Diversify Your Portfolio (Professional & Financial), Then Diversify Your Closet

So, I watch youtube videos to see chicks show me how to attempt hair styles, make-up routines, etc. Mind you, I've discovered some good stuff out there, like my MAC NC 42 concealer and how to give my weave a bleach bath to revive it instead of going to buy more. Some of these girls are making some money off of their videos, due to the number of hits and advertising they do. If its just a paid hobby, I have no problem with it. I love seeing a woman have fun with girly things. But what about the woman who is a youtube celeb because she has the most organized closet with lots of shoes and purses. She parades around in her custom closet, shows off her Giseppi's (don't care to spell it right) and her hundreds of pieces of jewelry - all in her apartment! And we're not talking a New York, Manhattan apartment. No, it was a Valley Hills-type apartment with white bathroom and chrome fixtures.

I'm not judging. I'm saying someone has their priorities out of order. Someone is spending TOO MUCH money on things that don't appreciate - clothes, an apartment, designer shoes, pieces of cheap jewelry. I ended up looking at a couple of people's hauls. This one girl was priding herself on spending only $25 on a sweater, $8 on a ring, $10 on a scarf, and so on and so forth. And she was clearly explaining this stuff to us like it was so relevant. And these girls go into great detail to explain their article of clothing/jewelry. Its a shirt! Its brown! It sparkles! Its over-sized! Whoop-dee-doo! I think some of these girls use their channels as a source to seek validation. They want to be cute or be seen. So, they put themselves out there - for the lamest stuff.

But back to the point of my post - these girls/women are spending TONS of money on things they don't need! That brown sweater or that shirt that looks like the one you're wearing. These bangles that are just bangles....Miss Jessie's 2-oz curl pudding for $8 just cause you had to try it. Really? I don't get why women go in a store and buy different stuff just to "try it" when what they have at home works for their hair/skin regimen? And if they paid you to say it, you need to stop it! You're polluting vulnerable minds and watering them down just like those products in your hand.

I want these women to challenge themselves for 6 months. Don't buy ANYTHING! Every time you're in the store and tempted to buy something, make a note of the item and price in your phone. At the end of the 6 months, review the list. If you had those items, would you have worn/used them? Do you still need/want them? And then the million-dollar question: how much money did you save in those 6 months? Now, let's talk about what to do with that 6 months worth of extra money. Let's see....a savings account. Free to anyone at your local bank. Um, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). You don't have to wait for your employer tells you to start a retirement fund. Um, save for a down payment on a HOUSE and put that RENT money of $800 toward a home in a record-low price/interest rate market. Use that money to go buy a GOOD suit - one my Anne Klein not My Michelle - and get a career.

 Now, for my women who are financially and professional savvy, we should show these young women how its really done. Show, the house you're living in. Show the car that's paid off on the garage and no desire to buy a new one because you like having the money left over to put extra into your retirement or VACATION fund. Yes, vacations. Let's talk about our trips to other countries to explore various cultures. Let's show them our 3-inch or less career pump - because we know platform stilettos are no-nos for a couple of reasons in the office. Let's show our lined, tailored suits. Let's show our 5-minute face because who has time to glam up when you're hustling to get that promotion at 8 a.m.? I'm just sayin....

Diversity for portfolio, then your closet.