en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/958988 Comments by From Shoes to Savings http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2013/03/14/what-did-you-do-with-your-wedding-pictures/#IDComment597174845 Not married, but I had to say that I LOVE using Picaboo to create photobooks - they always have deals (and even Groupons pop up for them) and their design software had a lot more options than Shutterfly. I like to make photobooks from trips and some amateur photography. They also have the really fancy kinds where you can get archival paper and lay-flat pages (photo spread across the two pages of the book without a crease), but I tend to opt for the cheaper kinds. I made my albums and then just waited until there was a 65% off sale and am very happy with the books. Way cheaper than some of the professional options and it's great to bring to show family on the holidays. I hope you find a solution for your wedding pictures, they are so many options! Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:38:46 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2013/03/14/what-did-you-do-with-your-wedding-pictures/#IDComment597174845 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2012/04/04/going-on-vacation-when-you-are-in-debt/#IDComment338430648 De-lurking. GO! You worked so very hard to save up that money for a specific (and AWESOME) purpose! Grad school can be intellectually, emotionally, and financially tough, and going on this trip before you start will be a wonderful way to both refresh yourself before school and celebrate this new journey in your life! If it would make you feel better, try cutting a few thousand and putting it towards grad school...you can rent dSLRs and such to save too. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:46:08 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2012/04/04/going-on-vacation-when-you-are-in-debt/#IDComment338430648 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/29/10000-wedding-cash-from-mom-dad/#IDComment237805150 wow, what generous parents!! That's so incredible nice to have such a gift with no strings attached - the lack of strings really shows how much they trust and respect your judgment, decisions, and independence! My parents had always said they would either pay for a wedding or a downpayment....and they did pay for most of my downpayment, but in the form of a loan with 6% interest, due and payable when I sell the house. And I'm currently single. So I have NO idea what will happen if I end up getting married before selling the house! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:04:29 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/29/10000-wedding-cash-from-mom-dad/#IDComment237805150 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/27/surprise-present-kindle-fire/#IDComment237798571 oooh the Fire!! Your comments make me wish I had waited a few more months and bought it instead of the older Kindle I have. I haven't paid for a book for it yet - I use the free ones on Amazon or Gutenberg, and my State actually has a whole online lending library, including audio, on a site called Overdrive! It's worked out sooo well! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:01:24 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/27/surprise-present-kindle-fire/#IDComment237798571 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/16/adults-living-at-home-my-change-of-mind/#IDComment237794117 I lived at home for one year after during graduate school. My parents and I discussed the situation extensively ahead of time, and we knew that the arrangement was for one year to allow me to save up for a downpayment on a home, and we established some pretty clear boundaries and rules for living together again. It worked out really well! At that time in my life, I was required to devote 99% of my effort to studying and I didn't really miss the freedom of living on my own. If I had had a regular job, I would have wanted to make my own hours and go out a lot more. I never felt looked down on my anyone, as many of the fellow grad students were also living at home to reduce costs...when we weren't living in the library, that is! I actually feel like living at home for that year helped me develop a more mature relationship with my parents...but I don't know that I would ever be willing to move back in to my parents' home with a significant other in tow! I am amazed by how so many PF bloggers have been able to make that work, if temporarily! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:55:22 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/16/adults-living-at-home-my-change-of-mind/#IDComment237794117 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/16/adults-living-at-home-my-change-of-mind/#IDComment237789133 I lived at home with my parents for one year after graduation, and I was seriously dating someone during that time. He never stayed the night at my parents' home, and it was always a little weird when I'd stay at his place overnight. My parents never said anything to make me feel uncomfortable about it, but I always felt a little guilty! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:48:31 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/16/adults-living-at-home-my-change-of-mind/#IDComment237789133 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/14/big-milestone-100000-in-retirement-funds/#IDComment237784637 wow, CONGRATULATIONS on the 100,000 retirement savings!!! That's a MAJORLY impressive milestone! I feel very inspired! But as a current grad student, I just wanted to pass along a few words of caution: not all grad programs or even particular phases of graduate training legally allow you to contribute to an IRA. I found this out the hard way - only half of my graduate schools years will legally allow me to contribute to my Roth IRA, because during some of the training years my graduate stipend changes classification from "earned income" to "NON-earned income". I'm sure you and CB will keep on saving anyway! I'm much farther behind, but I'm hoping to open up a separate savings account to put aside money for retirement in during my non-contributory grad school years....and eventually add it in to a 403(b) when I become eligible (in the far, far future!) Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:42:03 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/14/big-milestone-100000-in-retirement-funds/#IDComment237784637 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/09/my-debt-that-doesnt-feel-like-debt/#IDComment237779145 The only I debt I have right now is my mortgage...and while the idea that I don't completely *own* my home definitely hangs over me, it doesn't really FEEL like debt ALL the time...it just sorta feels like a rent payment! Also, on my limited income it's literally impossible for me to pay off the loan while I'm still in grad school, so my motivation to become debt-free is pretty low right now! I view my mortgage debt as another cost, but one that hopefully ends up better in the long run than the cost of renting! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:34:23 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/11/09/my-debt-that-doesnt-feel-like-debt/#IDComment237779145 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/10/25/taking-a-breath/#IDComment237773640 Your comment about being raised to be "A" only perfectionists really struck a chord with me - I've always had this constantly running anxiety that everything had to be done perfectly, OR ELSE! But I've been realizing over the last few years that the "OR ELSE" is really just in my head...the world won't end if I'm behind on cleaning, or a powerpoint isn't as polished as I'd like. It's all okay, even if it's not perfect. However....I feel like my life is totally unpredictable and it's been really hard to be on top of everything personal finance-wise...so how could I possibly blog about it if I haven't been able to achieve it?! Well, maybe I'll just have to set aside some blog time and work through it, rather than being afraid to show my big dreams and big failures to the PF community. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/10/25/taking-a-breath/#IDComment237773640 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/01/24/when-it-comes-to-housing-what-does-gen-y-want/#IDComment124249063 My dream place is very different from the much more practical place I ended up buying. I would love a LEED certified modern style renovation of an old historic building into a loft with huge windows in a bustling part of my city....but bought a conventional townhome with a garage =P. I've just started PF and these discussions about what type of housing and how we can afford housing are topics I'm looking forward to reading about and discussing! Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:48:30 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/01/24/when-it-comes-to-housing-what-does-gen-y-want/#IDComment124249063 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/01/26/personal-finance-confessions/#IDComment124248367 I'm with you on the returning or renewing library books! Other confessions: I need to insist on collecting rent from my roommates ON TIME, and also be more timely about giving them their "invoices" for their portions of our utility bills. I really REALLY need to be more proactive about fighting the outrageous property taxes on my house...I've probably paid at least $6000 more than I've needed to over the past couple of years, due to simple ignorance of the property tax appeals process...a horrible rookie mistake! Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:43:25 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2011/01/26/personal-finance-confessions/#IDComment124248367 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2011/01/how-toshopping-smarter-cataloguing-my-clothing-onto-my-ipod-touch/#IDComment124247625 I LOVE this idea!! I don't have an ITouch and I don't think my Blackberry can hold as many photos as I have clothes....oops =/ I feel inspired to go through all my clothes now as a rainy day project! I still have (and wear) clothes that are embarrassingly old. Going through everything seems like a great way to figure out what I have too much of and where the holes in my wardrobe lie. I don't think there is anything "wrong" with you posting pics!! If I only wanted to read about finances, I'd be reading FT...I love the PERSONAL side of personal finance - it makes everything more real and more enjoyable. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:38:14 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2011/01/how-toshopping-smarter-cataloguing-my-clothing-onto-my-ipod-touch/#IDComment124247625 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/11/is-all-that-education-worth-it/#IDComment107697322 Hi FB! Long time reader here, but new blogger - I'm excited that I can finally make comments =) People ask me your question about higher education ALL THE TIME! I am in a somewhat unusual and lengthy graduate school program, but it is entirely paid for and I receive a stipend and health care. The stipend is certainly far less than what I could earn if I went to work with my BS, but the jobs available would not give me the intellectual ownership or freedom that I desire. The skills and mentorship that I receive during my graduate program are essential to my professional development, and the overall outcome for me will be a job where I can make my own decisions about what I study and how I do it. After working summer jobs that were well paying but rather mindless, I decided that I needed an intellectually stimulating job where I could shape my own research. Of course it might be possible to do all of this without the graduate degree, but it would certainly be much much more difficult and my chances of success would definitely be lower. Right now I'm still happy with my choices, but of course I expect I will have times in my life where I might question my decision. ~Shoes2Savings Thu, 4 Nov 2010 01:43:36 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/11/is-all-that-education-worth-it/#IDComment107697322 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/04/09/discouraged/#IDComment66852560 I agree with you that traveling with an expert will add immeasurably to your trip - the most memorable trips I have taken all have included learning about the history or biology of the area I visited. This trip sounds amazing!! If you are not thinking of going for several years, you might want to consider saving your money in a money market account or a short term bond fund if you are looking to get a higher interest rate than a savings account can provide. ~Shoes (long time reader, first time blogger and commenter!) Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:45:38 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/04/09/discouraged/#IDComment66852560