The Rich Girl's Money Rules to Live By - Page 3
By Sophie Moura
Photo Credit: Bill Diodato
Live Luxe for Less! We get it: You have one (or two) can't-live-without indulgences. But whether it's a glam apartment, a killer fitness routine, or twice-weekly blowouts, here's how to make a deal
THE LUXURY: Fabulous pad
THE SCORE: Choose a small spot in a cool 'hood, which gives your place some cachet, or find nice digs somewhere less central.
THE LUXURY: Regular mani-pedis
THE SCORE: Have a party! Invite a few girlfriends over and hire a nail artist to snag a group rate to split among your pals.
THE LUXURY: Blowouts
THE SCORE: Negotiate a special price at your salon for a regular appointment. Offer to pay for a month of styling up front for a reduced rate.
THE LUXURY: Cool trips
THE SCORE: Follow overseas exchange rates for the best time to travel abroad. Bonus tip: Book a trip to Paris in July to take advantage of the sales!
THE LUXURY: Personal trainer
THE SCORE: Split your sessions with a buddy to pay 50 percent less. Or invite the trainer to your place, off the books, for a lower price.
My Money Secrets
MAKE CHEAP COOL:
"I love collecting dishes and odd cups. Little shops, vintage stores, even eBay sell quirky, interesting china. Why spend a lot on an expensive set when I can get a glass for a dollar?"
Rebecca Minkoff, 31, creative director, Rebecca Minkoff
SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY: "I've stashed away three to six months of expenses. Everyone should do the same — you could get laid off, or a dream opportunity could materialize that you'll want to jump on."
Nicole Lapin, 27, former CNBC anchor, recessionista.com founder
SKIMP ON THE SMALL STUFF: "If you and I went into a drugstore, you'd think I was your poorest friend. I always buy the generic mouthwash or the on-sale tissues."
Sloane Crosley, 33, author of I Was Told There'd Be Cake
INVEST IN A STATEMENT PIECE: "I bought a black Chanel bag. It cost a fortune, but I did the math and the price came out to a dollar a day because I carry it everywhere."
Jenn Hyman, 30, cofounder and CEO, Rent the Runway
PUMP UP YOUR PAYCHECK
Fun ways to make an extra ...
$50 Cash in where you hang out: Always at your fave café? Pick up some shifts to earn money (and score free coffees).
$200 Multitask: If you have an errand-day planned, add a few of someone else's. On taskrabbit.com, users advertise one-off jobs with a rate and location; pick up a few bucks to grocery shop, or earn a few hundred bucks in two hours for packing boxes or editing audio files.
$1000 Clean house: Weed out your closet and visit resaleshopping.com to find local consignment shops; sell old electronics on gazelle.com; visit textbookbuyer.com to unload college books.
$10,000 Pursue what you love: Have a knack for knitting? Sell your skills on Etsy or Craigslist. Got even bigger dreams? Crowd-source donations for a startup on kickstarter.com. (Tom Hanks' son Colin raised more than $90,000 to produce a film!)
Get a raise in 3 easy steps
Money coach Farnoosh Torabi's tips for upping your salary
Do Your Research: Visit sites like payscale.com and salary. com to see how your earnings compare with peers' elsewhere.
Time It Right: Get your company's fiscal calendar and plan your meeting before the annual budget is set. Talk to the boss on Wednesday. Monday's busy; people are inweekend mode by Friday.
Make Your Pitch: Say you love your job and want to discuss your future there. List three recent accomplishments — e.g., you beat a deadline or increased sales. Explain that you're hoping to improve your salary. Name an amount. If you don't get it, end the meeting by asking when would be a good time to follow up.
— Additional reporting by Ashley Ross and Lauren N. Williams
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