I try to avoid chain letters.
On a particularly vulnerable day, someone sent me a chain letter promising that something good would happen to me at 10:38 the next morning. So I forwarded it on.
At 10:38 the next day, my best (says it like it really is) friend Amy sent me an email asking WTF was wrong with me.
Point taken.
So, I’m torn. Because I keep getting “tagged” on Facebook with this 25 random things chain letter thingy, which apparently is so important that it was featured on the Today Show. (Call me.)
Because, on one hand I really, really, really hate chain letters.
But, on the other hand (and that’s the one with the big, sparkly rings) I can never pass up an opportunity to tal
k about myself.
So, here’s the best compromise I could come up with.
20 Random Things Every Recovering Possessionista Should Know
1. When you find something you want on the Internet, you should always Google the site name + coupon code. Most of the time you can find a code that will get another 10% – 30% off.
2. Don’t take the tickets off until you wear it. These days it’s like a fire sale. Especially at the mall. So by the time you get around to wearing it, it’s worth it to check the Website and see if it’s on sale. Chances are it is. So take it back. Get what’s rightfully yours. Just don’t…
3. …wear something once and return it. That’s just gross. And wrong. And you’ll get yours. That’s not being a recovering Possessionista. It’s just being a thief.
4. Clean out your emails. Then sign up for mailing lists for the stores you love so you always know who is having a sale.
5. Shop at Nordstrom. On top of having unparalleled customer service and a great selection, Nordstrom has a lowest price guarantee. So if you find something somewhere else for less, just let them know. They’ll match the price. Happily.
6. Sign up for Shop it to me. They do all the work for you. Just select your favorite brands, and wait for the bargains to roll in.
7. Skimp on your manicures. Seriously. Call your salon and see how much they charge for a polish change. Instead of getting a full mani every week, let them do a polish change on the off weeks. My salon does it for $5. Which saves $30 a month. That’s $360 a year. Or, as I like to think of it, another pair of jeans.
8. Get over your brand snobbery. No one cares what the tag in your shirt says. Or if they do, they have bigger issues than you. So if you like a specific style, cast a wider net. You just might be surprised what you can find at Ann Taylor or Target.
9. Make friends with the people at your bead store. Most accessories out there are pretty easy to replicate. And some of the most talented artists work at bead stores. So bring a picture and see if someone who works there can replicate it (you pay for the supplies) or, better yet, maybe someone can teach you how to do it yourself.
10. Share with your husband. There’s a reason they call them “boyfriend jeans” and “boyfriend cardigans” and (my favorite) “boyfriend watches.”
11. Make your blowout last. Buy a bottle of dry shampoo. A good blowout should last at least 3 days. (Just make sure you still shower, Stinky.)
12. CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET! You will like your clothes better (and shop less) if you can see them. If you can’t bear to part with something, pack it up or put it in a spare closet.
13. Visit Toutie. It’s an entire community or luxury brands and stores with discounts and bargains. It’s like me, but without all the banter.
14. Bling it out, don’t throw it out. Hate your comforter? Get a duvet? Thinking about getting an iPhone? How about a new phone cover instead. Recover your couch. Get new lampshades. Put a wash in your hair. Simple superficial changes are sometimes all you need to breathe new life into a stale item.
15. Be nice to your grandma. She probably has a drawer full of long gold necklaces and sparkly rings. Help her go through it.
16. Score on Etsy. Looking for something? Check out Etsy, an online network for crafters and artists. Seriously cool, one-of-a-kind stuff. Just be careful, it’s a total time sucker.
Natasha’s. They’re phenomenal.)
18. Be a good friend. Why is it that as soon as college is over, it’s no longer socially acceptable to share clothes with your friends? I literally live in my two best friends – Marni and Megan’s – wardrobes. It’s cheaper and they have better taste than me.
19. Splurge. If you really, really, really want it – just buy it. Otherwise you’ll spend more buying substitutes, copies and replicas, you’ll never be satisfied, and you’ll end up buying the original thing in the end.
Believe. Me.
20. If you love something, bookmark it. Check back periodically. If it goes on sale, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it was never yours to begin with.
Related posts:
Straight Talk
Nordstrom Half Yearly Pretty Little Sale
ShopBop Coupon Code 20% off storewide
Coffee (table book) Talk
Pretty Little Liars Fashion: If these dolls could talk
Secrets secrets are no fun: James Perse Secret Sale
Pretty Little Liars: Please Do Talk About Me When I’m Gone
Emily Maynard’s turquoise jeans
I love this post!
Xo, Fe
Excellent tips. I’m a coupon code searcher, a huge Etsy fan and a Shop It To Me subscriber (I just delete the emails on days I don’t want to spend money and can’t be tempted). I’ve never considered bringing ideas to a bead store, but I’m totally going to do that.
I love your blog…I’m going to add it to my blogroll.
lol… I broke down and did the 25 random things. I think that your approach was much better. Thanks for sharing!
Becca
Please visit me at http://www.askbecca.com
WHat the hell is threading???@!???