5 Ways to be a smarter thrifter

We've all been there, your standing in front of the perfect [insert item here], and you're debating whether or not this piece deserves a spot in your closet/home/garage/friends home-how do you decide? When is the right to time to say no? And when is the right time to say yes to the impulse buy? Have no fear, whether you're shopping at the mall or at your favorite thrift store, Dear Wallet has figured that out for you!
When to say yes:
1. When your head over heels in love (DUH)!
2. When your mind dives into overdrive seeing all the potential in the item for where you can wear/place/give it too
3. When the price tag says "you'd be crazy not to"!
4. When you've been searching for the perfect XZY for-EVER!
5. When you walk away and realize how disappointed you'd be if it wasn't there when you got back.

When to say no:
1. When you really like it...but don't love it.
2. When you feel little-to-no inspiration regarding where you will put/wear/give it to
3. When the price makes you cringe
4. When you have no need or really want for it
5. When you walk away...and forget to come back!

Seems self explanatory written down right? But HOW do you walk away when you fit into maybe 2 points on each scale? Here's how:

1. Leave your wallet in the car-this forces you to put not only mental, but physical exertion into your decision making. Trust me, if you don't LOVEitHAVEtoHAVEit-you will pass on it!
2. Pay in cash-this is an old trick that works! Credit cards trick the mind into thinking plastic isn't money, making impulse buys more common. Cash is real and a physical loss, if you don't need it or really want it, this can and will help you from making impulse buys.
3. Create a wishlist, set a budget...and stick to it! -sounds easy, but can be difficult. Pre-think of all those great items you want and need for your home; furniture, summer dresses, shoes, etc-create a list either visually (like Pinterest-hey add me if you haven't already!) or a text list. And set a budget for each item, for example "I won't spend any more than $50 on a console table for the living room, and $15 on a new summer dress", finally, set a monthly or trip budget such as "I will spend no more than $200 on furniture this month, and no more than $50 on new shoes, or this shopping trip my budget is $25"-even if you go over your budget, (and I'm not referring to financial budgets: just shopping budgets to try and keep you from impulse buying) if you put this work into it, and really make the choice to go over-its because you really, really want it.
4. Evaluate the reasoning behind the purchase-is it functional or emotional? Maybe you love the dress because the color makes your smile, or you had a really stressful day at work and those shoes look amazing right now...these are emotional purchases, ones that once the emotional feeling you get during the impulse buy wears away, you won't feel towards it anymore. More importantly, decide which side the purchase falls behind-functional or emotional, and decide how that makes you feel. If the color makes you happy- that's not a bad thing, just make sure its something that will continue to make you happy over the course of its lifetime!
5. Choose your shopping buddies wisely-much harder than it sounds, but certain friends and family can bring out the impulse buyer in you. If you're not sure if they are affecting your shopping habits, grab your last ten receipts and look for clues! Who was with you, why did you buy these items, who were they for? You may notice things about your shopping habits you never noticed before, and choose wisely. If you need to cut back on your impulse buying, then choose a shopping buddy that doesn't encourage it, or go by yourself!

Would you add anything to this? Let me know!
•linked up to Sunday & Monday Link parties•

HOW TO turn fun into functional!

I'm a functional girl, (Hmm I feel like I should re-word that…) I prefer an item that serves a purpose over an item that doesn't -any day! Knick-knacks are my worst enemy! That being said, I'm an appreciator of art, and as long as art serves its purpose of being interesting/beautiful/thought provoking, I'm absolutely happy with it.

But then there are fun items. Items that maybe aren't quite 'art' and don't fully serve a function other than you love them! Take me for example, I have a fascination for vintage handkerchiefs, the beautiful patterns, the tedious embroidery, the stories behind them..oh my! True I could use them, but to me in their own way they are art and therefore un-functional. In fact, I tend to store them in a bag to ensure they don't get dirty-making them not only un-functional, but cluttering as well! The handkerchief situation was simply remedied by placing them into frames creating beautiful vintage wall art. Functional? Maybe not. But they are beautiful and my collection is now a focal point, without being in the way, and that is a win-win!
So how can you turn your collection into something functional? Depends on what you collect, and your definition of functional!
Here are a few popular collectables:
-Stamps
-Disney pins
-keys
-books
-dishes
-figurines
-cheese grater

In my opinion, beauty is functional so finding the perfect way to display your collectibles is the hard part! But if you're less concerned with the antique/vintage-ness of your items there is always a fun way to turn something fun into something functional!

PAPER GOODS:
Vintage stamp collecting is a huge trend, as are other paper collectibles! Cards, advertisements, postcards, posters etc! Vintage papers are fun and easy to preserve by placing in a frame or album! To get some great use out of your items, try using them in place of scrapbook paper in your albums or in any paper craft! They give your projects a one-of-a-kind look that can only be accomplished using vintage items, and not only do you have an excuse to look at them every day: but they have served a purpose as well!

PINS:
I've slowly been succumbing to the Disney pin craze, my own collection sits at 9 pins total (after some savvy Ebay shopping of course!), and barely counts as a collection, but I did inherit my Grandmothers brooch collection as well! I've seen people break these apart to create absolutely stunning jewelry and hair accessories, but you can decorate frames, hats, finials, even use them as door pulls on your dresser!

KEYS:
Keys are incredibly popular to collect, and how can your resist? Old skeleton keys have too much character for their own good: which is why they make incredible starting points for jewelry, accessory and key chains! String them together to create dramatic garlands or curtains, decorate purses or frames, or create collages on canvas! Imbed into concrete to create unique stepping stones or use as stamps for your paper crafts!

BOOKS:
Many altered arts use vintage book pages, these can be used in place of scrapbook paper as well! Going beyond the typical crafts how about a book clock, a book shelf, or creating a media center holder from one. Want to keep it intact? Try placing on a high shelf to create a border around a room, place underneath a short lamp to create height when needed, or stack on the floor covering with a piece of glass to create a great side table!

DISHES:
Vintage dishes are beautiful pieces of art! Perfect for displaying in cabinets (which tend to take up room...), or on the wall! Try for a large wall-scape and see how it transforms your room! Tea cups look adorable sitting on top of each other, and make cute water fountains, bird feeders, or lamp bases! Fill with wax to make great smelling candles, smash apart to mosaic a lovely table top!

FIGURINES:
Figurines collections can grow quickly, thankfully their little shapes are perfect for re-crafting into just about anything! Lamp bases, decorate frames, light pulls, carve out to create trinket boxes, use as plant signs to specify type, jewelry, bookends etc! The possibilities are endless!

HOME GOODS:
I know the cheese grater might seem a little random (at least it did to me!) but in fact they are extremely popular to collect! Perfect for turning into a great kitchen hanging light, or even on a string of christmas lights at your next party! Home goods are great to creating a homey flea market look to your home, turn items into a vase, cut up to create jewelry, or create storage, even add a coat of chalkboard paint to any item to instantly turn it into a fully functional memo board!

NOTES:
I don't fully endorse 'destroying' vintage items, but many vintage items are simply that: old. Before jumping into a project head first, take the time to check out your items story to ensure you're not destroying an item worth thousands of dollars, or a family heirloom!

TIPS:
I do however endorse thinking outside the box! Take the time to consider what you need in your home, or something you already have and want decorated. Also take the time to consider what the item means to you, and why you like it. Maybe its the color, the soft yellow makes you smile, so make sure you add that item to a room that needs some cheering up or has a yellow color scheme! Maybe its the shape, consider a bit of spray paint and a trip to the hardware store to create a whole new item that keeps the integrity of the shape. Turning something fun into functional can be as easy as screwing it to your dresser to make a knob pull, or as elaborate as building a water fountain! Be creative, and have fun!

Stay tuned this week for a tutorial post that inspired this how to segment! Didn't see your collectable on this list? Let me know! Lets keep adding to this and make a great resource for anyone interested in turning their fun item into a functional one!

HOW TO wear the runway

Designers define the style, start the trends, and kick off the desires of every fashion loving girl (and boy) around. The problem is, the items on the runway are rarely wearable in the real world. But they give us inspiration, and tell us what to (and not to) wear. Interpreting the runway is a personal thing. Most blogs will tell you how to get the same look for less. The problem to me is, it's still not wearable. So not only do I reinterpret it differently, but many of the items you may have in your closet from a previous season. Add a trip to your local thrift store or Target, and you will be set for the season!

This season's must have color tone is 'seafoam' ranging in shades from mint green to soft blue, its easy to find and pair for any style. Here are some great runway examples from left to right: Vera Wang, Tibi, Rodarte, and Tory Burch.

Here's how I interpret the runway:

A. Inspired from Vera Wang, This long sheer sea foam dress leaves you comfortable in the summer heat, classically beautiful for any occasion, and sophistcatedly sexy. Pair with the seasons must have accessory: gold, and you will be the talk of the town.

B. Inspired by Tory Burch, I've opted for a shorter bright blue dress with a loose fit for the summer breeze, and great for any body type and showing off a little leg. Layer your gold with necklaces, bracelets and beautiful gladiator heels for a natural beauty look, with bold statement for a lunch date, or a day of shopping.

C. Inspired from Rodarte, this beautiful bright mint dress, paired with a great contrasting blue belt and shrug when the sun goes down, perfect for a night on the town looking flirty.

D. Inspired by Tibi, this simple ensemble is great for running errands, or a day at the office. A tight fitting cardigan in mint green with pastel trousers, makes a great outfit for days when comfort is key. Keep your tones pastel and contrasting to add drama, steer clear of prints to give maximum affect, and make sure the leg is wide or flared to stay trendy!

Your turn. How do you wear the runway? Leave me a comment or send me a picture!

Click the image to head to Polyvore to find out more about the items shown!

Guest Services: How to make matching jewelry sets

Welcome to the first of many guest posts on Dear Wallet, Cindy is thrift lover, second-hand picker, and jewelry designer from Sacramento, CA. She is currently in the process of starting her blog, so look for details coming soon on how to contact her! 

-Aria

So you found that perfect necklace to go with that perfect outfit, but alas, no earrings to match.  

Making your own jewelry can be the solution to this particular dilemma.  It’s fun, easy and cost effective.  Beads, findings (the metal parts that hold it all together) and tools can be found in specialty shops, online and at many big box stores like Joann’s, Beverly’s, Michaels’s and Wal-Mart.  The amber crystal beads that I chose for my earrings were purchased at my local specialty shop.  The total cost for the earrings including the crystals, findings and leverbacks came to under $5 .00. (A true win-win!) 

The first step is to select your components.  In this case I chose amber crystals in a medium size teardrops and tiny filler beads. To minimize frustration, play with different patterns and decide on an arrangement before you begin assembling. 

To complete this project I will need; 4 tiny crystals, 2 medium teardrops, 2 leverbacks, 2 headpins and 2 O rings.  

Next, thread the beads onto the headpin and using wire cutters, clip off the excess and curl the remaining wire into a loop. 

  

Some O rings are precut but these are not.  

This is easily remedied by making a small snip and slightly separating the ends just enough to slide the drop earring and leverback on.

 Twist back together and voile la!  You have a great pair of earrings.

Enjoy!

-Cindy

More jewelry design by Cindy:

All photos courtesy of Silver Daisies Studios.

halloween shopping pt2: how to do it right!

By now you've all seen the newest segment of INSPIRATION [halloween decor]--right?! If you like anything that pertains to Halloween, you'll love it, or at least be inspired from it! So in part two (part 1 here) of Halloween Shopping done right, I want to show you how you can use the same 'formula' to do your Halloween decorating!

Plan. Plan. Plan.

(Ring a bell?) Start at home, research for inspiration, then go shopping.

1. So here are some of the goodies I dug up around my own home:

2. Here is some inspiration I found:

3. Want to know what I came up with? Gotta wait until October 30th to find out!

[Insert witches crackle here!]