The Wiser Shopaholic

Oh so busy...

2008-04-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Well everyone - I'm alive! Yep...it's true. I apologize for the delay of writing. I have been bogged down in work - now is the busiest time for me. Oh and it hasn't helped my debt by any means.

I've been a bad girl. Since my last debt statement - I've gone back up. Reasons being I am going on a vacation with my girlfriends in June/July so $84 for the deposit, $5 for the flight (frequent flyer miles...woohoo!), $163 for a bathing suit (okay, I know that was terrible), etc...

However I did just get word that our economic stymulus checks will be going out as of TOMORROW. Yep, they changed the date from May 2nd to April 28th. According to the IRS, for those of you that used direct deposit for your taxes will get the $600 (or $1200) directly into their account. Everyone else will get their checks about a week or two later.

I've sold some of my previously listed items but here are what is still up for sale (as well as some new jewelry):

For photos of everything for sale - CLICK HERE

Here's a run down of the asking prices - I'm not set on most of the items so feel free to negotiate with me:

Anon Optics - White Allie Sunglasses - $30
Anon Optics - White Josie Sunglasses - $30
BR Cami - $10
BR Handbag - $20
BR Pants - $20
Juicy Couture Hoodie - $30
Juciy Couture Track Jkt - $30
Old Navy Tank Top (w/ tags) - $10
Zale's Pink Sapphire Necklace (10K White Gold) - FOR SALE AT EXBOYFRIENDJEWELRY.COM
Swarovski Irina Necklace - FOR SALE AT EXBOYFRIENDJEWELRY.COM

I want to give a brief shout-out to the genius of ExBoyfriendJewelry.com. First off, it's free to buy and sell (unlike eBay). Second, it's great to read other people's stories as well as being able to vent about my personal story. Third, while I need to hold myself back, you can REALLY find some great deals on some great quality jewelry!!

Selling my stuff

2008-03-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the things I'm selling - you'll do two wonderful things:

1 - Get some AWESOME stuff

2 - Help me responsibly pay down my debt

For photos of everything for sale - CLICK HERE

Here's a run down of the asking prices - I'm not set on most of the items so feel free to negotiate with me:

Anon Optics - White Allie Sunglasses - $30

Anon Optics - White Josie Sunglasses - $30

Anon Optics - Black Allie Sunglasses - SOLD

A&F 3/4 Sleeve Sweater - $15 - ON HOLD

Anthropologie Skirt - eBay - CLICK HERE

BR Cami - $10

BR Handbag - $20

BR Pants - $20

Coach Hampton Tote - $30

Juicy Couture Hoodie - $30

Juciy Couture Track Jkt - $30

LV Hair Cubes (w/ Bag) - SOLD

Old Navy Tank Top (w/ tags) - $10

Rebecca Taylor Dress - eBay - CLICK HERE

I take PayPal (and prefer it for security reasons) but I will also accept a money order.

Thanks!!

Payday

2008-03-12T08:36:00.001-07:00

Ah it's payday. I love this day. It's the day I start dwindling my debt at a much more significant rate!

Here's today's debt stats:

Amex - PAID

Discover - $2,801.71 (payment of: $447.32)

Target - PAID

VS - PAID

Total: $2,801.71

Ah... under $3k! That's a lovely feeling... I also have money leftover which will go towards the payment after I get the gas for the car, cat food, cat liter (it's on sale) and $84 as a deposit for my trip to VA Beach with the girls in June (hoping the debt will be gone by then).

1st Paid Card!

2008-03-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

I just paid off one of the easier debts...my VS card at $56.50. Yay! I also listed my Rebecca Taylor dress on eBay last night - CHECK IT OUT!

Here's today's debt rundown:

Amex - $360.00

Discover - $3,249.00

Target - $42.33

Victoria Secret - PAID

Total - $3,651.33

I'm getting there! Today I know I am going to have to spend money on gas but since I don't want to use my credit card, I'll only fill up enough to get me home (and to be able to afford it on in cash). Tomorrow is payday so then I can fill up my whole tank and also watch those debt numbers drop way faster! I love payday for that reason alone!!

On my way...

2008-03-10T15:50:00.001-07:00

Okay so I started selling some of my stuff. I made $12 today from a pair of sunglasses that I never wear! I also am waiting on $33 from Half.com to be added to my bank account from a Wii video game I sold. So that's $55! Hm...not that much. I got a $35 check from work and expecting another $35 from expenses at work. That's another $70. Okay but I need to keep the excitement up! The stock market is doing terrible but I am not even going to think about that because I might cry...let's just say you should all buy your clothing from Delia's, CCS and Alloy so my stocks can do better!!

On a better note... daylight savings really is making a difference!! I love it!!! Ah...sunlight.

The first step to recovery...

2008-03-10T10:22:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone! Well this week is payday! That means on Wednesday, I'm a few steps closer to paying off the debt. I love payday only for that reason now! I didn't spend a penny this weekend!! Really!! My lovely boyfriend is aware of my situation and my goal to be debt-free so when he asked me out to dinner, I told him I couldn't! He then proceeded to tell me how understanding and helpful I was during this past Summer when he had a lot of things going wrong and it was his way of giving back to me. How sweet!! So we got to have a lovely brunch on Saturday and dinner on Saturday night!

Anyway this morning I finally decided to get rid of some of my stuff. Since I can't find my digital camera's battery charger, I had to use my iPhoto Booth on my Mac. The photos might be terrible but let me know if you have questions and I'll gladly answer!!

Thanks everyone! Also I want you to know that any brand name items I've listed are 100% authentic. I earn my living as a designer and I do not support people who copy other designers' work. So please feel confident that you are most definitely not getting a knock-off (and let's be real...if it weren't for these designer items...I wouldn't be in debt right now!).

Susan's Stuff For Sale

Tips on How to Survive a Shopping Ban

2008-03-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

I'm on a shopping ban until April 5th. Why April 5th? Well that is when I head back to NYC with the boyfriend to go to a friend's wedding. And honestly...I just got back from NYC without going to DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse...amazing) and I deserve it when I do go back again. Let's just say...I scored a killer pair of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes for $79 (retail $498).

Of course whenever I'm on these shopping bans, the most amazing sales pop up everywhere! Sample sales, 20% off here, 15% off there, free shipping to anywhere. It's frustrating. So in order to "feed" my obsession - I have a basic little trick. I pile my shopping cart up with everything I want, get as far as checking out but when I have to enter my credit card information in...I hit X and the window is gone. Or sometime I just load up my Wishlist with goodies. It makes me feel like I'm shopping, but I haven't spent a dime! Yes, this takes some serious will-power but you will eventually get really good at it. I also like to bookmark my favorite full-priced garments and every week review them to see if anything went on sale! It's like playing the stock market, there are reasons and timing for things to go down in price but when you hit that bookmark button and see the dress you wanted was mistakenly marked down to $9.99 at Anthropologie.com...girl you just hit it big!!!

Let's review today's credit card status - unfortunately things went UP because I had to buy gas and also my last business trip was put on the cards (which I sent out my expense report yesturday).

Amex - $360

Discover - $3,249

Target - $42.33

Victoria Secret - $56.50

Total - $3,707.83

Ah ya. Not really moving anywhere anytime soon huh? The good news is I sold a video game for $30, my expense check is coming in around $70 and I plan on selling my Louis Vuitton hair cubes along with a few other things I can find around the house.

It's really interesting to think how I love material goods so much but in the end, they mean nothing.

Back to the real life work. Free red bulls, coffee and recycled air. Love it!

Welcome!

2008-03-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog - The Wiser Shopaholic.

I am a 23 year old lady who's got a $3,500 debt. I'm sure you're thinking to yourself that $3,500 isn't too bad compared to our national average of $9,000. However, this debt has been decreasing and increasing for the past 2-3 years now. I'm sick of looking at it and I'm sick of getting close to paying it off and then just splurging again and watching it soar back up. I'm sure I'm also not the only person in this situation. You think to yourself that it's not a large amount of money so you just let it sit...pay off $200-300 a month on it...no big deal. Well, to be honest, it's money that could be in the bank right now.

I consider myself still a shopaholic and honestly, that will never change. I love shopping. I am a designer and product manager for the outerwear division at Rome Snowboards. It's a great job but at times stressful - which then leads me to large shopping splurges. I also live in Vermont (yes, it's a state). This lack of Nordstroms/Bloomingdales/Neiman Marcus interaction has forced me to scour the internet for online shopping deals. I've actually become quite good at this! I can dig up a coupon code for just about every online store - you name it - I'll find it! So I consider myself to be a "wiser" shopaholic because I've been capable of getting great deals on otherwise very expensive items. But...it still doesn't help my debt.

My mission with this blog is to provide debt pay-off discussions, tips, tricks and also once your debt is paid off - ways to keep it off and STILL be a happy shopaholic.

I will also be tracking my own personal debt so people can understand that a LOT of people are going through this but are successfully making commitments to overcome it.

So let's begin by airing out my dirty laundry:

Discover Card - $3,221

American Express - $224

TOTAL: $3,444

Not terrible but not good. My current goal is to pay $850 a month on those cards. That should have me out of debt around June 2008.