As a grown up I realize that through the years I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some I learned in school and through experience. many of them I learned from my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all the nieces and nephews out there, or really for anyone who will listen. You may not agree with all of them and they may not work for everybody, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
# 51 Leave your purse at home
This may sound a bit silly, but hear me out. When you first begin working you may have a part time job and only really make enough to have a little fun here and there. Even as you get older you will have bills, though hopefully no credit card bills, and rent and need to spend money on things you need. Money may always be a bit tight. So, you are off to the store with your mom, grandma, or aunt. You accidentally leave your purse at home. Oops. You end up at the store where you see the perfect shirt.
"I'm just going to try it on... just to see what it looks like," you say.
You come out in it and your mom, grandma, or aunt says "oh it is perfect on you. You should get it."
"I can't," you reply, "I left my purse at home."
"Well, we can't leave it here. Give it to me. I'll get it."
"Thank you," you say as you try not to smile, "but really, I can just come back for it."
"Don't be silly," she says, "I'll get it. Its just a shirt. It'll be our little secret."
BAM. Done and done. It works almost every time. However, Now I am an aunt so don't think this trick is going to work on me. This is a time honored secret of nieces, daughters and granddaughters, so really it works for every woman in the world.
Good luck. There is definitely an art to being able to gracefully leave your purse at home and still manage to come back with new things. Pick your strategy and go for it. I wish you the best.
I have gotten some of my favorite things this way. When I was a kid I got a McDonald's play set with my grandma. When I got a little older I got a cute plaid skirt and sweater with my aunt. Most recently I got a black and white party dress with my mom.
Recommended book for children:
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Save! Save! Save!
As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them I learned from my aunts. Now I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all the nieces and nephews out there, or really for anyone who will listen. You may not agree with all of them and they may not work for everybody, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
#42 Get a savings account!
When I was five years old I went with my dad to the bank and we opened me up a savings account. He put five dollars from every one of his paychecks into my savings account until I was old enough to get a job and start putting my own money in there. I would love to say that I still have this flourishing savings account and that not only am I not in debt, but I will be able to eventually pay for my kids college educations. I would love to say these things... but I can't.
Life eventually began happening and that original savings account began disappearing. Times got tough. I wanted to see the world. I moved to New York City. I moved to Maui. I moved back home. I moved back to New York City. I saw Mexico. I went to Scotland and England to see a band play. I had a lot of fun, but in the process of gaining a lot of really great life experiences, I also depleted my savings account.
I recently opened a new one. I now am not only a grown up, but I also have a savings account. I was a smoker, which is a whole different topic of conversation. Cigarettes in NYC went up to $13 a pack. I quit buying cigarettes. Now, I stick the $10 that I was originally spending five times a week directly into my savings account. It was amazing how quickly it added up.
I work in an industry where there is no guaranteed money. We recently just escaped from one of our slowest months of the year, SEPTEMBER! Slow season was upon me and I was struggling to make money, but I stuck that $10 into my savings account religiously every time I worked. When it came time to pay the bills on October 1st, I was ready. I didn't have it all in my checking account so I just transferred some over from savings and everything was fine and dandy. I certainly don't recommend relying on this every month, or saving more that you can afford to just to say you saved it. There has to be a nice balance and a method to the way you save.
We save for lots of reasons. Backup plans, vacations, houses, college funds, etc. Whatever the reason, don't be afraid to tap into it if necessary. That's why it's there. To eventually be used.
Recommended Reading: You're Broke Because You Want to Be by Larry Winget
#42 Get a savings account!
When I was five years old I went with my dad to the bank and we opened me up a savings account. He put five dollars from every one of his paychecks into my savings account until I was old enough to get a job and start putting my own money in there. I would love to say that I still have this flourishing savings account and that not only am I not in debt, but I will be able to eventually pay for my kids college educations. I would love to say these things... but I can't.
Life eventually began happening and that original savings account began disappearing. Times got tough. I wanted to see the world. I moved to New York City. I moved to Maui. I moved back home. I moved back to New York City. I saw Mexico. I went to Scotland and England to see a band play. I had a lot of fun, but in the process of gaining a lot of really great life experiences, I also depleted my savings account.
I recently opened a new one. I now am not only a grown up, but I also have a savings account. I was a smoker, which is a whole different topic of conversation. Cigarettes in NYC went up to $13 a pack. I quit buying cigarettes. Now, I stick the $10 that I was originally spending five times a week directly into my savings account. It was amazing how quickly it added up.
I work in an industry where there is no guaranteed money. We recently just escaped from one of our slowest months of the year, SEPTEMBER! Slow season was upon me and I was struggling to make money, but I stuck that $10 into my savings account religiously every time I worked. When it came time to pay the bills on October 1st, I was ready. I didn't have it all in my checking account so I just transferred some over from savings and everything was fine and dandy. I certainly don't recommend relying on this every month, or saving more that you can afford to just to say you saved it. There has to be a nice balance and a method to the way you save.
We save for lots of reasons. Backup plans, vacations, houses, college funds, etc. Whatever the reason, don't be afraid to tap into it if necessary. That's why it's there. To eventually be used.
Recommended Reading: You're Broke Because You Want to Be by Larry Winget
Sunday, September 12, 2010
You always lose...
As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life, I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them were taught to me by my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all of the nieces and nephews out there, or really for anyone who will listen. They may not work for everybody and you may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
# 27 You always lose expensive sunglasses.
This may seem simple, and even silly, but IT IS TRUE!!!!!! I have been through quite a few pairs of sunglasses in my day. I have worn all different styles of sunglasses. Big and chunky, Jackie O's, John Lennons, pink hard plastic, aviators, etc. You name the type, I have probably owned a pair. When I was a teenager I always insisted that I had a really cool, expensive pair of whatever kind of sunglasses were cool at the time. I have spent many a dollar on shades.
One day I finally realized that I was spending so much money on my really cool sunglasses because I kept losing them. They kept disappearing. I would leave them in the tanning bed, when it was still cool to go to the tanning bed. I would set them down and never find them again. I would let someone borrow them and never get them back. I am convinced that my 1991 Buick Skylark ate quite a few pairs of them. Regardless, I noticed that every pair of sunglasses that I spent more than $15 on always disappeared.
One day I decided to stock up on cheap pairs. I would buy the 2 for $5 deal at Wet Seal or Claires. I even bought a few pairs of sunglasses at the Dollar Tree and places like that. I bought ten pairs of cheap, but still cute sunglasses when I was 20 years old. It took me until I was 25 to go through all of them. I did not lose a single pair. I sat on a couple, my niece took advantage of at least three pairs, and my weimeriner enjoyed a couple as a snack one day.
To this day I still have two pairs of them. I have been wearing the same pair of $3 aviator sunglasses since May of 2008. That, my friends was two and a half years ago.
It isn't a science, and you may not believe me, but the next time you go for the Chanel or the D & G, or the Oakleys, please stop for a moment and hear my words. You always lose expensive sunglasses. Always.
# 27 You always lose expensive sunglasses.
This may seem simple, and even silly, but IT IS TRUE!!!!!! I have been through quite a few pairs of sunglasses in my day. I have worn all different styles of sunglasses. Big and chunky, Jackie O's, John Lennons, pink hard plastic, aviators, etc. You name the type, I have probably owned a pair. When I was a teenager I always insisted that I had a really cool, expensive pair of whatever kind of sunglasses were cool at the time. I have spent many a dollar on shades.
One day I finally realized that I was spending so much money on my really cool sunglasses because I kept losing them. They kept disappearing. I would leave them in the tanning bed, when it was still cool to go to the tanning bed. I would set them down and never find them again. I would let someone borrow them and never get them back. I am convinced that my 1991 Buick Skylark ate quite a few pairs of them. Regardless, I noticed that every pair of sunglasses that I spent more than $15 on always disappeared.
One day I decided to stock up on cheap pairs. I would buy the 2 for $5 deal at Wet Seal or Claires. I even bought a few pairs of sunglasses at the Dollar Tree and places like that. I bought ten pairs of cheap, but still cute sunglasses when I was 20 years old. It took me until I was 25 to go through all of them. I did not lose a single pair. I sat on a couple, my niece took advantage of at least three pairs, and my weimeriner enjoyed a couple as a snack one day.
To this day I still have two pairs of them. I have been wearing the same pair of $3 aviator sunglasses since May of 2008. That, my friends was two and a half years ago.
It isn't a science, and you may not believe me, but the next time you go for the Chanel or the D & G, or the Oakleys, please stop for a moment and hear my words. You always lose expensive sunglasses. Always.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
If you see a penny...
As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through expereience. Many of them I learned from my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all of the nieces and nephews out there, or really for anyone who will listen. They may not work for everybody and you may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
# 22 If you see a penny, pick it up.
I know quite a few people who actually throw pennies away. Perhaps they do this because pennies are annoying, and take a long time to save. Pennies are still money, just like nickels, dimes and dollars. Everytime that I find money on the ground, I pick it up and then it goes immediately into a jar. Let's just say that in a lifetime, these people throw away 1,000,000 pennies. This is $10,000. At a bank, with the interest on that, those people are just throwing away a total of $11,000. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things I could do with that much money.
I always pick up change, no matter how small. It goes into a jar and as a rule, I try never to spend it, sans the few pieces that I try to give away each day. I recently opened a savings account and more than half of my opening deposit was change that I had been dropping in a jar for the last year. It really doesn't take that much effort to save pennies. Why throw them out? Money is good to have, no matter the amount. If you want to throw your pennies away, please just send them my way. I promise to give them a good home.
# 22 If you see a penny, pick it up.
I know quite a few people who actually throw pennies away. Perhaps they do this because pennies are annoying, and take a long time to save. Pennies are still money, just like nickels, dimes and dollars. Everytime that I find money on the ground, I pick it up and then it goes immediately into a jar. Let's just say that in a lifetime, these people throw away 1,000,000 pennies. This is $10,000. At a bank, with the interest on that, those people are just throwing away a total of $11,000. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things I could do with that much money.
I always pick up change, no matter how small. It goes into a jar and as a rule, I try never to spend it, sans the few pieces that I try to give away each day. I recently opened a savings account and more than half of my opening deposit was change that I had been dropping in a jar for the last year. It really doesn't take that much effort to save pennies. Why throw them out? Money is good to have, no matter the amount. If you want to throw your pennies away, please just send them my way. I promise to give them a good home.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Give away what you want to receive...
As a grown up, I realize that in the course of life, I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them were taught to me by my aunts. Now I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a class room. These are things that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all of the nieces and nephews in the world, or really for anyone who will listen. They may not work for everybody and you may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
#7 Give away a few pieces of change everyday.
For the most part, I think this one speaks for itself. I live in New York City, so I am surrounded by people begging everyday. It comes at you from all sides here. On the subway, on the street, on the corners that I walk by practically everyday. Some of these people are dressed better than I am, so I choose to never give them my money. Some of them either have funny signs, or entertain me as they beg, and these are the people I am more drawn to give to. It is hard to decide which cases are legit, but sometimes you just have to make the decision to give and hope that it is for a good cause.
There is a man in my subway station, and he has been there since I have been living off of this train, which is well over a year now. I usually try to keep at least a couple of random pieces of change in my pocket so that I can give it to him everyday. After a conversation with my roommate tonight, I realized that if I give this man one quarter 5 days a week for a year, then I have given him $65. That is almost enough for a bus ticket out of here, to a place where he could possibly have a better life.
I know it is far fetched, however, we never know whose life we may be changing, just by giving our loose change to a stranger, or a musician with his guitar case open, or a traveler who has a sign begging for a bus ticket, a Mountain Dew, a hug, or a good conversation.
I find that most of the time when I give something away, it has a way of coming back to me.
#7 Give away a few pieces of change everyday.
For the most part, I think this one speaks for itself. I live in New York City, so I am surrounded by people begging everyday. It comes at you from all sides here. On the subway, on the street, on the corners that I walk by practically everyday. Some of these people are dressed better than I am, so I choose to never give them my money. Some of them either have funny signs, or entertain me as they beg, and these are the people I am more drawn to give to. It is hard to decide which cases are legit, but sometimes you just have to make the decision to give and hope that it is for a good cause.
There is a man in my subway station, and he has been there since I have been living off of this train, which is well over a year now. I usually try to keep at least a couple of random pieces of change in my pocket so that I can give it to him everyday. After a conversation with my roommate tonight, I realized that if I give this man one quarter 5 days a week for a year, then I have given him $65. That is almost enough for a bus ticket out of here, to a place where he could possibly have a better life.
I know it is far fetched, however, we never know whose life we may be changing, just by giving our loose change to a stranger, or a musician with his guitar case open, or a traveler who has a sign begging for a bus ticket, a Mountain Dew, a hug, or a good conversation.
I find that most of the time when I give something away, it has a way of coming back to me.
Friday, August 20, 2010
"You are evil and must be destroyed..."
As a grown up, I realize that in the course of life, I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them I learned from my aunts. Now I am an aunt and my oldest neice recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I believe that there are some things one cannot learn in a classroom. These are things that can only be learned from living. So for the next 362 days, I plan to to give some tiny words of wisdom to all of the neices and nephews in the world, or really to anyone who will listen. They might not work for everybody, and you might not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.
# 4 Credit cards are EVIL.
First I would like to say.... DON'T GET A CREDIT CARD. However, I am smart enough to remember turning 18 and receiving my first credit card application in the mail. I told my parents that I was an adult and that I could have a credit card, and oh look how much I have been preapproved for. They smiled and said, "ok. Go ahead and fill it out, but be careful." I thought that I was the coolest person in the world. If I was at the mall with my friends and they were all shopping, I would just put 40 or 50 bucks on my credit card, no problem. I'll pay it off every month.
Let me just tell you that the end of every month very quickly turns into paying the minimum payment each month, and that very quickly turns into a minimum payment of more than a hundred dollars every month. Then before you know it, you are getting another credit card with a lower interest rate and using it to try and pay off the other one. Then an emergency comes up and there you are with extreme balances on both cards. Trust me,the price of convenience is certainly not cheaper.
Please, hear me. If you have a credit card, CUT IT UP, and call and cancel your account. If you don't, please listen to me, or your parents when they tell you it is a bad idea and that they are still paying off their first one. At the very least, if you insist on having one, never be late with a payment, because what you don't know is that one late payment can up your interest rate 5-7%. Also, call every six months and ask them to lower your interest rate. Sometime they will and some times they won't, but it certainly never hurts to ask.
# 4 Credit cards are EVIL.
First I would like to say.... DON'T GET A CREDIT CARD. However, I am smart enough to remember turning 18 and receiving my first credit card application in the mail. I told my parents that I was an adult and that I could have a credit card, and oh look how much I have been preapproved for. They smiled and said, "ok. Go ahead and fill it out, but be careful." I thought that I was the coolest person in the world. If I was at the mall with my friends and they were all shopping, I would just put 40 or 50 bucks on my credit card, no problem. I'll pay it off every month.
Let me just tell you that the end of every month very quickly turns into paying the minimum payment each month, and that very quickly turns into a minimum payment of more than a hundred dollars every month. Then before you know it, you are getting another credit card with a lower interest rate and using it to try and pay off the other one. Then an emergency comes up and there you are with extreme balances on both cards. Trust me,the price of convenience is certainly not cheaper.
Please, hear me. If you have a credit card, CUT IT UP, and call and cancel your account. If you don't, please listen to me, or your parents when they tell you it is a bad idea and that they are still paying off their first one. At the very least, if you insist on having one, never be late with a payment, because what you don't know is that one late payment can up your interest rate 5-7%. Also, call every six months and ask them to lower your interest rate. Sometime they will and some times they won't, but it certainly never hurts to ask.
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