May 2013 // Spending Report

*Most of what I purchase is found secondhand, thus, the images above are similar to, but not the exact item.

Clothes

Vince Camuto Satin Ruffle Heels (similar) // $25 // I scored a pair of pre-loved blush pink heels with a satin ruffle front on Poshmark.

Basic V-Neck Tanks // $20 // I usually stock up on basics once or twice a year. This time around I purchased the coral red color above, lavender, pink, and two plain white t-shirts at Wet Seal.

Sundresses (Similar: Floral & Zigzag)  // Approx. $15 total for both // I purchased two sundresses like the ones above from Poshmark as well. I always like to have them ready for summer!

GAP Utility Dress (similar) // $5 // I found an older style, yet still adorable, olive green utility dress from GAP on, of course, Poshmark!

Hudson White Jeans (similar) // $40 // Yes another Poshmark find, white Hudson jeans for a fraction of the retail price.

Black Cat Eye Sunnies (similar) // $5 // Purchased on ModDeals, but they are now out of that exact style.

Blue Floral Bauble Necklace (similar) // $5 // Yup, you guessed it, another Poshmark deal! My necklace is from the LOFT, but the one above is a dead-on twin.

Floral Headband (similar) // $2 // I adore headbands, they are so easy to wear! I added a floral one, similar to the one above, to my sundress purchase on Poshmark.

Pink Crossbody Satchel (similar) // $5 // OK, OK...I also got a pink Forever 21 bag from Poshmark. Yes, I have an addiction! The purse I purchased actually looks very similar to the Rebecca Minkoff purse above. 

TOTAL: $122

Well, my spending fast went out the door quickly. BUT I did spend quite a bit less than I did in April! WOOHOO! However, the streak must continue. How is everyone else doing with their spending habits? As you can tell, I'm ever the bargain shopper, but tend to go overboard. Being involved in the blogger world, it's so hard not to want every cute pair of earrings and shoes you see! 

In other news, I actually did purchase a Canon Rebel T3 DSLR camera and am in love with it! (I decided to leave it out of my clothing expenses here.) It's such an easy starter DSLR for a newbie like myself. I purchased it on Amazon for about $320. It's refurbished and is an older model, but works like a charm. You can look forward to better photos on my blog in the future, finally!

xo,
Elissa

Today I'm linking up with Style Elixir.

If Money Could Talk

Let's get real. If my money could talk, it would probably be saying, "Stop spending me on that unnecessary pair of heels and just deposit me into your savings!" Oh, those dreaded "s" words. Spending and saving. One thing I do too much of, the other not enough. 

{Dumb Kid Designs | Etsy | $6.00 | Pink & Tan Chevron Wallet}

Sparkles and Prays was created to be a faith and style blog. In good faith I'll share my flaws along with my successes, and in true style I hope to only showcase the most affordable fashion (with the occasional splurge). I believe life is worth living, if buying that gold pair of sparkly heels will bring you joy every time you wear them, go for it--so long as purchasing them isn't at the cost of other priorities in your life.

I struggle with finding that balance. Between paying off my school debt and a shopping spree, I'm guilty of  choosing the latter. As a young adult, new to paying bills, loans, and the career world, I find it hard to keep track of my money (which results in frivolous overspending). I've attempted several ways, and none of them seem to fit. This year I've decided to pull ideas from various financial plans to create a customized plan for my bank account and personal spending habits. I hope you can take away at least one tip that works for you!

1. Record EVERY dollar spent. I recently downloaded the app called, "Budget" (creative name, huh?). It's an electronic version of the envelope system where you "add" the amount of money you want to spend in each category (groceries, shopping, gifts, etc.) and throughout the month you input your transactions and the app takes care of deducting your purchases from your initial balance. Sadly, using Budget has proven to me that I overspend in about every category. Read on to see the tips I'm going to apply to my budget next month.

2. Set aside savings along with other monthly expenses. I realized that I was only adding money into my savings after I calculated my shopping budget, like shopping was a category I just have to put aside money for ... not. Here are the categories that should be a priority for me:

• Savings, Groceries, Gas, Gifts, Eating Out, Living Expenses, Student Loans, Tithing, and Personal Care.

Gifts and eating out may seem frivolous, but these are categories that allow me to appreciate and spend time with loved ones, which is well worth the money. Groceries, savings, gas, and personal care are budgets I'm still adjusting to find the right amount I need on a monthly basis. 

3. Balance the use of cash, credit, and debit for purchases.

• Cash: I typically only have cash if I babysit during the week. Thus, I've gotten into the bad habit of swiping my credit or debit card with every transaction, which ultimately leads to overspending. This February I'm making an effort to withdrawal just $60 every week and avoid using my debit or credit cards for daily purchases (minus groceries, read on for my plan). This will mean gas, eating out, and personal care items.
• Credit: I'm a newbie at building credit, but I do know it's important to use your card wisely--in the hopes that you're able to  pay off the balance every month. This February I'll only use my credit card for groceries and my rent payment. The larger the purchase, the more reward points I receive at the end of the month. And absolutely no clothes shopping purchases will be charged to my credit card. I also hope to pay off my credit card the same day I use it, meaning that I will not have to worry about spending a future paycheck to pay off last month's credit spending. (I'm going to catch up to this goal by using February's savings portion to completely pay off my balance, a month before it is due. Next month I will resume regular savings.)
• Here's one of my favorite articles about boosting your credit score.
• Debit: So, what's left for my debit card to do? I'll use my debit card for the transactions that don't happen as often, like buying a gift for someone. I'll also use it to pay my monthly student loan payment and will refer to these straightforward methods to reduce my loan debt in the most efficient way. 

This balance between cards and cash is my own personal preference, but I hope it'll help you evaluate your use of your own paper and plastic. 

4. Create a Budget Binder. I love what technology offers in the field of personal organization, but sometimes, good ol' paper and pen are the most satisfying means of budget control. I'll continue to use my Budget app for everyday expenses, but will record the app's summary into a budget binder at the end of every month. Knowing me, writing it down will help create a visual of what I can afford to cutback on. 

• Here is a free printable budget worksheet that I found from the fabulous blog, Creative Kristi. It's colorful and fun, which will motivate me to actually record my monthly spending summary!
• I'm going to add clear sheet protectors to my binder to hold monthly bills, receipts, and my check book. 
• Decorate! Create a collage on the front of your binder that will encourage saving and inspire you to budget well.

Here are two of my favorite websites, tailored for women who are looking to be financially wise. 

• The Everygirl finance column; see my favorite article here.
• Financially Wise Women

I know this plan won't work for everyone. More simply, I needed a place  to document my personal goals and to be held accountable. Thanks for reading, Happy Saving!

xo,

Elissa

Making Good Habits, Breaking the Bad

(Title, no relation to the awesome TV series)
My New Year's Resolutions? Well, here they are ...

1. Cook a homemade meal once a week.
I bake occassionally, though it's harder for me to cook a good and well-rounded meal. I hope to try out one of these recipes a month and cook at least one homemade meal a week, in hopes of living a healthier lifestyle that allows me to enjoy food and take my time preparing it.

{Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich}

2. Remove my mascara every night before bed.
I never go to bed without washing my face, but I do have a nasty habit of leaving my mascara on for multiple days at a time. I tell myself this routine saves me time in the morning, but really, my lashes end up looking like a clumpy mess. I also hope to use my SmartLash serum every night (it worked wonders when I used it a few years back), and use these tips for no clump, healthy-looking lashes.


{Mascara, via}

3. Be wise with my money.
My friends and family know me as an online shopaholic. It's to the point where Ronnie will hand me his laptop when he's watching sports, just because he knows I'd rather unwind from the day by shopping online. Most importantly, building my savings fund and tithing to God is better than the item I'll tire of in a few months. I've downloaded this handy app to track my spending and reduce my tendency to impulse buy while I'm surfing the web late into the night.

{Via Jonathan Adler}

4. Rest: with tea, candles, cozy pajamas, and get lost in a book.
I have a really hard time doing one thing at a time. I'm a notorious busy-body, needing to multitask at every second of the day. Something I tell myself all the time is to "stop and rest." This past summer was the first time I really got to slow down and do things I love. I believe it is so important to follow God's lead and take a Sabbath every week, not only to myself, but to enjoy time spent with Him.

{Anthropologie Tea Cup, via}

5. Join a homegroup at church.
I've finally started attending a church regularly and think my days of church-hopping have seen their last. I'm excited to get plugged into a homegroup next month with a group of young women like myself. I've found myself craving purposeful friendships and I'm ready to see what God has in store for me and new relationships.