September 18, 2007 | For the kids, Product Talk, Questions Answered

Um, I mean, when you’re on a budget. Not your little one. Because that would just be weird. Moving on….

The very pretty Jean writes:

Mir,

You are so wise, so pretty and have so much great advice (and ITA with you about bacon…yyummmmmm) So, I have a question. I know you no longer live where it is cold and where you need boots, but so many of us are still facing the long cold winter ahead. I have a 3.5 year old boy who grows faster than I can even tell you. I don’t know from year to year what size she he’ll wear so I always miss out on end of season sales. What’s the best place to look for decent winter boots without paying a small fortune? He’ll only wear them a few times in a season and I hate to spend a lot for that short a period of time.

Ahhh, winter boots for tiny ones. Have you ever noticed that they seem to cost just as much as their (much larger) big-kid counterparts? They’re one of the things that I truly hate to spend the money on. It can feel like such a waste. Still, you can’t exactly toss your kid into a snowbank in his sneakers, I suppose. (more…)

September 11, 2007 | Everyday Wisdom, Questions Answered

The lovely Katie writes:

Not sure if it’s the season for it or what, but my son has received 5 bar/bat mitzvah invitations over the past couple of weeks. Not being Jewish, I have no idea what’s expected here. I’m a single mom on a tight budget, so any ideas would be great. I know money is acceptable, in multiples of 18, but if you’ve got any great ideas for a tough age to buy for, I’d love to hear them. I hate the thought of giving cash, and would prefer to find an appropriate gift that won’t break the bank. Thanks for anything you come up with! I’ve got 4 boys and 1 girl to buy for. Ugh!

Thanks again! Love the site, check it daily!

This is definitely going to be a reader-participation type thing, and I’ll tell you why: Times change, and areas are different. I’ll give this one a shot but I’m afraid I won’t have any sort of “ultimate answer.” (more…)

September 10, 2007 | Everyday Wisdom, Questions Answered

The lovely Jen sent this in last week:

Dear Mir-
You are so very pretty and I love your Want Not blog. I’ve gotten a number a good deals just from reading your advice — so smart and so pretty all in one package, I don’t know how you do it!

[Ed. note: The sucking up from my readers helps to fuel my energy. Heh.]

My question for you is about Christmas gifts. I know you suggest shopping for the holidays all year long and I’ve really tried to do that — this year even more than in the past. What I really want to know is how you keep it all straight. Do you have a running list of what you’ve bought and who it is for? Is it an elaborate spread sheet? Do you just throw it all in a closet and sort it out closer to the holiday? How do you know what you still need to get? Thanks for any tips you can pass along!

This is an excellent question, because gifts that you buy ahead of time and then forget about are no bargain whatsoever. (more…)

August 28, 2007 | For the kids, Product Talk, Questions Answered

The very pretty Jess writes:

A good friend of mine recently found out she is pregnant and is now looking for good carseats and strollers (particularly travel systems) and a crib. How do you find a great deal on baby items? Is there a better time than others to buy? It’s been difficult to find great prices on these items online or in stores, and we both prefer a GREAT price over just a “good” markdown. She’s leery of buying carseats secondhand due to safety concerns.

Since you are so pretty and kind and all knowing (well…almost), do you have any ideas on how to make having as inexpensive as possible?

Thanks, Wonderful and Knowledgeable Mir!
jess

Do you see all of that gratuitous flattery? Isn’t she pretty?

I haven’t done an advice question in a while, so I may be a bit rusty, but let’s see what we can do with this. (more…)

July 25, 2007 | Everyday Wisdom, For the kids, Questions Answered

The incomparably beauteous Joshilyn sent me the following and then immediately got onto Instant Messenger and said “Hi! I sent you a question!” just in case I’d perhaps neglected to check my email for the past 2 seconds. Anyway, here’s what she wrote:

Okay, so — last year, my son went through THREE, count em THREE backpacks. Two from Target. One from Lands End. He absolutely DESTROYED them. Given that the Land’s End one lasted him about a month longer than a Target one, I don’t think STURDIER is the way to go…I need cheap backpacks because I think I need to start thinking of them as disposable items.

Also, any hints on making back to school shopping HURT less?

Joss and I discussed this at length, but some of it is worth sharing, I think (not the parts about how, for example, my daughter is still nursing an enormous crush on her son, but the parts about backpack). (more…)

June 18, 2007 | Product Talk, Questions Answered

KLO wrote in with a great question:

Mir,

Believe it or not, I have never made a purchase from Amazon. I’m a bit of a freak about buying online.

I’m curious if you would discuss “refurbished.” Have you purchased anything refurbished? Is it better to buy new?

First of all, can I just say that I’m not really sure how I functioned before the advent of Amazon? Seriously. Did I used to run to the store for all that stuff? I can’t even imagine it.

Now, as for the refurb issue. This is one of my very favorites. (more…)

June 7, 2007 | Big Picture, Questions Answered

When was the last time I did an advice post? I can’t even remember. Hopefully this means everyone is so smart and pretty they have no unanswered questions! But it might mean I’m losing track of even more things than usual, and you’re asking, and I’m forgetting to answer. Whoops. Let’s assume the former.

Anyway! Pretty Amy writes:

Hello pretty Mir,

I have a question (or two or twelve) for you regarding increasing my credit score. See, I’ve not always been good about paying stuff on time and then we had some financial issues and so the slippery slope goes. I’ve recently been laid off (permanently) and received a handsome severance package as well as qualifying for unemployment. The nitty gritty is that I’m hoping to use the severance to pay down/off a boat load of credit cards and get my finances manageable once and for all.

My goal is two-fold — lower my debt AND increase my crappy credit score. I’m planning on closing all but 2 (Visa and Discover) cards once they are paid off (we’re talking about 5 or so department store cards). Is the trick in bettering the score by paying them off in a lump sum or over a few months?

(more…)

April 26, 2007 | Product Talk, Questions Answered

Folks, I am all wedding-ed out. It’s just t-minus two weeks (from tomorrow) for my own big day, and my brain, my poor wee little burnt brain just cannot think about weddings any more. I cry uncle. Or perhaps, in this case, I cry bride. I’m not sure. Regardless, I need your help.

Danielle wrote in:

Dear Mrs. Wise Wise Beautiful Shopper!

I need your help. We are getting married in June! We are paying for most of it so of course I need to keep cost down, but yet make it nice.

I am having the hardest time finding inexpensive yet good quality gifts for our parents and for the Groomsmen… my girls were easy.

Grooms men - I was thinking a flask like everyone else does… we only have 3 to buy for. Is there any other ideas? They are all young in their 20’s - to early 30’s.

For our parents - I don’t want to do the hanky thing, or photo album… I want something different. Please help!

Seeing as how my wedding is going to be of the “yeah, come to the church and we’ll get hitched, and then we’ll go have some dinner… you know, if you feel like showing up” variety, I am not dealing with these sorts of issues. At my first wedding we gave photo albums to the parents and… I can’t even remember what we gave the groomsmen. A big dose of bad karma, I suppose. Ahem. Anyway, Danielle needs some ideas. If you lovely people come up with some kickin’ ideas, I would be happy to search for deals on said items. Is it a deal? Please don’t make me think any more about weddings right now.

April 16, 2007 | Everyday Wisdom, Questions Answered

This past weekend I did a massive email clean-out, and realized that I’d lost track of several advice questions, some from as far back as January. I am hanging my head in shame. Just as a general suggestion—if you email a question to me and don’t either hear back or see a post about it within a few weeks, feel free to email me again. I’m human and I’m busy and I often get well over a hundred emails a day (not counting all that delicious spam), and things do get misplaced. I’m sorry.

Frances emailed me a really long time ago, and she’s probably married with three kids by now, but I will address her question, anyway, because it will make me feel less like a slacker. I mean, because I care.

Hello Mir ~

In admiration of your helpfulness to Allanna with her house-outfitting question, I come with another broad request. I am planning for my August wedding with a very limited budget and welcome any tips on finding the essentials at reasonable rates. I know that I am on my own with the local aspects (reception location and caterer, etc.), but do you (and your oh-so-helpful readers) have any recommendations on online vendors for things like flowers, programs, decorations, favors, and other little sweet things?

Thank you!

Hey! August! Plenty of time left! (Oh, Frances, I am sorry I didn’t get to this sooner, truly.) Anyway, let’s see what we can find…. (more…)

April 5, 2007 | Everyday Wisdom, Questions Answered

I know I haven’t been answering many questions lately, but I just got this one and thought I’d try to tackle it before we have to leave Panera and go back home to our cold, powerless house.

Michele writes:

Hi Mir, the most beautiful of all bloghers.

I am a stay-at-home mom of two young boys, 2.5 and nearly 1. Before having kids, I worked in the publishing field, and had (what I thought was) a wardrobe that I loved. Now that I have kids, I am astonished at what I end up wearing every day. It’s embarassing (although not as embarassing as the ladies wearing the matching sweatsuits IMHO). Plus, I’m 41, so I can’t pull off a lot of the styles that are in the malls (ie, cheap and easily found.)

I need clothes that are A. Sturdy, meaning that I can wash and wear them and that they will last longer than one afternoon. B. Cool, so I don’t look like I’m trying to be a teenager again or that I am closer to menopause than my kids first day at preschool. and C. Reasonably priced. I am staying home and forgoing my career because I think it’s the right thing to do. Must my sense of style be sacrificed too?

Please help!

This is something I can answer, I think. Hang on, Michele! Help is on the way! (more…)