This week is flying by for me! I know it’s only Tuesday afternoon, but I feel like the last day and half has been a whirlwind. Holy moly! Anyone else having a fly-by week?
Lunch
At NuVal, I munched on lunch at my desk. The entire office is being rearranged this week, so I’ll be in a new space starting tomorrow. I’m curious about my new digs!
For lunch, I brought a homemade salad of arugula, mushrooms, and brussels sprouts. It wasn’t the prettiest salad, but it tasted delicious!
After my salad, I enjoyed a sweet treat: Attune Chocolate Crisp bar, which tasted much better than I thought it would. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a “digestive health” product, but I like this little chocolate bar a lot. It tasted just like a Crunch bar.
I also snacked on some pretzel sticks from the NuVal kitchen. I had a serious salt craving this afternoon!
Price Per Wear
Remember my post about dressing stylish on a budget? A reader recently asked me how I determine whether a piece of clothing is an investment or not.
I determine if a piece is “investment-worthy” by figuring out its price per wear. I take the price of the item and divide it by 100, which is the number of times I want to wear something to consider it an investment. For instance, a $350 winter coat might seem expensive, but if I wear it all winter long, year after year, I will easily wear it 350 times, which works out to be $1 per wear. When you break down the cost of an investment item over time, the price actually turns out to be quite reasonable. On the flip-side, I rarely spend more than $20 on a trendy top that I will only wear to parties or during the holiday season.
I’ve been using this shopping method for years now and it has never steered me wrong! It has also helped me justify buying expensive jeans! 
CNC Book Update
I received a copy of my contract via email yesterday! Ahhh! (I still think this whole thing is crazy!) Hopefully, I will be signing it in a few days. I need to get crackin’ ASAP! 
NuVal Buzz
Check out Melissa’s Trade-Up Tuesday Giveaway on A Better Bag of Groceries! The contest closes at 11:59 pm (EST) tonight.
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I’m keeping dinner light tonight (perhaps a big salad?) because I’m off to enjoy Champagne Gosset with French cheeses at Gordon’s tonight! I’m really looking forward to it!
Stay tuned for more giveaways! 
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Today is totally flying by for me!
The week does seem to be flying by!
I always spend more money on classic timeless pieces and less money on trendy ones
Writing a book is a once-in-a-lifetime thing! It will be a great book, I just know it
I do the EXACT same thing with my clothing purchases! A dress I purchase for multiple weddings in a summer, I tend to divide by 4 – $100 dress = $25/wear. It makes it a little easier to swallow!
I’m with ya on the flying by part. And here I was thinking it was going to be slow since we’re coming off a short week. Not so, and I like it!
That is such a smart method of shopping. I don’t do that at all!
Brussels sprouts just look like they smell bad to me. Sorry! I’m sure they’re delicious.
And yeah, a good LBD/winter coat is always a good investment. I also try to invest in classic accessories instead of trendy junk–pearl earrings, a great belt, a beautiful scarf.
I am having the opposite week. Today seems to be epically long. And I have been epically hungry too despite everything but the kitchen sink. Hate that!
I actually this this week is dragging! I wish it was flying by.
Have a fun night out! I am a thrifty shopper, great tips!
I love the white chocolate blueberry attune bar, or basically any without the rice crisps in them
Still in awe and so excited about your book deal. You totally deserve it, Tina!
two salads per day…now that’s dedication. you deserve your book deal and some cheese tonight!
Heh. Looks like everybody is having Brussels sprouts today… I just posted a recipe too.
http://www.boymeetsfood.com/2009/12/caramelized-brussels-sprouts-with-pistachios/
You are a brave woman eating a “digestive health” bar with brussels sprouts.
Good luck with the writing and enjoy your champagne tonight!
I like the idea of that attune bar, I’d definitely try one of those! Congrats again on the book!
I’ll have to try your brussel sprouts recipe. It seems great
I don’t buy a lot of clothes. Maybe I buy 4-5 pay of pants per year but when they’re on sale. Same thing for the tops. And I wear them a lot. On Sunday I bought 6 pairs of socks for CAD 8 $. It was time cause all my other socks have holes in them LOL But I kept on wearing them.
Have a nice evening 
I can also say that the week fly by
Have fun tonight!
I used a similar theory and talked myself into buying myself a new Mac in the next few weeks. Price per use.
I have had my current Mac for about 5 1/2 years. So take that to a per day charge, that is under $1 per day. Totally justified in my book!
I have been buying cheaper jeans, and there is always something wrong with the fit. However, your equation for shopping (and budget) success has inspired to stop putting up with the saggy jeans and go buy some expensive ones that actually fit!
I wish today was flying by!
I agree with some things just being worth the money, especially jeans! Paige jeans are pricy but definitely worth the money because the fit is excellent.
love your ‘price-per-wear’ theory!
My week is flying by because I’m so busy with work! I’ll have to check out the chocolate attune bars. I tried the strawberry flavor over the summer and they were too sweet, but maybe the chocolate will surprise me!
i love those chocolate attune bars….
i’m the same way about shopping – though i also scope out the discount stores too to make sure i’m getting the most bang for my buck!
I think I know what will end up happening with your desk move:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8CrvGndKzE
ooooh enjoy the champagne and queso!!
That’s a great way to look at it — shoes and coats are the two things I never buy bargain on and always spend real money for. They pay for themselves in time!
I like that train of thought as long as you have the money up front. For me it would be too easy to buy investment pieces on credit that I couldn’t afford.
Pretty salads are overrated… but that’s not to discredit them in the least
Brussels sprouts are beautiful (tasty) on the inside! I can’t wait for your book!
I need to buy a blazer and I’m having a lot of trouble shelling out cash for one but I really should just make the investment!!
Congrats on the book contract signing! (almost!)
I completely agree with your rational, I LOVE AG angel jeans and purchase 2 pairs each year. I love the fit and the quality of the fabric so they are completely worth the expensive price tag for me. Plus I wear them to death!
price per wear is an awesome concept! Any dresses I buy at black house white market I try to wear at LEAST 3x.
I’ve never thought about buying clothes like that before– that’s a smart method!
I like your clothing buying method. Fortunately, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight and my investment pieces no longer fit. Of course it is worth the trade off, but I’m trying not to spend too much money while I’m continuing to loose.
Also, I hate spending money on fancy dresses. I love looking good for a friend’s wedding, but I always only end up wearing each dress once or maybe twice – too many similar people at all the weddings…
have a great dinner tonight!
jenna
Tina, thank you for sharing your price per wear method. That is a really fantastic concept that I plan on using.
I once read an article in in style that was about determining if a clothing item was worth it or not. I remember some of the question that had to be asked were how many times would you wear it (which is your price per wear method), but also could you wear it through more than one season, could you wear it casually and to a more fancy event, could you wear it after this season;s trends were no longer in style, …….
I’ve been using the ‘price per wear’ method for years too! But, not only for clothes, for other things too. I’m a somewhat frugal spender, especially when it comes to large (or expensive) purchases. It doesn’t always work for me, but it definitely helps!
can’t wait for the cnc cookbook!!!!!!!!!
I can’t wait for all of these amazing books that will be on the shelves in the next few years! So exciting.
Yeah this week is totally flying by!!!
I can’t wait to find out what the focus of yours and Jenna’s books will be.
Tina – those brussels sprouts are AMAZING! I made them last night and they are SO good and SO simple!! Thanks for the recipe!!!