Hi, all. Just a caution against using some of these samples and especially against purchasing lots of beauty products at the dollar store. Many of those products contain harsh chemicals and scary things -- many lipsticks, for instance, contain lead. The cheaper versions tend to have more of the bad stuff in them (just like the cheaper versions of pet food do -- remember last year's melamine scare?). I'm not saying everyone should run out and buy Dior cosmetics or anything. But please, please read the labels and try to find the most natural products possible. A dollar deal isn't so great when that makeup does stuff to your skin or insides. :(
Crisis explained the current situation perfectly. But as to the cause it is a shame people attribute it to such things as CRA, that holds little water.
Also attributing it buying unaffordable homes doesnt cut it, no body is that stupid to buy a home he/she can't afford if there is no underlying propellant.
One factor that I haven't heard is that of "flipping", trumped by Donald trump and the like as the easiest way to riches. I suspect more than anything this contributed to the current mess. People bought homes at very high values with the believe they could flip the homes for very high sums, and those buying at those sums believed they could flip them for more and the maddness continued.
Why the foreclosure rate is jumping so high is that investors in the flipping scheme dump houses faster than actual home owners, since it makes less sense to continue paying the mortgage if there would be capital loss. Almost everybody became a real estate professional, carrying out expensive renovations on houses with the hope of selling at a huge profit. All this expectation came tumbling down when the growth in house prices outpaced rental income, wages and salaries.
This is what I needed to read right now! My roommates and I have been discussing whether or not we want to get rid of cable. Two of us are all for it, but we think we might have trouble convincing the other guy. But if you can watch just about any show online, that would help a lot. Thanks for the good info.
I agree with lily & dita. The "One Jacket, Several Outfits" approach usually won't work because there ARE people out there who do notice that the type of material in your jacket does not match your pants. The rest of the suggestions don't work because they usually looks too casual, not at all professional. I'm not really sure what is meant by a t-shirt though.
If you sign up for email lists of places like New York & Co and the Ann Taylor stores, you can stay informed of killer sales they have & great coupons to pair with the sales. This has saved me a decent amount of money in the past. I might be paying a little more, even after the discounts, but I know the items will last awhile & they usually look great! Also, find outlet stores (no matter how small) in your area. Outlet stores usually have email signups for coupons, too. That has saved me a TON of money.
Shop at the end of the seasons when everything is on clearance. I got enough work clothes to last me my full time 8 month internship for under $150. I now work at a place where the only no-no is wearing shorts. I usually wear jeans, t-shirt, and jacket or sweater (because it's cold in the office)
I don't even bother paying for internet: I set up RSS feeds on my work computer to download torrents of my shows each night. Then I just collect the shows the following morning. Ha!
If you lived in a different country and your only options were soap operas that make Uggly Betty look like Masterpiece Theatre or variety shows that could send you into a comma you would sing a different song. =) You can read of course, but come on, dont you feel tempted by great shows like House or Prime Suspect or Monthy Python Flying Circus? If you go to our libraries, you´ll find classic music and jazz CDs and that is it.
I too think the atrocious comment is a bit harsh. Sarah, I've had this type of feedback before too. I totally got the point of your article, and that you were just trying to provide fresh simple tips for saving money on work clothing. Good job.
The only reason I got cable in the first place was so I could watch the network shows without the need for my bunny ear antenna--which wasn't doing such a hot job.... And I only got the $10 cable that provided the networks (which happens to include a home shopping network or two, CSPAN, LMN, Hallmark, Style, & a 24hr news program for our region).
Note: The $10 has increased to $12.50 in the past few years--every penny counts on this blog, right? In addition, in the five years I've had my home, I have not had the internet. I manage pretty well without it, but that leaves out Netflix streaming options, etc.
Now you have me wondering if I need the now $12.50 cable at all..... I'd miss the 24hr regional news station during those bad thunderstorms that wake me up in the middle of the night and worry me--I do love running to the TV and catching the radar so I can fall back asleep peacefully..... But it sounds like I could reevaluate.... hmmmmmmmmmmmm.........
Our cable "bundle" bill just jumped from $99/mo to $179/mo...YIKES! Thanks for the invite. We are anxious to try this out, and if I agree to drop the cable, you will have helped me to make the hubby very, very happy! Thanks, again!
Thank you Phillip for your explanation.
These folks at the Treasury and the Fed have some pretty high power models of the economy I'm sure. I wish they would share the data that these models spit out. So I could decide which of the 2 senarios (bail or no bail) would hurt me the least.
Letting housing prices naturally balance and fall would have been a great idea several years ago. And that's not hindsight, we suspecting things weren't right all along as we saw local governments artificially increasing property values to increase tax base and lenders using creating new ways of lending. But here we are. And the bailout looks like a bandaid--give these companies more money so they can right size and thus extend more credit. Will it be more bad credit? Our society/economy has been riding like a spoiled "I want it now" child and getting it's way extending credit to those who can't afford it. Will the bailout do the same? What is the natural correction now? I'm afraid none of us will like it.
I would get rid of my cable subscription and DVR, however, to my knowledge, ESPN does not provide full broadcasts of sporting events like horse racing and figure skating online, among other sports and non-regular cable programming specials. Yeah, it's a lot of money a year to be able to watch these sports and to some it might not be worth it... but I honestly can't figure out a way to get it otherwise. So until everything aired on television is offered for sale a la carte, I guess I'm stuck with cable.
we cut off our cable cold turkey last december 26th, best thing we ever did. between the internet and netflix, you really dont need it. and same for me, friday mornings have become my private little screening parties for Greys Anatomy!
Hi, all. Just a caution against using some of these samples and especially against purchasing lots of beauty products at the dollar store. Many of those products contain harsh chemicals and scary things -- many lipsticks, for instance, contain lead. The cheaper versions tend to have more of the bad stuff in them (just like the cheaper versions of pet food do -- remember last year's melamine scare?). I'm not saying everyone should run out and buy Dior cosmetics or anything. But please, please read the labels and try to find the most natural products possible. A dollar deal isn't so great when that makeup does stuff to your skin or insides. :(
Crisis explained the current situation perfectly. But as to the cause it is a shame people attribute it to such things as CRA, that holds little water.
Also attributing it buying unaffordable homes doesnt cut it, no body is that stupid to buy a home he/she can't afford if there is no underlying propellant.
One factor that I haven't heard is that of "flipping", trumped by Donald trump and the like as the easiest way to riches. I suspect more than anything this contributed to the current mess. People bought homes at very high values with the believe they could flip the homes for very high sums, and those buying at those sums believed they could flip them for more and the maddness continued.
Why the foreclosure rate is jumping so high is that investors in the flipping scheme dump houses faster than actual home owners, since it makes less sense to continue paying the mortgage if there would be capital loss. Almost everybody became a real estate professional, carrying out expensive renovations on houses with the hope of selling at a huge profit. All this expectation came tumbling down when the growth in house prices outpaced rental income, wages and salaries.
First off, the cato institute is supposedly either a conservative or republican thinktank, so whatever views they may hold are colored.
Don't advertise this! Or soon we'll all be paying ISPs $10/GB downloaded.
This is what I needed to read right now! My roommates and I have been discussing whether or not we want to get rid of cable. Two of us are all for it, but we think we might have trouble convincing the other guy. But if you can watch just about any show online, that would help a lot. Thanks for the good info.
I agree with lily & dita. The "One Jacket, Several Outfits" approach usually won't work because there ARE people out there who do notice that the type of material in your jacket does not match your pants. The rest of the suggestions don't work because they usually looks too casual, not at all professional. I'm not really sure what is meant by a t-shirt though.
If you sign up for email lists of places like New York & Co and the Ann Taylor stores, you can stay informed of killer sales they have & great coupons to pair with the sales. This has saved me a decent amount of money in the past. I might be paying a little more, even after the discounts, but I know the items will last awhile & they usually look great! Also, find outlet stores (no matter how small) in your area. Outlet stores usually have email signups for coupons, too. That has saved me a TON of money.
Shop at the end of the seasons when everything is on clearance. I got enough work clothes to last me my full time 8 month internship for under $150. I now work at a place where the only no-no is wearing shorts. I usually wear jeans, t-shirt, and jacket or sweater (because it's cold in the office)
Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo is cheap, not heavily perfumed, clear in color, and costs about $2 a bottle even not on sale.
I don't even bother paying for internet: I set up RSS feeds on my work computer to download torrents of my shows each night. Then I just collect the shows the following morning. Ha!
Nice commercial - did you pay for the ad space taken up by your comment, or do you just troll how-to discussions for free ad space?
If you lived in a different country and your only options were soap operas that make Uggly Betty look like Masterpiece Theatre or variety shows that could send you into a comma you would sing a different song. =) You can read of course, but come on, dont you feel tempted by great shows like House or Prime Suspect or Monthy Python Flying Circus? If you go to our libraries, you´ll find classic music and jazz CDs and that is it.
Troy,
The CRA was passed in 1977, and strengthened in 1995.
I too think the atrocious comment is a bit harsh. Sarah, I've had this type of feedback before too. I totally got the point of your article, and that you were just trying to provide fresh simple tips for saving money on work clothing. Good job.
The only reason I got cable in the first place was so I could watch the network shows without the need for my bunny ear antenna--which wasn't doing such a hot job.... And I only got the $10 cable that provided the networks (which happens to include a home shopping network or two, CSPAN, LMN, Hallmark, Style, & a 24hr news program for our region).
Note: The $10 has increased to $12.50 in the past few years--every penny counts on this blog, right? In addition, in the five years I've had my home, I have not had the internet. I manage pretty well without it, but that leaves out Netflix streaming options, etc.
Now you have me wondering if I need the now $12.50 cable at all..... I'd miss the 24hr regional news station during those bad thunderstorms that wake me up in the middle of the night and worry me--I do love running to the TV and catching the radar so I can fall back asleep peacefully..... But it sounds like I could reevaluate.... hmmmmmmmmmmmm.........
Our cable "bundle" bill just jumped from $99/mo to $179/mo...YIKES! Thanks for the invite. We are anxious to try this out, and if I agree to drop the cable, you will have helped me to make the hubby very, very happy! Thanks, again!
Thank you Phillip for your explanation.
These folks at the Treasury and the Fed have some pretty high power models of the economy I'm sure. I wish they would share the data that these models spit out. So I could decide which of the 2 senarios (bail or no bail) would hurt me the least.
if you'd like to download the Excel spreadsheet.
Letting housing prices naturally balance and fall would have been a great idea several years ago. And that's not hindsight, we suspecting things weren't right all along as we saw local governments artificially increasing property values to increase tax base and lenders using creating new ways of lending. But here we are. And the bailout looks like a bandaid--give these companies more money so they can right size and thus extend more credit. Will it be more bad credit? Our society/economy has been riding like a spoiled "I want it now" child and getting it's way extending credit to those who can't afford it. Will the bailout do the same? What is the natural correction now? I'm afraid none of us will like it.
I would get rid of my cable subscription and DVR, however, to my knowledge, ESPN does not provide full broadcasts of sporting events like horse racing and figure skating online, among other sports and non-regular cable programming specials. Yeah, it's a lot of money a year to be able to watch these sports and to some it might not be worth it... but I honestly can't figure out a way to get it otherwise. So until everything aired on television is offered for sale a la carte, I guess I'm stuck with cable.
It only works if you live in America, :(
fiiiiive pound blocks of cheeeeese... baaaags of grocerieeeees.
when the **** hits the fan.
we cut off our cable cold turkey last december 26th, best thing we ever did. between the internet and netflix, you really dont need it. and same for me, friday mornings have become my private little screening parties for Greys Anatomy!
i would love to have one but i am poor
wow.
i can't believe you are recommending that kanetix site.
they don't offer quotes. they offer SPAM.
you've led me into a world of junk mail...
disappointed, nora...
With the advent of free internet programming/rebroadcast, maybe now I can break my family's cable addiction ...