Anniversary Gifts - Forty-Fourth Anniversary

Have you been noticing that the anniversary gift ideas over the past few years have been a little off the beaten track? Well, it doesn't get any less strange for your forty-fourth anniversary. Most likely as the list makers were getting to this end of the list, they were just running out of ideas. If you think not, just try on this year's offering for size. What exactly is it? Well, you're going to be taking your spouse to the supermarket.

That's right. This year's anniversary gift idea is groceries. You know, those things that you get at the local Pathmark and bring home to fill your stomachs with. Well, this year you get to make those groceries a special anniversary gift for your lovely wife or handsome husband. If you're scratching your head wondering how you're going to pull this off, we've got a few ideas that should do just the trick.

One idea is to go on a shopping spree. No, not just take a trip to the supermarket. A real shopping spree complete with gift certificate and all the trimmings. Considering how expensive groceries are just for a normal day out shopping, you're going to want to make that gift certificate out for a sizable amount. We'll leave that amount up to you, but just remember, $100 barely feeds a family of three for a week these days. So you probably want to make that certificate out for at least $250 if not more. You can offer to go with your spouse on this spree or let him or her go alone. Make it their choice.

If the idea of the shopping spree seems a little corny, what you may want to do is have certain groceries delivered to the house as a surprise. If you really want this to be an eventful day, call up a number of different places that maybe specialize in different kinds of foods and have them all make a delivery at different times during the day. Make sure your spouse is home the whole day. That way, each time the doorbell rings and there's another delivery person at the door, there's another surprise to go along with him. The trick here is not to have too many different deliveries. Three or four should be fine. After the fourth one, the whole thing might get a little old. You want to keep the element of surprise. The second delivery will actually be a bigger surprise than the first one as your spouse will figure that one delivery was the whole gift. You will get a great reaction to this gift.

Of course, if you want to keep the whole thing simple, you can just go out yourself and pick up a few special items from the grocery store that you normally don't get. For example, if you've been putting off getting that lobster tail because it is too expensive, now is a perfect time to get a few.

The only trouble with this year's anniversary gift is that eventually it will be gone, but at least you'll enjoy eating it while you can.

Treat Yourself to a $1,000 Shopping Spree!

You’re in the mall with your husband or friend and are each given $1,000 to spend. The only restriction… it must be gone within one hour. You can do whatever you like with it!! Ready – set – spend!!!

If this sounds like something you’d love to do, then do it!! All you need is a note-paper and pen to record the details of the items you intend to purchase on your shopping spree. What?!? You don’t actually spend the money for this to be a terrific experience. It works best if it’s not pre-planned, so one day when you find yourself at the mall try it!! If you are going with your husband, you can decide to shop together with $2,000, or independently – it’s your choice. The treat is in the process.

How we spend our money is a big factor in our overall financial decision making process and these decisions ultimately will determine our financial destiny. So, when there is much uncertainty about future savings, there is much to learn from our spending habits.

If you think about the $1,000 shopping spree, there are many ways to approach the project:

· Fun – Yippee – A windfall with no strings attached.

· Guilt – It really ‘should’ go to bills, to savings or to something needed, but I’ll spend it anyways.

· Generously – What can I buy for someone else? Or, whom can I give it to?

· Overwhelm – There’s simply too much choice – I don’t know where to start.

· All-in-one-place – What can I buy with this $1,000?

· Spread it around – How much can I get with this money?

· Fear – Am I buying the right things? Will I have enough? Is this the best price? Should I put the money somewhere else?

· Blindly – It’s my money I’ll spend it on whatever I want. It doesn’t matter what, or how much, or if there is anything else to do with the money, or if there will be enough for everything I want.

· What’s everyone else doing? – I’ll see what other people are doing with their money first, then decide what to do with mine.

· Responsibly – What kind of investment can I make to earn more from this windfall?

Even this initial reaction is a key to becoming aware of your spending habits: Is it work? Is it fun? Does it seem silly and a waste of time? Before you can really do any kind of financial planning you need to know how you approach your spending and where your money goes so you can plan for future expenses.

People naturally have a spending comfort zone. This is the money they spend without really thinking about it. For some people it might be $5, for others it could likely be $1,000 or more. If your personal comfort zone for spending is $20 and so is your spouse’s, then between the two of you there could be as much as $40 per day that is gone without a real conscious awareness that you are spending. For others the comfort level is extended to particular areas – such as on kids’ activities or on a hobby. It almost doesn’t matter what the amount is – as long as it’s an item related to the particular activity or lifestyle area.

To start to gain control over your day-to-day finances here are some suggestions: First, take yourself on a shopping spree and evaluate your approach and your purchases. When you are finished shopping keep your notepaper in your wallet or chequebook. It will be a good representation of some ways you would like to be able to spend your money – this can become goals that you set and work towards. Second, begin to actually track all the money you spend – yes, ALL the money. That means even the $0.50 on parking and $2.00 on coffee. If you do this for a month and write it down, your totals might surprise you. Next – balance your chequebook. What? Why? Because keeping a running tally in your head is not the same as having the control and the empowering feeling you get when you really know how much money you have, and where, and what your worth is at any given time. Even people with more money than average have their books balanced. They might have a bookkeeper doing it for them, but they are providing the information and they are in control of their money. Try it – it might seem like a small thing – but it’s a necessary skill for future financial success.

Any finally, here are some questions you can use when making purchases – of any size – even within your spending comfort zone:

1) Why do I really want this now?

2) Do I have the cash for it today?

3) How many hours, days, or weeks will I have to work to pay for this?

4) Is there something I need more?

5) Do I need to get rid of, or change anything before I buy?

6) What if I don’t buy it today? Can it wait?

7) What might be the consequences of buying today?

You are committed to today, or you are committed to tomorrow. Either way, your decisions today determines your tomorrow. Before making financial decisions ask yourself some questions and become aware of your spending patterns so you decide your tomorrow.

MoneyMinding Inc. and Tracy Piercy accept no liability for the content of this article, or for the results of any actions taken or not taken on the basis of the information provided. The content is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional, personal financial advice.

Take a Limousine For a Shopping Spree in Illinois

If you want to have a totally fun and exciting shopping spree in Illinois, one of the best ways to do so is with a booked limousine. When you book a limousine for your shopping trip in Illinois, you will not have to bother about driving around to look for the best, if not the nearest parking lot (you do not want to park too far away if you intend to buy a lot of things and carry them for a distance before you reach your car, right?), finding your car keys while carrying your load of shopping bags, going through the traffic and so on. What’s more, if you intend to drive on your own, you may not even be able to get more than 2 of your friends to come along with you, as you will need the space in your car to load your shopping bags, wouldn’t you?

With a booked limousine, not only do you not have to worry about parking space, dropping your car keys, bad traffic and so on, but you will also get to invite more than 2 friends too. So, what are you waiting for? Call up to book a limousine now and bring along your shopping buddies!

There are a number of great shopping places in Illinois and one of such is Woodfield Mall at Schaumburg, Illinois. It has been reported that about 26 million people visit the Woodfield Mall every year to shop at some of the biggest department store chains in the country. They include Nordstrom, Sears, JC Penney, Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field’s. There are about 285 specialty shops and boutiques that surround the five anchor stores. In addition, there are also a number of interesting art galleries, jewelry dealers, shoe salons and so on.

Another popular shopping spot to head to is Stratford Square Mall in Bloomington, Illinois. When you and your shopping girls are done with Woodfield Mall, tell the limousine driver to take you to Stratford Square Mall for more shopping fun. At Stratford Square Shopping Mall, you will find many major department stores such as Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward and Kohl’s, to name a few. If you and your shopping pals get hungry, you could try the grilled veggie sandwich at the Great American Steak & Potato Company, located in the food court.

When you and your buddies are through with shopping, you can ask the driver to send you home in the limousine while you check out each other’s purchases. Isn’t it wonderful that even if your legs ache at this moment, you are sitting in the comfort of the chartered limousine instead of being behind the wheels?

UsCoachwaysLimousine is a leading US-based limousine service provider with an impressive list of limousine service clients.

Cellphone user rings up $85,000 bill

CATHERINE MCLEAN

Globe and Mail Update

There are many things $85,000 can buy: a sleek Porsche sports car, a four-week dream vacation on Sir Richard Branson's private Caribbean island, or a serious shopping spree at Gucci. Unfortunately for 22-year-old Piotr Staniaszek, all he got was less than two months of Internet service on his Bell Mobility cellphone.

The million dirham abaya

He is most famous for dressing royalty, notably queens and princesses, for their wedding days. Now Bruce Oldfield, the celebrated British couturier, has designs on something equally traditional: the abaya.

Last week in London, Oldfield unveiled what is thought to be the most expensive abaya ever made. Sporting bespoke Crosley diamonds on the collar and cuffs, the garment is valued at about Dh1.27 million (US$365,000).

The market for designer Islamic garments is growing, and, until now, the most expensive abaya cost about Dh364,000.

“Crosley approached me with the idea of having a collaboration and initially, I thought of making a wedding dress covered in diamonds,” Oldfield said. “Then we thought it would be a good idea to make an abaya. Why not? Every leading designer seems to doing this right now.

“This is the world’s first red carpet abaya.”

For three decades, he has been dressing legions of aristocrats, royals and jet-setting clients.

Talking from his Knightsbridge salon, where samples of his signature floor-length beaded gowns – which can weigh a staggering 70kg – sparkle under an expensive lighting system, Oldfield stresses this abaya is “only for princesses, my dear”.

“It’s very grand. I used the finest black silk, a stiff taffeta, flowing sleeves and a mandarin collar.

“The most difficult challenge for me was to create a garment which did not follow the natural curves of a woman’s shape.

“An abaya must, by definition, envelop the body rather than suggest what lies underneath – which is in complete contrast to what I do and what I’ve been trained to do as a tailor and couturier.

“Normally, I work with bodily proportions and make them better and more streamlined.”

When Oldfield set to work, he “called up a princess friend of mine in Jordan, who told me you can actually do whatever you want in terms of the abaya.

“If you were a princess wanting to make a grand entrance in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi, you would be expected to wear something with a wow factor.”

The garment takes the shape of a kaftan and flows away from the hips into a train at the back.

“I thought about an abaya Maria Callas might wear: a bit of 1960s couture and va voom.”

The abaya is the highlight of the luxury Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair, which takes place in London in August to help boost British exports.

Oldfield is excited when he is “talking abayas”, and about another fashion project – his first bridal couture range in 10 years.

The line features silk tulle – “I use the same silk for my linings the cheaper boys use for the main dress” – and Chantilly lace, which “look heavy, but you can dance in them”.

Oldfield has been dressing heiress brides since 1976, including Jemima Khan, her mother Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Samantha Cameron, Lady Tamara Grosvenor and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Designing wedding dressings, which accounts for about half of his work, is incredibly time consuming.

“I recently had a client from Dubai who wanted me to do her wedding dress along with outfits for her six sisters and her mother.”

The bride’s body shape, her age and the venue are each considered.

“It’s important to examine what is required of the dress. I pander to the bride; most tend to have an opinion about what they want – something totally new and fabulous that will make their friends faint. But I also tell them, in a non-patronising way, it’s their parents’ day too.”

He recalled one bride who expressed disappointment at having to keep “the same dress on all day”.

“I told her, ‘You will remember this day for the rest of your life because of it’.”

Oldfield’s royal clients have included Jordan’s Queen Noor and Queen Rania and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who he was credited with transforming from a gauche teenager to a sophisticated trendsetter in the 1980s.

He also dresses some of Hollywood’s most glamorous women, including Sienna Miller, Angelica Houston, Barbra Streisand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Melanie Griffith, Charlotte Rampling and Faye Dunaway.

And soon his designs will be seen by millions each day; he has been commissioned to redesign the McDonald’s restaurant uniform.

Oldfield’s introduction to fashion came early in life. Born in 1950, he was two days old when his birth parents placed him in a Dr Barnardo’s orphanage.

He was fostered by a dressmaker, who taught him to sew and cut fabric. After finishing school, he studied to be a teacher but switched to the renowned Central Saint Martins art college in London to study fashion.

His schooling was funded by Barnado’s, which would later provide him with a start-up loan for his business in 1975.

He is now a vice president of the children’s charity.

Oldfield agreed to design the diamond-studded abaya on the condition that a percentage of the sales would be donated to a charity for Palestinian children.

“I’m not actually that interested in fashion,” he said. “When someone says lime green is the new black for this or that season, I just want to tell him or her to get a life. I love to create shapes from luxurious fabrics that make women look even more beautiful ... whether this is a wedding dress, an opera coat, a suit or an abaya. This is my job.”

Are more abayas in the pipeline?

“I’d be happy to make them to order, especially if it will mean nipping over to Abu Dhabi for a fitting. One must have strings to one’s bow.”