I managed to do a fair bit of shopping in 2010 – especially for Christmas – on Etsy. The website is entirely for handmade stuff – literally all kinds of stuff – and every time you look, there’s something new and awesome on there. Here’s where I spent my cash.

I got the man in my life these beer coasters for a stocking filler – the search function meant I could type in “beer” and get a bunch of different options.

Red Bird Ink's awesome beer coasters

Etsy seller Red Bird Ink wrapped them beautifully, and sent them to me in a week – the total cost? $15. Great news.

Then, I decided on some personalised shopping for my favourite little person –  including a Little Digger T shirt by gatetim.

I pretty much thought I was done, but then “accidentally” stumbled over something for myself … a cool tote bag on theboldbanana.  Just $9US plus postage, bargain!

Etsy’s great because most of the shops and sellers care about the environment, their goods are incredibly well priced and you get better-than-best personalised service, including a little email chat with pretty much every single item bought. It feels nice to support people doing this on their own, rather than giving your bucks to the big companies, and the Shop Local function means you can support people closer to home if you choose to.  What’s your fave Etsy or homemade purchase this year?

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We just got a new car, so the car I use all the time, I now use maybe once a week. I thought it might be more cost effective to try pay as you go, or per-kilometre car insurance, and called my car insurance provider to see if they had that option for me now. The conversation went something like this.

Me: “Do you do insurance for pay-as-you-go or a per kilometre rate? I think $878 a year for car insurance is a bit too expensive, so I’m just shopping around a little.”

Insurance chick: “Oh, don’t do that. We have a retention service here for long-standing customers. (I actually suspect they have this for anybody who calls and suggests they’re shopping around). Can you answer some questions for me?”

Me: “Yeah, ok” …. insert a few boring questions here.

Insurance chick: “OK, we don’t want you to take your policy elsewhere, so we can change your policy from $878 to $741 per year, if you stay with us”.

Me: “Do you take Visa?”

So the ol’ don’t ask, don’t get really is as simple as that. We were both polite, I didn’t threaten to withdraw my business straight away or tell them they were idiots – I just said I was shopping around – and the woman on the line couldn’t have been more helpful. I’ve used this trick to save money on my credit card bills, and I’m sure you could use it for all kinds of things – because right now, companies need your business more than ever. And if a company doesn’t want your business – don’t be afraid to go elsewhere.

PS … Just a reminder. A year ago, I wrote about 2010 and having the life you wanted … without going bankrupt. As 2010 draws to a close, have a think … did you get it yet? If not, start thinking about 2011.

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For most of us, Christmas means our biggest spending time of the year. So for most of us, that also means an eye-watering credit card bill sometime around the end of January.

Together, we Aussies have 16 million credit cards. Kind of weird and scary, since there are only 22.4 million of us all up, and surely there’s plenty of kids in that 22.4 million who don’t have credit cards yet. The average Aussie owes $3, 140 (or thereabouts) on credit and charge cards. Over three grand?! That means you’re paying some serious interest every month. And not even interest on anything good, like your future house. Just that awful compounding interest on credit card purchases of crappy stuff you’ve long since forgotten. So how to avoid it?

Get tough on your credit card this Christmas. Eek!

First, get rid of your charge cards – those quasi credit cards like department store cards. Those things can really get you into trouble. Secondly, find out what interest rate you are paying on each credit card (usually you can find this by flipping over the front page of your credit card statement. If it isn’t there, call your bank and ask them). While you’re there, ask your bank if there is anything they can do to make Christmas easier for you – lower interest rate, longer number of days interest free, anything like that.

Only use the credit card with the lowest interest rate, and seriously, don’t use it unless you have to – or you’ll hate yourself come January. Get rid of the second, third, or fourth credit card you have – just cut it up (and remember to call your bank to tell them you’ve cut it up, so you can stop paying fees on it).

Make a list of all your current credit card and other debt – and total it up, even if you don’t want to – and remember that with everything you buy in December, you’re adding to that debt, and this means yet more compounding interest for you come January. If you can, put a lump of cash onto your credit card — think of how good you’ll feel in the New Year when the bill is a little less hairy than you feared.

And finally, don’t get too carried away with internet shopping where you have to use your card – set the same budget you would do at the ‘real’ shops. Or if you can’t manage that, force yourself into a budget by only putting a set sum into your PayPal account, and only paying for internet purchases via PayPal. Good luck …

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Thanks for all your feedback on the first two gift guides. Hope you get as much out of this one – it includes dads as requested! Happy shopping …

What Do You Get …

Your Dad (cool) Three of the best T Shirts … ‘You Can’t Scare Me, I Have a Daughter’ Tshirt, $32.50 + $6 postage, ‘This is What a Cool Dad Looks Like’ T Shirt, $25 + $6 postage, and this cute ‘iDad’ T Shirt, $25 + $6 postage. Or this French recycled leather Ipod case, $22US + $5 postage.

Your Dad (still awesome, but not so cool) ‘Embarrassing My Children, Just One More Service I Offer’ T Shirt, $22 + $6 postage. Or these Handstamped personalised sterling silver Cufflinks, $73US + $15 to post.

Your Male Friend Recycled Seatbelt Wallet, $35US + $2 postage. Or this Padded Ipad Cover, $35US + $16 to post.

Your Brother’s Girlfriend Jarrah Wooden Bracelet, $25US + $6 to post. Or this homemade Facial Mask, $10 + $4.80.

Your Sister’s Boyfriend This cool Camera TShirt, $12US + $7.50. Or ‘Hmmm, That’s Weird’ Coasters, $12US + $6 postage.

Your Friend that Lives Overseas 14K Hoop Earrings, $27US + $ postage. Or this ‘Quit Procrastinating’ Notebook, $10.50 US + $7 postage. And this asymmetrical Brass Cuff, $42US + $12 postage.

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Glad you liked the first Christmas Gift Guide. Here’s another, just for fun.

If you didn’t see the first Christmas (Budget) Gift Guide, it is here. Look out for Number Three coming your way sometime before Christmas.

What Do You Get …

Your Sister (the more serious one) Vintage Salt n Pepper Shakers from Japan, $24US + $% Postage. Or this Antique Pocket Watch, $35US + $3.50 postage.

Your Best Friend This hilarious Moustache Yoga Mat, $34.50 + $6 postage. Or this Ask Me About My Mix Tapes (ha!) Thermos, $23.50 + $6 to post. And this Careful, or You’ll End Up in My Novel Notebook, $12 + $5 postage.

Your Cousin (the fun one) Little Birdie earrings, $16US + $2.50 postage. Or this cute linen and cotton Bicycle Wallet, $29US + $2 to post.

Your Favourite Small Person (who has cool Parents) Leopard Print Baby Shoes, $21 + $3 postage. Or this brilliant Dinosaur cushion, $22.50US + $4.50 to post. Or a Froggie Onesie. $25US + $6 postage.

Your Big Brother (the goofy one) These  Vintage Cufflinks, $28 + $5 to post. Or this ‘Relax, I’m Hilarious’ T Shirt, $19US + $9 postage.

The Girls in the Office Awesome Pink IPhone case, IPad sleeve, or Recycled Seatbealt Ladies Wallets.

Your Naughty Mate The perfect Christmas TShirt – ‘I Put Out for Santa’. Funny. $19US + $9 postage.

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OK, so the Aussie dollar’s still great, every day there’s a new Aussie bargain website, and Christmas looks like it might not break the bank this year … if you get in early.

Here’s a few Christmas present ideas to get the ball rolling that won’t cost an arm and a leg (and leave your poor mum racing back to Westfield to exchange everything). More present ideas to come soon.

What Do You Get …

Your Mum (really great but kind of fussy)  I’d go for a cool photography print from awesome website 20×200.com – like this print of a cool trailer, or this print of an indoor art deco swimming pool, both $20US. Or if she’s not so arty, what about these Azure Earrings, $15US with free shipping, or a handy handbag liner, $24.95. Or if she’s a softie, you can educate a young girl in Thailand or India for just $15.

Your Boyfriend (will take anything, but doesn’t really care about clothes) A cool bag that sits inside his gym bag or laptop case, so he can transfer stuff form one to the other without losing everything, $24.95. Or this London Underground vinyl wall decal, $45US + $6 P&H.

Your Girlfriend (get this wrong and you’re dead, or single) Try this cool wooden clutch for $41US + $7 postage, or Customised Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings, $20US with free shipping, or if you REALLY want to make the good books, get these awesome Uberkate Necklaces with your names stamped on them, $340 (order this week for a free pair of earrings worth $110).

Your Brother Easy. This soap made from beer. $7 plus P&H. Or this cool fern terrarium, $66US.

Your Sister (the slightly quirky one) A Tree of Life Necklace, $40US + $2 to post, or this cute Owl Clutch Purse, $20US + $4.50 to post.

The Little People in Your Life A Make-Your-Own Santa Ornament, $9.50US + $2 to post, or this Cute Kitty Made from Vintage Fabric, $25US + $4.50 P&H. Or for super little ones, what about this handknitted Baby Bear Hat (love the ears) $17.50US + $5 to post. Or a  Candy-Striped Dribble Bib, $12US + $2.60 to post.

…And don’t forget the Gift Tags! More Christmas gift ideas as I stumble across them. What are you getting the peeps in our life this year?

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Cute bikini at polyvore.com

I was in a store yesterday already selling bikinis. Bikinis?! Really?! Like Cadbury Creme Eggs spotted in January, and Christmas decorations popping up in September, I swore it was way too early for summer fashion. But no, turns out, summer stock has been in the shops for a little while now, and winter is officially over in a little over a week.

Great! Time to race out and buy stuff, right? Summer sandals, short dresses, singlet tops? I catch myself getting a little giddy and overspending on the summer wardrobe every year, only to find that, strangely, I have almost exactly the same top in my wardrobe from last year. So do a bit of thinking before the excitement of the warmer seasons sees you overspending. Get out your summer wardrobe, take a good look at it, remember what you actually bought last year that’s still in fashion, and do a quick audit of your clothes and shoes. What do you actually need?

I need new sandals, a summer dress with sleeves, and a pair of shorts that can be dressed up a little more than what I’ve got right now. I feel much better about going back into the shops now. And I already have 2 this-season bikinis thanks to trips to the States this year, so there’s going to be no panic-spending from me. See, now that I’ve told you guys, I can’t.

What do you guys need for summer? And more importantly, what don’t you need? A little pre-planning before the shops right now will see you stay inside your budget this year. Good luck.

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OK gals, here’s a little more Good Debt, Bad Debt fun. A guy at work is getting married. He doesn’t want to go further into credit card debt for his wedding (yes, so far so good), but he knows he won’t be able to afford it all (bugger). So, he wants to get a personal loan. This is a better option than getting a credit card bill for sure, and it isn’t like he can avoid this spending – he’s getting married and has already committed to the cost.

Now, here’s his major mistake: even though he thinks he’ll need about $8900 according to his budget, he thought he should borrow $10 000, just to kind of round it out, and just in case anything popped up spending wise. Um, no. Right now, interest rates for personal loans are much higher than for mortgages – they’re sitting at about 14 – 16%. Agreed, it is better than the ridiculous interest on credit cards, but not by that much. So there’s no need for him to borrow a cent more than he needs according to his budget – because he’ll be paying that off, with interest, and it isn’t absolutely essential.

If you really have to get a personal loan for whatever reason – not as crap as having credit card debt, but definitely close – don’t borrow any more than you absolutely have to, have a plan to pay it off on time, and find a loan that will let you pay it off early in case you get a pay rise or a decent tax return. Find out what extra fees you’re paying – these loans have establishment fees, and may penalise you for paying out the loan early too. And think pretty hard about a personal loan for pretty much anything. Buying furniture, electronics or anything that loses value quickly using borrowed money is particularly dumb. A better plan for the money you actually have is always way, way better.

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I’m a finalist blogger in Cosmo magazine’s awards. Fun!

If you’ve got a moment to vote, vote here.

Thanks! jo x

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I know, scary headline, right? But here are some posts from those starting to question whether we really need to be spending crazy amounts of our cash on our wardrobes. Some are not buying clothes at all .. others wearing the same clothes over and over (shock, horror, I know) and there’s some links here on wallet-friendly ways to keep buying clothes, just not at retail.

Tamsin Davies in London wore 6 pieces of clothing for a month. My God, how did she know what to choose? I think I’d go for dark jeans, a black singlet top, a black jacket, a white T, black skirt + a my favourite long sleeved coral-coloured top. But this means I only have one jacket! And does the singlet really count as an item of clothing?! Eek! Tough choice …

Heidi Hackemer tried it too – the video of her explaining why she wanted to get involved is great – and she’s stylish enough to get away with her very limited wardrobe for a month.

The Great American Apparel Diet is taking it one step further … asking people to buy no new clothes for a whole year. Eek! I love the Q&A on this on Time’s blog. A whole year?! Seriously, I can’t even think about it. But these girls said they saved thousands and thousands of dollars. What do you reckon you could buy with a years’ worth of savings from not buying clothes? If I included shoes and handbags, I think it would be a small car.

The Clothing Exchange does great, well run clothes swap parties. I’ve been to two clothes swap parties, and I loved them.

This great post explains how to not buy any new clothes for a year … but go nuts on Ebay second hand clothes, and save yourself a fortune.

We’ve already met Marisa … she set herself a challenge to buy only clothes that cost around $1 from junk stores – one a day actually – and transform them into something wonderful. In the last week, she’s been seriously on fire … props to the pink Hawaiian mumu from day 241.

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