to covet

in this week's addition of 'don't you wish you were rich'

the definition of coveting:

1 : to wish for earnestly <covet an award>

2 : to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably

uh, yep.

{cred}

heavy sigh.
xoxo ashleycolean

like a moth to a flame

i have a discount card for urban, anthropologie and free people-thanks to my girl brooke. each employee gets to give a discount card to 1 person, and i was her person. my cup runneth over.

here's the issue. for a shopaholic-this is bad. so far so good since i started the lockdown. however, once a quarter the deal gets even sweeter and i get 40% off everything (sale and regular priced). this translates to a huge shopping craving.

i'm trying to curb it. but seriously? have you seen their latest stuff??! i'm going to do my best to be calm, and limit myself to one (or two) new things.

like maybe these???
ugh.
xoxo ashleycolean

fancy or frugal

{cred}

i have pretty serious housing envy. i live in a decent building, for a pretty affordable price, in a great area. but that doesn't mean that i don't look at the apartment complex next to mine with raging envy.

they have porches, and a garage, and a courtyard, and they were built in this century. every person that comes out of that place (apart from the dude that drives a $70,000 bmw) look just like me. young professionals. so how (the hell) can they live there and i can't.

i've been going over this and over this. here's what i've come up with.
1. roommates.
something i refuse to do, unless it's a boyfriend, ever again. once you live alone you can't go back. at least i can't.
2. cohabitation.
just one more benefit couples get over us singles...shared rent.
3. they are living outside their means.
ding*ding*ding*...i'm venturing to guess that's what's happening here.

apartments next door to my little spot (which is, in fact, quite charming) are approximately 40% more than my place. my place is $815.00. cheap for denver. and, that covers all utilities and a parking space (it's $785 without the space).

according to financial experts, you should never spend more than 30% of your net earnings on your housing. utilities should account for a maximum of 2-5% of your paycheck. i'm following this rule, but i bet some of my neighbors aren't. as much as i'd like to have a fancy little place, i'm okay being frugal (most days).

i have to talk myself out of shopping for apartments and talk myself in to being happy about how affordable and good (at least for now) my current place is. but then i've got the damn place next door glaring at me every time i go home. not to mention i've seen some super handsome dudes on those patios...

maybe when i'm out of debt.
xoxo ashleycolean

sneaky turds

i got a call today. i was just an unsuspecting girl at my desk at work and sirius satellite radio called me....for the third time. they must sense how sad i am to be without my satellite radio in my car. it ended at the beginning of the month. when it turned off i think my heart actually hurt. i was so bummed to see it go.

{credit}

today they offered me a year for only $77 +tax and fees. he was even 'willing to wave the reactivation fee....just for me!'

it sucked to tell him no. especially after he said-'how about 6 months for $29???'

damn it. i really do miss it.
xoxo ashleycolean

watch out

you've gotta be kidding. look at this amazing watch! seriously!! and it's only $20.00!! you've gotta be pullin' my leg!

i'm dying on this! love love love it! if you are dying to get your ol' friend ash a present because she posts such a great blog about her depressing life after shopping...by all means-go here!

i promise i'd send a thank you note!!
xoxo ashleycolean

choices

occasionally on this little journey i've put myself on, i feel lost. for the most part i am over the moon with my progress and my sticktoitiveness with digging my way out of this hole. but that doesn't mean that for the other part i don't think this is just insane and i should just go back to my old ways, because damn, i'd love that new bag, or pair of heels...

c/o whi



but the cat has got it all wrong you see. of course it matters. not knowing is okay-just go with an idea and try and figure it out as you go.

'i found the road to wealth when i decided that a part of all i earned was mine to keep'

george clason

build the plane as you fly it.

xoxo ashleycolean

yes, please

american apparel

i want this. i really, really want this. really bad. it's days like this i freaking hate doing this. ugh!!! it's going to take everything i have to not walk over there on my lunch break and get this. think about it....tshirts, tanks, belted, flats, heels....the opportunities for this little diddy are endless. i may have to save up my spending money. july could be the month of the skirt.

i need a second job-just for shopping money to buy this skirt....in every color.
xoxo ashleycolean

want vs need

folks-we've got a problem. i need this dress. it would cost me $96.00 (because my darling friend brooke works for anthro and they are allowed 1 friend to reap the benefit and she chose me...a girl after my own heart). i have a $102.61 gift certificate from some returns i made earlier this month.

but something is holding me back. i feel like i should probably hold on to that cash for gifts or something-but man o man. i don't think i have ever gone a month without buying myself something new. it's annoying. super annoying.

what to do...
xoxo ashleycolean

two sided coin

so when i decided to put myself on financial lockdown, i did so, largely in part to reading the story about anna jones-of and then she saved. she was young, fun, fabulous, a fellow denverite, and fighting her way-uphill-to get out of debt. i was instantly into it.

after a week or so pining away about if i could do it, stick to it and actually make is even sort of interesting to read about-i wrote it down and made it happen.
granted-i'm still a newbie at this. but, i'm doing it. and i'm super proud of myself.

i got a pretty bad spending pang today and as irony would have it, it came from cruising anna's etsy site.
her site hit on the majority of my spending triggers...adorable, funny, one of a kindish. i love popping things in the mail to kc-and onesies are no exception.

i mean really-

d bird-you need these. i'll try and skimp on my 'wants' budget the rest of the month to send it to you!

if nothing else-keep your eye on the mail for this one...

love you d bird.
xoxo ashleycolean

spending pangs

so i saw this on anthro today....

and, of course, i am dying to have it....all of it. ultimately i think i'll just have to send all my shopping/sales emails to SPAM from here on out.

if you're in the market for a new bedspread/rug/pillows/nightstand/lamp/etc/etc, don't worry the order that generally comes to me, isn't...there's at least one left.

you can find me-sleepin' in the same ol' sheets.
xoxo ashleycolean