Tag: Shopping
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7 Steps to Recover from a Holiday Spending Hangover
It’s an easy thing to do: blow your entire month’s budget on holiday shopping, festive outfits, and dining out. Trust me: I’ve been there, too. It wasn’t until I graduated from college and landed my dream job at CNN that I got my first credit card. I was raised in an immigrant family, where cash…
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Shop Smarter, Not Harder
If I were to offer three little words of advice to all of the holiday shoppers out there, it would be: don’t. get. crazy. Trust me, it’s easy to do. I was speaking on this topic during a recent workshop and one woman shared this tale: She had recently landed a job at her dream…
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The Dirty Shopping Habit Many of Us Have (But No One Talks About!)
We’ve talked about shopping a lot here on NicoleLapin.com, and I’m usually the first to say that shopping is totally fine — as long as you build it into your budget, and make sure that your “fun” money doesn’t exceed 15% of your overall budget. But the ease of online shopping and mobile shopping apps…
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5 Sneaky Hidden Holiday Expenses (and How to Avoid Them!)
You planned your holiday shopping well in advance; made a detailed list so you’re not tempted to buy extra items; and stashed a little extra dough every month to prepare for spending. But if I had to guess, I’d say all of this careful planning was for gifts, maybe parties…but not those many other expenses…
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5 Creative Ways to Save on Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
Down to the wire on your holiday shopping? That doesn’t mean you have to completely blow your budget, especially not when you’ve been on the financial “Nice List” all year! Resist the temptation to pay a premium for convenience and try these 5 tips for smarter last-minute spending: Cut the clutter. Don’t let your inbox…
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How to Car Shop Like a Pro
Need a new car? Sick of your old wheels? Repeat after me: always buy used. Relax, it’s not embarrassing at ALL. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, is worth an estimated $300 million…and she shuttles herself back and forth from work in an eighteen-year-old BMW. Consumer Reports backs me up and says leasing is the MOST…
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10 Holiday Savings Ideas You Haven’t Heard Of (But Should…)
I understand; this time of year is sentimental (and prices on everything from holiday decorations to food to gifts reflect that). But it’s just not worth it to derail your budget in the very last month of the year when you’ve been so good leading up to it. Here are a few ways to shop…
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4 Creative Ways to Go on a Spending Freeze with Your Besties!
I’m not going to hunt you down to make sure you’re keeping track of all of your expenses in your LBD (Little Budget Diary), conquering your debt once and for all, or saving for retirement the smart way. That’s on you. But one sure fire way to stay on track is to develop a community…
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5 Things Never to Buy Used
I’m all about saving some dough at the local flea market, and there is a ton of stuff that you can score for cheap used. But buyer beware: purchasing some things second-hand can actually end up costing you more in the long run—and some of these items can be downright dangerous. So think twice about picking them up…
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3 Smart Ways to Game Flash Sales
Online flash sales can offer some steep discounts on your favorite clothes, accessories, and electronics — but can also drain your wallet if you’re not careful. And as with everything in life: do not accept the sticker price, even if it is a discounted one! There are plenty of ways to save even more and get the most…
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The Best Time to Buy EVERYTHING
Buying new stuff is pretty much unavoidable, which is totally fine–because in the end, your money is there to enjoy! However, if you’re gonna spend, why not do it like a boss? There are times that are better than others to purchase things like plane tickets, cars, and electronics. Here’s a quick breakdown of some…
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Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Why Buying Packaged Food is Stupid
I first knew that I had “made it” when I could walk into Whole Foods and buy as many avocados as I wanted. Why? Because ripe, healthy avocados are expensive, and a luxury item I thought I couldn’t afford until I had “arrived.” But guess what? They aren’t nearly as expensive in the long run…