house. Anyway, I realized I was doing a little too much unnecessary spending and wanted to set a better example for my kids, so they don't go down a road of debt like I did. I'm a big fan of Dave Ramsey, who's doesn't believe in debt and encourages America to pay for everything with cash, and have read a couple of his books....twice! I'm trying to put some of his suggestions from his book "Smart Money, Smart Kids" into place. This is another "must read". I talk about money with Rylee a lot! Daily! When she asks for something that costs money, my answer is always "No. That cost's money." And then we discuss that we have to work hard for our money and need to save it for important things....and no, McDonald's isn't important today. Her sweet little heart will offer me money from her piggy bank not only to buy something for her, but also to buy something for myself :) I think she is slowly catching on. I asked her if she wants to go to Reiman Gardens this week and she asked if it costs money. When I told her it does, she said, "Well you can go if you want, but I'm not going to because I will have to do a lot of chores to have enough money." :) Side note: when I pay her for working, she puts some of it in her brother's piggy bank because she feels bad that he didn't get any money :)
A few months ago I sat down and created a budget. This wasn't my first time. In fact, I have put together a budget many times in the past 7ish years, but I never stuck to it. I tried Dave Ramsey's envelope system before I even knew it existed. In theory, it is a fantastic money management tool, but I just found it to be too much work to keep track of. This time though, I think I have finally found something that works for me. I'm on the 3rd month with it. Basically, I figure how much money I have for "spending" after my few bills and savings are considered (don't forget to pay yourself -- savings!!), and I take that amount out in cash at the beginning of the month. Once it's gone, I'm done spending for the month. I use cash for everything except gas, and the only reason I don't use it for that is because I would have to take my kids out of the car to go inside and pay. If I buy something online, I still take that amount of cash out of my wallet and put it in an envelope for the next month.
I read that using cash makes it harder to spend money because we feel an emotional attachment to the money we can physically hold in our hands. I wanted to put this theory to the test, and I call tell you it is absolutely true for me!! When I get down to the last $20 in my wallet I get very attached to that piece of paper. Even though I've given myself permission to spend it buy placing it in my wallet at the beginning of the month, it is just very hard to watch the end of my money get spent. Or when I spend a large amount right away at the beginning of the month, I get so nervous that I won't make it through the month and I'm very mindful of my spending for awhile. This never happened when I paid for everything with plastic, because I couldn't actually see and feel the loss of my money. Even though I always paid my card off in full at the end of the month (and had quite a bit of rewards cash to put towards the bill), the total of that bill every month was several hundred dollars more than what I am spending now. I'm telling you, cash is the way to go!
The other biggest reason I wanted to try using cash was so that my kids can see the money transactions taking place. Today I was reminded why this is so important. We were at the mall (I was actually returning clothes, not spending money!) and Ry asked if we could get pretzels. I gave my usual "no, it costs money" response and I will never forget her reply.... "It does?!?! But I never see you give her any money!!" Ah-ha! She does pay attention and does understand. She has a little cash register with play money and a play credit card. I hate that it comes with a card. When I'm the shopper I always tell her I will pay with cash because credit cards aren't real money and can't really buy anything.
Money has a life of its own. It can be good and it can be really bad, in so many ways. I keep reading these shocking financial statistics, such as, only 1 in 4 American's has a savings account. That just blows my mind. I know it's my responsibility to make sure my kids grow up to be good money managers so while they are young little sponges, I'm trying to do what I can.
If you need/want to watch your spending a little closer, I challenge you to try using only cash and see if you can make it last the entire month. You might be surprised how it makes you feel to hand over your money for an item you know you don't NEED.
If you want to read some really inspiring financial stories, these are my 3 favorite finance books to date:
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (Trust me, this book is insightful and inspiring even if you
don't have debt)
Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
Until 10 years ago, I really didn't know much about money. It wasn't really something that we discussed growing up, I just knew I needed money to buy things. Or did I?? When I was 18, I got this very pretty credit card; it was a great accessory in my wallet! It was only for emergencies.....if you count a new desktop computer, 5 pair of $100 jeans, and several concert tickets emergencies. Oh, and dinner out every other night and groceries and gas. Oh, can't forget the cell phones and new bed. But don't worry...I would be getting a real job after college and could pay it all off then.
I did have a good job after college. I actually made more money than a lot of my friends. But I might as well have been jobless, because I tried to live above my means. I had to have a fancy apartment, new furniture, décor, etc. I had a gym membership (at least I actually used it), even though my apartment complex had a "free" gym, I shopped and ate out a lot. Having a "real job" kind of went to my head and I wasn't properly prepared for life in the real world. I ended up with $7,000 on that pretty credit card! It was scary to be honest. Especially because I also had a car loan that still had 3 years left on it and an enormous college debt to start paying. At least I lived in a nice apartment with brand new furniture, right?!?!? Ugh! To make matters worse, I decided to switch jobs and took one that paid less than what I was making.
It was about this same time that I met James, who lived in a super modest (okay, it was a dump) basement apartment. He made much more money than I did and didn't have debt. Seeing that someone with the means to live the way I did, but choosing not to, was eye-opening! He talked me into cutting up my credit card. I got a 2nd job and eventually got it paid off. Somewhere between cutting up my card and paying it off, I was gifted the book "The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy" and it may be one of the most influential books I've read. Thank you SO MUCH to the person who gave it to me!!! If you haven't read this one, I highly recommend it. It helped me understand why a person does NOT want to "keep up with the Jones'". I have actually read it several times! I plan to pass it along to my children.
Fast forward to today....well several months ago... my spending was getting a little out of control. When you have kids it is so easy to buy them all kinds of things they probably don't need. It wasn't just the kids though...I got on a kick for a little bit to redecorate my whole house. Anyway, I realized I was doing a little too much unnecessary spending and wanted to set a better example for my kids, so they don't go down a road of debt like I did. I'm a big fan of Dave Ramsey, who's doesn't believe in debt and encourages America to pay for everything with cash, and have read a couple of his books....twice! I'm trying to put some of his suggestions from his book "Smart Money, Smart Kids" into place. This is another "must read". I talk about money with Rylee a lot! Daily! When she asks for something that costs money, my answer is always "No. That cost's money." And then we discuss that we have to work hard for our money and need to save it for important things....and no, McDonald's isn't important today. Her sweet little heart will offer me money from her piggy bank not only to buy something for her, but also to buy something for myself :) I think she is slowly catching on. I asked her if she wants to go to Reiman Gardens this week and she asked if it costs money. When I told her it does, she said, "Well you can go if you want, but I'm not going to because I will have to do a lot of chores to have enough money." :) Side note: when I pay her for working, she puts some of it in her brother's piggy bank because she feels bad that he didn't get any money :)
A few months ago I sat down and created a budget. This wasn't my first time. In fact, I have put together a budget many times in the past 7ish years, but I never stuck to it. I tried Dave Ramsey's envelope system before I even knew it existed. In theory, it is a fantastic money management tool, but I just found it to be too much work to keep track of. This time though, I think I have finally found something that works for me. I'm on the 3rd month with it. Basically, I figure how much money I have for "spending" after my few bills and savings are considered (don't forget to pay yourself -- savings!!), and I take that amount out in cash at the beginning of the month. Once it's gone, I'm done spending for the month. I use cash for everything except gas, and the only reason I don't use it for that is because I would have to take my kids out of the car to go inside and pay. If I buy something online, I still take that amount of cash out of my wallet and put it in an envelope for the next month.
I read that using cash makes it harder to spend money because we feel an emotional attachment to the money we can physically hold in our hands. I wanted to put this theory to the test, and I call tell you it is absolutely true for me!! When I get down to the last $20 in my wallet I get very attached to that piece of paper. Even though I've given myself permission to spend it buy placing it in my wallet at the beginning of the month, it is just very hard to watch the end of my money get spent. Or when I spend a large amount right away at the beginning of the month, I get so nervous that I won't make it through the month and I'm very mindful of my spending for awhile. This never happened when I paid for everything with plastic, because I couldn't actually see and feel the loss of my money. Even though I always paid my card off in full at the end of the month (and had quite a bit of rewards cash to put towards the bill), the total of that bill every month was several hundred dollars more than what I am spending now. I'm telling you, cash is the way to go!
The other biggest reason I wanted to try using cash was so that my kids can see the money transactions taking place. Today I was reminded why this is so important. We were at the mall (I was actually returning clothes, not spending money!) and Ry asked if we could get pretzels. I gave my usual "no, it costs money" response and I will never forget her reply.... "It does?!?! But I never see you give her any money!!" Ah-ha! She does pay attention and does understand. She has a little cash register with play money and a play credit card. I hate that it comes with a card. When I'm the shopper I always tell her I will pay with cash because credit cards aren't real money and can't really buy anything.
Money has a life of its own. It can be good and it can be really bad, in so many ways. I keep reading these shocking financial statistics, such as, only 1 in 4 American's has a savings account. That just blows my mind. I know it's my responsibility to make sure my kids grow up to be good money managers so while they are young little sponges, I'm trying to do what I can.
If you need/want to watch your spending a little closer, I challenge you to try using only cash and see if you can make it last the entire month. You might be surprised how it makes you feel to hand over your money for an item you know you don't NEED.
If you want to read some really inspiring financial stories, these are my 3 favorite finance books to date:
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (Trust me, this book is insightful and inspiring even if you
don't have debt)
Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Swapping
If you have been following my blog for awhile now, you know I have been on a quest to get rid of all the unused excess in my house. Each time I think I'm done, I start over a couple months later. It's definitely not an overnight process to rid a 4 person household of everything unnecessary. I've probably made 25 trips to Goodwill in the past 2 years, had a garage sale this past spring, and am planning another at the end of the week. I am about 90% satisfied that we now only own things we actually use and/or enjoy. If we (mostly me) can just keep from bringing too much into the house that is unnecessary. My husband said to me this weekend, "Things are for utility. If it isn't something that will be used or enjoyed, it shouldn't be purchased." That isn't rocket science, but I get so caught up in eye-catching items. I'm a work in progress, but I think I'm finally getting to that internal point where I just don't want to spend money on things that I know I don't really need. Plus, I'm learning that 5 minutes after I leave a store without the item, I have already forgotten it even existed.
Previously, I was never able to utilize the swap sites on Facebook because of where we lived. I didn't want strangers to drive out to our house, but I also didn't think it made any sense to spend gas money to meet them somewhere. Thus, everything went to Goodwill for ease.
Now that we live in town, I have been taking advantage of the swap site. This particular site is so crowded that the admin stopped letting anyone else into it. I have sold about a dozen items so far and have been amazed at how easy the process is. I'm only selling things that I can get at least $5 for, because I don't think it's worth my time for anything less.
My favorite thing about the swap sites though, is knowing that someone else is going to use an item that has just been sitting around in my house, unused. I sold a very nice Land's End rain coat last week. I bought it 5-7 years ago. It was pricey, but very well made. Sadly, I can only recall wearing it one time. I had been debating getting rid of it for about the past 2 years. The first time that I decided to go ahead and get rid of it, my husband strongly encouraged me to keep it because it was so nice and was purposeful. But, another year went by and I never wore it. When I go out in the rain I wear a different jacket. It's not a rain coat and doesn't really function like one at all, but it's just the one I prefer to wear. This time I was honest with myself that I am never going to wear the rain coat and put it on the swap site. When the lady came to buy it, I told her that I was a little sad to get rid of such a nice coat, but that I just wasn't wearing it. When she told me, "Well, I will be wearing it a lot! I have 4 kids who all play soccer and I sat through too many rainy games this year and got too wet," the guilt of selling it left me completely and I was overjoyed that she would be getting use out of it.
Today, I sold the lens that came with my camera. I just don't use it, as I own 2 nicer lenses that I prefer shooting with. I wasn't sure anyone would want it, because I figured anyone with that camera would already own the lens, since it comes with the camera. However, when I met the gal who bought it, she told me that her lens just broke and was going to cost her 4x more to fix than the price I had it listed for. She was extremely happy to be able to save so much money and not have to wait for her lens to get fixed. Again, I felt that I made the right choice to sell it.
In a world where so many prefer brand new, it's refreshing to see so many people reusing and repurposing items that others no longer want. As a buyer, you can score a great deal. As a seller, you get a great sense of joy knowing someone is so excited to have the item you weren't really using anyway.
If you have something you know you should probably part with, but just feel too guilty getting rid of, try your local Facebook swap site and see how good it makes you feel to watch someone else's excitement over the item...it is working for me :)
Previously, I was never able to utilize the swap sites on Facebook because of where we lived. I didn't want strangers to drive out to our house, but I also didn't think it made any sense to spend gas money to meet them somewhere. Thus, everything went to Goodwill for ease.
Now that we live in town, I have been taking advantage of the swap site. This particular site is so crowded that the admin stopped letting anyone else into it. I have sold about a dozen items so far and have been amazed at how easy the process is. I'm only selling things that I can get at least $5 for, because I don't think it's worth my time for anything less.
My favorite thing about the swap sites though, is knowing that someone else is going to use an item that has just been sitting around in my house, unused. I sold a very nice Land's End rain coat last week. I bought it 5-7 years ago. It was pricey, but very well made. Sadly, I can only recall wearing it one time. I had been debating getting rid of it for about the past 2 years. The first time that I decided to go ahead and get rid of it, my husband strongly encouraged me to keep it because it was so nice and was purposeful. But, another year went by and I never wore it. When I go out in the rain I wear a different jacket. It's not a rain coat and doesn't really function like one at all, but it's just the one I prefer to wear. This time I was honest with myself that I am never going to wear the rain coat and put it on the swap site. When the lady came to buy it, I told her that I was a little sad to get rid of such a nice coat, but that I just wasn't wearing it. When she told me, "Well, I will be wearing it a lot! I have 4 kids who all play soccer and I sat through too many rainy games this year and got too wet," the guilt of selling it left me completely and I was overjoyed that she would be getting use out of it.
Today, I sold the lens that came with my camera. I just don't use it, as I own 2 nicer lenses that I prefer shooting with. I wasn't sure anyone would want it, because I figured anyone with that camera would already own the lens, since it comes with the camera. However, when I met the gal who bought it, she told me that her lens just broke and was going to cost her 4x more to fix than the price I had it listed for. She was extremely happy to be able to save so much money and not have to wait for her lens to get fixed. Again, I felt that I made the right choice to sell it.
In a world where so many prefer brand new, it's refreshing to see so many people reusing and repurposing items that others no longer want. As a buyer, you can score a great deal. As a seller, you get a great sense of joy knowing someone is so excited to have the item you weren't really using anyway.
If you have something you know you should probably part with, but just feel too guilty getting rid of, try your local Facebook swap site and see how good it makes you feel to watch someone else's excitement over the item...it is working for me :)
Sunday, July 5, 2015
You Get What You Pay For
I would call myself frugal at times...a lot of times, to be honest. There are plenty of things I don't want to spend money on that others may splurge on. I have found things I can live without so as not to have to spend money on them, and some things that I can live with lesser quality, so as not to spend as much money on them.
However, being frugal has also backfired on me many times. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've bought the cheapest product/service/etc. only to end up being disappointed and then going back and spending the more expensive amount I should have in the first place. I love a good deal, but sometimes the saying "You get what you pay for" is just too true.
Here are some things I have found definitely worth spending more money on:
Pillows.
Do you know how many pillows I've gotten from Target and Wal-Mart?? A LOT! But guess what....I always go back the next year to replace the pillows because they have gone flat. When we got married 6 years ago, we got daring and registered for expensive department store pillows. Guess what?!?! We are still using them today!! I will definitely be spending the extra coin on my next pillows.
Towels.
Same story. My expensive ones stay softer and fluffier so much longer!! And who doesn't love a soft fluffy towel to dry off with?!?!
Shoes.
This one wasn't as critical for me until after my accident, that left me lopsided. I'm slightly shorter on one side than the other from my hip to my feet, so I limp occasionally. I have found that having comfortable shoes helps keep my hip from bothering me. Not being a "shoe person", I don't really own that many and don't feel as guilty for spending a pretty penny on them. Plus, I have found that better quality (thus more expensive) shoes hold up longer.
Hair.
I tried out the cheapest route possible once -- a beauty school. I only went because a friend's sister was going there and I trusted her. She did a great job. However, after she graduated I went to someone else there and got the worst hair cut ever!!! Like, I went straight to another salon (one of the most expensive ones I could find) to get it fixed. Lesson learned. I've heard too many other horror stories about the cheap hair places to take another chance on one. I don't go often, so I'm all for paying more for a great stylist!
On the same topic, I have also found that more expensive hair products really do work better for my hair. I had read once that all shampoos and conditioners have about the same ingredients. However, I haven't found them all to work the same on my hair. Unfortunately, the more expensive ones are pulling more weight in this category. (If you're wondering, I am still using and loving the bar shampoo and conditioner!)
Food.
Restaurant (the sit down and be waited on kind) food is better than fast food. Most brand name foods are better than generic...depending what it is. And REAL food (produce, meat, etc) is so much better for us than the boxed and canned, processed, "not so real" food that costs much less. I am by no means the worlds healthiest eater, but I do try to be conscious as much as possible about what I'm eating. Yes, it can be a little more expensive (not always), but, to me it's definitely worth it to feel better. Fortunately, we have about 40-60 lbs of free venison each year!
Jewelry.
Duh. Diamonds > plastic. Am I right, or am I right?? ;)
Furniture and Décor.
Okay. I have to say that I am always drawn to the cheaper furniture and décor items. My husband though, is always coaching me to stop buying cheap stuff that will break or get scratched easily. I will say that he is right....better quality (which always equals more expensive) does appear to be holding up better AND keeping my interest longer than cheaper things I buy and get rid of a short year later. I AM glad though that I bought a cheap rug for our rental house....been here 2 months and kiddos already spilled grape juice on it!
Knives.
Credit goes to my husband for this one too. We (he) registered for a set of good knives when we got married and soon after I started using them, I had no use for the cheap set we had. I figured a knife was a knife....wrong!
Okay, that's all I got for now. I'm sure I will think of a million other items after I post this. I know my husband has many things he likes in the more expensive version too. Don't we all??
What are some things you prefer to spend more money on??
However, being frugal has also backfired on me many times. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've bought the cheapest product/service/etc. only to end up being disappointed and then going back and spending the more expensive amount I should have in the first place. I love a good deal, but sometimes the saying "You get what you pay for" is just too true.
Here are some things I have found definitely worth spending more money on:
Pillows.
Do you know how many pillows I've gotten from Target and Wal-Mart?? A LOT! But guess what....I always go back the next year to replace the pillows because they have gone flat. When we got married 6 years ago, we got daring and registered for expensive department store pillows. Guess what?!?! We are still using them today!! I will definitely be spending the extra coin on my next pillows.
Towels.
Same story. My expensive ones stay softer and fluffier so much longer!! And who doesn't love a soft fluffy towel to dry off with?!?!
Shoes.
This one wasn't as critical for me until after my accident, that left me lopsided. I'm slightly shorter on one side than the other from my hip to my feet, so I limp occasionally. I have found that having comfortable shoes helps keep my hip from bothering me. Not being a "shoe person", I don't really own that many and don't feel as guilty for spending a pretty penny on them. Plus, I have found that better quality (thus more expensive) shoes hold up longer.
Hair.
I tried out the cheapest route possible once -- a beauty school. I only went because a friend's sister was going there and I trusted her. She did a great job. However, after she graduated I went to someone else there and got the worst hair cut ever!!! Like, I went straight to another salon (one of the most expensive ones I could find) to get it fixed. Lesson learned. I've heard too many other horror stories about the cheap hair places to take another chance on one. I don't go often, so I'm all for paying more for a great stylist!
On the same topic, I have also found that more expensive hair products really do work better for my hair. I had read once that all shampoos and conditioners have about the same ingredients. However, I haven't found them all to work the same on my hair. Unfortunately, the more expensive ones are pulling more weight in this category. (If you're wondering, I am still using and loving the bar shampoo and conditioner!)
Food.
Restaurant (the sit down and be waited on kind) food is better than fast food. Most brand name foods are better than generic...depending what it is. And REAL food (produce, meat, etc) is so much better for us than the boxed and canned, processed, "not so real" food that costs much less. I am by no means the worlds healthiest eater, but I do try to be conscious as much as possible about what I'm eating. Yes, it can be a little more expensive (not always), but, to me it's definitely worth it to feel better. Fortunately, we have about 40-60 lbs of free venison each year!
Jewelry.
Duh. Diamonds > plastic. Am I right, or am I right?? ;)
Furniture and Décor.
Okay. I have to say that I am always drawn to the cheaper furniture and décor items. My husband though, is always coaching me to stop buying cheap stuff that will break or get scratched easily. I will say that he is right....better quality (which always equals more expensive) does appear to be holding up better AND keeping my interest longer than cheaper things I buy and get rid of a short year later. I AM glad though that I bought a cheap rug for our rental house....been here 2 months and kiddos already spilled grape juice on it!
Knives.
Credit goes to my husband for this one too. We (he) registered for a set of good knives when we got married and soon after I started using them, I had no use for the cheap set we had. I figured a knife was a knife....wrong!
Okay, that's all I got for now. I'm sure I will think of a million other items after I post this. I know my husband has many things he likes in the more expensive version too. Don't we all??
What are some things you prefer to spend more money on??
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