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Saturday, June 25, 2016

How To Be A Responsible Shopaholic



What a lot of people don't know about me is that I maxed out a few retail credit cards right out of College. Remember that 2009 movie 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with actress Isla Fisher as the unable-to-say-no-to-a-sale Rebecca Bloomwood? I was her!

I didn't have credit card companies after me like she did, however when I saw an item that I wanted in the store I just had to make the purchase. In the words of Luke Brandon, a character from the movie, "Cost and worth are two very different things". I couldn't agree more. It would be an injustice not to get the gorgeous dress that was on sale when it was worth far more than what the numbers on the price tag said. And when you do the math of how much the item cost, divided by how many times you would wear the item, it was a no brainer! But after getting engaged and seeing how my credit score was a not-so-happy number, I have learned self-control and a few pieces of advice when it comes to being financially responsible. Let's go from this:




to this!



Tip #1: Say Yes, Sometimes: Now I am not saying to stop shopping entirely. There are some items that us ladies need every month or just in general for our feminine hygiene and happiness. But.. when it comes to items like an expensive perfume you have your eye on, that bag that is $450 but is on sale, or that dress that you will only wear once, DO. NOT. BUY. IT! Yes, its hard. Yes, that bag won't go on sale again because its a high-end designer, but on the bright side you can buy another bag that will be of use to you and keep your wallet full. Click here to shop at one of my favorite boutiques for bags.  

Tip #2: Plan Without Pressure: If you know that you are going somewhere in which you will have an urge to spend, plan ahead by saving money so that you will know exactly how much you have to spend. My husband and I are going to St. Louis in July for a church conference and we are soooo pumped! We are going to try various foods, enjoy the city's entertainment and buy some souvenirs to take home. So what did we do to plan? We made sure to have money set aside specifically for our trip. We know exactly what our budget is and we won't have to worry about how much money we are using from our checking account after every purchase. 

Tip #3: Get A Credit Card: Now before you go crazy and start signing yourself up for a dozen credit cards, I want you understand the purpose of a credit card. It is not a magical card for your deepest retail desires. Trust me, I had to learn that the hard way. A credit card is meant to help you be a responsible shopper and build up your credit for future purchases. Want a gorgeous house with low monthly payments? You need good credit for that. Want a decent car without having to pay so much upfront? You need good credit for that. Want to take out a loan because of a financial emergency? You guessed it, you need good credit. The technical terms of credit cards can be a bit confusing so I suggest clicking here to have your own credit card glossary from Credit Card Insider

I hope that these tips help you to be financially fit and credit savvy. What are some tips you use to spend your money wisely?Let me know in the comments below. Happy Shopping!


81 comments :

  1. I love the title, responsible shopaholic. The pics are cute, really fun. I like what you said about credit cards. I had to learn the hard way too.

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    1. Thanks! I love the movie so I had to include some pictures. Yeah, I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way!

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  2. Every time I look at my credit card I see "credit score" written all over it. I only use it to buy expensive flights but still manage to keep it less than 50% of the limit.

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    1. That is great that you manage to keep it lower than 50%. It can be hard not to go crazy with credit cards lol

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  3. First of all, Confessions of a Shopaholic is one of my favorite movies! Second of all, this is a great post that teaches people how to be responsible with their money. I'm definitely not an over-spender, but I can get pretty out of hand with my amount of purchases sometimes, so it's definitely something I have to keep track off!

    xo
    Sami
    www.theclassicbrunette.com

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    1. It is one of mine too! Yeah, I try not to overspend as well but those small purchases always add up! lol

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  4. These are great tips! I would definitely consider myself a shopaholic, so I needed these. Thanks!

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  5. Shopping can be dreadful after you realize you have overspent! It's really good to learn how to be a smart shopper and these tips definitely help! Thanks for these!

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    1. I never used my rent money but I agree, overspending is a shock! I am glad you like the tips :D

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  6. What an insightful post. So many forget the true purpose of owning a credit card. It is so tempting to "swipe" a credit card without thinking about if one can afford it.

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  7. I'm all for spontaneity, but at the end of the day..a little planning goes a long way...especially regarding finances. I have a few credit cards and I agree that as long as you use them responsibly then they open up a lot of doors.

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    1. That is awesome you have a few already. You must have great credit :D

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  8. Oh I could never resist to a pretty handbag with a nice discount on it . Handbags are fun gorgeous and if u choose right , timeless. Nice handbag boutique

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    1. Haha yes, bags are super tempting! At least the boutique I linked has some reasonable priced ones ;)

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  9. This is a very, I mean VERY valuable tip for the credit card! It's amazing that credit score is so important these days and no one tells you how to make it. They should teach this valuable skills at school!

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    1. Thank you! They should! There are business/finance classes in college but there needs to be some in high school.

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  10. Thank you so much for the tips. I`ll hopefully start a part time job soon so I really need to be careful and wise in handling money. This is such a helpful post. I agree with tip #2. Planning and budgeting makes a huge difference in how we spend money.


    ❀ With Love, Kathryn (from http://www.TheGracefulMist.com) ❀

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  11. Great tips. Sharing them with my wife. I hope my wife will see the light of day from shopping. :P

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  12. I absolutely love the Confessions of a shopaholic movie!!
    And I've been thinking about doing a similair post myself! Being responsible at spending is ''major key''

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    1. It is such a great movie! You should totally do a post. I love learning from others ;)

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  13. Every woman is a shopaholic at one time or another. Love your tips for being responsible about purchases, though. We women should really know when to say "no", sometimes.

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  14. I'm definitely going to be putting these tips to use. Thanks for the great article! :)

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    1. Thanks Elise! I am so happy they were helpful :D

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  15. Yes, it's good to get a credit card. I only have 1 and it helps for building credit as long as you pay it off on time.

    www.ohtobeamuse.com

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  16. Loved this post I'm a huge shopaholic too and spend for the sake of it, thank you for the fab tips xxx

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  17. I think setting a budget is also important to avoiding shopaholic tendencies! That way, it will help you avoid overspending.

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  18. Great tips. Thank goodness, I am not a shopaholic. I love money way too much hahha

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

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  19. That is MY movie. The books are all great, too. "Now they send me hate mail..." So funny. These are great tips. I have to have free shipping or a discount code to shop online. Makes me feel better about the purchase.

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    1. Yes the books are always amazing! And who can resist free shipping and discount codes? lol

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  20. These are great tips! Another benefit I have with having a credit card is that I actually earn rewards. I think as long as you are aware of how much you're spending and can pay it back, then it's fine to have one!

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  21. I use a credit card to earn rewards but I pay it off each month. I build credit while earning cash back. Win, win!

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  22. Great tips! I'm definitely a shop-o-holic and I think the fact that I waited so long to get a credit card is actually something that helped. Waiting gave me the maturity to be able to discern when it was appropriate to splurge and when it wasn't.

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    1. Yes, I have some trouble with discerning certain items lol

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  23. These are great tips. I sometimes fall into the shopaholic role but always make sure to pull myself back.

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  24. Great tips!! I am a shopahilic and I'll definitely need to plan out everything!! And I do day yes sometimes haha

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  25. I also try once a year (or so) to go one entire month without shopping at all. Really helps you reevaluate what's important in terms of purchases.
    XO Amanda | www.glitterandspice.com

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  26. Haha, a responsible shopaholic, that's a goal of mine. Thanks for sharing the tips, now let's see if I can actually implement them.

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  27. Ahaha this post is perfect for me ! Shopping addict ! I will use these tips for sure ;) Tks

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  28. Great tips! I need to follow your advice - especially with planning ahead!

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    1. It can be tough to plan ahead, but totally worth it!

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  29. A great post to read. I'm a shopping addict and no doubt i will use these tips. xx

    www.annanuttal.com

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  30. I don't think I'm a shopaholic but I do love to shop. I just make sure I do so within my means. And you mentioning Isla Fisher (haven't heard that name in years) got me googling her haha.

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    1. Haha yes! It has been a while since the movie came out.

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  31. Love this post! I think as the years have went on, I've became a lot more careful with what I buy and saving up. However it does feel really good to be on a shopping trip, see something you absolutely love and buying it without a second thought :)

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    1. That is one of the best feelings in the world lol

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  32. Hahaha such a great post! I had a shopping day yesterday which left me feeling shopper-remorse. I totally agree with the credit card though, credit cards are meant to be used when needed and paid off in your next pay before you add more to it. They can be great when used correctly, and a nightmare when you use them like "magic free money". :)

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  33. I have learned the hard way about credit card debt as well. I am now a credit debt free woman and I love it. I won't get another credit card. No way no how!

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    1. Woohoo you go girl! My hubby and I made sure to pay off all our credit cards in the beginning of our marriage. Now we just have to pay back our student loans. That is a whole 'nother monster lol

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  34. Budgets are a great way to balance our finances and show us where we're spending. When we can keep te budget in check we can definitely be more ready to indulge ourselves in a cheeky purchase here and then.

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  35. I know that art of being a shopaholic but a responsible one. . . . this was new for me. Thanks for a great read.

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  36. I must admit that when it comes to shoes and bags, I could hardly be responsible. But now I am trying to plan it ahead and only spend what I have saved for an item. :)

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  37. Confessions of a shopaholic is one of my favourite movies. It is true that we must be responsible shoppers or else we might end up in deep waters.

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  38. I totally agree with your tips on how to be responsible shopaholic. Truly, we should not buy expensive things that we think we need, but just really want. And I love how you advised us to save money beforehand for shopping. Finally, for the credit card, yes, we do really have to use it responsibly. Another use of a credit card can be purchasing a gadget that is needed. For instance, a camera for a trip can be paid in installment so it won't be heavy in the pocket :) by Me-An Clemente of http://yogoandcream.com

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  39. Finances are important. But the rush and joy I get when I spend too much money can't be overcome by saving money haha ;) Such a bad wifey I am. www.sofarsosabine.com

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  40. Great post. Your link for stelladot.com is not going to the correct location. I found it though. I think you have it with one L instead of 2 L's in stalla. But I agree totally, I have to fight the urge all of the time to not purchase a Gucci or LV bag, because I know there is so much more I can get for that $1k. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you for letting me know! For quicker reference, you can also click on my "Shop" tab and it will take you directly to my e-boutique :D And yes, that is waaay to expensive for a bag.

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  41. Hahaha the struggle is real! Great tips! The second, planning without pressure, one really works! :)

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  42. I used to be a real shopaholic and bought everything I wanted. Now the past 2 years I have been mor consious about my shoppings. Actually this is because my financial situation has changed dramatically... not so nice, but that's life I guess.

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  43. I love that movie! even tho I'm far from a shopaholic xP
    And your tips are great, I would reccomend them to everyone who have no idea how to deal with money.

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