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About a week ago (when I actually wrote this, before my laptop went ker-plunk), I was looking at the Retire My Way website (part of the ING Direct and Sharebuilder group) and my friend looked at the screen. In amazement she asked me, “Are you planning your retirement?” I said that I was and she asked, “What for?” I reminded her that we might be 20somethings right now, but this is the time when we’re supposed to start planning. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Yeah, I guess.”

As much as it seems to be drilled into us that we’ve got to start saving in our youth, most of my friends in my age group tend to brush it off. Everyone thinks, “I’ll start saving as soon as I get a better paying job” or “Once I pay off these bills I’ll start saving.” The truth is there will always be bills and we almost never have the pay we want.

When you’re a young adult, money is always tight. We’re just getting rid of the training wheels and learning to ride this thing called life on our own; paying your own rent, gaining career experience, and juggling a social life. In between the cocktails, clothes and credit cards, we have to remember to put a little away for ourselves.  They always say to “Pay Yourself First” and it makes complete sense. You work hard for your money. Of course there are bills to be paid and luxuries to be enjoyed, but rough patches and retirement are inevitable. After you get your paycheck, make sure future you can enjoy a little bit of that change. Set aside a specific amount every pay period, or ever better, have it taken out of your checking account and straight into your savings. Most banks can automatic transfers online, and may employers will do the same with a 401K or 403B.

Seriously start considering your retirement. Future you will thank you later.

So I’m getting into this “Bitches on a Budget” book and trying to implement this sage advice into my life. I’m up to the section that discusses grooming and maintenance and was surprised to see a section about one of my obsessions, Phyto hair products. I have tried a slew of hair products in the past and believe that Phyto and Phytospecific are the best a girl can get. That being said, a girl has to be willing to work a little overtime in order to afford these luxuries. There’s nothing cheap about Phyto hair products, once only available in France. To receive the deluxe treatment, if you’re in NYC, I suggest a visit to Phyto Universe, where Phyto trained stylists will work with you in this “natural beauty oasis” (so not my own words, but yeah, I can see that). If you thought their products were expensive, wait until you see the prices on their treatment menu. I feel that if you’re going to make a permanent change to your hair, it’s worth the extra cash to have a professional do the job right, instead of botching the job yourself and then paying for a pro to fix the mess you’ve made. Last Saturday, I went in for my first treatment in about a year. Everyone at Phyto Universe is extremely knowledgeable, courteous and you will experience the best customer service of your life, seriously.  A few hours later I was completely relaxed, my hair was the shiniest it’s ever been and then I received the bill. The price of my service (and products purchased) didn’t surprise me, but I saw the letters “SMH” printed next to the price; I like to pretend that it’s the internet acronym “shaking my head” and the receipts way of letting me know it doesn’t approve. Still, I’m in love with the products, in love with the services, and us girls are allowed the occasional splurge.

I miss New York City. Living, working and learning to play in Brooklyn has made a trip to Manhattan a big to-do. I almost miss the days of schlepping to work daily during the Wall Street rush hour. Almost. In Manhattan, everything is a block away, or if you’re talking about Starbucks, every 10 yards. How I miss my daily mid-afternoon Starbucks trip, and my lunchtime trip to Borders, or a random moment of shopping. And just like the song says, “Everywhere you go, Duane Reade.” Everything a person can ever want, located all on one little island. So naturally after my day of training in Manhattan, I went for a little walk. Looking to do nothing in particular except check out the scenery. Just to see if it was the same as I’ve left it. After a little window-shopping, I found myself in the personal finance section of Barnes and Noble. Now, I’ve probably heard everything I need to know at my financial stage of the game from Suze Orman, but there’s nothing wrong with the constant search for knowledge. Or maybe I just wanted to buy a new book. After checking out a few titles, I grabbed a newer title I had never heard of, “Bitches on a Budget” by Rosalyn Hoffman. The cover has a picture of a red snakeskin coin purse under lock and the subtitle, “Sage advice for surviving tough times in style.” That’s EXACTLY what I want to read. With sections that read, “Thrifty Bitch”, “Pamper the Bitch” and “Be a Bitch, Bitch” I suspect this might be a little different than those Suze Orman books I’ve read. The books overall message is that in tough times, it is important to be frugal, but just as important to maintain a sense of yourself. Sometimes women are quick to do away with extra expenses, and as a result, their looks suffer. It’s expensive to be a woman, but there are ways to work within a budget and still maintain your looks. It is important to know where to trim the extra spending, and recognize that sometimes you have to spend the money on other things because the service is invaluable. You get what you pay for. Hopefully this book will remind me where I can curb my spending and fatten up my savings account, but still allow me my little indulgences that make me feel like the woman that I am. We work so hard every day if we don’t allow ourselves any pleasure, then we’re only living to work. Stress kills, and before it kills you, it makes you look like shit. That’s no way to go out. Hopefully this book will impart some of this sage advice and I’ll be back to looking like my Uptown self on my Downtown budget in no time.