How Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Mary J. Blige's, and The Christian Louboutins is Bankrupting America.....No Matter What Color You Are
Have you heard it said some people wear all their money on their ass? That used to be me. Um hmm. It did, and I didn't give a damn as long as I looked good when I hit the club or church. I know you-are-not-trying to judge!
I've always been passionate about hair, clothes, and beauty products, but there was a time when the focus of my investments was my closet. See, there are a lot of people who don't want any part of "investing," but truth be told, all of us are investing our money in something. The only difference is the return on the investment. Some people invest in looking good, while others invest their money on food, electronics, or what ever makes them feel good.
Where the heck did this rant come from?
Last night CNN showed the debt episode of Black in America and people were tweeting like crazy about the insane ways we continue to get ourselves in debt. Of course the show focused on black folks, but the truth is, it doesn't matter if you're red, yellow, black or white in America. Being a slave to debt is kicking our ass! And most people could care less as long as they can have what the want--damn the needs. If you're turning up your nose at this, I'm talking about you, if not, I'm talking about your cousin.
To be sure, it probably won't take you long to think of the last time somebody (probably a family member) asked you to borrow money, because they didn't plan for their needs. How many times have you, or a....friend screened calls to avoid a bill collector? We HAVE to do better. Unfortunately, only a few of you will actually read this entire post, and of that group, only a couple people will actually feel what I'm trying to say here. I'm talking to those people. Get it together now. GET IT TOGETHER!!!! Do you hear me? This debt is killing us.
Celebrities Won't Offer to Pay Your Bills When You're Broke
I love sunglasses, and I love Mary J. Blige in either order. She's now selling a new line of shades called Melodies, and they are cute, but still just sunglasses. When I first heard she was coming out with a line, I knew I had to have a pair. Mary's been tweeting day and night about her new shades encouraging me, and you, to run out and be the first to get them. They start around $200. That type of money is nothing for Mary J. Blige to spend on sunglasses, but Hillerie Camille is not Mary J. Blige, Kim Kardashian, Janet Jackson, or any of those other celebrities I think have hot style. Nothing I do or spend will make me look or be like them. shoot I have expensive sunglasses, and I usually wear the cheapies most of the time......
Wake up. It's all marketing. They're counting on you to do whatever it takes to carry the same purse, wear the same shoes, download their songs, smell like them, and ultimately try to be like them. Maybe you won't spend everything, but sometimes you spend more than you should. I've done it, and still do sometimes, we all do on something or the other. It's easy to get caught up. One year the "it" shoe is Manolo Blahnik the next year it's Louboutin's. Doesn't it all depend on what Carrie Bradshaw is wearing anyway? Think about, they always want you to reach in your pocket, and they're using fame to keep us broke. It's not all their fault, we want to impress people, they just now how to play the game.
You Can Have Everything You Want And Then Some
I know, I know after all that ranting, I'm talking about you can have what you want. Two words will get you everything you want: planning and patience. If we would just hold off for at least one day before we buy something many of these chains would drop from our neck. We don't have to have everything right now. I guarantee those Mary J. Blige sunglass will go on sale. They have to. This time, I don't have to be the first in line to get them. You never know, If I'm patient enough Mary might give me a pair...... I know, I had to laugh at that one myself, but you get my point. Listen I'm not an accountant, or a financial guru, but like you I know people hate to see you coming if you have to beg, borrow, and steal.
I realized, now I'm just as passionate about being able to pay my bills every month without wondering if I have to skip a meal for a week. Neh, I don't skip no meals, I have to keep these curves. I want you to be able to rest easy when your phone rings. If you already have your stuff together, teach somebody else how to get it together. Trust me, it might help get them out your pocket. If you know somebody who needs to hear this, please email this post to them. Wait----before you do------ tell me about a time you went crazy buying something you knew you couldn't afford, and you regretted because you knew it cost waaaay too much. Please leave me a comment, they make my day.
Love
Hillerie Camille
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8 comments:
There are plenty of times I'd hesitate before I bought some unnecessary item and think to myself "don't waster your money. You will need this $56 next week, just you wait and see" and sure nuff, next week will roll around and I'll have that awesome $56 bargain hanging in my closet and be trying put $15 in my Tahoe. They are lessons learned and I'm doing better. Too bad I can't say that for many folks.
Trust me, I feel you. Every time I look at those Chanel sunglasses I just HAD to have, I think the same thing. Most of the time I hate to wear them because I'm so afraid of scratching the lense (not covered under any warrenty of course), and you know the lens gets scratched all the time.
Sunglasses are still my thing, but I don't know why I would pay full price for the "designer" glasses when they end up at TJ Maxx anyway. That's one of my regrett stories.
There has been plenty of times where I've purchased something and regretted it soon after. I've gotten to the point where I will take it back, if I can. The reasons vary one, I am a single parent w/no child support. I always think she's growing and she's going to need SOMETHING. Two in the end it's I just really can't afford it. I like to say well I had for a day, but I took it back. Buyers remorse is a mutha. As I get older, I try to get and take the advice of those who've been there and done that. Now, I live almost like a poor college student actually I am LOL. I want and cannot wait to have financial security that I desire. So...if I have to live like a poor college student for the next few years, so be it. I want to pass on a better legacy to my daughter, not a legacy of being broke and in debt!
I'm taking a family financial management class, and they teach that you have to live like no one else to LIVE like no one else. Yes, sometimes we may have to wait a little longer to get something we want, but that helps make sure you always have your needs covered.
Kisha, I'm so proud to hear you say you want to leave a legacy for your daughter. That's what it really means for your kids to have a better life than you. It's not about giving, giving, giving and putting yourself more in debt. The kids really suffer in the long term, because they bear the burden of that debt later.
I'm actually leaning towards moving my professional organizing business into the realm of helping people organize their finances. I'm noticing how much a lot of adults didn't get the lessons that they need to be financially independent.
I think one of my greatest regrets was buying the playstation 3 for my hubby about 3 years ago. He wanted that thing soooo bad, and I knew that I didn't have the actual funds for it. So I put it on a credit card that I had already paid off... needless to say, I'm STILL paying off that credit card! It was like that one purchase opened up a whole can of worms, and I began saying F*&K It, and would buy whatever I wanted to buy at the time. *smh*
Great POST, by the way!
Gaea, OMG, we have the credit card in our purse for an "emergency," and then everything becomes an emergency.
Hey Hillerie,
Finances have been tight, but I have started saving for both my kids education, its so important right now. Thanks for this post.
I'm currently doing a featured blogger series and i would love to interview you, would you like to be featured on my blog????
Lisa xx
WELL I HAVE PRETTY MUCH LEARNED MY LESSON. I WAS AN IMPULSE BUYER AT ONE TIME. I WOULD GET MY HAIR DONE AND PAY BILLS LATE. WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I GOT SEVERAL STORE CREDIT CARDS AND RAN THEM UP. WHEN I WENT TO BUY A CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IT REALLY HIT ME THAT I NEEDED TO DO BETTER WITH MY FINANCES. I COULDNT GET A REALLY GOOD CAR AND MY INTREST RATE WAS SO HIGH. "PROVERBS 22:1 SAYS THAT A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES, AND LOVING FAVOUR RATHER THAN SILVER AND GOLD." IF YOU HAVE A GOOD NAME IT CAN GET YOU PLACES A BAD NAME JUST CANT AND THE FAVOUR OF GOD CAN GET YOU PLACES MONEY CANT. NEVERTHELESS MY HUSBAND AND GOD HELPED ME IN THIS AREA. I DO REALIZE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT I WOULD PREFER TO SPEND MY MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT APPRECIATES WITH VALUE. :0) TIFFANY H.
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