Taimata
  • Blog
  • Lets Shop!!
  • Ask Taima
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Travel

April/May Budget

6/20/2014

0 Comments

 
Believe it or not I made it through March without spending a dime. I had to make up for it in April though. I really went to town purchasing 5 pairs of shoes among  a bunch of other things. The best part is that I stayed within my budget of $296 ($100 from April and the rest has been rolled over from March and February).  I also didn't buy anything in May which is making for a healthy budget for June.  The good news is that I found some amazing deals including two pairs of pants for $6 bucks and a bathing suit (both top and bottom) for $6 bucks. Here is what I got.

Clothes
White Blazer from Loft. Retail Price: $109.99. I paid $9.99. A savings of 91%
Textured Club Jacket
Ann Taylor at ShopStyle
I have a rule about wearing dresses and skirts out to bars and clubs so I wanted to find some fancy pants that I could wear this spring. I found two pairs of skinnies at H & M for $3 dollars each. Retail Price is $12.95 which is still a good deal but the money I saved can go towards a glass of wine.

I am in desperate need of some work out gear. I am that girl that wears old sweats and t-shirts to the gym. Needing to up my game I found two pairs of Avis Yoga Pants. Retail price for each was $34.00. I paid $10.20 for each which is a savings of 70%.

I first discovered Uniqlo on a trip to Tokyo back in 2006 and I have been addicted ever since. When they came to the states soon thereafter I was beyond excited. So of course I cannot walk by a Uniqlo without going in. This time around a found a great deal on two cotton dresses that are great for the summer. Retail price was 29.90. I paid 12.90 for each for a savings of 57%. I have already wore them both  several times which means I have definitely gotten my money’s worth.  During that trip I also scored a pair of off white skinny cords. Now I know it is way to hot to wear cords right now however at $5.90 which is 85% off the retail price of $39.90 I could not leave them  in the store. Also they are going to be great come the fall.

UNIQLO Women Drape Cache-Coeur Short Sleeve Dress

UNIQLO Women Drape Cache-Coeur Short Sleeve Dress (see more Uniqlo)
Finally I scored a bikini top and two bikini bottoms which set me back only $9.00. Total retail for all pieces would have been 27.85 which is still great but I will take the 67% savings and put it towards my next vacation.

Shoes

So I bought 5 pairs of shoes in April. I know it sounds a bit extreme but I got some really great deals. The first pair I found were coach sandals. I found them on consignment for 19.99.

Brown Coach Sandals. Retail price $128.99. I paid $19.99. Savings of 84%
COACH Rue Dog Leash Flat Sandals

COACH Rue Dog Leash Flat Sandals (clipped to polyvore.com)
I bought three pairs of sandals at Aldos in Nude, Black and Brown. Retail price for each was $60.00. I paid between $9.99 and $14.99 for each pair. This is a savings of 75% to 83%.
ALDO Kallole Black Jewelled Toepost Sandals

ALDO Kallole Black Jewelled Toepost Sandals (see more leather shoes)
I think I own about 4 pairs of flats and I know realize why. I picked up a pair of Aldo Brown Pointy Flats. Retail Price $50.00. I paid $12.49. Savings of 75% Great deal but sadly after wearing them a few hours I have deemed them uncomfortable. I just cannot do flats.

Other

Some other items that I bought in April was a black cross body bag and a few scarves.

I have been on the hunt for a black cross body bag and I finally found one that I have been wearing non stop since I have bought it (Going on about two months). The bag from coach retails for $168.00 but I paid 59.32 which is a savings of 65%.

I also picked up three scarves at a local discount store which set me back 6.97. With scarves (on the low end) costing around $10 I see this as a savings of 77%
21 Number of items purchased.
$899.44 How much others have paid.

$217.82 How much I paid.
Average Savings: 76%
$178.62 Money left over to add to June’s Budget (This includes the $100 allowance for May)


-Taima

0 Comments

What I bought In January

2/20/2014

1 Comment

 
I have a ton of goals this year that I am very excited about but in order to reach them I have decided that I need to downsize and simplify my life a bit. I am known for being a shopaholic and although I never buy retail and find great deals things add up. The other day I had a Carrie (a la SATC) moment when I looked in my closet and realized that I could probably put a down payment on a house with the amount of money I have spent on clothes and shoes over the last few years.  I decided to hold myself accountable for my shopping by (1) putting myself on a budget; (2) following a 1 in 2 out rule and (3) keeping track of my purchases.  I started out with a budget of 382 bucks this months. That sounds like a lot however most of it was Christmas gifts and credits that I had from returns I made on purchases in December. Here is what I ended up spending my money on this month.  
ASOS Pencil Dress With Leather Look Panels
Asos at ShopStyle
This may be my favorite purchase of the month. I cannot wait to wear it. Retail price of this was 64.82. I paid 28.58.  That is a 56% savings.  ***It is currently on sale for around $25 so I recommend checking it out before it is gone.****
ASOS PETITE Exclusive Pencil Dress With Cut Out Side Panel
Asos at ShopStyle
Another great find for spring/summer. The color is more chatreuse than yellow but that is why I love it so much. Retail price was 71.51. I paid 18.33. That is a savings of 74%. 
Closet Wrap Front Tulip Dress
Closet at ShopStyle
Before you jump to conclusions I did not buy two black dresses. I bought the above pictured dress in a black and white floral for spring. Unfortunately the print is no longer available. I wore this dress the other day when the weather warmed up with a black blazer and boots. Looking forward to wearing it again in the spring. Retail price 65.87. I paid  14.17. A steal at 78% off. 
ASOS Pencil Dress In Stripe With Deep V
Asos at ShopStyle
This dress was a great find for spring. I cannot wait to wear it when the weather warms up (hopefully). Retail price 88.89  and I paid 22.87. That is a savings of 74%. 
ASOS PETITE Exclusive Lace Midi Knot Back Dress with 3/4 Length Sleeve
Asos at ShopStyle
I know. I know. I don't need another black dress however the lace, the back, the shape, the length. I love love love everything about this.  Retail price was 75.28. I paid 19.99. With a savings of 73% it was definitely well worth it. 
Of course I could not go a month without buying shoes. I bought 2 1/2.  That is not bad considering. 
Nike - Studio Wrap (White/Black/Wolf Grey) - Footwear
Nike at ShopStyle
Lets start with the 1/2. I 've had my eye on these Nike Wraps for some time. I saw a girl at the gym with them and wanted them every since. I really couldn't justify spending $50 bucks on them so when I found them for nearly half price I was delighted. I ended up paying  31.88 including shipping which is a savings of 36%. The shipping killed this deal however well worth it since I wear them to yoga and ballet barre religiously. 
Seychelles Women's Everywhere I Go Ankle Boot
Seychelles at ShopStyle
I am going to Texas this year for the first time ever. (On my to do list is to discovery the USA a bit).  Of course when I came across these ankle boots I thought they would be perfect for my adventures in Texas. Retail price 149.95. I paid 45.00. Unfortunately I have since ran them to the ground and have to resole them however they are still worth it at a savings of 70%. 
N.Y.L.A. Women's Symphony Pump
N.Y.L.A. at ShopStyle
I have had my eye on a silver pump for a while now however part of me sees them as too trendy to warrant spending money on. I was happy to find a cheaper version that were still leather and looked decent (look way better in person. Not a fan of the pic). Retail price 100.00. I paid 27.00. Savings of  73%. 
I also purchased a ring not pictured here.  The ring retails at 65.99. I paid 35.31. That is a 46% savings. 


So here are my numbers for the month:


5 dresses
3 pairs of shoes (or 2 1/2)
1 ring
732.31 How much others have spent (Retail prices)
179.25 How much I spent
76% How much I saved over retail
203.17 What I will have to roll over for the month of February


-Taima 

Today I am linking up with:
Style Elixir
1 Comment

Shop Now Wear Later -LWD

1/23/2014

0 Comments

 
I know it is freezing cold here in NYC and the northeast however I cannot avoid wanting to look forward to spring and summer. Now with the winter sales in full swing it is a great time to score some goodies that can be worn when the temperatures start to warm up. My biggest summer go to is the little white dress. This year I am actually looking for a white maxi dress  (does that count?). Here are some dresses I found that are on sale now but would be great for the spring/summer. Best thing is they are all under $50. 
More Asos...
ShopStyle

-Taima

0 Comments

Monochromatic 

1/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have been fighting the monochromatic trend for a while. It just seems like something that I am going to regret in the future. I ended up succumbing to the trend by accident. It was a very early and dark morning and I could not find my trusty black work blazer for the life of me so I grabbed the first thing I could find and this is what I ended up with. Guess what? I kinda like it. Let's talk about the pieces. The sweater is actually from Forever 21. I used to hate Forever 21 and swore against it. It is still not my fave store to shop but sometimes I am surprised by what they have to offer so it has made it to my approved list. The pants are Theory and can I tell you how I got these pants for $20 bucks. Yup.. They were on clearance for $39 at Lord & Taylor plus an extra 50% off.  You will be surprised what you can find in the clearance rack with a bit of patience. I am pretty sure this outfit cost me about $50 head to toe not including the jewelry. You know I love me a deal. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Shop the Look:
Sweater: Forever 21. Similar here or here
Top: No Brand. Sorta Kinda Similar here or here
Pants: Theory. Similar here or here
Shoes: Guess. Similar here or here

-Taima

Today i am linking up with Style Elixir. 
0 Comments

The Snow is coming....

1/2/2014

0 Comments

 
Here in NYC and the northeast we are headed into the most brutal months of the winter. The bitter cold combined with the snow, wind and rain makes for a very unpleasant time in NYC. Mind you this is coming from someone that loves the cold and a little bit of snow. This weather always puts me in a bit of a style rut so I decided to find some pieces under $50 that will help to keep me warm and stylish at the same time. 
More Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren...
ShopStyle

-Taima

0 Comments

To Adorn

7/18/2013

0 Comments

 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ToAdorn. All opinions are 100% mine.

As you all know I am always looking for a deal and when it comes to deals I can sometimes be very impulsive. Although I have gotten a lot better over the course of the past few years I am still guility of impulse buying especially when I find a good deal. 

I recently came across a site called ToAdorn. This is like a groupon or living social for clothes and accessories. It was love at first sight for me. Not only are the items they offer extremely trendy and cute but they are affordable. The catch is that they are only available for a a limited time. 

For example the bracelet below was available on the site for only 5.99. Such a great deal and regularly retails at 19.99.  The only catch is when I looked at the bracelet it was only available for three hours. 

 

Here is a sampling of some other deals that I found on the site. Different things are available everyday which is very exciting. I find myself logging into the site every so often to see what kind of new items they are featuring. 

These bracelets were only 3.29. I am bit sorry that I did not get them when they were available. 

Only 3.29.

These cuffs were only 6.49 and  very similar to something I have seen at high end retailers. 

The other great thing I like about this site is the fact some of the items are handmade. I love buying handmade and even though  I know a lot of time goes into making handmade items they can be a bit expensive. This site makes handmade items accesible which is nice. I am off to do some shopping on To Adorn. Be sure to follow them on  Facebook for more information. Hopefully I won't get myself into too much trouble. 

Visit Sponsor's Site

-Taima

0 Comments

Soho Shopping Haul

6/13/2013

0 Comments

 
A few weeks ago on a Sunday morning  I got up early and headed down to SoHo for a little bit of shopping. I am always looking for a deal as you all know and I found some really great pieces (most of which will be coming with me my travels later this month).  I managed to get 9 pieces for well under $100. You will be surprised at my grand total. 

Here is what I picked up: 
First stop was Necessary Clothing. I picked up two dresses and a top that set me back a whole 26.97. The store that is located on Broadway between Howard  and Grand has a great clearance section downstairs. I always hit those racks first when I go there and have managed to score lots of great stuff. The retail price for all my goodies would have been 91.97. I ended up saving  71%. 
Picture
Retail Price: 34.99 Sale Price: 9.99.
Picture
Retail Price 19.99. Sale Price 6.99.
Picture
Retail Price: 36.99. Sale price 9.99.
After Necessary Clothing we went to  a bunch of other stores but I managed to pick up some stuff at Old Navy. Once again I shopped the sales. I picked up three bikini pieces and a pair of neon shorts. Grand total was 18.47. Retail these pieces would have all came in at 79.93, a  77% savings.  Here is a poor in a private plane hint. I ALWAYS mix and match my bikinis. I rarely wear matching pieces. This helps me save tons of money because when bathing suits go on clearance its hard to find matching pieces.  I just buy what I like and is in my size and worry about putting it together later. I have managed to collect tons of pieces and rarely pay more than $10 for each piece. 
Our final stop was a leather store on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side where I find two genuine leather skirts for $10 bucks each. Retail Price is 79.99 for each so that is a 87% savings. Now I am not planning on wearing these skirts anytime soon but they will be great for the fall. I am already thinking of how I am going to style them. 
So here are the numbers: 
I got a total of 9 pieces. 
I spent 65.42. 
If bought at retail I would have spent 331.88. 
I saved 266.46 (80% savings). 
Enough for another few shopping hauls if you ask me. 

-Taima

0 Comments

The Maxi Skirt

4/23/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
If I wasn't currently on a shopping diet I would go out and buy maxi skirts in every color I could find them.  They are my new found obsession. I got this one for 6 bucks at NY & Co a few weeks back and I absolutely love it. I absolutely love the colors and print and am just dying to mix it up with a few other pieces in my closet. (Look out for a remix post). What trend are you obsessing over this spring? 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Top: DKNY Similar here
Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch Similar here
Skirt: NY & Co Similar here
Sunnies: Kate Spade Available here

-Taima

Today I am linking up with: 
Real Girl Style Link Up
STYLELIXIR Style Sessions
1 Comment

365 Challenge 9.0

3/4/2013

0 Comments

 
I've been a bad blogger. Life has just taken over and between the gym, work and my social life there has been little time for outfit pics or even writing posts. I promise to get better. This week was all about the things that make me happy. 
Picture
Day 56: After bailing on one of the worse dance classes I have ever taken I decided to walk from 54th street to Grand Central. It was nice taking in the city from the eyes of a tourist. I walk down these streets every day but never stop to appreciate what is around me.
Picture
Day 58: Wednesday night was book club. We read This is How you Lose her by Junot Diaz. It was a relatively good book. We ended the night with a treat from Valencia which is a staple in most latin households. Oh yeah and it was Dominican Independence. 
Picture
Day 60: You all know I love a good deal. I stopped into the Nordstrom Rack in Union Square on Friday night and scored these Kate Spade sunnies for $25. Great deal. 
Picture
Day 62: After my gym class on Sunday I decided to do some shopping down in SoHo. I found this bag at Housing Works. Such a great piece. Unfortunately when I got home I discovered my phone is too big to fit inside. Let's see how that works out. 
Picture
Day 57: Have you ever tried these. These are the best things ever. I usually pick them up at the Japanese grocery or in chinatown. I am obsessed. 



Picture
Day 59: I have been on a major gym kick and on Thursday nights have been taking a silks class. It is a lot of fun and I am actually starting to get it. It is my new obsession. 


Picture
Day 61: Saturday night we attended a wedding which was a great excuse to get dressed up. Don't you love the bow tie. 










-Taima

0 Comments

Save Now, Wear Later: Spring 2013 Florals

1/16/2013

2 Comments

 
As does every year with the holidays over stores are starting to bring out their Spring merchandise and I am seeing a lot of floral. Because I am always looking for a deal I decided to do a little online hunting and found some great pieces that can be bought now "on sale" and worn in the spring. Here is what I found. 

Pants, Shorts and Skirts
More Gianni Bini...
ShopStyle
More Vera Wang...
ShopStyle
Dresses
More Kensie...
ShopStyle
Tops and Blazers
More T Tahari...
ShopStyle

-Taima

Today I am linking up with: 
2 Comments
<<Previous

    About Me

    I am a native New Yorker that is addicted to travel and fashion. Wealth is not measured by the amount of money you have but by your life experiences.  

    Follow on Bloglovin

    My Wishlist

    ShopStyle
    IFB

    Brands I Trust

    505604_Free Shipping on bareMinerals with $50 Order

    My Life on Instagram

    Archives

    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    170579_Sale up tp 40% off at bebe.com
    NetworkedBlogs
    Blog:
    Taimata
    Topics:
    Fashion, Diy
     
    Follow my blog

    Categories

    All
    365 Challenge
    Allnaturalstylesecrets
    Ask Taima
    Asos
    Beauty
    Brunch
    Crochet
    Cycling
    Fall
    Fashion
    Favorite Bloggers
    Fitness
    Food
    Hair
    Handmade
    Holidays
    Life
    Link Ups
    Link Ups
    Louboutin
    Necessary Clothing
    Ootd
    Recipes
    Sales
    Sewing
    Shopping
    Spring
    Summer
    Travel
    Trends
    Winter

    RSS Feed

    Free Shipping on bareMinerals with $50 Order

    My Shops


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.