Cute things can be dangerous to my wallet March 7, 2009

Let me just first say, that cute things are only dangerous to my wallet if I don’t practice some restraint.

I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and walk over to Davis Square to get my haircut (the haircut was LONG overdue!).  Went to Salon Femia (again, this time with Daniella, Ornella’s sister), and got quite a short cut.  I was nervous at first, but I think I like it after all.  She had a few suggestions, including dying my hair with regular temporary box color (but didn’t try to upsell me on anything!) because I’ve been getting quite a few white hairs already.  I think I’ll hold off on coloring until I can figure out what color to get (and maybe my friend Melissa can help with the process!)  She also said that my haircut is really versatile, that I could use some fun accessories, hairclips/headbands/scarves, etc.  So now I’ve got the thought in the back of my head that I should go out and buy some cute hair accessories!

Read outside for a while.  Have been reading the book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.  It’s a pretty good book.  He actually mentions personal finance blogs (pages 122-123), including Poorer than You, We’re in Debt, Make Love Not Debt, and Blogging Away Debt, quoting an article about how bloggers interact with each other, sharing stories, ideas, etc. to encourage each others to save money and pay off debts.

And then I started walking around Davis Square.  There are a few new shops there since I last wandered around.  And two of them almost got me buying…Especially since I was hoping to find those hair accessories.  Went into Magpie, which has lots of cute handmade and indie items, like jewelry, bags, cards, and apparel.  One of my friends sells her button necklaces there.  I was tempted by all the cute stuff there, but resisted.  I then headed over to Davis Squared, which had similar items, though more likely manufactured , including tea sets,  aprons, wallets, etc.  Again, tempted!  But again, resisted!  I think stores like these that have Etsy-like products are very good at tempting me.

I guess I’ve also been tempted at Target.  They have so many cute items, especially their organization stuff and dishware/other kitchen supplies.  It’s the kind of stuff where you’d say, “Hmm, those nautical themed serving dishes are adorable!  I guess I need to have a nautical themed party and buy those”.  I resisted the organization supplies as well, because really, I don’t need organization, I need to toss all the outdated junk I have and cut out unnecessary items.  (then maybe I can organize what I have left)

So, luckily, the cute stuff called my name, but I was able to resist.  If I didn’t have as much self restraint, I’d have so much more stuff!  Basically, I want cute things to wear and decorate my house with.  But I’m thinking the housewares can wait until I have a place of my own.  The longer I hold off, the better I’ll be able to utilize these things.  Like I said before, I need to do a major overhaul of what I own.  No need to clutter up before I declutter!

Another haircut discussion March 6, 2008

As a warning, there’s no real personal finance story here…mostly just a review of a hair salon.  I guess the only finance related part is that I spent way less on a haircut that I might have if I had gone to a super fancy salon in Boston.

The last time I got a haircut, I mentioned a list of places to get your hair cut in and around the Davis Square area. This time, I didn’t go to Supercuts…I went to Salon Femia. I called to make an appointment (though they do accept walk-ins) for 7:00pm. I was the last appointment of the night. Because it was stormy that night, but I had gotten there early, I just sat and waited inside while the people ahead of me got their hair done. The receptionist and the hairdresser (is that what I should call her?) were both really friendly and chatted with me and the other customers while we were there. Most likely because I was the last appointment, and because one of the girls ahead of me was getting a lot of highlights and such, they took me for my appointment a little late. I wasn’t really too bothered by it, because I got some reading in, and didn’t have to get home any time soon. The receptionist shampooed my hair, and then the hairdresser that was there that night, Ornella, got to work on my hair. Since I didn’t really have a preference what was done to my hair as long as I looked good, I just let her go to work on it, and surprise me with something good.

And I think she did. And for $35 + tip, I think it was a pretty good haircut!

Okay, so yes, this is another one of those review posts I’ve been doing. But hopefully this might help someone find a reasonably priced haircut in the Davis Square Area.

Haircuts and budgets October 10, 2007

[originally posted Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:50 PM]

So, I realized that getting your haircut can be a lot cheaper if you don’t care that much. I asked around with friends to see what was good/cheap/nearby and got some good recommendations. I suppose this post will be extra helpful for anyone living in the Davis area, since that’s where some friends were living. So, I think these are probably all good places to go, if you trust my friends! I got recommendations for Salonika and Salon Femia in Davis Square, Salon CU and Amal Niccoli Salon (ask for Julie, according to a friend) in Ball Square, and Supercuts in Porter Square.

I ended up going to Supercuts, believe it or not. I got a pretty darn good haircut! Compared to the $35 or so that most of the salons were charging, I paid $19 (including tip) for a hair washing and a cut. And I desperately needed a hair cut. I was going against all those rules of getting it cut every 3 months or whatever it should be. Oh, and don’t worry, I had gotten a haircut within the past year, it was back near my family’s house. That’s where I had gotten my haircut all through college. I didn’t really trust the place in the student center, and so I’d just get my hair cut whenever I went home for a vacation. I got it cut around shoulder length this time around, which will hopefully make me look and feel a lot less dumpy. The people there were really nice, and, really, I didn’t need anything fancy! So, the moral of this story is, you don’t necessarily need to go to a fancy salon. I might end up going to one of the other places some time, depending on where I’m living, and what I’m looking for with my hair. I probably would have gotten more attention, and a thorough blow drying (you pay extra to get your hair washed and/or blow dried at Supercuts) had I gone to one of the other places listed. And I’m guessing people have horror stories of both the really cheap places as well as the really expensive places. So, if you’re on a budget, and you’re not willing to spend more than you have to to get just a basic cut, go for the cheaper locations! If you have difficult hair to work with, or you’ve found a place you like, I’m not saying you shouldn’t go!

Well, hopefully that came through with enough of the “go for cheap if you want” without hurting anyone’s feelings (hair stylists, big spenders).

I do want to update soon about my recent trip to Nicaragua (quick preview: That place is AMAZING!) I really appreciate the comments I’ve received, by the way, and hopefully you’ll keep reading my site (and letting me know what you think)! Thanks! And thanks also to those of you who have emailed me about getting an ING savings account or ING electric orange checking account referrals. I hope you are enjoying your new account! (and your $25 bonuses!) Anyone interested, please do shoot me an email!

Wow, too many exclamation points! This is what happens when you’re writing a post after midnight.

[Edit: I also saved money by signing up for their email program. Yes, it’s another email clogging up your inbox, but I got a $2 coupon, and they’re going to send me coupons every few months, along with a reminder that I might need another haircut]