http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com dior taste on a dollar-store budget info@savingadvice.com Kim en-us http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/29/in-defense-of-designer-coffee_42670/ I saw the SA post and just had to say a few things. Then again, I'm 21 so this doesn't hurt her point- still had to defend myself though (and my favorite corporate coffee).<br /> <br /> 1. <i>Coffee</i> is not that expensive. 3 cups of Starbucks a week costs me under $6. That's less than the cost... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:47:02 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/23/why-i-dont-love-people-rummaging-through_42490/ I sold $27 worth of clothes I never wear to Buffalo Exchange (a consignment shop) today. That's actually decent for that store- they tend to take "mall brands" (Express, Gap, etc.) rather than super high-end items, so a few bucks for a shirt is a good deal. It's such a painful process... Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:02:56 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/17/alive-and-well-_42259/ I didn't drop off the face of the earth. Just got back from Boston for a psychology convention: 15,000 psychologists under two very large roofs. Does anyone know Malcolm Gladwell (author of <u>Blink</u> and <u>The Tipping Point</u>)? He gave a pretty decent speech on the rags-to-riches story... Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:19:05 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/11/dating-who-pays-_42078/ <a href="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4471&original=1"><img hspace="5" src="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4471&&" alt="" align="" border="2" /></a><br /> People are so divided about who should pay for what when dating. Some of my friends have rules: first date the guy pays, then you split; never let the girl pay; asker pays either way. Some just do whatever feels natural when the check comes. <br /> <br /> It's always a little bit awkward.... Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:19:31 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/08/remember-the-milk-_41968/ More free online software I thought I'd share. It's the best task management application I've found (although I guess you can pay $25 for more features). My blackberry calendar alone was a little cumbersome and wasn't organizing my brain very well (when things keep beeping at me and... Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:49:02 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/07/buxfer-_41926/ I am in love with this <a href="http://www.buxfer.com" target="_blank">online software</a>. It's like the simple, student-friendly, online version of Quicken and it's free. It's synched to my accounts (and my blackberry), so I don't get away with anything, and it does a decent job of breaking down my expenses into graphs. <br /> <a href="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4403&original=1"><img hspace="5" src="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4403&&" alt="" align="" border="2" /></a><br /> If... Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:28:20 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/06/more-online-spending-more-rational-spend_41907/ Recent reports on the rise of online spending are making headlines. This isn't a surprising trend. Online shopping allows you to browse, research, and price-compare without putting a mile on your car.<br /> <br /> For me, e-commerce takes the "shopping" out of shopping. Shopping for me means... Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:04:07 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/05/the-m-word-and-college-students-why-do-w_41876/ I’m sure this goes for a lot of schools, but I will say that at mine at the very least, students are champions of The Overshare. If I don’t know you, I really don’t care to know how much you drank, how many guys/girls you’re with, what prescription (and non-prescription) drugs you’re... Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:04:18 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/04/my-financial-fad-diet_41835/ <a href="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4359&original=1"><img hspace="5" src="http://blogs.savingadvice.com/image.php?blog=spendinginsocal&id=4359&&" alt="" align="" border="2" /></a> Last year my friend and I tried the unhealthiest diet on the planet: the Master Cleanse. It lasted about 2 1/2 days. I don’t think I need to tell you that drinking nothing but cayenne pepper, maple syrup, lemon juice, and salt water was not the spiritually enlightening experience... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:38:15 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/04/pt-2-calling-kate-spade-a-spade-why-do-w_41797/ I thought I'd try to answer my own question. <br /> <br /> I think there are a lot of reasons why my generation in particular is so caught up with labels (and not just Gap or Abercrombie, but Cavalli and Gaultier, too). <br /> <br /> 1. <b>We feel that luxury is within our reach.</b> Extravagance is not limited... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:53:28 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/03/pt-1-calling-kate-spade-a-spade-why-do-w_41776/ Imagine this: against your better judgment, you purchase a Gucci bag off ebay. It’s $150, so it’s not so cheap that you suspect a Chinese knockoff, the G’s all look properly aligned, there’s a label of authenticity, and the seller explains that she’s just trying to do some spring cleaning... Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:51:02 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim) http://spendinginsocal.savingadvice.com/2008/08/03/on-why-im-home-eating-pasta-and-now-drin_41761/ This blog was born out of my involuntary night in, walled off from the glitz of a Saturday night in Los Angeles by 4.15/gal gas prices and a rapidly dwindling bank account. All of my good friends (the kind you can enjoy without structured plans or loud, thumping music) are out of town.... Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:38:56 PST pinkpolkadot46@yahoo.com (Kim)