Hey Sal,
All of my friend’s b-days land around the same time of year. That means lots of parties (yay!), but also lots of money spending. One girl is having a nice dinner out, another is arranging a girl’s night at a hotel in the city, and two others are having parties. The only problem is: I’m totally strapped for cash. These are my best friends though, so how do I celebrate, without going overboard? Help!
- Beth, Wicker Park

Beth,

It’s easy to celebrate your friends - without giving your checking account a birthday spanking - but you’ve just got to be smart about it. God knows we’ve all been there (why on earth does everyone insist on making babies around the holidays, resulting in August births/birthdays a plenty?) and when times are tight, you have to get a little creative.

It’s miserable, and may start a rumor that you’re anorexic; but, eat before the dinner and limit the amount of alcohol you have there. It’s easy to let the tab run away from you, so throw a power bar in your purse and get something small. And always, always, always - bring cash so you’re not looped into paying for other people’s extravagance when it comes time to “split” the check. Note: at birthday dinners my friends and I always split the cost of the birthday girl’s meal, so plan for that in your budget.

As for the parties, plan on attending and give gifts that are thoughtful, rather than expensive: Cookies (even slice-and-bakes will do), framed photos of you and said friend (grab a cute frame from T.J. Maxx or Marshalls), or invite them over for dinner later in the month (this is cheaper, and gives you some time before you have to deliver).

One final note, I know you mention these are all your best friends, but what’s the gift exchange policy with each of them? I know I have very close friends who don’t give gifts. They just don’t. If one of your friends isn’t a practicing gift giver, follow their lead. Don’t waste your money, get them a nice card, and call it a day.
There are plenty of ways to make this work while still accomplishing the main objective of making your friends feel special on their big days. You just need to be creative.

This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”

Dear Katie,

I’m looking for some help with an outside space….my balcony.

I have a glass top table with a wrought iron base and chairs with a little ivy design. A table for four on a balcony you say? It’s from the 60s and people were smaller then so the table for four will work on the balcony space just fine. To keep it simple, I’m painting it black (already looks so much better).

Do you have any fun thoughts for seat fabrics? Are you seeing any cool trends for this type of space? I’ve thought about the classic wide black and white stripes (very cabana-esque) but thinking it could be too conservative so maybe a solid vibrant color or another pattern.

My windows are floor to ceiling so the space will be visible from the inside so I am definitely taking that into consideration.

Just curious what you’re seeing in this space, if anything :) Thanks!

- Heather, Lincoln Park

Dear Heather,

How very PLRG of you to take an old table and breathe new life into it with paint! Black was a great choice. The table looks more modern and sophisticated.

Outdoor pillows will brighten the look of your balcony and will visually increase your homes livable space. Not to mention, seat cushions will allow you to sit in comfort while you enjoy an after work cocktail……or the view.

The good news is that our less than perfect weather and the economy have contributed to some fabulous sales on outdoor accessories. The bad news is cute outdoor fabrics really lag behind interior fabrics. I visited several Chicago boutiques and was totally disappointed with the lack of outdoor pillows available, and those I did find were uninspiring. I was forced to venture online.

Target has a surprisingly large stock of outdoor seating accessories. I was drawn to a combination of the white Oasi set of 4 seat pads with alternating stripped and blue medallion pillows as decorative chair backs. The fusion of the black wrought iron and white seat cushion takes into account your original idea of a black and white motif and the accent pillows add comfort and visual excitement.

The accent pillows make the space and at $24.99 for a pair are a great deal. Buy a pair of each pattern and alternate them on the chairs. The four white seat cushions are priced at $119 for a pair of four, and Target is offering 15% off orders over $125 and free shipping, so the total look is approximately $150.

Place this great candle lantern from CB2 onto your table for $39.95 (on sale, original price $59.95) to finish the look.(I know you didn’t ask about a lantern, but it just works!)

For under $200 you will have a sophisticated and polished outdoor area to enjoy for the remainder of the summer. Keep the questions coming!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Dear Katie,

I have an oddly shaped, small bedroom with really high ceilings. Any suggestions on how I can better utilize my space?

- Noelle, Bucktown

Dear Noelle,

Upon seeing the pictures you provided (see before photo below) I knew there was no way I could let a fellow PoorLittleRichGirl live in such clutter and mayhem! But, just writing an article was not enough. I had to personally intervene and stop the insanity. So, I paid a house call…

When I asked why you had placed your bed where it was you told me, “Because that’s the way the person before me had it.” Great logic! If we all lived by that philosophy wall-to-wall green shag carpet would be everywhere.

Listen to me all you PLRGs! Never be afraid to try something new when it comes to design. Even if you mess up you can always fix it. Later this summer I will share how I thought it was an AMAZING idea to repaint my condo and did a real number on the trim, even though I was using my beloved blue tape. But, guess what? It will get fixed and I get to write a comical and self-deprecating article about my attempt which will hopefully teach you all not to make the same mistakes. It ends up being a win-win situation!

Back to Noelle’s problem- Noelle and I decided the best plan of action was to get together and rearrange her bedroom to better utilize her space.

Some notes when trying to rearrange furniture:

Before you haphazardly rearrange your room, it is a good idea to first measure your furniture, walls and potential walkways. Graph paper is extremely helpful in creating a preliminary layout.

Use friends to help you move the heavy stuff. Mimosas and/or other alcoholic beverages are a good motivator. Try to limit yourself to just a few, so you don’t hurt yourself or others!

When moving dressers, first remove the drawers filled with clothes!

Rearranging your room is a great opportunity to clean under all that furniture that you never move. If you happen to vacuum up a piece of jewelry you can remove the bag to find it. (Noelle learned this from experience-see photo on right)

We had several design obstacles to tackle. A converted loft, Noelle’s room is quite small and oddly shaped. This problem was compounded by her furniture layout, which left little to no standing/changing space and a dizzying zig-zag path from the doorway through the room (you can see how close the dresser is to the bed in the photo below).

Also, while the interior walls were drywall, the exterior walls were brick, with a steel and concrete cut out, which at one time was a doorway. Noelle experienced difficulty hanging anything from the brick and had given up, leaving her largest wall empty except for a small lantern she hung from an ancient nail head.

After some preliminary measurements we agreed to a plan of action. We flipped her bed around to give her more standing/changing room and moved her dresser to the opposite wall to break up the empty, brick wall. Due to her high ceilings, we raised the shelf she already had to just above head height in order to create an easier walkway through the room. Using a concrete screw in the mortar we also hung a second, larger lantern over her bed, complimenting the lantern she already had and increasing the visual interest.

BEFORE	AFTER

(The images above were created by Lacey, our Editor, not graphic deisgner, so they are clearly not to scale. But, we wanted to give you a better visual of the furniture placement.)

Once all the furniture was in place it was time to accessorize. When you have a small space it is really important that you attempt to be organized and have a specific place for everything. If you haven’t used, seen or touched something in over a year it is time to get rid of it. Okay, I’ll allow one or two exceptions, like the romantic letter written by your first love that you read after every breakup to remind yourself you are loveable. Wait…that’s just me? Well, you know what I mean. Don’t be a hoarder!

In the end, Noelle’s room turned out really great (after photo above). In just a day we were able to create a more visually appealing and functional space for free!

Thanks for the question, Noelle, and keep them coming, ladies!

UPDATE: To follow up on my previous article, although many people thought the red light and tip jar was a great idea, Maggie has decided to sandblast her shower window. Sorry boys!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Hey Sal,
“I just moved into a place with a larger than average patio/deck. I’d like to have a “patio party” to show off the new place, but I am low on funds and ideas. Where should I start?”
- Leslie, River North

Leslie,

Summer is upon us, and doesn’t it feel good? It’s time to make good use of that patio before, a) it gets too hot and sticky, or worse, b) you blink and summer is gone!

No matter how you slice it, hosting a party is an expense. Cups, ice, glasses, hors d’œuvres (it simply isn’t possible to get away with no food, unless you want people raiding your pantry when they’re a couple of glasses deep), etc. But there are some simple ways to cut back on costs.

Try these top three:

BYOB - This isn’t rude, it’s economical. Ask people to come packing and you’ll save yourself a bundle. Have fun by making a game out of it (asking guests to bring the craziest named bottle of wine they can find, or only bring bottles with certain color labels (tie it into your decorations!!).

Limit Decorations - You look around your place and new patio and you think it looks bare, but picture it with 30 people crammed in. Try to put decorations only where they’ll have the most impact and be appreciated. Suggestions? Front door and tablescape.

Cut the Guest List - Do you really need to invite that one friend of your friend’s because she invited you to her birthday eVite bar party for 200 people? No. Try to surround yourself with only your best friends (better friends will also be more respectful of your space and you’ll have less of a disaster on your hands come morning).

One final thing to consider: co-hosting. Split the cost with a friend and go in on the party together. But be careful, make sure you’ve got a lot of friends in common, or you’ll end up doubling your guest list and saving no money!!

Don’t forget to invite the PLRG girls!

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”)

“Hey Sal- I’ve finally made the leap from underling to actual team member. The only trouble is, I’m junior by at least 5 years, and in most cases, more like 10-15. I want to have a personality, but don’t want to appear like the kid that nobody takes seriously. Help!”
-Amber, 27

Amber,

You’re not alone. But first, congratulations on bucking the economic trend and not only having your job, but advancing in it - way to go!

You’re caught in the classic “small fish, big pond” scenario and you’ve got to see it as a positive. You can learn a lot in your current situation, both in terms of your professional ability - as well as in how you behave and are perceived in your office.

• Step 1, watch and learn. Single out a female superior that you think sets a good example. The way she dresses, her body language during meetings, how she signs her emails, etc. No detail is too minute, and she can act as your professional hitching post. Learn from her example and try to emulate her (don’t get creepy, just see it as learning to blend in with your surroundings).
• Step 2, front stage vs. back stage. Senior management worries that their junior members will not be professional - so beat them to the punch. It’s fine to cut up and be relaxed with your co-workers, but when it’s time to get down to business, flip the gears. Showing your colleagues that you are capable of front stage when need be, will put their fears at bay.
• Step 3, call a spade a spade. You don’t know everything. You said so yourself - you’ve got a decade less experience. When faced with a challenge where you do not have the experience, or do not know the answer, try this approach. “I haven’t worked in this exact situation before, but I have worked in (insert previous experience), which I feel was similar, and I can pull experience from there and make this work.” Basically acknowledge that you’re no expert, but also highlight that you’ve got a skill set that you can apply - in addition to your problem solving skills - to get the job done.

These people hired you/promoted you, and they know you’re not an industry veteran. They will be looking to encourage and guide you to doing a good job - so let them. They will also be looking to you for energy and a fresh eye, so don’t be afraid to speak up. Your youth can act as an amazing asset!

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”)

Below is the first article from our newest contributor, Kevin Kelly. From time to time, Kevin will be offering ”common-sense”, approachable advice for budgeting and investing.  He knows that the bright, successful women who read PLRG could easily put themselves on the road to financial independence by following some simple, time-tested financial guidelines. Kevin says, “It’s not about living like a miser and shivering in the dark and the cold- it’s about taking control of your finances and getting on top of your game.”

I like Starbucks. Most people do. For many people living and working in cities like Chicago, the daily stop into Starbucks is part of their morning ritual. Granted, your grandparents never paid $4.50 for a cup of coffee, but it’s really just a minor expense, after all.

Or is it? These small, seemingly trivial daily expenses can add up over the course of year and end up putting a major dent in your personal financial situation.

Let’s take a look at the daily coffee stop. Say you spend $4.50 each morning on coffee, when you could make it at home for pennies, or (even better) get it at work for free. $4.50 per day adds up to $22.50 per week. Still, not looking to damaging at this point.

So, you spend $22.50 per week on your morning coffee, 50 weeks out of the year. If you do the math, that adds up to $1125.00 per year. $1125.00 is a decent amount of money. Ask yourself this - if you sat down at the beginning of the year and made an annual budget, would you think of budgeting $1125.00 per year on morning coffee?

Think of what you could do with the $1125.00 instead. You could take a nice vacation for that much. How many pairs of shoes could you buy for $1125.00? You could even fly your grandparents into town to show them what a $4.50 cup of coffee tastes like.

But before you head down to Michigan Avenue with your new windfall, let’s take this a step further. What if, rather than spending that cash on new sunglasses and mango martinis, you were to save and invest the money instead? Granted, socking away $1000 in a tax-deferred investment account might not be as fun as a long weekend in Vegas, but let’s do the math.

Say you brew your coffee at home four days out of the week, saving yourself $18.00 per week (I’ll grant you one day a week of Starbucks as a necessary indulgence). That will save you $900 per year. You take your $900 and put it in an investment account.

Let’s say you start this at age 25 and keep it up until you retire at age 60 (I know, you’re going to start your own boutique ad agency and retire at 35, but humor me). If you made it a regular habit to brew your own coffee in the morning and skipped the Starbucks, and invested the $900 in savings each year into an investment account earning 7% interest, how much money would you end up with at age 60?

The answer- $134,022.12. That’s right, read the number again. $134,022.12. This is the power of compound interest. As you can see, that daily coffee is costing you a whole latte money.

The only thing sadder than that joke is the amount of money you’re missing out on. We’re going to get into making compound interest work for you in upcoming articles, so keep it bookmarked at PoorLittleRichGirls.com.

(Kevin Kelly)

“Hey Sal, My boyfriend bought me a spa certificate for my birthday and I’m very grateful and very excited. The only thing is - I’ve never been to one before and don’t know how to act, what to wear, what to expect, etc. Can you prep me for my pampering?”
- Scarlett, Chicago, IL

Scarlett,

First things first - hang on to that boyfriend, he’s a keeper!

Now, there are a few Cider House Rules to remember when visiting a spa, regardless of what type of treatment you plan to receive. Spas offer a relaxing space for you to transition from the outside world and into their hands - so arrive a half hour early and unwind. You’ll want to have time to take advantage of the “extras” most spas offer in the transition area, such as steam rooms, whirlpools, and saunas.

They’ll provide a robe for you, so simply wear clothes and underwear that you’re comfortable in (there will be other women in the transition room - so only wear a birthday suit if you’re comfortable being seen in it while you’re changing). And please, save yourself the trouble and leave your jewelry and other valuables at home. Most spas ado not claim responsibility for lost or stolen items, so… Why take that risk?

Before you arrive, ask if gratuities are included. Chances are they’re not, so be sure and bring a customary 15 percent in cash. Also, communicate your spa experience level and ask to be matched to a technician that works well with your needs. Once in the service, remember - you set the tone. If you want to talk to your technician, go ahead, and they’ll follow your lead. The same goes if you prefer a more meditative environment. It’s all part of communicating to your technician. Your likes, your dislikes. A good spa will ask you these things beforehand, so don’t be afraid to be honest.

And Scarlett, for god’s sake, please DON’T: talk on your cell phone, arrive late, be rude to the staff, fail to tip, or forget to hydrate both before and after your service.

- Sal

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and email her at Sally@PoorLittleRichGirls.com)