Shopaholic?!
blog by Alexis Jones

It’s hard times in Moneyville, ladies, and you know how I know this? Because I accidentally threw away my brand new mascara in the kitchen trash and rather than replace it with a brand, spanking new one, I went diving in after it. Sifting through old milk cartons, egg shells, and coffee grinds, I finally found my CoverGirl eye wand awaiting her rescue. Let’s be honest, six bucks goes a long way these days; it’s a Starbucks date on you, a promotional foot long at Subway, daytime valet, an hour and a half long distance call to Brazil, a medium Cold Stone ice cream with a single topping, or half of a Papa John’s pizza split between you and your best friend.

Here’s the deal, we’re in a financial crisis and it’s time we buckle down and get serious about our spending. Speaking of, I was recently the “plus one” to the premiere of Confessions of a Shopaholic and was pleasantly surprised by the glossy chick flick. Our leading lady, Isla Fisher, is hysterical and the storyline actually had some relevant advice for young women today: Get in control of your finances! Admittedly, something I am desperately working on!

I will never forget talking to a business graduate from Harvard, explaining to her how passionate I was about “empowering girls/women and how I just wanted them all to feel beautiful.” Her candid and rather trite response was, “That’s great, but if you’re not teaching them how to be financially independent, then you’re crippling them because it doesn’t matter how ‘pretty they feel’ if they can’t pay their bills.”

She had a valid point. From that moment forward, I knew that I wanted to build a company that was not just a “warm and fuzzy, feel pretty” company, but one that gave tangible tools to better equip women for what life might throw them. And if you want to see what is important to you, if you want to know where your priorities lie, check out your bank statement. Where you spend your money is a direct correlation to what matters the most to you.

For instance, while I wouldn’t throw down three hundred dollars for a new purse, I have no problem dropping a grand on a plane ticket to Tibet; because, for me, I simply cannot put a price tag on an adventure. Similar with experiences, I’d much rather pay for a dinner out with my friends as opposed to a new pair of shoes. Obviously what motivates my spending habits are adventures, new experiences and opportunities to hang out with the people I love.

So whether it’s shoes, clothes, food, entertainment, international tickets abroad, gym membership, art, school tuition, etc., you can quickly learn a lot about yourself. Who needs horoscopes, astrology or palm readings? Your bank statement will tell you more about who you are than all the fortune telling combined.

As for the current economy, figure out what are the “musts” and what things you can go without for a bit. Whether it’s fishing out your yoke covered mascara from the bottom of the trashcan or just being more conscious of your random credit card swipes, keep your purse buckled a little bit tighter, practice your restraint and together we’ll sail through this economic hiccup.

economy, finances, isla fisher, money, shopping