Earning prestige on your own merit.

I have touched on this subject before because there are some people in this world who are looking for hand-outs or looking for the magic carpet to instantly appear out of nowhere.  You can learn a lot by putting in your own hard work.

 I remember Wendy Williams was talking to someone in her audience and she mentioned about the days when you lived in your first apartment and had mice or other pests in your the home and you toughened up and made it work out.

Let me go back and tell you about my very first apartment.  It was in a town where I had never lived and an apartment manager had taken me to another apartment first.  This apartment was so dingy, I cried. (really I did!)  I had never been on my own, and I was determined, but the vision that I had in my mind was not this one.

 I dreamed of a fully furnished apartment in the nice part of town, and everything was bright and beautiful, and I could just see myself entertaining my friends and enjoying my life.  Sad to say that this was not my reality.

  My reality at that time was ragged flooring, walls that desperately needed to be painted, and mice and other pests.  There was definitely drug selling and other things being sold in this neighborhood.

I could not imagine the beauty that could be created. Now I see a lot of ladies on Youtube showing how to make a less-than-perfect apartment beautiful, and it is really inspiring.

  We didn't have Youtube at that time but we all had that aunt who could create a palace out of a not-so-beautiful apartment.  This experience was a hard pill to swallow because it wasn't my dream but I have to say that this experience changed me.

 It changed the way I saw things and my perception.  It taught me how to be creative and appreciate the work that I had to put in and also the young lady who thought that she couldn't make it on her own. Made it!

It was hard but it showed me how to make some serious choices.  That is the key, choices because if you do not change the way you think, your outlook will remain very bleak.

 I can never forget those days when I had to stretch the orange juice by adding more water to it and the days that I ran out of my favorite floor cleaner and the day when my old car finally stopped running and I knew that I would have to rely on public transportation at that point.

 I didn't turn into this frugal queen by accident; I had to struggle.  The tools were always there but it was not something that someone could tell me or rescue me, it was life and life humbled this scared young lady.  I now know that I can make it no matter what.  If I can make it, you too!

Only The Poor Shop At Thrift Stores?

                                      Only The Poor Shop At Thrift Stores?

Someone told me that "only poor people shop at thrift stores"  I looked at her like she was crazy because there are many wealthy people who shop at thrift stores.  Rich people stay rich by saving and cutting corners in other areas.  Of course, they can afford to buy new but why should they?  People have this idea that being well-dressed in expensive clothing will make them appear rich but what people can really see is, you don't have any savings and you are running up your credit cards for the latest fashions.

Many people who dress in expensive clothing are really broke. A friend of mines asked me whether or not I feel funny wearing clothing that someone else wore and I told her that when you shop at the mall you are trying on clothes people have tried it on and also clothes that were worn and returned.  Even if you shop online, you will be buying clothes that probably was returned for one reason or another.

I understand that everybody has their own preference and I get it but, by the same token, don't chastise me for my frugal choices.  Some people get upset when they find out that wealthy people are shopping the thrift stores but I feel that there are enough clothes and goods to go around to anyone who wants to buy them.  It is a great way to recycle and support your community programs.

I say "don't knock it till you try it"  People are often amazed at what I find at thrift stores and if you take a look on YouTube you will see many fabulous, well dressed Diva's flaunting their thrift shop finds.  You can even find many designer handbags there and sometimes new items are there too.

You can shop at these stores and save money and plan a beautiful vacation for you and your family.
Be smart in everything that you do.