This weekend, I had an enlightening conversation with a family friend about money and saving for the future and it hit me that I’m turning 29 next month and that means the big 3-o will drive up quickly after that! *GASP*

However, I’m not freaking out about turning 30, I’m more freaked out that I won’t be as financially content as I had planned to be at 30. All those mini sprees at department stores, drugstores, and don’t get me started on the online shopping, which all add up. I have had so many boxes delivered to my job, I think my boss wonders if he is paying me too much sometimes!

So, after this weekends conversation, I’ve decided to change my shopping habits.

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I’ve always had a savings account that I planned to have caked up with a certain undisclosed amount by the time I was 30 and increase that amount each decade. Unfortunately, my savings account is nowhere close to the amount I want in there and I know why… shopping.

I wish I could say that all the shopping I do is to give me ideas and info to use on my websites and to help you, my readers, in your shopping quests. Well, that is true, to an extent. Since I started Stained Couture in February of 2006, I’ve probably shared less than 5% of the things I’ve bought and although that’s mainly because I didn’t have a nice quality digital camera and down right laziness, a small amount of it inside was embarrassment that I buy so much, but nothing of substance to show for it, at least in the financially sound savvy section of my brain.

Starting this week, I’m changing my shopping habits. I’m not going to use the word budget, because to me that’s like using the word diet. I think of diet as something temporary that you do until you obtain your goal, but then as soon as you reach it, you slowly slip back into your old ways. I think the same with budget. You budget your income to help you save up for something (i.e car or house), but then as soon as you get it, you rework finances and go back to spending your money the way you did before.

So, I’m changing my saving habits. After I pay my bills each check, the money left over, I’m going to put 60% in my savings and then the rest I will use for what ever I feel and that will include saving up for things that I want and don’t necessarily need, but want really bad and that are quite pricey.

I plan to do like I did when I was teenager and wanted something that I couldn’t afford and my parents and “Santa” saw no use to spend that amount of money on a teen…SAVE UP FOR IT! So, here are the first 3 things I plan to slowly save up for.

1. Louis Vuitton Speedy 35, $715 – If you follow me on Twitter, then you might remember that I gave my Speedy that I loved hard and it showed to one of my sisters. Afterwards, I was trying to decide should I buy one slightly aged, because I love when the leather first starts to get dark or start from scratch and get a new one. Since the used ones tend to be harder to find and more expensive, I decided to save up for a new one and since this is the priciest and most wanted item on my list, I plan to get this one first.
2. Tiffany Keys Oval key pendant, $350– I’ve always wanted a gold Tiffany key! I have a large silver one, but I’m not a fan of silver and plus everyone seems to have a large silver key necklace, Tiffany or not. So, I want a small gold one that I can wear everyday! I was thinking about getting this one first since it’s the “cheapest” of the 3, but LV before Tiffany!
3. Christian Louboutin Simple Pumps, $595– I have a couple of pairs of GORGEOUS Louboutins that I practically never wear, because they are too embellished to pull into my everyday wear looks. However, I want to kick myself in the head because the first pair of Louboutins I should’ve bought was a simple black pair. So…

There you have it, these are the first 3 things I plan to save for and hopefully I can get all three within 6 months, but I think with the Christmas shopping season coming soon, that might tack on a couple of months.

I will say that I’m sorta proud of myself, because I have the money right now to easily buy all three of these items and say I will start to save afterward, but I’m not. *exhales*

Do you have a list of things you want to save up for? Let me know!

Stay Stylish!

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