1. Chic Living On The Cheap
Big Heart? Little Budget? No Sweat!

2. Rule # 1
There are no rules.
Kinda refreshing, huh?
Shoestringing is flying by the seat of your pants and hoping like
heck the seams don’t give out!
That said …

3. On the other hand
While there aren’t any ‘rules’ to shoestringing,
it definitely entails some lifestyle changes.
The first of those – and our focus today – is: LOOK-IT-ING.

4. What’s that? You aren’t familiar with the term
‘LOOK-IT’?
LOOK-IT-ING is wistfully, intently, longingly gazing at
something with an overwhelming desire to possess
it – be it a grape gumball or the Krupps diamond.

5. terminology
LOOK-IT-ING is:
 Related To: the Ecclesiastical Rule:
There’s a time to live and a time to … dare I say - BUY?!
 Also Known As: the Gambler’s Creed:
You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.

6. The Basic Premise
In essence, LOOK-IT-ING is a sort of stop-gap to Impulse Buying
and the ensuing Buyer’s Regret.
How to cultivate the Shoestringer’s LOOK-IT-ING Lifestyle:
 LOOK-IT. (duh – don’t tell me you didn’t see that coming!)
 Determine WHY you’re LOOK-IT-ING.
 Does the item serve a specific purpose or need?
 Does it inspire creative action or tickle your nostalgia?

7. Does it fit in the NEED or WANT column?
 If it’s a NEED, well, I haven’t got much input because you have the
inside info necessary to make the final determination.
 If it’s a WANT, ask yourself: “Is it in my budget?”
A collector’s edition JEDI figurine is swell and all but it’s awfully hard
to appreciate if you can’t see it because the electricity gets shut off!
Consider financial options such as putting your lunch money towards
it and brown-bagging for a week to keep your budget on track.

8.  If it’s a WANT, can you find a suitable substitute?
 If it’s a thing of beauty, a photograph (snapped from your cell) may
suffice. I’ve made some lovely wallpapers and desktop slideshows
using photos taken for the sake of aesthetic appreciation.
 If it’s a means of inspiration, a photo may serve the purpose of
capturing the details. Consider taking a few notes on your cell phone
or on the back page of your pocket calendar. Just jot down the basics:
Combine moonstone with lapis on a silver chain.

9. In Summary:
Unfortunately, there is no support group for Impulse Buyers. I know because
I’ve looked. I have a special weakness for all things sparkly – jewelry makes
me weak-kneed and light-headed and generally unreasonable.
BUT, I can usually keep that old dragon Impulse under my thumb if I make an
effort to stick to the BULLISH POINTS:
 Assess the reason I’m drawn to the item
 Honestly determine whether there’s wiggle room in the budget
 Brainstorm ways to use the item without purchasing it
 Trust your judgment – or remind yourself how unreliable it is (!)

10. A Final Word …
If at first you don’t succeed … don’t sweat it! You’re in good company here at
Shoestring With Style!
We’ve been there, done that. More than once.
Tomorrow is a new day and we’ll give it another whirl.
TOGETHER. Cuz that’s how Shoestringers roll: Side By Side.
Peace Out, Bullish

11. Questions? Comments?
We’d love to hear from you! Find us on the world wide web at:
1. www.shoestringwithstyle.com
2. www.facebook.com/shoestringwithstyle
3. www.twitter.com @shoestrngstyle
4. shoestringwithstyle@gmail.com