FRIENDS AND FINANCES FEATURING ORDINARY ROYALTY

Welcome back to friends and finances my featured blogger series that introduces you to some amazing bloggers. The biggest reason I decided to start this new series, is because I believe in getting different perspectives on handling your finances. Secondly I believe that the bloggers featured here each week have a lot to offer the world and deserve recognition. Some of the blogs featured will be other personal finance related blogs and others will not be. The reason I chose to include some other blogs that are not related to finance is simple, we all have a financial story no matter who we are. I believe money is not the only focus we should have when traveling our road to financial freedom, and I think discovering some fun blogs that share something different can be a welcomed break from over focusing on money. So today I welcome Ashley from Ordinary Royalty

Hi my name is Ashley, The goal of my blog is to share with people my strategies for creating a gorgeous home on the smallest of budgets. I have always been drawn to the most expensive item in a store, but could never afford it! I was never willing to settle for plain and boring, so, through garage sales and fixing up junk, I’ve created the home I had always dreamed of having! My blog follows me as I continue that journey to royalty on a peasant’s budget!1.

How long have you been blogging?

Only about a month and a half, but that number doesn’t feel like it does justice to my many hours of work!

2. What has been your biggest money mistake?

It all involves buying and selling, of course. I bought a really nice clothing rack from a guy for $10, then sold it the next week to a boutique for $250! That’s not the mistake (ha!). The boutique asked me to be on the lookout for more. She said she would buy all that I bought. I was elated at the thought of making a huge profit every time I bought clothing racks! After a few weeks of looking, I bought two racks (spending more than I ought to have, but expecting a large payback). Oh the frustration when she didn’t need them anymore, and I was stuck with two huge clothing racks that I had spent too much on. I spent hours walking around trade days in the heat trying to sell them! I eventually sold them for what I bought them for. Such an exhausting disappointment for no profit!

3. What is your best advice for recovering from or preventing this money mistake?

Don’t impulse buy. I bought the clothing racks without taking time to confirm the lady still needed them, and it came back to bite me! If I hadn’t bought them in a rush, I would never have had to deal with recuperating my money. As long as you get your money back, you’re in good shape. Sometimes you just have to give up on a profit and cut your loss.

4. Favorite quote or money advice and who was the author?

Price is what you pay. Value is what you get. –Warren Buffett

5. Favorite money or budgeting related book and author?

In our house, we learned how to budget using It’s a New Day. It’s produced through a company and doesn’t have a specific author. It’s a perfect step-by-step guide to creating a budget!

6. Favorite money saving website?

I am in love with Groupon! As a person who loves shopping, I am always looking for deal for goods or fun activities, and Groupon always provides.

7. Favorite money making app or website? (You can give more than one)

I’ve done all my selling through Facebook Marketplace/buying and selling groups and have had great success! All of my products tend to sell quickly and for a good profit. And without the app Garage Sales (wicked creative name, I know), I would never find all of the garage sales from which I buy my stuff!

8. Do you have an emergency fund or savings account?

Yes! My amazing husband is a budgeting fiend, and he sets aside a good bit every month in case we have an emergency. Anything that goes over that emergency fund spills over into our vacation fund. Because of all our hard saving, we have a trip planned this summer to England and Scotland!

9. What is your most successful strategy for saving money?

I never buy anything full price if I can avoid it. Couponing, garage sale shopping, and reselling to recoup my money has always been my way of build my home without spending much (if any) money. I must also give a lot of credit to my husband and his budgeting! I’m never worried about the amount of money we have because I know he has a plan for it all. I’m really fortunate to have him keeping perfect track of our finances!

Twitter: @ordinarydiy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ordinaryroyalty/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ordinaryroyalty/pins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theladymills/

Website URL: http://www.ordinaryroyalty.com/

I want to thank Ashley for taking the time to be Interviewed, for sharing your insight and financial advice with all of us today, and just a little glimpse of your website. Thank you everyone who took the time to read this post, stop by her website when you have a chance and let her know Saving Joyfully sent you. See you next time for another blogger Interview, and an introduction to another great blogger.