The Shame Squad

Several of you (actually many of you--wow!) wrote to me privately to tell me how you appreciated the Frugality Conversation on a post I did this summer.  And you asked if you could share it with the young adults in your lives that are hoping to become financially savvy (yes, absolutely)! So I'm happy to make it a regular part of the blog, because I know that just reading about other people's money-saving ways helps me stay on track. Truth. So let's talk about gift-giving, since we're still in wedding season, and then we have fall/winter holidays and December graduations still to come.  Specifically, let's talk about cards. Important Money Mindset Change: I want to encourage you to start thinking about expenses on an annual basis.   Let's say you're giving three cards a month, and they're $4.50 a card at the grocery store.  That's $160+ on just pieces of paper every year, and that's not even including holiday cards, if you send those. ...

I've written and unwritten this post many times in the past several days.  I like to keep the blog hilarious and full of nutrition disasters, frivolous British Royalty commentary, and fashion snark.  And I haven't wanted to come across as bossy or condescending, because Lord knows I'm so far removed from having all this figured out.   Several of you have reached out to me to ask for  a crash course in how to engage their elected leaders (because of my post card postings, I assume) or how to talk to your "many sides" colleagues or family (because of my HR Lady-ness, perhaps).  And so I've started to realize that this is no different than when people send me the " hey, can we talk about mental health because I'm at a breaking point " message or the " family member just came out--not sure how to be an ally? " text.  Those are conversations I'm way comfortable with (so call anytime!).  This is one where, like I said, I'm still nav...

Perhaps you have noticed that we travel a bit.  Truthfully, most of it is for work.  In fact, 80% of our trips this year are work-related.  We often turn them in to mini vacations, usually with one of us arriving after the other.  That means that we're usually packing for both work and vacation at once, and we've gotten good at getting it all in to one small suitcase that's never over the weight limit.  (Do we even own a 'big' suitcase?  I'm not sure we do!) In fact, my father-in-law once picked me up at Dulles and seemed confused that my plaid duffel bag and I didn't want to wait at baggage claim.  "Where's your luggage?" he asked.  "This is it," I replied.  He eyed me suspiciously, before remarking "no....way." Way, dude.  Here are our secrets! Tip #1: Use packing cubes . A flight attendant friend introduced me to these.  I love 'em for a few reasons: It makes all of your stuff more compact. You can bring a ...

I ordered a Stitch Fix box.  I blame it all on the fact that I've been sick, and watching waaaay too many episodes of "Fixer Upper," which means that I've been watching an abundance of Stitch Fix commercials. Okay, that's not true.  Well, the being sick/Fixer Upper/commercials part is true.  But that's not why I ordered the box.  Increasingly, I'm doing more and more public speaking for work, and if you know me, you know that I don't prioritize clothes or following fashion.  (Well, outside of Kate Middleton.)  So m y formula for the past decade has basically been: $39 dress from Marshall's + tights from Costco + black or nude heels + earrings = Work Outfit Do you like this look?  Because if you work with me, you will see this 261 days a year. Lately it's gotten to the point that I own the exact same dress from the Nordstrom sale rack in three colors.  Three.  (It's the one above.  I also have it in red and green.)...