Cheapalicious

$50 a month shopping budget challenge: Getting past the first month and $0.68 under budget!

2012-02-08T01:33:00.001-05:00

Well, I've made it past the first month of my $50 a month shopping budget challenge, and only spent $49.32! $0.68 under budget! Yay! I must admit, putting myself on this tight budget has really been hard, and I thought I was going to cave and go back to my regular spending, but I think I did good. I really need to break myself out of the "I see, I buy" habit, because there's been a LOT of things that I saw and liked, but had to control myself and walk away.

As you can see, I bought mostly accessories and shoes last month (see posts here, here, and here), and with my last few bucks, I took advantage of CVS' 75% off Milani cosmetics clearance sale a couple of weeks ago (a tube of lipstick and an eyeshadow single for less than $3, woo hoo!). This month, I'm going to concentrate on adding more pieces to my wardrobe- mainly for work. Also, I haven't been thrifting in a couple of months. I've either been too tired or didn't have the time to go, but this month, I'm going to drag my butt out of the house and go. Let's see if I can stay within my budget this month.

Did you join the challenge? Did you stay within budget last month or did you overspend?

Cheapalicious Deals 2-7-12

2012-02-07T07:50:00.000-05:00

Not many coupons this week. Sorry! Enjoy....

Old Navy: $15 off $75 or more purchase (via Facebook). Expires 2-16-12
Loehmanns: 15% off your purchase. Coupon code: 15OFFSITE212. Expires 2-29-12
Folica: $10 off $20 or more purchase. Coupon code: CUPID. Expires 2-8-12
Too Faced: 15% off your purchase. Coupon code: VDAYLOVE12. Expires 2-14-12
Urban OG: 20% off pumps. Coupon code: 20PUMPCRUSH. Expires 2-9-12
Dots: $20 off $100 or more purchase. Expires 4-15-12
Hobby Lobby: 40% off one regular priced item. Expires 2-11-12

Nifty under $50: Jason Wu for Target

2012-02-05T08:43:00.000-05:00

The wait is over and the Jason Wu for Target collection has finally hit stores. I'm loving the neutral color palette with a splash of nautical goodness thrown in. The cute skirts and accessories are definitely on my list of things to get. Here are a few pieces that I adore.

Poplin dress $39.99
tie neck tee $22.99
pleated skirt $29.99
blue stripe tote $39.99
cat print scarf $19.99 (out of stock as of 8:23 AM EST)

Did you order anything or plan on getting anything from the collection?

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-02-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

image source: A Dime on a Dime

Sweater dresses for under $50 [A Dime on a Dime]
Iris Apfel is awesome! [What the Frock]
Eboni is inspired by Diahann Carroll's style, and I love it! [Fashionista Next Door]
Marni for H&M will be here soon. Take a look at some of the pieces in an ad from People StyleWatch [The Budget Babe]
Budget shopping tips for teens [Viva Fashion Blog]

Have a great weekend!

Today's Video: Wendy Williams unveils her new accessory line "Adorn"

2012-02-01T21:03:00.000-05:00

QVC host, Lisa Robertson, stopped by the Wendy Williams show to unveil the talk show host's new accessory line that she's been working on for over a year simply called "Adorn". Check it out!

And get a sneak peek of some of the items in Wendy's collection....

Catch “The Lisa Robertson Show,” this Friday at 10:00 PM EST on QVC to see more of Wendy’s accessories.

Shopping for men's shoes

2012-02-01T04:07:00.001-05:00

Men's shoes are one of the hardest things to buy. Many guys don't know anything outside of their work shoes and their sneakers. Trust me, I know- my husband's one of them. So, when it comes time to find men's shoes on sale, some guys just don't look that hard. They find some sneakers they like and they move on. However, a guy can have a very large shoe wardrobe that matches their personality and suits just about every article of clothing they have. If guys play it right, they can have a reason to have many pairs of shoes.

The first thing to check on are dress shoes. Every guy should own at least two pairs of dress shoes- lace-ups and a pair of loafers. Lace-ups can be wing tips or more plain, but they should probably be black. Really, no guy can have too many black shoes. If you want to diversify your wardrobe a little, you'll need a pair of burgundy, or cordovan shoes as well. Loafers look good in black, but brown is a really nice color for a couple pairs of loafers to wear to work with your lighter suits or even your blue suits. Here are a couple pairs from Macy's that I've found (on clearance, score!) for under $100.

Via Europa Scranton oxfords $59.99

Madden Rhode dress boot $44.99 (reg. $70)

Casual shoes do not have to be just sneakers. There are nice boat shoes, but there are also shoes designed by luxury brands that are not for the office. Plus, there are reinvented sneakers and stylish interpretations of old classics. You could choose from one of many different kinds of casual shoes and have a different casual shoe for everyday you're off work. Check out my choices below.

Sketchers "Murray" slip ons $55.99 (reg. $75)

Nike low chukkas $51.99 (reg. $70)

Buying the right shoes was never so simple.

Cheapalicious Deals 1-31-12

2012-01-31T20:12:00.000-05:00

Lane Bryant: $25 off $75 or more purchase. Expires 2-27-12
NY & Co: $30 off $75 or more purchase. Expires 2-2-12
Payless: 15% off your purchase. Expires 2-29-12
Ulta: $3.50 off $10 purchase. Expires 2-11-12
Kohl's: 15% off orders $100 or more. Coupon code: GAN15OFF. Expires 2-15-12
Old Navy: 20% off a single item (via Facebook). Expires 2-2-12
Conair: 15% off your purchase. Coupon code: CONAIRSAVE15. Expires 3-31-12
bebe: Free shipping on orders $25 or more. Expires 2-3-12
Go Jane: 20% off regular priced items. Coupon code: Winter20r. Expires 2-2-12
Shu Uemura: Free shipping on all orders. Coupon code: FSHIPPING. Expires 2-5-12
6pm.com: Steve Madden up to75% off. Expires 2-6-12

Designer Way vs. Cheapalicious Way

2012-01-28T23:15:00.000-05:00

Current/Elliot's "The Stiletto" leopard print jean retails for $403 at FarFetch.com. That's eight months of my $50 shopping budget. Sheesh! Blogger buddy Eboni of the Fashionista Next Door blog, tweeted me a pic of these leopard print jeans from Tar-jay, with an oh so lovely price tag of $23! So glad that she thought about me, because I will be adding these to my "current wants" list. They're not available online, so it looks like I have to do some stalking at my local stores. Thanks again, Eboni!

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-01-27T22:14:00.000-05:00

video via Glam Morena

Select Milani Cosmetics are 75% off at CVS. Check out all the goodies that Rai scored! [Glam Morena]
An easy DIY for Jimmy Choo-inspired glitter pumps [My Thrifty Chic]
Bravoe Runway is giving away $50 to shop at 365Hangers! [Bravoe Runway]
8 money saving tricks for 2012 [All Women Stalk]
I want everything that's in store at Old Navy right now...[The Budget Babe]

Have a great weekend!

Nifty under $50: What I want....

2012-01-26T21:31:00.000-05:00

Since putting myself on a $50 per month shopping budget (see what I've bought here, here, and here, so far), I'm not spending as freely as I usually do. I'm trying to shake the "I like it, I buy it RIGHT NOW" feeling, so I've been keeping mental notes of items I've spotted and fought the urge to buy them. Believe me, it's been hard. I've created a little wishlist of everything I want, and hopefully in the coming months, I can squeeze them into my budget. Here's what I want....

zig zag heel $27.20, Go Jane. These are so fun, and I absolutely adore the color combo! I hope my size is left when i do decide to order a pair. All of the cute shoes tend to sell out fast at Go Jane.
sateen cropped pants $42.95, NY & Co. I tried these on in-store the day before, and fell in love. I was a little concerned about how the cropped length looks on me, but I think with the right shoes, I'll be able to pull them off. Penny Pincher Fashionista's post has inspired me.
printed side tie top $26.94 and printed blanket wrap cardigan $38 (reg. $44.94), Old Navy. As you can tell, I'm a sucker for prints, so when I saw these two pieces, I instantly fell in love with them- especially the cardigan. I think it would definitely add some spice to a basic look.
spacedye flyaway cardigan $15 (reg. $50), JC Penney. I own this cardigan in another color and I absolutely love it. Now I want it in this color.

Cheapalicious Deals 1-24-12

2012-01-24T01:55:00.000-05:00

J. Crew: Take an additional 40% off sale items. Coupon code: OURTREAT. Expires 1-25-12
Loehmanns: Take 25% off a single regular priced item. Expires 1-29-12
Go Jane: 30% off your purchase. Coupon code: NEWSITE30A. Expires 1-26-12
Target: Various apparel coupons
Gap: 30% off your purchase when you use your Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic charge card. Expires 1-28-12
JC Penney: $10 off $50 or more purchase. Expires 2-10-12
Fashion Bug: 20% off your clearance purchase. Expires 1-28-12

(Possible) Clearance Alert: Mossimo "Paisley" platform pumps @ Target

2012-01-22T18:08:00.000-05:00

After months of stalking the Mossimo "Paisley" platform pump, and waiting for them to go on sale at Target, blogger bud, My Dressy Ways, tweeted that those bad boys were finally marked down to $8.98. Mind you, when I was there last week, they were marked down to $20.98, but I decided to wait until they were marked down a little lower. I bought them in the taupe color, but the black and gold glitter ones are marked down as well. Keep in mind that they may not be marked down this low (or marked down at all) at every Target location (different store, different markdown schedule), so check with your local store first.

$50 shopping challenge update: Well, I'm down to less than $4 for the rest of the month. Eek! That means no more shopping for the rest of the month. Time to shop my closet and makeup stash even more. 18 more days to go......

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-01-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

photo source: A Dime on a Dime

Vee finds a $50 dupe for Prada [Dime On a Dime]
Ten fabulous DIY fashion ideas [All Women Stalk]
Get Golden Globe inspired accessories on the cheap! [Penny Chic]
An easy DIY manicure to try- Zooey Deschanel's tuxedo nails mani! [The Budget Babe]
Win a $100 ShopBop giftcard from Budget Chic! [Budget Chic]

As of today, I am no longer doing "Freebie Friday" posts. Reason being is because there haven't been a lot of freebies coming to my inbox lately and I don't want to waste a post on the 3-4 freebies that I do get. I will still share them, but they will be on the Facebook page and on Twitter. If you have freebies that you want to share, email them to me (I'll give full credit of course), share them on the Facebook page or tweet them to me and I'll retweet them. Thanks for understanding. Have a great weekend!

A Cheapalicious Closet: Let's try this again....

2012-01-17T20:15:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking about incorporating more outfit posts on this blog. I tried it for a while a couple of years ago, but then it got to the point where I didn't like what I was wearing that day, or I was just too tired to take a pic. Well, I felt up to it today, although I was dead tired (can't you tell by looking at my face?), and ta da- an outfit post. Since I've started my $50 a month shopping challenge, I've been shopping my closet a lot more. I've moved items that still have the tags on them up to the front of my closet (more on that later), in an attempt to wear every last piece. I have quite a few pieces. Oh boy. This flyaway cardigan that I'm wearing is the first item I've started with. I bought it the earlier part of last month, and it just sat in my closet. I paired it with my favorite gray BCBG trousers and tan cutout booties for work.

flyaway cardigan $20 (it was on sale for $29.99, plus I had a $10 off coupon), JC Penney
cami (really old, so I don't remember price), Wet Seal
BCBGMaxAzria trousers (thrifted) $2, Goodwill
booties $15, Wet Seal (seen in this post)
belt $5, Ross
necklace $1.99 and bracelets $1.99, MIZ Outlet

Cheapalicious Deals 1-17-12

2012-01-17T07:38:00.000-05:00

The Body Shop: Free shipping on any order. Expires 1-22-12
NY & Co.: $25 off $75 or more purchase. Expires 1-26-12
Fergie Shoes: 15% off sale items. Coupon code: FERGIESALE. Expires 1-18-12
Shoe Carnival: 25% off all men's shoes. Coupon code: 25OFFMENS. Expires 1-31-12
Walgreens: 20% off beauty products. Coupon code: 20BEAUTY. Expires 1-21-12
Aeropostale: 25% off a pair of jeans when you donate a pair. Expires 2-12-12
Shoe Steal: 25% off your purchase. Coupon code: STEAL25. Expires 1-19-12
Anne Klein: 25% off shoes. Expires 1-25-12
Avon: Free shipping on orders $10 or more. Coupon code: GARNET2012. Expires 1-18-12

$50 a month shopping challenge: Week 1 update

2012-01-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, I've gotten past the first week of my $50 a month shopping challenge! 23 more days to go! I spent a total of $37 (see first purchase here) and I have $13 left. Can I make it through the rest of the month? Hmmm. Peep what else I bought last week.

Mossimo "Wanda" wedges $7.48 (on clearance at my local store), and People Stylewatch magazine $3.99, Target. I needed more shoes for work and these are perfect. Although I said I was going to limit my spending on just clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty products, I also tend to buy quite a few magazines a month. Maybe I should include that in my challenge.
necklace $1 and belt $7.99, Payless. Yes, you read that right, $1! It was marked down to $3, but when I got to the register, it rung up for $1. I had a 20% off coupon, so my total price for both the necklace and the belt was $7.62.

Being that I spent over half my budget in one week, I'm thinking about limiting myself to only $10 per week. I think that should help me get through the coming months if I decide to continue with the challenge.

For those of you who have joined the challenge, how much have you spent so far?

Cash. Check. Charge: Cutout wedge

2012-01-15T14:48:00.000-05:00

Cash: Mossimo "Precious" wedge sandals $20.98 (down from $29.99), Target. You may want to check out your local Target to see if they're marked down any further. I bought these last month for only $7.48!
Check: Seychelles "Eye to Eye" cutout wedge $88 (down from $110), Neiman Marcus
Charge: Chloe cutout back zip wedge $312 (down from $695), Neiman Marcus

Cheapalicious Beauty: Finger Paints nail color in "Twisted"

2012-01-14T19:37:00.001-05:00

Finger Paints nail color in "Twisted" $5.99, Sally Beauty. This was bought prior to the start of my $50 a month challenge.

Here's the newest nail color that I've added to my stash, Finger Paints' "Twisted" from their Special Effects Collection. Some say it could be a dupe for Sally Hansen's "Hidden Treasure", but I wasn't able to get my hands on "Hidden Treasure" (the original, not the new version), so I can't make a comparison. From what I see, "Twisted" looks a bit flakier than "Hidden Treasure. I used two coats of L'oreal's "Owl's Night" for the base, two coats of "Twisted"- although one coat would've been enough-, and one coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast topcoat for my mani.

indoors with flash

outside no flash

Do you own "Twisted" or any of the other polishes from the Special Effects collection?

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-01-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Watch the "Things Bloggers Say" video above [Sherry Blossom Beauty]
Ten blogger mistakes and how to avoid them [J's Everyday Fashion]
YSL and Balenciaga to collaborate with Target? [The Budget Fashionista]
Jason Wu for Target lookbook [The Looks for Less]
How to dress for an interview on a budget [Glitz Glam Budget]

Have a great weekend!

Designer Way vs. Cheapalicious Way

2012-01-11T20:06:00.000-05:00

The Diane Von Furstenberg "Zia" slingback sandals retail for $280 at Jildor.com. I couldn't find an exact match for them, but these Nine & Co. sandals from JC Penney were close enough- and they're on clearance for $24.99! Much easier on the wallet, that's for sure!

CouponSherpa.com's Top Beauty Coupons to Beat Winter Skin Blues on a Budget

2012-01-10T01:27:00.001-05:00

I'm taking a break from posting my regular "Cheapalicious Deals" to bring you the top ten health and beauty coupons from CouponSherpa.com. Enjoy!

1. Elizabeth Arden
Order before Feb. 2 and receive a free 9-piece deluxe gift with coupon code GIFT9, plus free shipping on orders of $40 or more.

2. FragranceNet.com
Get $10 off your order before Jan. 15, plus free shipping with coupon code WINTER10.

3. Bath and Body Works
Save $10 on orders of $40 or more by Jan. 15 with Bath and Body Works coupon code HELLOYELLOW.

4. Folica
Take 15% off orders of $75 or more by Feb. 1 with coupon code FOLICANEWYEAR.

5. Sally Beauty Supply
Get $5 off three Orly Nail Lacquers with promo code 444591 when you order by Jan. 31.

6. Ulta
Take $3.50 off any $10 purchase with an Ulta printable coupon. Good through Jan. 21.

7. Drugstore.com
Save $5 on two Nivea Lotions by Jan. 30.

8. Skin Store
Get 20% off your purchase with coupon code NEW2012 when you order before Jan. 17.

9. VitaminWorld
Take $5 off orders over $25 by Jan. 12 with coupon code TAVWNY2.

10. Yves Rocher
Enjoy free shipping on all orders of $20 or more through Jan. 30 with code YRFREESHIP.

Weekend Finds: Day 1 of the $50 a month challenge....

2012-01-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

Well, today is the official start of my $50 a month shopping challenge. Yay! My original plan was to go and do a little bit of thrifting, but there was a change of plans to take a little road trip to Port Charlotte. Once there, we grabbed lunch and took a walk through the mall. I only brought $20 with me, so if I spotted something that I liked (and could incorporate into my wardrobe), my goal was to spend way under the $20 if I could. Today I only spent $17. Here's what I bought:

Bath and Body Works body sprays in Carried Away, Country Chic, and Japanese Cherry Blossom $1.25 each. Bath and Body Works is having their "Hello Yellow Sale", so these sprays were 75% off, making them only $1.25 each. With tax, this purchase was $4.01

hoop earrings $3.99 and dangling earrings $2.99. These were purchased from a store called "Chic" (formerly known as Charmed 11). I also bought a Nicka K lipstick in "Loud" for $2.99 and a lip pencil for $1.99 (pictured below). I've only tried the nail colors from this brand and they're pretty decent, so I'm quite sure that the quality of the lipsticks are decent as well. The peacock ring was free. I think if you spend over $10, you get a free ring. Sweet! My total purchase with tax was $12.80

Here are a few questions I've gotten about the challenge:

Q. What does the "$50 a month challenge" cover?
A. Since this is my personal challenge, I've decided to only limit my spending on clothing, shoes, accessories, makeup, hair products, etc., because those are the things that I tend to spend my extra money on in a month. If you're planning on joining the challenge, you can cut back spending on anything you like- whether it's eating out or cutting back on makeup, it's totally up to you.

Q. What if you don't spend all of your $50 for the month?
A. I will either carry the remaining balance over to the next month, or put it in my savings.

Q. How long will you do this challenge? A month? Six months? A year?
A. I haven't specified how long I'm going to do the challenge. After this first month is over, I'm going to decide whether or not I want to keep going. I will keep you updated!

I have $33 left and 29 more days to go. Wish me luck!

Designer Way vs. Cheapalicious Way

2012-01-07T19:58:00.000-05:00

The Pierre Hardy suede colorblock wedges retail for $662.40 (down from $1380, ouch!) at Net-a-Porter. Although not exactly alike, these colorblock wedge sandals from Urban Originals make a good dupe. And only under $27!

Star Style under $200: Ashley Greene

2012-01-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

I can't get enough of Ashley Greene's style. This girl is always so put together, even when stepping off of a long flight. Get her jet setting look for less with finds from Forever 21, Old Navy, and more....

shawl cardigan $26.24 (on sale, reg. $34.99), Macy's
tunic tank $5.80, Forever 21
jeggings $34.94, Old Navy
sunglasses $5.80 and layered chain necklace $5.80, Forever 21
Michael Antonio nude pumps $48, Endless
"Mariana" satchel $57.50, Mimi Boutique

GRAND TOTAL= $184.08

Freebie Friday 1-6-12

2012-01-06T08:17:00.000-05:00

Free 7 day pass to 24 Hour Fitness
2 free Zoya polishes (just pay $6.95 shipping). Create an account and add two nail colors to your cart. Apply coupon code ZOYA2012 at checkout. Offer good until 1/9/12
Gendarme fragrance sample (via Facebook)
Free digital 10 issue Seventeen magazine subscription
Free Atkins Quick Start Kit and three Atkins bars
Free All You magazine and People StyleWatch magazine tablet (Nook, Ipad, Android, etc)subscriptions to current print subscribers.