tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post131837438360668289..comments2024-03-14T07:19:36.919+13:00Comments on How to be Chic: 5 Ways to be Financially ChicFiona Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493105915055099408noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-11748140828355342152019-03-25T09:08:48.088+13:002019-03-25T09:08:48.088+13:00Great post ! Kudos to you for creating the life y...Great post ! Kudos to you for creating the life you wanted by being frugal when it counted and enjoying life, too! My husband and I did the same thing for 42 years of marriage. Cut coupons, shopped for bargains, ate at home, went to the second run cheap movies, even used our tea bags twice...and friends would make fun of us. But...after all that saving we now are retired and can easily afford wonderful trips and living in a retirement community with lots of amenities with no worries. We still shop at the discount grocery, clip the coupons, and when other travel south for months at a time to avoid the winter, we relish it....enjoy our home, our fire, and time to read. Sending all of New Zealand good thoughts and prayers as you deal with the tragedy.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00829071005574984785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-59692519159505802492019-03-22T12:58:35.139+13:002019-03-22T12:58:35.139+13:00Great (and timely) post once again. Sending love t...Great (and timely) post once again. Sending love to New Zealand xoAnnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-14406119069553463042019-03-19T20:30:46.159+13:002019-03-19T20:30:46.159+13:00Another inspiring post, Fiona! I especially appre...Another inspiring post, Fiona! I especially appreciated #2 "Replace shopping with other hobbies and pastimes" as I used to shop when I was bored. I spent a lot of unnecessary money and kept us in debt for really no reason at all. You're so right that when you spend less time shopping, and then you DO shop for something needed, like new clothes or shoes, or the occasional treat, like a new book, you enjoy it so much more because it's not an everyday occurrence. Additionally, by spending your time doing other things, you have the joy of strengthening a relationship, doing some good in the world, or creating something with your time, rather than wasting it on mindless shopping.Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-39341651346417179262019-03-17T07:31:34.546+13:002019-03-17T07:31:34.546+13:00This post was so inspiring Fiona! You made me wan...This post was so inspiring Fiona! You made me want to hunker down at home and find more pleasures there. Thank you.A Lovely Inconsequencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609925729312148318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-18752795847126482052019-03-16T10:34:10.030+13:002019-03-16T10:34:10.030+13:00"Somewhere about that time I discovered the c..."Somewhere about that time I discovered the concept of having an abundance mindset; that to only pinch pennies was not the final answer. I now have a very happy balance of frugality and abundance, and this is something I tailor-made for myself because it didn’t feel right for me to be either one or the other. ".....<br /><br />I love this! You put it so succinctly. It's very hard to be all or nothing on either side and a good balance is key. Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09289348366926684135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-38152602062850588972019-03-16T07:48:42.846+13:002019-03-16T07:48:42.846+13:00Hi Fiona, You're on my favorite topic again! ...Hi Fiona, You're on my favorite topic again! Personal finance geek here :) I like your tips and use most of them myself. For at least a decade now I've kept an expense sheet that line items where all our money goes on a monthly and yearly basis. I update it about once a month and also shop for cheaper insurance yearly. We haven't had any debt in so long, it would be very strange to have it now, I feel very spoiled. We've paid off our home (like you - excellent!), buy cars in cash and keep them forever (my husbands is 18 yrs. old but mine is still new at 4 yrs. old) - and this is in L.A. where image and keeping up with Joneses is everything, it's awful. Retirement accounts are fully funded every year, although I do wish we had done this in our early 20's. My nemesis is eating out... I'm working on this one ;) Right before the U.S. Great Recession hit, I did a comprehensive accounting of every thing we spend money on and got a handle on our financial house. It was such an incredible feeling to slash our bills, I called so many companies and cancelled so many unnecessary things, it was liberating. The book, "The Millionaire Next Door" changed my mindset and we practice "stealth wealth."<br /><br />For instant financial chic, I go out to my garden and fill up our vases with greenery and flowers from our garden - you can't beat free, simple luxuries! <br /><br /><br />D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-42575719693315502852019-03-16T07:44:34.438+13:002019-03-16T07:44:34.438+13:00Hi Fiona, thank you for the promise to post notes ...Hi Fiona, thank you for the promise to post notes as well as a video. I am hard of hearing and could not listen to your videos on headphones (whilst indulging in chic activities) as I would need to watch your lips, too. The closed captions help (I LOVE subtitles) but they are actually quite annoying (sea-sicky feeling) when they appear word by word instead of in full sentences (I appreciate this is not your fault.)<br />Is there any chance you could post, in writing, your 6 tips from the last video?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-55293484136667044642019-03-16T05:37:28.085+13:002019-03-16T05:37:28.085+13:00Thank you for an interesting post Fiona. I think t...Thank you for an interesting post Fiona. I think that it is important for all of us to think about how we spend money. It is also important that we are aware of our financial situation and where documents are kept. I was widowed at a young age and found it difficult to deal with all the paperwork that my husband had dealt with. It is a good idea for both partners to sit down and go through their paperwork together so that they are both aware of expenses, location of important documents, contact details for bank etc. Please learn by my lack of knowledge at a time when I had a lot of difficult things to deal with. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-79082910294583798812019-03-16T03:02:12.535+13:002019-03-16T03:02:12.535+13:00Sending positive energy to you and your fellow New...Sending positive energy to you and your fellow New Zealanders on this dark day.<br />You have some great ideas here. I quit buying clothes for a year...and one year turned into three. I work from home, wear the same things all the time and have a very full closet. It is liberating to do other things than shopping for leisure. And to spend on other things than clothes I don't need but would buy because of a desire to be on trend or wanting something fresh. <br />Thanks for the tip about listening to the videos. I love podcasts for mental stimulation while doing housework or exercising, and you're right--no reason not to listen to your videos that way.Taste of Francehttp://francetaste.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-68257176435707246592019-03-15T23:32:44.626+13:002019-03-15T23:32:44.626+13:00Hi Fiona! I really loved this post. I have menti...Hi Fiona! I really loved this post. I have mentioned before to you how much I too love the topic of personal finance (being an accountant). Nothing makes me feel more in control of my life, chic and organized like sitting down each day with a cup of tea and updating my banking and budget. I actually enjoy this process and it feels like I'm on top of things. When it comes to spending habits, I feel like knowledge is power. So many people like to keep their head in the sand when it comes to their spending habits. People always tell me....Oh I don't want to know what I spend on groceries, or kids activities...etc. I think one of the most important things in being financially chic as you say, is tracking your spending. That way you can make informed, stress-free decisions because you know where you stand. LOVE this topic!!!! (: I could go on and on. I'd love to continue this discussion if you feel inspired to do more posts on this topic (: <br />Happy Weekend Fiona!Jenniferhttp://www.amongthealders.blogspot.canoreply@blogger.com