Where Have all of the Warm Coats Gone?
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Photo from Flickr
I have two coats, one is a Columbia brand winter coat and the other is a wool coat. I have gotten lots of wear out of both coats. I also got both on sale. I have had them both for about three years now. While the Columbia coat is looking a bit shabby, but it is still wearable. I wear it when I am working outside, so it’s a little dirty.
My wool coat however, really has seen better days. I got it about 4 years ago at Target. They had the coat on sale for $50. It was made well, and most important it was warm. I live in Chicago and a warm coat is priceless when it gets really cold, and it does. My wool coat is warm. I can wear it on the coldest day and be nice and toasty. It is showing it’s wear. I have sown and resown the buttons on, mended tears and so on. The bottom line is, it is time for a new wool coat.
I began looking for a new coat in September. I have been amazed how thin women’s coats are being made, and women are buying them! I have looked from Nordstroms to K-Mart and everywhere in between. I am still searching for a reasonably priced, warm coat. I consider a reasonably priced coat to cost me between $50 and $70. Do these coats exist? I am starting to think that they do not.
Last weekend I saw an ad from Target advertising wool pea coats for $30. I figured that I would go take a look. The styles were cute and they came in lots of colors, there was just one problem, they were paper thin! I just don’t get it, why aren’t warm coats being made anymore? I have looked at many stores that sell coats at many different prices and the result is the same the coats are flimsy. I don’t want to be waiting for a train shivering in my winter coat.
Virginia asked if there was a Santa Clause, I ask is there a warm coat at a reasonable price out there?
To be continued…. (as the coat hunt continues)
Inexpensive Halloween Costumes
My sister and I getting ready for Halloween
I grew up in a lower-middle class home. We had the basic necessities but extras such as store bought halloween costumes were something that we just didn’t buy. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few time when we were able to do that. However we found that usually the quality wasn’t very good and the costumes did not last very long. My mother decided to instutue a new costume policy in our house, we had to make our own costumes. This may sound cueul but actually it was a blast! My sister and I were discussing this recently and she said, “half the fun was seeing who could be more inventive…and usaully i would lose.” Some of my happiest memories were putting together our costumes.
My sister and I would brainstorm for weeks about what we wanted to dress up as for Halloween. Once we had decided what we wanted to be, we would set to making our costumes. We would usually go the thrifts store and find pieces that would work for our costumes. The thrift store always had wonderful surprises for us. From there we would raid our closets and our mother’s closet. We could usually put together a costume for under $10. My mom would do our make-up to go along with our costumes. We would have so much fun that our friends soon joined in as well, and stated making their costumes too.
The funnest part of Halloween was making my costume with my sister. We always had so much fun.
Some of our thrift store costumes included:
A Geisha- made with a silk Japanese robe found at the thrift store
A 1950’s Woman- Made with a vintage dress and jewelry from the thrift store
A witch- Made with a black dress that we shredded ends of.
Fall (the season)- Made with sprigs of fall leaves from the dollar store
A mouse- Made with an old gray terry-cloth robe found at the thrift store, and a pair of store bought mouse ears.
Cleopatra- A large white sheet draped across like a Egyptian dress bought at the thrift store.
Martha Stewart.. This is reality calling!
Photo from Flickr
I have been a Martha Stewart fan since I was a teenager. My mother and sister used to make fun of me for my Martha Stewart obsession. I have always admired how she has such attention to detail and makes sure that things are done properly. I do recognize and always have, that she tends to go a bit overboard on some things. I have been a loyal reader of her magazine and I used to watch her show on NBC. I bought her products and I was even going to go to a book signing.
As the recession hit, I continued to watch her show. She had on guests like Jim Cramer who was talking about stocks and the stock market. While this is helpful to some, it is not helpful to all. While the rest of the country geared up for the recession, to me it seem as if it was business as usual at Martha Stewart Omnimedia. I watched her show to see if she would have money saving tips for the average American household, but I never saw anything of the sort. Eventually I got fed up and just stopped watching her show. Last week I read an article that said that viewership was down for her show. I was not surprised.
My annoyance did not stop with her television show either. I continued to read the magazine but I soon found myself feeling betrayed. I felt like the Martha magazine was targeted to a different audience, one that had not been effected by the recent recession. Recipes and crafts in the magazine still required pricey ingredients and pieces. While she talked about the recession did she actually realize what the average middle class household was going through? The final straw for me was a piece about what every woman should have in their closet. While the pictures were beautiful, the clothing was outrageously priced.
I eventually started reading the magazine Real Simple. I like this magazine because I feel like it has the same quality as the Martha magazine but that it is more accessible to the average middle income house hold. They too have their out- of touch artciles too, but not as bad.
Even though I have been annoyed by Martha Stewart’s constant bragging about the vacations she goes on or the show about designer dresses, I do not hate her and I occasionally do watch her show. I just wish that she would realize that we aren’t all millionaires and target her show that way. I bet if she did, her ratings would go back up.
Top 10 Ways to Redecorate A Room Spending Next to Nothing
During this economic crisis many are learning that their home really is their castle. People are spending more time at home due to the economic issues. People are once again returning to those dining rooms and living rooms that were neglected by eating out and going out for entertainment.
Spending more time at home, sometimes gives people the “itch” to redecorate. Well, in these difficult times, it is not feasible to go on a spending spree to redo a room in your house. However, there are ways to spruce up a room and still spend very little. If you must buy items to redo your room, try the thrift store, garage sales and Ikea. So without further ado, here are my top ten ways for redoing a room on a tight budget:
A Can of Paint
This is my favorite way to redo a room. I love changing the color in a room. When you paint a room it becomes your special space. It’s like leaving a mark saying that you were here. Paint does not have to be expensive. I usually look in the returns section of the paint store. You can get really nice colors at a fraction of what you would normally pay. The best thing about paint is, if you don’t like it, paint it another color!
A New Rug
Carpeting a whole room is really pricey. If you have horribly stained carpet and you cannot afford to replace it, try buying an area rug. Area rugs do not have to be pricey. Most retailers like Target and Walmart sell them. You do not need an area rug that costs thousands of dollars. You can also check on line for a rug as well. I would also suggest your local thrift store. In many cases the cost of the rug and a shampoo is cheaper than buying one new. Believe it or not, an area rug can change the whole feel of a room.
Re-arrange Your Furniture
I know this sounds silly, but it can totally change your room. I constantly try this trick. It drives my husband crazy, but it allows me to show off the room and furniture in different ways. I can breath some life into an old boring room. Just be careful when moving furniture around to not hurt yourself. Also, if you have wood floors make sure not to drag furniture, as to not scratch the floor.
Switch Out Art Work
This is a great trick to give an old piece a new life. If you are redoing your room and there is a print that is hanging in another room, try hanging it in your new room. You can bring in new colors and patterns through artwork. If you don’t have any artwork, try and create something yourself. I know this might intimidate some, but give it a try, you might surprise yourself. If you are not artistically inclined, but you have children, try hanging some of their artwork.
Accessories
This is the easiest part of changing a room. Again, take things from other parts of the house. Picture frames are usually interchangeable. Use a large bowl as a centerpiece on your coffee table, or a breakfast tray. Glass items such as a vase can also bring new color into a room. The thrift store is a great place to shop for accessories. I never buy them new at any stores, they’re too expensive. I would also suggest garage sales.
Change Photos in Picture Frames
I always try to rotate pictures in the photo frames that I have. This is great way to update the look of your room. Wedding pictures, family photos or pictures of friends are great to swap out. Choose different pictures of loved ones and events to showcase.
The Infamous Couch Cover
I am the victim of dated furniture. My husband and I have handed down furniture. It is not the prettiest but, it is comfortable and clean. However, neither of my couches match. A quick way to fix ugly, dated, and dirty furniture is a couch cover. These can be pricey so look for a deal. You can also have your furniture re-fabriced. As always, when it comes to doing these things, they can be pricey, so shop for a deal. Keep in mind it should be much cheaper than replacing the furniture you have.
Throw Pillows
Throw Pillows are a wonderful to update a room. They can be easy to sew if you do not want to buy them. I do not own a sewing machine and am inept at sewing but, I managed to sew some very nice pillows that lasted forever. If the whole sewing thing is not for you, they can be purchased very cheaply. I would recommend Walmart or Ikea. I recently bout 4 pillows at Ikea for under $10. They’re soft and comfortable.
A New Bedspread
This is the best way to redo a bedroom for little or no money. If you have a reversible bedspread, you can switch sides for a while. If you have a duvet, try switching out duvet covers, which is usually inexpensive. Ikea has wonderful duvet sets which usually include the duvet and pillow shams. The thrift store is another wonderful place to buy new bedding. Just make sure to wash it well before using.
Change the Lighting
Properly lighting a room is very important. Lighting of a room either showcase a room or hides it in darkness. Try to move your lamps and lights around to evenly light your room. Try to avoid dark corners. You will be amazed what a difference an extra lamp can make to the appearance of a room. You can purchase lamps inexpensively. If you do choose to buy a lamp second-hand, be careful with the electrical components, the unit may not be up to code.
These few tip can totally change the look of a room. As always, try to make do with what you have. Walk around your house and take stock of what you have, this will help you re-arrange things in your home and give your treasures a new life. Have fun!
Why Confessions of a Shopaholic will Bomb
Hollywood has long been out of touch when it comes to the average American. The glitz and glam, are something that is reserved for that kind of life. We don’t see women in big elaborate gowns going to the grocery store everyday, nor do most of us have the dramatic elements in our lives that Hollywood would like to make so common. I like movies as much as the next person. I am not slamming all movies. I am however very critical of the new film Confessions of a Shopaholic.
These are some of the hardest economic times since the Great Depression. 62,000 jobs were cut on Monday. Foreclosures are rampant, and there are those out there who cannot afford to feed their families. Movies have long been a way for audiences to escape the realities of daily life, but this movie goes too far.
What person in their right mind would put out a movie about a woman whose whole live is made up of shopping? The book, which the film is based upon was written in a different time. A time when conspicuous, no questions asked consumption was perfectly acceptable to most people.
In the preview, the character played by Isla Fisher, she actually battles other characters over a sale for boots. I ask the question, how out of touch can Hollywood truly be with their general audience? Don’t get me wrong, I like a chick flick as much as the next girl, but this film makes me want to vomit. I have absolutely no desire to see some spoiled rich girl indulge herself in an unsustainable lifestyle, in front of audiences that cannot even afford to keep their homes!
I personally will be boycotting this film. I do not support a materialistic society at all; which is exactly why the economy is in its current state. The character seems to think that money is not a realistic, tangible object and has absolutely no thought of what she is actually spending it on, nor the damage that it is doing to her future.
The movie may actually be good and it may have a good lesson about honesty and living within your means. But that’s not how the marketing is portraying this movie. All the ads show is a woman (and other women) going crazy over purses and using credit cards.
I have heard from so many people who feel that the timing of this movie release is just in bad taste. I hope that this movie flops and shows Hollywood, that we as the American public do not want to see people have absolutely no regard for money and spending it like it grows on trees. When we are losing our homes and jobs.
We don’t need movies from Hollywood showing us an unattainable lifestyle when our economy is having the troubles that it’s having. Especially when it’s materialistic people like the main character of this movie, that have brought us down.
Trailer of this Travesty:
Austere Yet Fashionable – Yes, it’s possible
Editor’s Note: This is a new, ongoing column written by my wife Jackie.
When my husband met me, he thought I was rich by the way I dressed. The joke was on him, I was and still am a resale shop junkie. I wear designer clothing and the latest fashions, I just refuse to pay full price.
There really is no need to pay outrageous prices for clothing because when you really think about it, it’s really only clothing. So here are some of my best tricks for being truly fashionable on a budget and, yes, it can be done!
First of all, get to know your local resale shops. I live in the Chicagoland area and I really like the Unique chain for resale shops. Don’t be afraid to go in, there are always treasures to be found in there. The local Goodwill or Salvation army are good places to find deals but they can tend to be on the more pricey so. So, wait for their usual discount days. Also, consignments are usually not a good place to find deals.
The cardinal rule of thrifty clothes shopping is to assess what you really need BEFORE you get to the store. If you need a new blouse, go directly to that section of the store. If you need pants, only look at pants. While in the section of clothing that you’re looking for, look at the labels in the collar, you may be surprised what you find. But one thing I must stress is to look for a good fit as well as quality.
When picking an item out of a resale shop, make sure to check the garment thoroughly for stains, tears, or anything that would make the item unwearable. However, if there is a small tear or it’s missing a button don’t pass it up because that can be easily mended. In most cases it costs less to buy a garment at a resale shop and have alterations done than it would cost to buy new from the mall.
Now, there are certain items that I do not go to the resale shop for. I never buy undergarments or hats at the resale shop. I do on occasion, go to the mall or non-resale shops for those things. When I go to other stores besides the resale shop, this is an opppturnity to study the latest fashions, that can be recreated at a fraction of the cost.
When I do go to the mall, I have one word in mind, SALE. When I walk into a store, I go straight for the sale racks. Don’t be embarrassed that you’re looking for a deal and for your dollar to stretch further. The standard practice in retail is to put the clearance at the back of the store, forcing you to walk through all the pricier items. Resist the urge to browse the new racks, eventually you’ll develop tunnel vision.
The trick is to buy summer clothes in the fall (or end of summer) and winter clothes in the spring (before the summer fashions come out). Last week I made a trip to the mall and did wonderfully with just $20.00. Last but not least, make sure to check your receipt and make sure you got the sales price no matter where you shop. Don’t be afraid to confront cashiers over price discrepancies.
Don’t worry though, it’s all right to occasionally splurge on a pricier item if it’s it a really special and a good value (i.e. a pair of shoes you’ll wear often). Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to stay fashionable on a budget.
Check out below for some examples of recent deals I found.
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$7 New York and Company
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$7 New York and Company
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$11 Sears Entire Outfit
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$2.50 From Resale Shop
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Tag on Resale Shop Pants
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The Full Package
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