Yes folks it is possible to be the first two F's (fierce and fabulous) and also the third F (Frugal).
I've never liked that dirty F word, Frugal; in the past it made me think of old penny pincher's and deprivation. I love beautiful things; everyone who knows me knows the battle I have fought with...the credit card. I have fallen off the wagon; skipped off it, fell asleep on it as it wheeled me into a financial ditch. But recently I have started to practice discipline regarding my ferocious (another F word) spending habits.
As a way to get my spending habits in check but still find a way to get the objects I so desire, I've become a sale slut, mistress of haggling, reluctant budgeting diva. So as not to feel completely deprived and then go out and max out my credit card I buy myself one thing (or so) per month.
March- a vintage roots bag
April-A pair of Aviator Sunglasses
May-Skinny Jeans (Dark Denim)
June-A pair of Brazilian sandals and Skinny jeans (light Denim)
June has actually put me half off the wagon because I had not budgeted for those two items plus things like renewing my websites and virus protection renewal for my computer, came up, ultimately I was forced to put it on my credit card. The best-made plans I guess. Which means this girls gotta tighten the reins for the next 6 weeks or so until so much deserved cash starts coming in.
Anyway (Enough about me, this is a book review). As I've embarked on this mission, I came across a great site (about a year ago), called www.thebudgetfashionista.com. The site has given me so many good tips, make-up, fashion, where to get discount items. So when Kathryn Finney (a.k.a. the Budget fashionista) released her first book this month, How to be a budget Fashionista (222 pages). I was very excited to read it, especially since my brain is a little tired of all the intellectual heavy fiction I've been reading lately.
This book is one of the first budget type spending books that I have related too. TBF wrote this book with chicks like me in mind, we want to be financially responsible but don’t want to sacrifice style and personal expression. Can’t a girl have both (plus a wonderful guy and cute wonderful babies and a fabulous career?)? I say yes we can!!!!!
Right away I loved the casual conversational tone of the book. She drew me in by sharing her shopping stories gone array, credit card debt out the ying yang, and love of fashion. Want I also appreciated was the fact that she did not subscribe to all those over used fashion terms we read in magazines right now (Thanks to sex and the city). She threw enough in to appeal to the chic lit girls but also wrote a book that will be relevant for shopaholics 10 years from now.
She gives tips on everything from how to budget, how to embrace sales, how to mix low-end pieces with high-end items to create your own style, also how to understand your personal style and what designers cater to that style (and how to get them for less). She even threw in little jobs that can help you earn the money to shop with out breaking the bank.
I just liked how Finney embraces shopping smartly. I folded and highlighted half the book and finished reading it in a few hours. I constantly make the mistake of depriving myself then going overboard, its something I’m working on, so I plan to use this book as my little road map to becoming a true budget fashionista. I don’t want to give away her tips but for anyone who can relate to wanting to be money savvy and chic, I recommend you grab the book before your next pair of Pradas.
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