The Lies of Sales

Sales lie to us. And thus - we lie to ourselves.

Let's take a normal girl conversation:
Girl #1: Cute Shoes, Girl #2!
Girl #2: Thank you, I got them at NordstromRack
Girl #1: I heard they are having a sale!?
Girl #2: Yes! It's great! I saved $50 on these shoes - they were only $250!
Girl #1: Wow, that is a great deal, you saved a ton!

Does no one know what "Save" means anymore!?

From a dictionary.com:
save ¹

v. saved, sav·ing, saves

v.tr.

1.

a. To rescue from harm, danger, or loss.

b. To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem.

2. To keep in a safe condition; safeguard.

3. To prevent the waste or loss of; conserve.

4. To avoid spending (money) so as to keep or accumulate it.

5. To set aside for future use; store

v.intr.

1. To avoid waste or expense; economize.

2. To accumulate money:

Where does this say "Spend $250 at Nordstrom Rack"? Granted, I am just as guilty of this. Any girl is proud of themselves when they save money. But let's not kid ourselves - we aren't saving for a rainy day when we spend "less than the tag price" on a pair of shoes. Odds are we took that money that we "saved" and spent it on a pair of flats anyways. Either that, or we wouldn't have spent the full amount. Therefore we just got NICER shoes for the same that we would have spent....

Maybe everytime we make a "save" by spending less at a store than expected, we should take that money and put it in the bank. Then at least we are lowering our shopping addiction and increasing our bank account - the way we SHOULD be saving. Anyone game to try?

Damn You, MTV

Dear MTV,

I have a grievance that I would like to discuss with you. No wonder my generation is so disappointed in their jobs and are feeling so entitled, it is all your fault (we also don't take responsibility well - but that is another topic). I spent my entire teen years intoxicated by the imagery that you portrayed as "The Real World".

Flash forward several years and I finally realize that you LIED to us! I graduated college to enter the real world and contrary to "The Real World", I do not live with 6 other people in a fabulously awesome house. I don't have an easy-breezy job where they don't really get upset if I show up late/hungover/or hardly work. I don't make out with my roommates or have a hottub fit for 7. I don't have free alcohol and free food. My entire apartment is approximately the size of one of the Real World kitchens. I have YET to get a letter in the mail telling me that I have an all-expense-paid trip to some exotic country (or Europe). I don't get to nap midday - and I actually have to go to the office every day of the week. While they go to fashionable nightclubs, I go to sleep.

You completely forgot to mention things like pantie-hose and auto insurance. Those people never have to get their oil changed or run to the post office - where is THAT episode?


There was absolutely no disclaimer on the television show. "Things start getting real?" There is very little ON that show that is real. Sigh. Maybe you should rethink the name to something less misleading like "The Non-Real World: Only the fantasy life for many teens". 


Next thing you know, they are going to tell us that getting married and having kids isn't like the Real Housewives of Orange Country. Sigh.


Peace, Love, and Lies,
Mallory

MacNCheese & Retirement

There was an article today in USA Today "Working until 70 could ease retirement finances". (what a concept!? Thank you for that cutting edge story USA Today). I immediately felt sick to my stomach - and not because I had a great 4th of July (which I did). I felt sick because of the implications of "Working until 70" - and even then the article states that many BabyBoomers would need to work more than that to be "OK" for retirement.

Social Security kicks in at 62. The age of retirement is getting later and later. And thanks to those babyboomers, our generation can kiss social security goodbye. (Yes, all that money that is taken out of your paycheck will mostlikely never return) Either way, the lesson stands that our fresh-out-of-college generation needs to prepare to be old and grey.

And the start age of 70? Well, we are living longer and not saving as much. If we think this average number will be lower by the time we reach the golden years (or grey years?) I bet we are quite wrong. But 70 is NOT okay with me. At the age of 70 I would like to be on a beach somewhere, hanging out with my grandchildren, going to midday bridge dates with my girlfriends, and walking the mall for cardio. I do NOT want to be going to drycleaners and wearing heels and reporting to work at 8am. No Thank You.

Who cares about 45 years from now!? YOU SHOULD! Saving is not going to get any easier with kids, mortgages, and more adult responsibility. Now is the easiest time to save - before my taste for cheap mac and cheese is diminished. Invest now.

Okay, Okay, but where should I start?
(1) Set up and IRA or Roth IRA - Decide if you want a Roth or traditional IRA, pick your investor, fill out the simple form online, mail it in with a check - DONE.
(2) Talk to your company about a 401(k) Plan - If they have one, decide if you want to take advantage. If they have a matching program, that would be FREE money that you are throwing down the drain. Free money that lowers that "70 years of working" age.
(3) Know you retirement needs - The easiest way to do this is to talk to a financial planner (it is normally free) and have them run the snazzy number in their computer for you. This way you have a goal in mind, instead of just "be rich".
(4) Check out your company's pension plan - If they have one. Be able to keep track of this money and know just how long you need to work for benefits to kick in. (Wouldn't it stink to quit a month before you would earn a pension?)
(5) Don't touch your retirement savings - Many programs have a time when you can pull out money (for a house, or a college education, or after a certain age, or with a penalty). DON'T BE TEMPTED. The power of your retirement fund is time. The more time you let that money sit, the more you earn.
(6) Eat more Easy-Mac-n-Cheese