Sherwette - Sherwette - Page 11 of 14

Why did I start wearing that special occasion dress in a typical day?

Self development Spending money June 20, 2019 2 Comments

While I intend to do the “spring cleaning” and do the occasional cleanup, I don’t get rid of as much stuff as I should.

Any messy person like me, who made the attempt to try to be more “organized”, and did a little Googling, will find Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying. Although I had a pretty failed attempt on following her footsteps, as I mentioned in I couldn’t be a minimalist and here is why, I did come up with the conclusion of having, keeping and buying only the stuff that I fall in love with. Stuff that makes me feel beautiful. Stuff that makes me happy.

I can’t help but notice though that I do have many many things that I keep for a special occasion. That dress that was on a special sale I bought 4 years ago and never “had” the chance to wear it. The silver heels that I bought for that special occasion and only have worn it once at that special occasion. The candle lights that I will light up when I want to pamper myself at home. The jewelry that will only be suitable for that special occasion… that by the way, doesn’t happen that often.

Refund your Deposits

Spending money June 19, 2019

Three years ago I moved from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. It was such a thrilling change. Even though it was only a 2-hour drive, it dramatically changed my life.

City girl. What can I say?

In both cities, I rented a place… and in both cities, I paid a deposit for my electricity and water bill. When we move-in, we incur a lot of expenses, and we somehow swallow the money we spend on the deposit because it is refundable once you move out.

Funny thing is though many people move out and even leave the country without refunding their deposits…

What is the biggest lesson you learned in your travels?

Self development Spending money June 18, 2019

Someone recently asked, “What’s the biggest lesson you learned in your travels?”

I didn’t have to think twice. The first thing that popped into my mind was…

Do not buy pre-arranged travel packages. Period.

Some of the beautiful ladies from The Solo Female Traveler Network mentioned, 50 Travel Tips on Spending Less, that one of their ways to make sure they stay on budget is to purchase everything in advance - that way, you know what you are getting yourself into.

I would agree if that was done by me as an organizer, using booking.com, Expedia or Airbnb.

I, however, have fallen into the trap that was fed by my urge to make an impulse decision - to book a last minute ticket through a travel agency, Holiday Factory. Apologies to myself for making this decision, and here is why I apologize to myself - and promise her to not ever fall into that trap ever again.

“That’s good”… Start with “That’s good”

Self development June 17, 2019

I was talking to a friend today about my day… and of course, like any human being, I would say something that might have upset me.

The response was?

“That’s good… It means …”

As I was going on the conversation, I was saying, “Maybe, but I think it could also be this… because of that…”

And then I get another response. He tells me…

The Experience Matters as much as the Music (Product)

Consumer Behavior Customer experience Spending money June 16, 2019 2 Comments

Music records.

Have you ever thought of buying those? I know I never did.

My generation grew up with tape cassettes, followed by CDs, then the mp3 players, then the iPod… and now, well, our iPhone.

But, music records? Those I have seen only in the black and white moves. Something from the past.

Not until I stumbled upon a collector. Someone who would search for the music record stores, who would look for them in hidden gems… Someone who would go to flea markets to try and search and find special records.

I might need that … so I buy it, I keep it, I pack it | Tales of an Excessive Spender

Spending money June 15, 2019

Building on my impulse decision I mentioned in my earlier post, Do impulse decisions screwup your finances?, I can’t help reflect on my possessions - or to be more precise, the number of possessions I have.

I know. It’s completely out of the blue. Some might think, it’s random, but it’s not.

You know how we work hard to get an apartment, then get a bigger apartment, then perhaps a deluxe… and all the way up to a house or villa?

That is reflected in our innate need for more.

I guess what I am trying to say is, that no matter what you currently have, you will always want something bigger.

Do impulse decisions screwup your finances?

Self development Spending money June 14, 2019 1 Comment

Let’s talk about impulse decisions because I definitely fall victim of those ones. Not to say that I don’t enjoy those decisions. In fact, most of the time I actually do very much enjoy them, and perhaps that’s the reason why I keep on embarking on those impulse decisions. One… right after the other.

And if that wouldn’t impact my financial situation, I guess it wouldn’t bother me that much, or let’s say, it wouldn’t trigger me to think about it in the meantime… but it is.

You see, while reading, researching and trying to understand why we buy the things we do, and what triggers us to do it, I completely wiped out the impact of which generation you are part of. Each generation has different triggers and that is because they have grown up in specific atmospheres that impact their spending behaviors.

Traffic fines… and the Year of Tolerance | Tales of an Excessive Spender

Uncategorized June 3, 2019

One way to save money is to avoid traffic fines.

One speeding ticket will cost you nearly 160 USD… A parking ticket costs about 50+ USD even if God forbid you only forgot to renew your parking for 10 minutes.

It hurts. Traffic fines hurt… especially, when you wake up to a text message in the morning with your fine. You thought you were driving all safely and by the rules… until you see that text message, and start recalling… Where did I speed? What did I do?

The Money Illusion… is it enough? | Tales of an Excessive Spender

Uncategorized June 1, 2019

Talking about my pursuit of savings with one of my friends, and he tells me one thing, there is no “Baraka” here… in Dubai, when it comes to money. “Baraka” means you don’t get the most out of your money in Arabic… or in other words, you get the money, spend it, and don’t know where on Earth did it go.

He just came from New York a few months ago and even though he is getting paid more here, he tells me, he can’t save. He was able to save though in New York.

I couldn’t be a minimalist and here is why

Consumer Behavior Spending money May 31, 2019 2 Comments

If you know me, and I guess you might not, you would know how much clutter I have. Whether that is in my apartment or in my car, you will find things everywhere… practically, left and right… On top of every chair… and pretty much on any spot, you could lay your eyes on.

I think at some point in my life my mom gave up, called me “creative” and then starting laughing about it. At least we can laugh about it… right?

A few years ago, I talked to a friend who has become a minimalist and she told me how liberating that feeling was for her.