How to Buy the Right Wallet

I don’t know about you but I USED to struggle with finding the perfect wallet…. I would find one I thought I liked and then BAM, it wasn’t right.  here are some tips on how to buy the best wallet for you this season.  There are so many things to consider – the number of slots for cards, yah or nah on a coin purse, and will it fit my phone.  There are zillions (okay, so it may be an exaggeration) of wallets out there with just as many features, styles, colors and sizes.

What is a girl to do?

Thirty-One to the rescue! Here is a fun quiz to guide you toward which type of wallet best fits your needs – and your style.

#1 Which word best describes your personal style?

1. Casual
2. On-trend
3. Classic

#2 Be honest: How much stuff does your wallet need to hold?

1. Just my ID, credit cards and cash.
2. Just essential cards – and my phone, of course!
3. Umm…just call me George Costanza.

#3 How do you plan to wear your wallet?

1. Tucked into my purse (although a wristlet option would be nice)
2. Crossbody to stand in for a purse and keep my hands free
3. In my bag during the day, then as a sleek evening clutch

#4 Now let’s talk prints and colors:

1. Make mine easy-care fabric in my favorite Thirty-One print.
2. This is tough: I love Thirty-One’s prints AND their faux leather.
3. Let’s go all out with pebbled faux leather and silver-tone hardware.

#5 Do you want the option to personalize your wallet?

1. I could go either way on embroidery.
2. My initial or monogram would be nice.
3. My look already has PLENTY of personality!

#6 What’s your budget?

1. Under $30. But I still expect great function and style!
2. Under $40. So I’ll need it to be even more versatile than a typical wallet.
3. Under $50. This is an investment in quality I’ll use season after season.

Mostly 1s: Perfect Cents Wallet

This classic, budget-friendly wallet in plenty of print choices is just the right wallet for you to buy!  It may be small in size but it is big on functionality.   The Perfect Cents Wallet features a zipper closure, roomy front and back zipper pockets, 10 credit card slots, four bill slots and an ID window. Made of canvas or cotton in some of our top Thirty-One prints with a polyester lining, this billfold makes a great companion piece for our coordinating totes and purses – or wear it alone as a fun clutch by adding a colorful Wristlet Strap.

Mostly 2s: NEW! Call Me Crossbody

Millennials know a thing or two about minimalism – it’s why you see so many sporting chic, simple crossbody wallets! You don’t need to buy a big purse to stay organized (and stylish) on the go: Choose our Call Me Crossbody wallet for hands-free fashion which is super functional. With credit card slots, an open center compartment for your smart phone and keys along with a magnetic snap closure to keep everything secure, your everyday essentials stay right at your fingertips. The detachable faux leather strap adjusts to wear over your shoulder or as a crossbody. Make your wallet special with embroidered personalization!

Mostly 3s: All About the Benjamins Wallet

It’s our #1-selling wallet for so many reasons! Our Customer-favorite fashion wallet is the perfect choice: tuck it into your handbag or add a Wristlet Strap for carrying all the essentials. The roomy All About the Benjamins has the silhouette of a classic billfold and holds 12 credit cards, with reinforced stitching and interior structure to prevent stretching. Choose from sophisticated solids to coordinate with your purse or tote – or share the fun of Thirty-One for the opportunity to shop exclusive Benjamins in our famous prints!

Post a picture of the wallet you would pick OR if you have a Thirty One wallet, on my Facebook business page for a chance to WIN!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

How To Spend Less

Thank you Carrie Wilkerson for these AWESOME tips on how to spend less….

• If you want to make more, spend less. #truestory
• If you’re complaining about being broke, spend less.
• If you’re stressed about minimum payments or juggling dollars, spend less.
• If you’re mad at yourself or your spouse or fighting about money, spend less.
• If you’re jealous of other folks because of ______ then spend less.
• If you want more choices about where to live, what to drive, where the kids go to school, quitting your job or having some options… SPEND LESS.

It all starts with SPEND LESS!  I know, I have been there.  We struggle with wants versus needs especially during the holiday season.  YES – we can make more with our business. YES – we can still work to change our circumstance- but first we need to SPEND LESS.

Trust me, I know this is NOT the time you want to do this.  BUT this is the exact time you need to do this before we get caught up in the holiday craziness.

Evaluate EVERY expense. Is is NECESSARY or just something you ‘deserve’?  Is it a want or a need?  What if you did ‘without it’ for a few weeks/months? Would it change your quality of life?

How do you do this?  First, print out 3-6 months of credit card and debit card statements.  I know it will be scary.  Take a deep breath and jump in.  You can do it!

• Highlight EVERY recurring charge.
• Highlight EVERY disposable thing.
• Highlight EVERY spontaneous purchase.
• Highlight EVERY expense for something you don’t wear/play with/use/cook with/read or watch anymore.
• Highlight EVERY unlicensed therapy expense (meaning you were self medicating with food/shopping/movies/girl time/drinks/etc.

Now for the hardest part – STOP spending on those things!

This part, may be a little easier….Evaluate insurance, credit card rates, cable plans (unplug it), phone plans (downgrade) and new clothes (seriously. stop buying them)

I love how Carrie shares her story of getting ahold of her sloppy financial habits (a process, she has used to pay off boatloads of debt MORE THAN ONCE #slowlearner).  Her story helps me to remember, I am not alone.  I have done it too.  Paid off debt, then got sucked in with the thought “I can manage it”.  WRONG!  My addictive behaviors come back in the form of spending money.  So here I am again paying off some debt.

We need to put the blinders on and here is how Carrie did it:

• UNSUBSCRIBE from email ‘sales and newsletters’ – you can’t buy what you don’t see!
• THROW AWAY catalogs that come in the mail.  Don’t bring them INTO THE HOUSE. Do NOT fool yourself ‘I’m just getting ideas, I’m making a wishlist, I’m just planning for when I can afford it.’ – NO NO NO NO – THROW IT AWAY. It will still be available for purchase when you can afford it. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SALE.
• Do NOT click on Facebook ads (they follow you around, wearing you down until you can’t help but buy. STOP IT)!
• Do NOT attend home parties or demonstrations or trade shows or craft fairs or open houses or garage sales or ANYTHING WITH THE CHANCE TO BUY. This is a tough one for me since it is part of my business.  How I manage this is I don’t take any money with me or my cards!
• TAKE THE APPS off your phone… Amazon, Starbucks, Instacart, ZigZag, Macys – ALL OF IT — OFF THE PHONE. If we can purchase with a click and without a brain, they WANT THAT. STOP THE MESS. TAKE OFF THE APPS.
• During commercials on TV pick up a project. Tidy the sink or move a load from washer to dryer or go outside with the dogs – AVOID MARKETING MESSAGES. It is extreme but so is debt, financial stress and possibly bankruptcy. 
• SHOP your CLOSET. Sounds silly, right?  Try it and see what happens. See an outfit you like on someone else or on FB, go into your closet and drawers to put together something similar. Or do without.
• Grocery shop ONCE a week and plan meals ahead of time to avoid mealtime meltdown and drive through overspends.  
• Use cash instead of cards.  My hubby swears by this!

What if you were to think of every purchase in terms of the effort it takes to make the money to purchase it?  For example, “how many xx do I have to sell or hours do I have to work to pay for this delivery pizza instead of doing a frozen pizza?”

Many of us are victims of marketing messages, bad habits, lack of will power and deserve levels.  We play the comparison which usually results in spending more.

• Think of what you what MOST (financial stress-lessness and freedom) instead of what you want NOW (cute shoes or a top).
• Think of WHY you’re so quick to spend and what you are self-medicating about or delaying…

Carrie suggests a spending freeze at least once a year.  It’s wot be fun, I’m sure BUT it may help to keep you in check.  I know you are thinking NOW, it is the holidays….
but HONESTLY it is the MOST EFFECTIVE time of year to do it!  If you wait until JANUARY… how many more THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS will you have overspent??

Change your habits.

Change your life.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!