Gifts For The Trendy, Pop Culture-Obsessed Girl

I know, no one needs another gift guide this holiday season, but some of my favorite PHLbloggers couldn’t resist! I put together a fun gift guide under $40 that’s perfect for the television and book junkie or the casually stylish girl in your life.

Gift Guide Under $40

Shop: Print Cardigan, $37 | Luke’s Coffee Mug, $14 | Stud Earrings, $38 | Book Lovers’ Candle, $18 | e.l.f. Cosmetics Matte Lipstick Set, $10 | Dachshund Ring Holder, $14

Print CardiganFashion-y gifts can be kind of tricky, so I recommend cozy accessories or something more over-sized where you have more breathing room (literally).

Luke’s Coffee MugIn case you haven’t heard, but the one, the only Gilmore girls is set to return to Netflix this weekend. And it’s not Gilmore without coffee (or in my case, chai). Another great gift for the Gilmore fan in your life? Lauren Graham’s memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can.

Stud EarringsJewelry follows the same rules as scarves and hats — fit usually doesn’t make or break it. Stud earrings are my favorite wintertime jewelry because it doesn’t get caught in gloves or coats. These rose quartz ones are classy and trendy.

Book Lovers’ CandleWhat’s winter without a good candle? This awesome site has homemade candles inspired by your favorite books. And really, who can resist a butterbeer-scented candle?

Matte Lipstick SetThis set is so affordable and you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect shade. Half the fun is in experimenting!

Dachshund Ring HolderCute and practical, and you don’t have to know your bestie’s ring size. You can find one of these for nearly every animal, but I obviously need the dog one.

Need more gift inspiration? Visit the rest of The Blog Connect team!

Anyone planning on doing some shopping this weekend? Let me know what’s on your list!

~ Sarah

August Budget

August 2016 Budget
Chambray Shorts$19.99 $9.99
Cuffed Shorts, $27.99 $13.98
Old Navy Swing Dress & Clogs, $67.88 $40.73

Total Spent: $64.70
Total Saved: $51.16 ($115.86 – $64.70)

Anyone else find shopping in August super tempting??! Stores start getting their fall inventory, which means discounts for all the summer stuff that’s still totally wearable (I see you, September heat wave.) I mean, I saved almost 50% off my purchases this month. I desperately needed denim shorts, and now I have a dressy and a casual option. My love for clogs is well-documented, and well these aren’t as great as my original brown pair (last seen here), I’m excited to add them to my rotation. Also, this dress is the comfiest thing, even though it gives me no shape (as swing dress are wont to do). Should be fun transitioning it to fall!

We’ll see how my birthday shopping goes. Any fun additions to your closets?

~ Sarah

July Budget

Image Map

Denim Vest, $16.99
Acure Organics Face Wash, $9.99
Physicians Formula Super BB Cream, $11.99
NYX Liquid Suede Lipstick in Sandstorm, $6.99

Total Spent: $45.96
Total Saved: $0

I totally expected to do worse in July, but that’s probably because I placed an Old Navy order at the end of the month that I’m still waiting to be delivered (one word: clogs). Anyway…

Let’s talk about frivolous and impulsive purchases. I definitely don’t need a denim vest, but it makes for a cool layering piece over sundresses for the summer. It’s a fun way to show off trendy pins. It’s the type of “completer piece” that can revive your existing wardrobe. I didn’t really consider purchasing one until I saw one at Target (the price was right), but I still thought it over. Then when I went back to store, I couldn’t find any in my size. (Yes, it’s a girls’ size denim vest. My frame is on the petite side, and since I’m buttoning it up, an XL is perfect.)

Whenever I stopped in Target (which is probably too often), I would browse but the vests were out of stock. Cue a few weeks later, and I find another denim vest, made out of even stretchier material, and it’s in my basket before I know what’s happening. The denim vest had lingered in my mind enough that while not something I needed, I wanted it enough that it was worth the twenty bucks. So frivolous? Yes. Impulsive? Not as much.

(What was impulsive was picking up Sandstone just because it was back in stock for once, after writing last month that I wouldn’t do that. Oops.)

Oh, and buying BB cream and repurchasing my favorite face wash are totally boring, but I feel like it’s only fair to include them.

We’ll see how I do in August. 🙈

~ Sarah

Linking up with Fran & the budgeting bloggers!