Coming Up!

I just wanted to take a moment to think about all of the amazing things happening in the next few weeks. It's hard to believe that we're already at mid-August so what better time than now?

Some amazing opportunities I've got lined up:

• A brand new semester! I'm taking so many cool classes like Celtic archaeology and Gaelic 1. I can't wait to get going on my coursework!
• A new job! I'm back in the financial world, working as a teller for a local credit union. I'm optimistic that this job will lead to some even better opportunities in the future, and I'm glad that I'm back in the kind of environment that I feel most comfortable in.
•  Formal co-chair! Another sister and myself will be planning our fall formal, and let me tell you I'm so excited that I've already started working on it. It's going to be amazing.
• My first semester as an active sister! Last semester was difficult for me, in terms of involvement with my sorority, and I hope they're ready because I intend on making up for lost time! I'm really excited to be 110% more involved in recruitment, sisterhood, and of course formal!
• Some really great ideas for a new venture with my cousin. Still in the beginning stages, and still secret, but definitely exciting.

Sometimes it's good to take a few minutes and appreciate the good things in life, even if they're looming on the horizon.

What are you excited about?

~Megan

Thrifty Challenge

I love shopping. Getting new clothes is one of my favorite things in the world. However, I'm a little tight in the money department, so constant shopping is kind of out of the question.

Enter thrift and resale stores.

The other day I decided it would be great to find some new stuff for my new job (!), so I headed over to Goodwill. I managed to get four tops, two dresses (including one I'll probably wear to fall formal), and a couple of used books all for less than $40. Oh, and a few of those tops were brands like J Crew and Anne Taylor Loft. Talk about a bargain.

I also recently hit up a local resale shop called ReThreads. Since it's in a nice neighborhood, the things that get sold there tend to be brands like J Crew (Okay, I'm obsessed), Gap, Anne Taylor, etc. So I managed to get a pair of beautiful mint J Crew pants for only $16! Oh, and a sweater, two dresses, and a necklace. Total bill? Around $50.

My next adventure will be to Plato's Closet, known for having great brands and on-trend pieces. 

The only things that I refuse to thrift or buy used are bras/underwear, shoes, and socks. The one exception to that is the pair of tights I got at Goodwill - brand new since Target is a huge donor to the location nearest me. 

I think my biggest struggle will be for basics, which I might just break down and get from H&M or Forever 21, just because they're so cheap there. But I'm really trying to do my part in reducing the amount of waste we produce (reuse!), as well as extending my money as far as it can go.

Plus, thrift and resale shopping is kind of an adventure! You never know what you'll find. I once found a (sadly, not my size) Gap trench coat (usually around $150) for $25. There's also the time my cousin found a barely worn pair of black Louboutains at ReThreads for $80 (sadly, not in either one of our sizes). I think I would rethink my no-shoes rule for a pair like that!

~Megan

*PS, there will be some new stuff coming soon, though not on this blog. Hopefully I'll have more information soon, but I promise it's definitely exciting!

Settling Down

At the end of June, I accepted a full time job at a major electronics retailer. I didn't leave my job at the coffee shop.

As a result, I spent the next two months working without a day off, resulting in a nervous breakdown. 

Good rule for life: Don't try to push yourself to work 70+ hours if you know deep down that you can't do that anymore.

Yikes.

Needless to say, I left that job and accepted a new part time job at a credit union. I think I'll be much happier, and I have lots and lots of content planned. It just might not be for this blog. Surprises ahead!

~Megan