Budgeting and the Envelope System

I'm one of the weird ones that absolutely loves to budget and one of my favorite budgeting tools has been the envelope system. I love budgeting because I love seeing how if we stick to this amount of spending, how much we can save by a certain date. Which inevitably leads to the discussion with my husband about where we are going to travel with said savings. Because one of the main reasons why my husband and I got serious about budgeting is because the better we budget, the more we can travel, the more we can do and the more often we can go.

There's been a lot of buzz about the envelope system recently and I've gotten a few emails asking about it so I thought I would take this opportunity to tell a bit about it and why we love it so much. I'm also teaming up with Nicole from The Treasure Tromp where she's telling her experience with starting to use the envelope system. So be sure to check out her page and read about her experience!

So let's get into it.

Background History
The envelope system is strongly promoted by Dave Ramsey who is a financial guru of sorts and also runs the Financial Peace University; a great place to start if you're serious about getting on a budget. As with all advice, take everything with a grain of salt. This is what works for us; but take the time to research and try some different methods to find what works best for you. Jeremy and I started using the envelope system shortly after we were married about three years ago and after a few months of trial and error, we found a system we were happy with and have been doing it ever since.

What is it
The envelope system is a budgeting tool where you calculate how much you spend each month and divide it into categorized envelopes. For example, you decide how much you want to spend on groceries, take out that amount of cash and stick it in an envelope titled 'groceries'. Then, for that month, you only use the cash that is in the enveope. Once the money is gone, it's gone. You have to wait till the next month to spend any more.

How we use it
-We have figured out how much we spend in a month and divide it into a different envelope for the following categories: entertainment, groceries, household, Jeremy's spending and my spending. Choose which areas you want to include.

-We decided that we wanted to put each of our personal spending in there for several reasons. I always hated the thought of having to discuss personal purchases with each other. If we split up our spending, there's no discussion necessary. If he wants to buy something expensive, and he has the money saved up in his personal spending, he can go buy it. No questions asked. And vice versa. We don't care what the other one spends because it doesn't come out of our mutual spending account and it doesn't hurt our savings for that month.

Why we love it
-When we spend money with our credit or debit card, we would lose track of what we were spending and found that we bought more because we didn't have a visible limit like we would if we only brought cash with us.

-We have found we have saved more money because it is a constant and visual reminder of how much money we have to spend that month

-Budgets don't have to be constricting guys. If it's done well, and done to fit your lifestyle, it can be rewarding. Like when we cook at home more during a month and realize at the end that we still have a ton in entertainment money. Whoop! Date night!

Trouble Shooting
-So let's say you're on your way home from work and want to stop to get some groceries. But oh no! your envelopes are at home. Don't worry about it. When this happens we just use our debit card at the grocery store. We have another envelope titled 'Deposit'. This is used when we receive cash for any reason OR if we use our debit card. We pull the money out of the envelope we spent from and put it into deposit to take to the bank later on.

-You like to keep cash in your wallet for emergencies or unforeseen spending. This is also perfectly ok! We usually keep around $20 in our wallets at all times. This does not come out of any of the envelopes, just our mutual spending account. If we use that money from one of the categories, when we get home, we simply pull money out of that envelope and use it to reimburse the money kept in our wallets. 

-Now this one, not everyone will agree with but it works for us. If we have a really big personal purchase (for example, my husband bought his own dirt bike a few months back) and we don't have the money in our personal accounts at the moment, we allow ourselves to take 'loans' of sorts. So for the next few months following his purchase, his spending money was cut until his bike was paid off. 

I am by no means a budget expert. This is what we use and what works for us. So tell me, what is your best kept secret for budgeting? Have you tried the envelope system?

Designer Hostels

If you're anything like me, I travel on a budget but hostels aren't exactly my first choice of a place to stay when I go on vacation. They can have somewhat of a negative connotation when they're thought of. Dirty, cramped, dangerous. These are just a few of the thoughts that come to mind. But Hostelbookers is changing the name of the game with their selection of design hostels. Traveling is expensive already, not to mention the cost of hotels. With these hostels, you get high end, clean, modern rooms at a fraction of the cost!

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If you like the idea of staying in a luxury hotel but don’t like paying the hefty price tag, consider the new designer hotels and hostels from Hostelbookers where you can Stay in Style for a fraction of cost while having a blast! Check out these cheap-chic, budget-boutique accommodations where classy comfort is just the beginning!

 The Cat’s Pajamas Hostel – Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s playful sense of humor pervades this “alternative hostel experience” where the halls – intentionally painted in eye-popping graffiti -- lead to sunny rooms outfitted with designer furniture. Spacious ensuite facilities including make-up stations framed with lighted mirrors and equipped with hair dryers. The helpful staff takes immaculate care of the well-equipped, expansive communal kitchen with big tables that encourage patrons to dine together and get acquainted. Located in Berlin’s multi-cultural Kreuzkoelln district on a tree-lined boulevard, the neighborhood’s dining experiences run the gambit -- from Katie’s Blue Cat British bakery to Paleolithic cuisine at the Sauvage restaurant. Walk to Hermannplatz to catch a train to Berlin’s historic city center or experience Karstadt, Germany’s favorite department store that carries everything from tools to groceries to furs.

Sleepbox Hotel -Moscow, Russia

Despite the rather intimidating futuristic layout, the “sleepboxes” in this designer hotel offer a level of comfort and privacy hitherto unknown at such affordable prices. Available with single or double beds dressed in luxury sheets, the “sleepboxes” are soundproofed, well-ventilated and have a compact “nano” layout that includes a closet, shelves, hooks, sockets, an LED TV and, of course, free Wi-Fi. Each floor has spacious, clean communal bathrooms (a towel set is provided) and there’s a laundry and bicycle rental desk. Dine out at the neighborhood Botanika restaurant, a local favorite featuring a homey atmosphere and fresh Asian cuisine, then kick up your heels at the Help! Bar, famous for award-winning cocktails but renowned for a strict security policy discouraging coarse behavior. Walk to the nearby Belorusskiy station to catch aero express trains to the Sheremetyevo airport or ride the Paveletskiy Train to access the Domodedovo Airport.

Tattva Design Hostel – Porto, Portugal

Some claim staying at this hostel is practically a spiritual experience, which seems to be what the designers had in mind when they incorporated the power of the five elements (earth, water, air, fire and sky) in every aspect of their facility. The result is a harmonious blend of public and private spaces dressed up in chakra-spinning colors and mind-soothing contours. The building is a World Heritage site with a commanding view of Porto from the outdoor terrace and the bedrooms’ windows and balconies. Breakfast is free at the spacious restaurant and there’s a fully-equipped communal kitchen for self-prepared meals. Relax in the reading room or dive into the Aquarium Lounge (yes, there are fish tanks) for refreshing cocktails. The tour desk organizes fun events like pub crawls and walking tours to the impressive Porto Cathedral and across the Douro River on the pedestrian deck above the Dom Luís Bridge.

Interlaken Youth Hostel – Interlaken, Switzerland

The keystone of this sparkling new facility is the cozy lounge that invites guests to mingle around a welcoming fireplace. Precisely arranged bedrooms are hygienically clean and maximize space with auto lockers big enough for backpacks. Their in-house restaurant serves up free breakfasts, healthy meals and supplies snacks to take into the game room to enjoy during a round of pool or internet surfing. Right next door to the Interlaken-Ost Railway Station, the hostel sits at the base of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, site of one of the most spectacular sightseeing trains in the world and a playground for hikers, skiers and nature lovers.

**This is a sponsored post but all opinions stated are my own

Letters/64

Dear Zeke, you're adoptive aunt and uncle were kind enough to come check in on you while we were gone. But apparently we need to work on your hosting skills because every time they would try to play with you, you would run and hide. We've got work to do mister.

Dear Cambodia, I'll admit, we didn't have the highest expectations for you before we went. But you well exceeded our expectations. I just wish you didn't get us so sick when we returned. Maybe it was our bodies way of telling us we should have just stayed there. I'll be sharing more recaps in the next few weeks!

Dear Readers, We actually ended up having access to internet last week but I purposefully steered clear of anything email, blog or social media related. Because I know myself too well and know that an innocent 'I just want to check one thing' will in fact be much more than just one. While it was a great retreat and a great excuse for a 'no technology' week, I must say that I really did miss all of you! So if you get an immense amount of comments/tweets this week, I apologize in advance. 

Linking up with Ashley, Jean, Lauren, Kerry, Chrissy, Kenzie

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And now onto one of my lovely sponsors this month. Be sure to check her out and say hi!

About Casey: Hi Lost in Travels readers!  I'm Casey from True Colours.  I'm a travel blogger writing about my adventures throughout the world and showing off my husband's beautiful photographs along the way.  I grew up as an expat kid in the Middle East and fell in love with traveling early in life.   Now, my husband and I try to see as much of the world as possible every year and my goal on True Colours is to show off this amazing world we live in!  We've got some amazing trips planned in the near future, so head on over and follow along!

What she can't travel without: I cannot travel with a light scarf.  I take one with me everywhere I go and it can double as so many things.  

Twitter // Bloglovin' // Instagram

A Little Word in Self Confidence

I am not the poster child for self confidence. It's something that I have struggled with since youth and something that led an eating disorder for a portion of high school and university. Thankfully I was able to turn my life around and start taking care of myself but self confidence is still something that I struggle with and constantly work to improve. 

For years, I spent way too much time trying to compare myself to others (heck, I still do this at times). I would spend my time wishing things were different or that I could change this or that about myself. I had this mental image that 'if only' this were different, then I would be happy with me. It didn't help that for a few years in university, my side job was dressing twig shaped models backstage for runway shows. When they would leave to go on stage all the dressers would go into a frenzy with 'Did you see her...' 'She has amazing...' 'I wish I had...' 

But recently my friend Dorette (aka the oh so talented and lovely photographer who took these pics for me) said something to me that really resonated. 'How can we compare ourselves to others when we were all built completely differently?' Ground breaking news, I know. But the more she discussed it, the more it sunk in. We come in all different shapes and sizes, with a whole slew of personality traits. 

Take my sister and I for example. She's 5'2", dark hair, olive skin, with the best J.Lo booty you've ever seen. She's quiet and reserved, a Betty Crocker in the kitchen, and a natural born mom. I'm 5'8", blonde hair, pale complexion, with literally a flat as a board behind. I'm loud (sometimes a little too loud) and outgoing, I work hard to make an edible meal and holding babies can make me genuinely nervous (anyone else scared that a freak accident is going to happen while you're holding someone else's baby?)

So how can I compare myself to her? No matter how much I try, no matter how many lunges I do, I will never have a behind like hers (believe me I've tried). And she can stretch every day for a year but never grow an inch. So why waste our time wishing and hoping for things that we simply cannot change about ourselves? Why not redirect that effort into bettering who we are, changing what we can, and appreciating what we love about ourselves?

I can honestly say that for the first time in a long time, I'm content with the way I look. That doesn't mean my ego is through the roof and it doesn't mean that I'm thrilled with every aspect of my body. It just means that I've accepted the fact that I, along with everyone else, have certain flaws and that's ok. It also means that I've realized that along with flaws, we all have beautiful features that we should be proud of and confident in. We spend so much time focused on what we don't like about ourselves and too little time embracing the wonderful and beautiful features that we all have. 

I could go on and on about this topic but I'll end with saying that today I'm teaming up with Katie for a photo shoot link up today. I was so excited when she reached out to me about this idea of doing a photo shoot of ourselves to celebrate the beauty in us all. I encourage you to do the same and show off your beautiful self! If you decide to participate, go over to Katie's blog and put the link in the comments!

Extra Reads:

Travel Babbles also has a great post on a similar subject that you should check out. 

Milk + Crown has a wonderful series where women share what they love about themselves. You can see my feature here.

So tell me, what does confidence mean to you? Or what makes you feel most beautiful? 

Six Things You Should Know About Me + A Giveaway!

I'm so glad that my friend Rachel decided to tag me in this! She's been one of my favorite bloggers for a long time now and I love reading about her time as an expat in Europe and especially about her transition back to the states. Because let's face it, as much as I want to live forever overseas, we will most likely end up back 'home' in Oklahoma and I know it won't be the easiest transition to make! Besides my love of Rachel's blog, I'm a sucker for anything that lets people know a little bit more about the blogger on the other side of the screen. So let's get this party started!1. What's the best piece of advice anyone has given you?Just keep swimming...just keep swimming. Ok, not really even though that is really good advice. I remember growing up, my mom would repeat the scripture to me 'do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of it's own'. Can you tell I was a worry wart growing up? I tried to control everything I could and when I couldn't, I would stress and worry about it. But I have to realize that there is only so much that I can do, only so much that I actually have control over. With the other things, I need to do what I can, and let the rest go! 
2. If you could meet any blogger in person, who would you choose?It's no lie that me and Laurie were meant to be neighbors. I met her months ago when I was just starting to rebrand my blog (aka actually take this thing seriously) and we hit it off right away and try to talk often. I keep trying to talk her into coming and visiting! But there's something about a stupid ocean separating us or some nonsense like that. 
Other than that, I also have my dream team that I would love to have an international blogger meet up with. Hey Rachel, Belinda, Bonnie, Melyssa, Crystal, Nicole, Casey, Katie, and Jenna...are you down?
3. What's your biggest struggle in life?Being too much of a planner. I'm always looking to what's next, the next step, the next destination, the next job. It's not always a bad thing but it goes along with the worrying I talked about above. I'm a planner through and through and I want to know what the next five steps are in advance. And it goes without saying that sometimes there's just no possible way of knowing or things can change last minute (especially here in Korea) and it can stress.me.out.  
4. Favorite piece of jewelry {other than your engagement/wedding ring} and why?I have two pieces of jewelry that mean the world to me. The first one is a pearl necklace that my grandma gave me when I was born. You are supposed to add another pearl each year but I liked the simplicity of just a few tiny pearls on there. 

The second one is my great great aunt's engagement ring. This is a woman that I looked up to and admired. She was the oldest of 13 children and spent her life caring for others and raising her siblings. She was brave enough to walk away from a dangerous marriage even at a time when it was highly looked down upon to do so. She then married a wealthy man because he promised to give her an education (one of the most important things to her) and she continued to work until very late in life editing and reviewing books. My favorite story is when she told me about her second marriage, how they never ummm....consummated it, how there was always another man with them when they went out to dinner, and the list goes on and on. In her upper 90's she sat in her chair, tilted her head and told us, 'ya know what...I think he was gay.' Even though this ring isn't from the best marriage, it reminds me of her and what a strong and hardworking woman she was. 
5. What's something you love about yourself?I really love my bright blue eye color. My whole family has dark features...and then there's me with my pale complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes. I used to hate it because I stood out and didn't look like the rest of my family. But over the years I have started to love my eye color for the fact that it's unique. My siblings actually used to tell me that I was adopted when I was little and I remember believing them and going up to my mom and telling her it was ok if I was adopted, and that she could tell me the truth. Thankfully I have my grandma's nose and my sister's laugh to seal my fate as a part of my family. 
6. Tell us something we don't know about you.Deep water makes me a little nervous. Weird coming from someone who loves to sail and is scuba certified. But something about not knowing what's around you...or beneath you, makes me nervous every time. 
Pick six to answer for yourself:1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?2. If you had an endless supply of one food, what would you get?3. If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go and why?4. What is your biggest pet peeve?5. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? 6. What is your biggest fear?7. Would you rather be rich and stressed? Or poor and happy?8. If money and university major didn't matter, what job would you want?9. Why did you start blogging? Do you still do it for the same reasons?10. What makes you the happiest?
I'm tagging:KatieCrystalNicoleJamieKenzieJenna--------------------And as an added bonus today, I'm jumping on board with Crystal from The Happy Type and some very lovely ladies to bring you a truly Korean giveaway! I have to admit, Korea has some of the best beauty products I've ever tried, and they're super affordable too! And lucky you can win some of these amazing products to try for yourself!

It’s no secret that South Korea is any cosmetic and beauty product lover’s playground. For years South Korea has been one of the world’s leaders in beauty product production and most recently its innovative BB and CC creams have set the states a buzz. Birchbox calls South Korea “ground zero for beauty innovation”, so why not see what all the fuss is about? 

Lucky for you, you don’t have to get on a plane to Korea to take part in the Korean cosmetic boom! I have spent the better part of two years living, learning, and loving the country of Korea and in honor of my return home to America, my friends and I are giving little old you the opportunity to get your hot little hands on a whole slue of Korean cosmetics and beauty products.

 

Here are the lovely sponsors for this crazy awesome beauty product giveaway!

Kayli Wanders | The Gap Year Guru | Living In Another Language | The Style Dunce | Lost In Travels |Daisy Bisley | Inspiration Sparks |The Happy Type

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

1. The validity of the winner’s entries will be verified by me and if any entries are false a new winner will be selected.
2. Winner will be contacted no later than the 23rd. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, if winner does not respond with 48 hours a new winner will be notified by email.
3. Sit back and relax because I’ll package your pretty little package up and get it in the mail. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

Shopping AND a Great Cause!

Every once in a while in the blogging world, you find a rare gem. I have been fortunate enough to have found several of these and Kristyn from Milk + Crown is definitely one of them. She is such an inspiration to women everywhere. She often writes encouraging notes on her blog and even highlights different women in her Wonderfully Made series about what they love about themselves and what confidence means (you can check out my post in this series tomorrow!). 

Well she's won my heart over again! This time it's because she's trying to raise money for clean water through the sales of her jewelry line. How awesome is that?! And I know you won't have a problem finding something to buy because this girl's jewelry is gorgeous! I am currently swooning over this one and this one. Ok...and this one too. Below Kristyn talks more about her cause, what she is trying to do, and how you can help her!

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Hi Lost in Travels readers! I'm Kristyn and I blog over at Milk + Crown where I enjoy sharing my short stories and bits of my daily life and style. I also run a jewelry shop by the same name--which is why I'm here to talk to you today!

When I opened my jewelry shop this summer, I knew I didn't just want to create beautiful, simple jewelry for women. I love design but I wanted to make an impact on a cause that was dear to my heart at the same time. After hearing about The Mocha Club's Purpose Project, I decided to take a leap of faith.

The Purpose Project is all about reaching a goal for a good cause--in the span of a month. Here's how it works: for every piece of jewelry purchased from Milk + Crown in the month of August, $10 will be donated toward The Mocha Club's Clean Water Project, which builds wells in Sudan, Kenya, and Malawi so children can have access to clean water. It takes $300 to provide water for 10 orphans--which means I need to sell 30 necklaces in 30 days. 

With your help, everyone wins. Not only will you enjoy getting a lovely package in the mail, you will be helping orphans gain access to water--a necessity we so often take for granted in our daily lives. While you enjoy a beautiful gift, a child overseas will enjoy an even greater one.And every time you look at your necklace, you will be reminded of the impact it has made on someone's life. 

There are other ways you can help out too! Tweet, Instagram or Facebook about my project, using the hashtag, #30in30jewelry and the corresponding photo to spread the word. Tell family, friends, coworkers, even future brides! And please, pray for me. If I reach my goal, I will push myself to create and add 10 new pieces of jewelry to the collection by September 1st--something I have wanted to do but was afraid to. 

Thanks so much friends, for supporting my shop and the cause on my heart! I hope you take the time today to check out my jewelry :) You can find my project profile on The Mocha Club website here. And, take 15% off any purchase in August when you use the code 'MARVELOUSCARA' at checkout!

**This is not a sponsored post. I just love this girl, her jewelry, and her cause. 

5 Japanese Fashion Trends You Wouldn't Expect-The Nectar Collective

We're baaaack! Unfortunately. Why does it always seem like vacation is just one day too short? I can't complain though, we had an amazing time exploring Cambodia and getting some much needed R&R, a rarity for us. So while I recoup...and catch up on the laundry and cleaning...I have a good blogging friend of mine, Melyssa filling in for me. Have you met Melyssa yet? If not I strongly advice you go check out her page (as soon as you read her post below of course). This girl is like a ball of sunshine and is quickly spreading joy through the inter-webs through her posts about positivity and DIY projects that can't help but put a smile on your face. She also has a pretty awesome link up and is my partner in crime for the Snail Mail Collective (which the pairings are now closed but you can always sign up next month!). But enough of what I think, let's get on with the main even! Below Melyssa shares some...unique fashion trends of Japan.

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Hey everyone! My name is Melyssa and I blog over at The Nectar Collective. I'm a California girl currently living and growing in Tokyo, Japan with my dog, Monja. I blog about all sorts of things, but generally stick to travel and positivity. I'd love for you to join me! Now that I've lived in Japan for a couple years, I've caught onto a lot of the fashion trends and traditions that pervade this little country. I also think Japanese city-dwellers generally have impeccable style and sometimes I find myself in Harajuku observing how much more swag everyone has than me. However, there are some other fashion trends in Japan that you might not have expected or known about. Today, I'm sharing five of those lesser known Japanese styles so that if you ever come to Tokyo, you'll fit in like a native (I'm still working on that one).

1. Scrunchies

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I'm pretty sure if I ever rocked a scrunchy in California, someone would utter the words, where'd you get that? The 90s?  Unfortunately in the States, scrunchies are still associated with Lisa Frank and teeny boppers (the Huffington Post even wrote an article when Hillary Clinton wore one), but in Japan, if your ponytail doesn't have a scrunchy, then you might as well just not wear clothes because girl, you're already naked. Scrunchies are everywhere and people typically buy big, fluffy ones to match their outfits. When one of my students graduated from my school last year, she even gave me a homemade scrunchy as a parting gift. I haven't really bought them yet, but trust me, the temptation for a big teeny bopper head is real, folks.

2. Skin color tights

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In the States, I can't imagine one occasion where people would opt for nude, or skin color tights. But in Japan, oftentimes if people show their legs (with skirts, shorts, etc), they will wear nude tights. I'm not sure whether this is to make their legs look more even toned or because Japan is a pretty conservative society. Probably both. But sometimes when I wear skirts to work, I feel kind of skanky if I'm not at least wearing some beige tights. The struggle is real.

3. Heels

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Women in Japan tend to be on the shorter side, maybe 5'2" or 5'3" in general. However, just like the rest of the world, being a little taller is usually favored. This means that pretty much every Japanese woman wears heels. All.of.them. I see people rockin' six-inch pumps on their way to work like it's no big deal. It's also nearly impossible to find pure flats (i.e. shoes without a small heel or wedge). And shoes are generally small. The biggest size you can find for women's shoes is about an 8.5 or a 9 in US sizes. I'm 5'9" and wear a size 10 so basically I'm a gigantor in Japan! This both means that I don't wear heels because I already tower over everyone and that I can't find shoes here because they're all too small. Shoes and I are still trying to mend our broken friendship. I'll let you know how it goes.

4. School uniforms

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You know that stereotype about the "sexy schoolgirl"? It's kind of real. Every Japanese school, public or not, requires its students to wear a uniform to school. (Sidenote: these uniforms cost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars). But Japanese kids take it a step further. I see them wear their school uniforms all.the.time. It's like their skin. Lots of schools, like the one I teach at, have kind of maternal uniforms with knee-length skirts and hi-cut blouses. But you'll still find plenty of schools with uniforms that look more suitable for a sorority party than a classroom. You'll also see school uniforms all over the place in general, since students and even adults often wear them on weekends or buy clothes that resemble uniforms because that sexy schoolgirl stereotype lives in Tokyo, too (don't believe me? Here's proof).

5. No tattoos

Yakuza had full-body tattoos like this. via

In California, I feel like everyone has a tattoo. Because of this, they're generally accepted, at least among our peers. But in Japan? Well, tattoos are still associated with the Yakuza, which is basically Japan's mafia. Because of that, no one really has tattoos and they are not looked at in a positive light. Some establishments, like onsens (public baths), might even turn you away if your skin is tattooed. Of course, there are still the rebels who do have tattoos (though usually small and easily hidden), but this is still pretty rare. Basically, that sunflower you always wanted to tattoo on your forehead may not fly in the land of the rising sun.

Thank you so much for having me, Chelsea!! If you want to learn more about my adventures in Japan or want to figure out how to infuse your life with positivity, then come say hello on my blog, The Nectar Collective! I'd love to meet you. :)

Now, tell me, what did you think about these Japanese fashion trends? Are there are trends in YOUR country that aren't popular in other parts of the world? Let's chat in the comments!