Quote of the Day

If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older – by Tom Stoppard, Czech-born British playwritter. From Bloomberg.

Consumer Spending Weaker?

Being a finance professional, I read about Consumer spending being weak this year during black Friday, but as a mother, and as a consumer, I don’t believe in it.

My example is very simple. My younger daughter wants to have a Lego Friend Dolphin Cruiser for Christmas, so I have been tracking the price of it – thanks to third party website and smart phone apps, it is very easy now.

I was being stupid when I saw the price under 52$ but thought there could be better deal over black Friday and passed. Then, the price only went higher, and finally the toy gone completely out of stock for at least a week till now from Amazon. On Amazon, you still can have it at 99$ from a third party retailer.

Looking at other places, I found it is completely sold out in Walmart and target, online and in local stores. It is still available at Toys r Us, at 69.99$ but no coupon can be used as it is a “hot price item”, together with a sales tax of 6$, I am looking at 24$ more expensive then 2 weeks before. 24$ may not be a big amount, but that is 46% higher than what it was at 52$ 2 weeks ago! What’s most crazy is that I found it at 159$ at Barnes & Noble:

I am not trying to say Barnes&Nobles is evil, because no business is evil. If they over price, then they are stupid. I believe in efficient market, I believe it is really a “hard to get item” to justify such a crazy price on their website.

Okay, Dolphin Cruiser is on fire. I don’t want to pay the 46% premium although I love my daughter to death, and it is the top item on her Christmas wishlist. I started looking for similar replacements. Lo and behold, the same story happened to many other Lego friends products. For example, Olivia’s house can be found at around 75$ now from third party retailer on Amazon, but it was less than 50$ 2 weeks ago from Amazon itself.

Not sure if it is a marketing strategy, and I am still debating if I should take the 46% loss. What I know for sure is, man, consumer spending is NOT weak!

A Fresh New Start with Passion

Years of higher education led me to business major, then years of business education led me to finance world, where I found my passion and, of course, a happy career.

The story should stop there, but it did not, because happily ever after only happens in fairy tales.
After having two girls and a job landing/relocation of hubby, I was left without many choices but to quit. While very happy to be with my beloved daughters, I can hardly keep my eyes from what’s happening in the money world. Admit it or not, I am in love with numbers, and especially so when they come with a $ sign in the front. Struggling with the unsettlement inside, I gave up to the calling.

Here I am, starting a new life online with passion. I would like to offer mommies about financial basics, money ideas, and fun in the number crunching games.

I am a mommy with a lot of knowledge and experience in finance.
I am a financial professional who enjoyed spending priceless time with my kids.
I am just a ordinary mommy in between work and life.
I am finance mommy.