Would You Purchase Biodegradable Bedding?

This is an interesting concept, but it just proves that we live in a throw-away society:


“For many of these manufacturers and designers, the word “biodegradable” is a signal that they are trying to adhere to the closed-loop manufacturing model put forth by William McDonough, the green design guru and architect whose 2002 book, “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things,” written with Michael Braungart, a chemist, proposed a new paradigm for the design and production of household goods. One of its tenets is that our stuff, once we’re done with it, can be “nourishment” for something new, either by being recycled (or “upcycled”) into a product of equal or better value, or by literally devolving into a “bio-nutrient,” like compost.
But can you compost a sofa and its throw pillows? Should you?”


Read this NY Times article to lean more: Biodegradable Home Product Lines, Ready to Rot

I have a hard time accepting the idea of buying anything with the intention of throwing it away. I was taught that you purchase quality items with the intention of using them for years to come. This method normally saves you money because you won't have to continuously replace items such as bedding. For this reason, I think its better to stick to neutral colored bedding and throw pillows that you can use for a long period of time and won't be tempted to go out and buy more if you move to another place or change the decor/color palette of the room.

I Need To Be More Aggressive With Paying Off My Debt

I have admittedly been a little lax with paying down my debt and controlling my spending over the last few weeks. I definitely need to tighten up my budget because my budget busters have been getting to me (clothes and shoes). I had a graduation to attend last weekend and another this weekend and had slim clothing options…so I bought a new dress last week and another this week. I also did purchase an iPod with money I received from an unexpected windfall; the iPod I once had has been broken beyond repair for a minute. I rationalized that purchase by telling myself that I do spend a lot of time in transit (hey, I’m human!).

But I am resolved to get back on the frugal wagon and tighten up my spending again. There will be some unavoidable expenses coming up though: Mother’s Day gifts (this week), train or bus rides home (next month), booking travel for my trip to Florida (August) and other events I’m sure will pop up when the summer starts officially.

During the upcoming weeks: I will resist the temptation of surfing iTunes for more music for my iPod, I will stay away from bookstores and get books from the library instead, I will go grocery shopping more regularly to prevent overspending money on food while out in the street and I will avoid ordering movies On Demand and find something else to entertain me on the weekends that won’t cost money. I will also create a new budget and stick to it.

It’s not always easy making responsible decisions….but I hope to see the difference in my bank account soon and make progress on paying down my debt.

Why I Won't Purchase A Car Until I Can Pay For It Without Financing

(2008 Honda Hybrid Photo: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/exterior-colors.aspx)

Here are the main reasons why I can wait a while longer to purchase my first car:

1. I Want A "Greener" Car. Living a "greener" lifestyle isn't just trendy...it actually is better for the environment. I want a car that will not be a gas guzzler and have the least harmful effect for the environment. For these reasons, when I purchase a car, I'd like buy a hybrid.
2. Because of My Lifestyle, A Car Is A "Want" Not A "Need." I am fortunate enough to live near several restaurants, two grocery stores, two drug stores, several dry cleaners, public transportation, a hardware store, and a really nice year-round outdoor market. So, there is really no need for me to have a car on a daily basis except when I need more food or household items than I can carry or cart around in my trusty rollable cart. I can also easily get to work and around the city on public transportation. Note to recent college graduates: consider waiting a while to buy a car if you don't already have one unless you absolutely need it for necessities such as getting to work, or to taking your children to and from school. I mainly desire to have a car for traveling at night and for my regular visits to my hometown which is a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive from where I live. My hometown is also larger than the city that I currently reside in, so I could get much more done during my visits home with a car. I would like a newer (not brand new) car than is no more than a few years old. I don't think it's necessary for my first car to be brand-spanking new.
3. Living Expenses...I Already Have Enough Bills! With Student loans, credit card debt and the goal of eventually upgrading myself from apartment living to a home of my very own, I can do without adding to my monthly expenses with a car note, insurance and maintence expenses of a car.
4. Building a Savings Cushion While Paying Down Debt. I'd like to have much more in my emergency savings before purchasing a car. Life is full of unexpected mishaps and its always better to be prepared by having a nice savings cushion. I would also like my networth to continue to move in a positive direction by eliminating student loan and credit card debt before taking on a car. It makes more sense to put more money toward savings, retirement and building an investment portfolio than to buy a car that I can really live without. I'd hate to feel years from now that I can't afford to retire early like I want to because I bought unnecessary items like a car I don't even need to drive on a daily basis.
5. I Can Use Car Sharing For Instances When I Absolutely Need A Car. For those instances when a car is absolutely necessary, there are several car-sharing companies that are out there that you can register and borrow a car, by the hour or by the day. Here are a few that I am familiar with:
   
   http://www.zipcar.com/
   http://www.flexcar.com/
   http://www.carsharing.net/
   http://www.phillycarshare.org/
   
   A car would make my life a little easier and allow me to have a more independence (I hate asking for rides...). But rushing into a major purchase like a car is definitely not a smart thing to do; and I do sincerely hope I'm getting smarter with age. So I pose this question to you: Is a car a "want" or a "need" in your current lifestyle?

Is Steve & Barry's the Answer to Fashionable Outfits on a Budget?

In the Style section of the New York Times, the article,:Is This the World’s Cheapest Dress? stated that:

"Steve & Barry’s, for the uninitiated, is to fashion what Tower once was to music. Steve & Barry’s is manna, a store that sells stylish celebrity-branded clothes at prices that are absurdly inexpensive, lower than those at Old Navy, H & M or Forever 21, undercutting even Wal-Mart by as much as half."

I will definitely check out the closest Steve & Barry's to inexpensively add to my summer wardrobe. This trench coat from Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line is cute and very affordable.

(Photos from the Steven & Barry's and Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten websites)

Savings Update

Since the month of May just started, I figured it’s a good time to evaluate my progress on my savings goals:

Emergency Savings
Goal: $1,500.00
Current: $928.00
Deadline: December 2008

Car Fund
Goal: $1,000.00
Current: $65.00
Deadline: December 2008

Vacations and Other Misc. Wants
Goal: $200.00
Current: $0
Deadline: December 2008

Any wind falls I receive between now and the end of the year will be divided among these three savings goals. I just realized now that the summer is almost here and I have a few family commitments that I have to travel for, that I should start saving separately for travel, concerts and other activities I enjoy but won’t raid my emergency account (or charge my credit cards) for.