Well-Heeled, with a mission

Disney World’s Money Magic: What We’ve Spent So Far

Wellheeled — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:48:56 +0000

Disney World promises to deliver the magic – what’s also magical is how effective Mickey & Co is at getting money out of my wallet. Our Disney adventure has already cost us $3,198.56, and we haven’t even set foot in Orlando yet.

Costs Already Paid

$1,828.16: Disney package including 5-day base ticket, 5-night stay at a Value Resort, 5-day basic dining plan, and travel insurance.
$1,370.40: Plane tickets including cost of $300 to change flights.

Costs Planned But Not Yet Incurred

$50: Tips. We will be having 4 sit-down dinners (and one buffet). Assuming an average of $30 per sit-down dinner per person, and 20% tip, our total amount for gratuity should be ~$50. (Disney dining plan does not cover tips).
$50: Miscellaneous food items / airport items, etc. We’ll try not to spend this much, but things happen.
$65: 2 photo books of our magical memories from Blurb or Shutterfly – one for me and one as a gift for CB.

Costs We Don’t Plan To Incur

Checked luggage: United charges $15-$20 for the first item you check. Not unreasonable, but just not something we’ll be paying for. 2 pieces of carry-on should be enough for me for a 5 day-trip. I just have to make sure I bring good walking shoes and a jacket and sweater.
Souvenirs: Mickey Ears, stuffed animals, sweatshirts, etc. – I’ll be happy to forgo these items so I can save money to do the photo books.

Given that we are going to Disney World during what is arguably the most expensive time of the year (the week between Christmas and New Year’s) and the scheduling snafu, I think we’ve done the best we could in keep costs down.

And on the “bright” side – all those holiday lights and decorations will be at the Resort! I’m guessing it will be – oh what’s the word – magical.

Photo Books: Blurb vs. Shutterfly

Wellheeled — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:09:43 +0000

I know what the perfect momento of my upcoming Disney adventure would be: a photo book filled with pictures and memories!

Because… realization of childhood dream to visit the Mouse + our first big vacation together deserve some kind of remembrance, right? Instead of buying Disney souvenirs that will be tossed or lost later on, I’m splurging for this photo book project. I’d like to make 2 books – one for CB and one for me.

I’m thinking a book of about 20-35 pages, 80%-90% pictures. Size-wise, I’ll probably go for a small square book. Ideally, the books would be 12 inches by 12 inches – alas, that option is too expensive. I’ve heard good things about Blurb and Shutterfly, and will probably go with one of these companies when the time comes to put my book together.

Based on my online research, I made a short comparison of Blurb vs. Shutterfly, and would like all of you to weigh in!

Comments on Blurb:

cheaper price per page – if I go this route I will definitely get the 40 page book to get my money’s worth
read good reviews about the quality of the premium paper option
somewhat mixed reviews on quality of picture / printing

Comments on Shutterfly:

book dimensions are slightly larger than Blurbs (which is good!)
limit on page count – I will stick to a 20-page book with Shutterfly to avoid incurring additional costs
read reviews of pictures coming out “darker” or “more orange” than originally uploaded photos

I am just not sure about which company to go with. Because I have 2 months until I will be able to do a photo book, I suppose I have more time to research. But I think I’ve exhausted google-able reviews already…

So – this is where you can help, dear reader! What do you think about either (or both) of the companies? Please let me know about your photo book-making experiences!

How to Host A Dinner Party For Less

Wellheeled — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:47:52 +0000

Remember when I made crab cakes? That was for a dinner party of 5 or 6. And they were delicious and everyone loved them, but, crabs are expensive! 2 lbs of crabs cost $20 out the door. Add in the other food and ingredients and I’m looking at $40 that night. I love to entertain and I want to do it often, but I can’t spend $20 on 1 dish more than once in a while.

So when I decided to host another dinner last night, I decided to look to a humble ingredient – the potato. I also had a few pescatarians and vegetarians in my party, so I decided to serve a scalloped potatos (without bacon bits) as the main dish. It’s perfect for a chilly night, filling, delicious, and easy on the wallet.

Here’s how you keep dinner party costs (and stress level) low:

- Serve a main dish that uses low-cost ingredients (eggs, potatoes, flour, etc.). This will help keep your cost down. After all, if you are serving lobster tails with truffle butter, your costs will not be low (but oh, will your dinner be delicious!) no matter what you do. Using inexpensive ingredients also mean that if you somehow mess up during the course of cooking and have to use more material, it’ll be okay. Unlike, say, if you drop a bowl of crab on the floor. That will be $10 down the drain.

- Skip the decorations but fire up the ambiance with candles or mood lighting. Most of the time, my dinner parties are just casual get-togethers with friends. There’s no need for theme or decor or all that jazz! Some candles (tea lights are $1.99 a package at IKEA) will do the trick nicely.

- Ask your guests to bring wine / dessert / side dish. Your guests will ask you what they can bring, don’t be shy to let them know that beverages or side dishes would be appreciated. I always say, “if you can bring something, wine or dessert would be great!” And my guests usually all bring a little something to share with the group.

What are your best tips for hosting a dinner party?

Do It Yourself Jewelry – Does It Save Money?

Wellheeled — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:59:18 +0000

I made this pendant over the weekend – CB’s mom has a lot of tools and beads to make her own jewelry, and she nicely said that I can make something on my own. So while CB was out working on his car, I just grabbed a pearl bead and some silver wire and went to work.

For someone who has never wire-wrapped before, I was very happy with how the necklace turned out. The pearl looks as if it’s floating in an orbit of silver, and I maintain that the unevenness and asymmetry are intentional and only increase its charm.

Although I love this necklace (partly because I made it), I don’t think making my own jewelry would be saving any money, per se. Quality beads / materials / tools can get quite expensive. CB’s mom has a large cache of materials to work with – but it costs a lot of money to build up such an inventory. Then, there’s the monetary value of the time that one spends working on the jewelry. Jewelry-making probably won’t turn into a full-fledged hobby for me, but it’s nice to be able to make something pretty once in a while.

One of the good things about making jewelry is that it can potentially turn into a money-making hobby. My one excursion into DIY jewelry, however, made me wonder how much of a profit those wonderful Etsy jewelers turn.

More expensive items has bigger profit margins, but on etsy the prices are all fairly low for jewelry. $100-$200 seem to be around the high-end of the range for jewelry prices. Especially people who sell a pair of earrings for $10 or less – how do they make money? After accounting for the time they spend making the piece, the raw materials cost, and the fee they pay to list on etsy, the profit margins must be quite thin.

Dining at Disney World

Wellheeled — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:34:34 +0000

For our stay at Disney World, CB and I both decided to get the basic dining plan (1 snack, 1 quick service, 1 table service credit per day, for about $40 per person, per day). Apparently, some restaurants at Disney World fill up so quickly that reservations are needed 90 to 180 days in advance. *blink* I didn’t even know I was going to Disney World three months ago!

Fortunately, I was able to quickly book a few dinners for two. Our times are a bit late, but I was pleasantly surprised that not everyone was as gung-ho as I’d thought and so there are still spots open for us latecomers! So far, I’ve made reservations at Les Chefs de France in Epcot, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios, and Crystal Place at Magic Kingdom. Still have to make a reservation for Animal Kingdom and our second night at Epcot.

We decided that we will be using our table service credit for dinner to get the most bang for our buck. We also decided to forgo signature dining experiences or character dining (two types of dining / restaurants that would require 2 table service credits per dinner per person). If we want to do character dining, i.e. having dinner with Mickey, we’d have to spend 2 table service credits per dinner, per person. I love Mickey, but… no thanks!

I am really glad we decided to get the dining plan. This takes a lot of the pressure off for trying to figure out where to eat and what our dining budget is. For breakfast and lunch we’ll be relying on the quick service and snack credits – I also plan on bringing crackers and some non-perishables (canned tuna, anyone?) to make quick and easy snacks in the hotel room.

P.S. Learning how to plan a vacation at Disney World is like learning another language. Disney World must be special – instead of calling reservations plain ol’ “reservations”, it must be called “Advanced Dining Reservations” (ADRs).

P.P.S. My post on Disney World is up at the 230th Carnival of Personal Finance. Thank you to host Canadian Finance Blog for including it.

Who Remembers Layaway?

Wellheeled — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:01:07 +0000

For today’s BlogHer post, From Great Depression to Great Recession: Layaway is Making a Comeback, I did some research into “layaway programs” – basically low cost financing programs for customers who put a down payment on an item, then pay off the balance in installments over several weeks. Once the item is paid for, the costumer can then pick it up and bring it home.

Before writing the BlogHer post, I really had no idea that layaway still existed. (I don’t think I even knew what it was exactly). It seemed as if it would be something done in the 1950s or 1960s, before the advent of credit. Now, the economy has prompted more retailers to offer the option, but I still won’t be using a layaway.

I guess I’d rather save my money on my own than go through a structured layaway program in stores. Since I won’t be buying any hot toys in danger of selling out, nothing I want to be would require going through a layaway.

So… who remembers layaway?

Best Drugstore Foundation I’ve Ever Tried (and it’s only $6!)

Wellheeled — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:20:22 +0000

Normally, I stay away from drugstore face makeup because of some bad past experiences. When I compiled a list of best beauty finds under $10, I didn’t include any foundations because I got tired of buying cheaper foundations that didn’t work for me – I’d rather save that money and put it towards a $30 bottle that I like, I thought.

A few days ago, however, I picked up Jane Be Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting Foundation when I was running errands at Rite-Aid. It was an impulse purchase – the price was only $5.49, which makes it 80% cheaper than the higher-end foundations I usually use.

The price, the generous size (1.7 oz) and the SPF 30 caught my eye. And I am so glad that I bought it! It’s one of the best foundations I’ve tried, and definitely THE best drugstore foundation. With Loreal, Neutrogena, and Almay running $10-$14 per foundation, it’s even cheaper than other drugstore brands.

After a few hours I had some shine, but that happens with every foundation I’ve ever worn, so that’s to be expected. I do think this foundation would work for people with both dry and oily skin – it provides a little moisture and gives a slight glow, but dries in a light, almost powdery finish.

There are only 4 colors available (Medium Fair, Soft Honey, Natural, Dark Natural), fortunately the colors are all good neutral tones. I found a color that suit me very well. The coverage is sheer, almost like that of a tinted moisturizer. The foundation is good for smoothing out unevenness and maybe hiding very very small blemishes, but other than that, it’s not designed to provide much coverage. What I love about it is how lightweight it is and how natural it looks (there’s nothing worse than feeling like you have a “mask” on).

The SPF 30 is a great bonus. The sanitary packaging is another (easy plastic tube with twist-off cap). All in all, especially given the low price, Jane Be Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting Foundation is a great foundation… I’d pay double (maybe even triple) what I paid for it. In fact, I ran back to Rite Aid and got another one, just in case I can’t find it later on.

This just goes to show me that maybe I shouldn’t be such a foundation snob!

Working Through the “Off” Days

Wellheeled — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:45:59 +0000

I’ve been dancing the tango consistently for about 2 months. I enjoy it. A couple of weeks ago, however, I felt a little “off” – my turns weren’t quite as compact, my follow not quite as responsive. I felt tired, discouraged.

So this week, instead of going to tango 4 times a week, I’ve cut back to only once. I gave myself (and my feet!) a break, went to my favorite class, and got back into the groove. Those “off” days were uncomfortable, but I didn’t let them deter me from working towards my longer term goal: to become really, really good at Argentine tango.

In personal finance, I’ve had “off” days, weeks, and months. But the important thing, I have learned am still learning, is not to let momentary obstacles become permanent roadblocks.

On the other hand, keeping up a certain level of intensity continually is unrealistic. So maybe you’re focused on saving for retirement, and try to put $500 in your 401K every month. Well one month you had a really bad time – you got a traffic ticket, or you went on a shopping spree, or you ate out at a swanky restaurant every week.

That doesn’t mean you should give up on your goal of saving in the 401K, but it also doesn’t mean you should eat cheese and crackers for the next three months to make it up. One, you probably can’t do it. Two, you will feel guilty that you can’t do it, or feel discouraged and throw in the towel on the whole goal.

This is what I’m learning during this stint with unemployment. Many times I do feel frustrated that I am not moving forward on my financial goals, or that I’m not progressing in my career as I had envisioned. I had really wanted to be able to max out my 401K this year (and you know, every year after that until I retire).

But sometimes, in order to continue working towards a goal in the long run, we have to be able to forgive ourselves for, and move on from, our transgressions in the short run.

Question On Roth IRA and Foreign Income

Wellheeled — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:53:27 +0000

Looking ahead (as I am wont to do), I’ve been thinking about the problem of continuing my retirement savings if I were to move abroad next year.

While abroad, I will be paid in foreign currency. I will not contribute the foreign income I receive to retirement funds. However, I will continue to freelance with US-based entities and be paid for those assignments in dollars.

My question is: Can I contribute the income earned under US assignments to the Roth IRA? So, for example, if I made $5,000 in 2010 from freelancing assignments with US-based companies, can I contribute that amount to the Roth IRA even though I was physically in another country?

Playing with Photoshop – Model

Wellheeled — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:27 +0000

Photography by Jasz.

The model in the “Before” looks amazing, but with a little bit of Photoshop, I think the “After” looks a lot more polished (or maybe I’ve just joined the cult of retouching?).

Because the first shot was so great, I really didn’t have to do much: (1) clean up blemishes (spot healing tool), (2) erase under-eye circles (clone stamp and healing brush), (3) tucking / defining the chin area (clone stamp – darken and forward warp tool), (4) whiten teeth (lasso tool and curves adjustment layer), (5) whiten whites of eyes (lasso tool and curves adjustment layer), and (6) darken irises (lasso tool and curves adjustment layer).

The new thing I’ve learned this time is how to define chins and eliminate double chins (this YouTube tutorial was very helpful).

What do you think of the before & after?

Playing with Photoshop – Bride

Wellheeled — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:22:16 +0000

Here’s another attempt… this time I played a little with color / saturation / hues, to bring out a little bit more warmth in the picture. Photography by Jasz at http://www.compho.dk.

The coolest things I’ve learned with this picture is how to whiten teeth, adjust the opacity of the “skin layer” so that some slight fine lines show through (to make it look more natural, but still better), and adding more color to the lips.

The Ordeal of My Disney World Vacation Planning

Wellheeled — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:57:27 +0000

Wait. You mean this isn’t a Disney movie?

Okay then, well, let me tell you how planning really went down.

Planning Take 1

The first steps were really smooth. I searched for our plane tickets through kayak.com and bought a pair of United tickets. CB and I did our own research, pricing different options, including staying off-Disney Resort at a Downtown Disney hotel.

Then I got an online quote from Small World Vacations, a specialized Disney-certified travel agency that were recommended by MouseSavers.com. The SWV quote came out to be a few hundred dollars lower than anything comparable we could’ve cobbled together. So I booked my trip through the agency. Best of all, the service is free.

I have never worked with a travel agent before – but I am SO GLAD I did this time (you’ll see exactly why in a few moments). There are so many different types of vacation packages, dining plans, ticket options that I wanted to have a professional in my corner. My agent was friendly and knowledgeable. She didn’t try to upsell us. There was no pressure, just a lot of helpful information. I liked that.

Planning Take 2

Then, today, after our tickets and packages were booked, CB called me to let me know that he got his vacation dates mixed up by a week. *blink* So that’s when I went into the Rescheduling Mode. United charges $150 a person to change / cancel a flight (not to mention their automated voice recognition system annoyed the heck out of me). I managed to rebook us on a flight that is cheaper than our original flight, but with the change fee the flights came out to be around $70 more than our original cost.

Then, the package cost more too, because of the difference in dates. So, the grand total of our vacation will come out to be $3,400. CB very nicely offered to pay for the change fees, so I think my part will be slightly less at $1,600. The trip is still doable, and I’m still excited. This was just a snafu that fortunately got resolved with some (but not insurmountable) mental stress and financial pain.

Why I Am Glad I Worked With Small World Vacations

My agent at Small World Vacations was great. She immediately called Disney and rescheduled our package and managed to get the $50 Disney change fee waived. Having a professional Disney planner working with me helped me stay calm. I don’t want to imagine trying to navigate the Disney system on my own. Now that all this planning is done, I am going to start daydreaming about the lovely sit-down dinners we’re going to have.

Moral of the Story

Make sure of your vacation dates before you book. And I highly recommend Small World Vacations. At least one good thing came of this change in schedule – we’ll be spending Christmas Day at Disney World!