More Style Than Cash

Celebrations, Thanksgiving, Halloween & A Re-Cap - Day 89

By Ingrid Talpak on September 27, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Christmas is not the only celebration that you will be dealing with at this time of year. There is also Thanksgiving, Halloween, and probably a few Birthdays thrown in there as well.

While usually these celebrations are not as elaborate as Christmas they do take time and planning and you want them to be just as nice and memorable.

Today take the time to look at your Thanksgiving, Celebrations and Halloween worksheet and start jotting down ideas and plans.

If you have been following with us from the beginning then you might want to take today just to make sure that your on the right track and have kept up. So here is a re-cap that you can use.

Continue reading Celebrations, Thanksgiving, Halloween & A Re-Cap - Day 89.

Ten Money Saving Things To Buy That Will Pay For Themselves

By Ingrid Talpak on September 27, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

We budget and we save and we still spend, spend, spend. No matter how smart and frugal you are there are items that you have to put money out for day after day, year after year.

You can tighten the rein on a lot of items you buy. Saving money is easier when you know what you should be buying in the first place that is money saving in the long run.

While sometimes you might be putting out a bit more money in the beginning your saving will be showing within a year.

So here is a list of ten things to buy to save money.

Continue reading Ten Money Saving Things To Buy That Will Pay For Themselves.

Unexpected Gifts- What to Do?- Day 90

By Ingrid Talpak on September 26, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You've made your list, you've checked it twice and you think you have everyone covered.....

Then you get invited to this most incredible dinner party at the last minute or a long lost friend shows up with a gift or you misunderstand an invite and find out just as you are headed out the door everyone attending is expected to participate in a gift swap...What to do?

No one likes to feel that awkward moment when you know that you really need to come up with something fast. So prepare yourself with a little gift emergency stash with these ideas.

Continue reading Unexpected Gifts- What to Do?- Day 90.

The Knockoff Curse (or How Buying Knockoffs Can Make You Into A Cheater and Liar)

By Ingrid Talpak on September 25, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

There is a joy to owning something that is made of quality. A Chanel bag, Gucci purse, Louboutin shoes. They shout to the world that you have money and style. But if you have to pinch pennies then the sad truth is that these items probably are out of your reach.

Savvy counterfeiters know that people crave these expensive brands and over the years have flooded the market with knockoffs at affordable prices.

Fashion houses hate knockoff for many reasons, they are cheaply made, they ruin the brand and they take money away from the real thing.

While many fashion forward women will buy knockoffs with the justification that it really doesn't hurt anyone, new research is showing the person that gets hurt the most might be themselves. Owning a knockoff might be making you into a liar and a cheat.

Continue reading The Knockoff Curse (or How Buying Knockoffs Can Make You Into A Cheater and Liar).

Crafting For The Holidays - Day 91

By Ingrid Talpak on September 25, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

For many people the joy of the holidays is also the joy of crafting.

Whether you are a seasoned crafter or someone who has only dabbled you have to admit that the heart does beat a little bit faster when you see an amazing craft that you would love to do.

You might start off the season thinking that you want to craft everything from the Halloween wreath that you will be putting on your front door to the last Christmas gift that you put under the tree. It is an ambitious goal but it can be meet if you plan it well.

But for most of us there are just a few select items that we would really like to try our hand at. Maybe crafting the decorations on the Thanksgiving table or a small gift for several people on our list or doing a series of Christmas Tree ornaments.

Crafting should be a fun relaxing and an enjoyable run up to the holidays and it should not set you into a panic, nervous that you won't be able to finish anything.

Continue reading Crafting For The Holidays - Day 91.

Re- Gifting - Should You? Day 92

By Ingrid Talpak on September 24, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You have this fabulous vase that was given to you by the nicest guy your sister was dating 2 years ago but she doesn't see him any more.

It is wonderful but it just isn't your style. You know that your mother-in-law would love it... so is it OK to re-gift?

Re-gifting is the term used when you receive a gift for yourself and instead of keeping that gift you pass it on to another person as a gift from you.

There has been a lot written about re-gifting, for and against. When is re-gifting OK and when should it never be done? Even if you totally, from the bottom of your heart, don't believe in re-gifting I know that there is one instance that you will agree that it is more than acceptable.

Continue reading Re- Gifting - Should You? Day 92.

Shopping for Christmas - Day 93

By Ingrid Talpak on September 23, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

We do seem to do a great deal of shopping before Christmas, not only for presents but also for food, decorations and all the bits and pieces that go along with the season.

With yesterdays gift list you might feel that you have to be spending even more money but that doesn't have to be the case.

Yesterdays list was very much about connecting with people that are in your life and that is one of the reasons you want to exchange gifts with them. But you only have so much money and you will have to set a budget for your gifts along with all the other things that you want for Christmas. Don't look on this as a limitation but rather a challenge.

Continue reading Shopping for Christmas - Day 93.

The Gift List - Day 94

By Ingrid Talpak on September 22, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

One of the favorite traditions of Christmas is gift giving. While some find it overwhelming to go shopping for gifts, others love it and it is the highlight of their holidays.

Most of us fall in between, we love it when we buy something for a person that turns out to be a real hit but we can get overwhelmed by it all, especially if we forget someone.

You can save yourself from awkward gift giving moments and save yourself a fortune with a bit of planning.

Continue reading The Gift List - Day 94.

Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays - Day 95

By Ingrid Talpak on September 21, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You want to make sure that your home is a joyful looking place to come into during holiday season.

The weather is still good for you to be able to do lots of work inside and outside so if your home is looking a little shabby then now is the time to spruce it up.

Even the smallest fixes can make a big difference and often these are the quickest to do.

Continue reading Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays - Day 95.

Getting Organized for Christmas - The Calendar - Day 96

By Ingrid Talpak on September 20, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Day 97 was about pulling together your organizational binder or file folder.

Today we are going to start on one of the most important aspects of it- the calendar.

We all know that Christmas falls on the 25th of December so how come we are always surprised about how fast it appears?

We all have 365 days in a year but some people just seem to get so much more done than others.

Continue reading Getting Organized for Christmas - The Calendar - Day 96.

Money Saving Basics - Stocking Your Home with Luxury- The Bathroom

By Ingrid Talpak on September 20, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. It is also a money pit because you constantly need to restock it.

While saving money is one of your first concerns sometimes it makes sense to spend a little more to use quality items that last longer.

When should you save and when should you splurge when stocking your bathroom?

Here is my money saving ideas of how to stock up the basics for your bathroom.

Continue reading Money Saving Basics - Stocking Your Home with Luxury- The Bathroom.

Christmas Planning with Free Printables - Day 97

By Ingrid Talpak on September 19, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

So what is the key to happiness?

Organization. You now know what kind of holidays you want and you can start organizing towards it.

Most of us have some standard traditions that we like to follow but don't feel you need to be tied to anything that is not meaningful for you.

I am going to write about everything from Halloween decorating to sending Christmas cards to organizing a feast for the family but don't feel that you have to do everything. Build on the traditions that are closest to your heart.

Continue reading Christmas Planning with Free Printables - Day 97.

Which Christmas? How Do You Want to Celebrate the Holidays -Day 98

By Ingrid Talpak on September 18, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

What do the holidays mean to you?

Is Thanksgiving a traditional time with family or do you gather with friends. Do you go all out for Halloween with parties and outrages costumes or are you happy just to give candies at the door.

Are there special anniversaries or birthdays at this time of year that you celebrate?

And Christmas is just not the 24 hours of Christmas Day but the season of Christmas. How do you want to fill the days leading up to Christmas.

Before you can start planning your ideal holidays you have to decide what type of holidays you want. Quiet, boisterous, busy, tranquil or a bit of all of the above.

Do you want it to be a time filled with baking and crafting or socializing with friends.

For some there is a deeply religious aspect of Christmas that they want to center their time around, with others it is a time to connect with family and with others still it is a time to celebrate. You want to have the holidays that are the most meaningful to you and your family.

Continue reading Which Christmas? How Do You Want to Celebrate the Holidays -Day 98.

Does It Really Need to Be New - How Much Can You Buy Second Hand

By Ingrid Talpak on September 18, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

In the last 50 years commercials have done a great job in convincing us that new is better than used.

The mind set is that if it was owned by anyone else then there must be something wrong with it.

You need to buy all shiny and new.

We have all been in homes that have been filled with old second hand stuff and thought that there is no way we would live like that. But there are people that only buy second hand and have gorgeous homes.

How do you have a happy medium? What can you live on second hand and when should you buy new?

Continue reading Does It Really Need to Be New - How Much Can You Buy Second Hand.

Welcome to 99 Days to Christmas with More Style Than Cash - Day 99

By Ingrid Talpak on September 17, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Everyone needs some help with the busy fall season and the hustle and bustle of Christmas and this 99 day count down does just that.

This year I want you to have the Christmas that is most important to you what ever your circumstances might be.

You want it to be fabulous but it has to be frugal. You can have both. Saving money even over the holiday season is easy to do.

From crafts, dyi's, gifts, cards, parties, decorating, feasts and food and more, I have loads of ideas of how to pull it all off on a budget and still look beautiful.

Continue reading Welcome to 99 Days to Christmas with More Style Than Cash - Day 99 .