Week 33: Money Rules and So Should You – #AlphaFemaleFriday

Week 33: Money Rules and So Should You – #AlphaFemaleFriday

“ WEEK 33 / 133 – 133 WEEKS TO SUCCESS ”

There’s a key difference between being a savvy shopper and just being cheap. I do not mind spending more money upfront if it means that what I am paying for is a great value or quality. I came to this realization that buying a few higher priced dresses that are tailored for my fit, which can be a challenge when you’re a five foot girl living in a five foot and up world. At first, I would think to myself: but I can buy 5 more outfits for the price of one of these outfits from Forever 21 instead of going to Nordstrom or Bloomingdales! Although I am only a few years older than Forever 21’s target market, I wanted to stop dressing like I was a relaxed college girl—at least when I was representing myself publicly and professionally.

The rule which I follow, whether it be buying a blazer, a new bed set, or putting a down payment on a car, is asking myself: how often will I use this, and what value will it provide to me now and in the future? I will spend more on a quality blazer if it has a great fit and I can wear it time and time again for work or for a night out. I will spend the money at West Elm for great sheets if it means that I can finally get rid of those hideous bed sheets I’ve been using for 10+ years because I didn’t have the resources to go and buy “artisanal bed sheets”.

Now, the bed sheets that I bought could last me another ten years, but are now more comfortable to sleep in. When I leased my car, I also pay a little extra per month knowing that it would provide free maintenance every 10,000 miles. When you live in the northeast where it’s potholes galore every few months, you’re going to need that free maintenance. There’s the initial sticker shock, but then there is the relief in understanding why you paid x amount up front in the first place.

I think about this a lot when it comes to the school loans I pay every month. I pay hundreds of dollars each month for my school loans, which is the story of so many graduates out there. I feel lucky enough that I can actually pay for my loans while still having discretionary income on the side. Sometimes I do find myself thinking: why did I go to college? All the theories that I learned about market segementation don’t apply to the real world!

Then I remember that the most valuable thing I got from college was not the nights I spent toiling away with my nose in a textbook, but the nights I stayed up with my friends studying for exams. The months I studied abroad and immersed myself in a different culture. To be able to say I met so many different types of people from all over the world all in one place. Not to mention the fact that I met my best friend and fiancé there? That to me was and will always be priceless.

Cheers,

Kelly

@AlphaFemSociety tweets by @KellyRGonzales                                                                                

About:

Each week, I take a tip from Lois P. Frankel’s book, Nice Girls Still Don’t Get the Corner Office, and explore how each of these tips affect myself and other women in similar positions on the road to becoming the women we want to be. There are far and few between who are a few steps behind me, and many more who are far advanced. I found that Lois P. Frankel’s advice applied to novice, intermediates, and experts alike. It helped me see that I was already doing right, served as a reminder to keep on doing what I was doing and how to keep that momentum going. The book also showed me areas where I could improve, and gave realistic tips to jump on board. There are a total of 133 tips, and explore one tip per week in a program I call: 133 Weeks to Success.

Join the movement using the hashtag #133WeeksToSuccess with posts which are posted every #AlphaFemaleFriday.