{Steals & Deals}

I hope everyone had a splendid Easter! I'm a huge fan of bunny day, not only because I think it is the holiest of holidays, but also because I love spending quality family time on a lovely spring day. Between having everyone home from college for the weekend, partaking in a delicious fondue dinner, attending a wonderful church service, grilling kabobs & indulging in delicious desserts, and going on an Easter basket hunt (we're never too old for this game...the older we get, the nicer the surprises!), it was quite a bit of fun.

Spring is also a favorite time to shop for me. Enter, Mr. Self Restraint. As an American, I am a part of a culture that seems to accept being in debt; embarrassing, to say the least. As a woman, I believe it is necessary to take care of myself as best I can, including financially. I believe in saving money, paying my own bills (on time), always having a separate account (even if I'm married) and being 100% responsible for my financial actions. That is not to say I don't believe in sharing money with a future spouse or being spoiled by your significant other; I just think it is important for young women to understand the importance of depending on themselves. When we hold ourselves accountable for the money we spend, things become clearer: Where is most of my paycheck going? Am I meeting my savings goal every month? Could I have saved on that purchase? Do I feel good about my spending allotment? Am I spending money I actually don't have?

The answers can be a harsh but necessary wake up call. But wait just a minute? Is this not a blog primarily about fashion, shopping & giving in to the little things that make me feel fabulous? Well, of course it is! For my hard work, I set aside an allotment of money for myself to spend whatever way I see fit; of course, that is after I factor in bills & savings. There are plenty of fashion sites to pick up your favorite designer indulgences for a cheaper price (see my Fabulous Finds on the left side of this blog) as well as outlets that offer what you want for a price that actually makes sense. However, why not also save on beauty products, magazine subscriptions, rafting trips, winery visits, bike rentals, salon treatments, dinner dates & so on?

Hello Groupon & Living Social! 

I say...the cheaper, the better. Sign up for Groupon and/or Living Social and receive daily emails on deals going on in your area! Perhaps there is a museum you would like to visit or a gym you would join if the cost was lower...this is where these sites are a great resource. WARNING: There are a lot of great deals out there; that does not mean go broke buying as many of them as possible!

Life is short.

Be smart about your money.

Have fun with it as well.

We all deserve to reward ourselves.

Spend it on the most fun you can possibly have...

because money well spent will never leave you feeling guilty & is always worth it! 

All images via Google