Where is the one place that you always think of when you’re knee deep in snow?  Unwrapping another turtleneck with a kitten on it from Oma?  Choking down dry turkey at Auntie Gertrudes?  No. Vegas Baby!
My family was visiting me in Hollywood this year and the day before Christmas Eve we decided to drive to Vegas.  Yeah, that’s right, Vegas!

This is a dream come true for me!  It’s been a mission of mine to spend Christmases all over the world with my family.  They are super important to me and I want to make sure that the time we spend together is the best time we can.  Two years ago we went to Egypt and who knows where we will go next year.  Family makes me happy and that is where I spend my money while having an amazing time.

But just because I choose to spend money on family doesn’t mean I won’t get the best for the lowest price, right?  We booked at the Flamingo the morning we left and got an ah-mazing price.  It was basically free.  I took my charming mom, smiling like an angel, up to the desk with me and explained that my family had never been to Vegas before and that we would LOVE the best suite. Well, mom’s looks paid off and we were on the top floor with the best view of the strip.

We walked the strip, went to some great restaurants, and waited for Christmas day to swoop in and get all of the boxing week sales.  My uber charm at Prada had the staff pulling things from the back that hadn’t gone on sale yet.  I got a classic, winter jacket for 30% off that would have been long gone if it ever made it to the rack.  To the charming goes the spoils!

For entertainment we changed up the traditional Christmas Eve church service for Boyz II Men!  They sang their hits, Mo-Town classics (my fav), and a Christmas carol set.  Those guys still have it.  Everyone should see a well performed “runningman” at Christmas.

For the same amount of money that I would have spent back home having an expensive, over the top traditional holiday, we went on a once in a lifetime Vegas-mas that we’ll all remember.  Isn’t making great memories with family what the holidays is all about?  Gifts I’ll grow out of.  Dinners at home blend together over time.  White Tigers and show girls are forever.

Now that I’ve landed in Hollywood and I have my amazing pad here I naturally need to decorate it.  I’m planning on being Canada’s youngest snow bird and spend six months here in the sun and write and work on some exciting projects.  (I’ve already practised driving slowly in the fast lane with my signal on, looking for a discount mall).  Seeing that I only will need the place for six months I naturally wanted it to be on the cheap yet chic.  Exactly what I do well. Because my places have always been modern and minimalisticy at home – I wanted to change it up this time.

I thought that I would change it up and be a bit out there.  To decorate in a style that I would never do at home.  Why not?  Eccentricity is what I do well, especially on a budget. My guest house is 100 years old and so are the neighboring houses.  My place has really beautiful dark hardwood floors, huge floor moldings and those crystal door knobs you find in other century homes.  I decided to play up these accents and make the place super Victorian. I’m here for six months why not shake up my decorating comfort zone. I got fancy flowered plates, and decorative knives from Target that cost less than $100.  I got the biggest, comfiest Lady Penelope sofa at IKEA that was deeply discounted.  It is blue and white with decorative pineapples!  It’s so awesome. The complete opposite of my sleek grey modern sofa from my loft.

Not only was it only $450 but it suits the place so well.  It is super comfy for watching CNBC on in the AM too. From IKEA I also purchased a decorative bed and mattress and some other kitchen and home essentials for another $700. Knowing that it is so easy to run up a huge tab decorating a new place, I separated all of my purchases into NEEDS and WANTS.  The needs were the sofa, bed, mattress and TV. A trader needs his CNBC, right?  Now with the WANTS I got everything used.  TV stands, bed side tables, coffee tables, and decorative paintings.  Some I’m still on the hunt for.  I hit up all of the antique markets, craigslist, garage sales and flea markets and bought or continue to buy the little things I need for a steal. Now how do I keep the dime you ask as per the title?

When I leave I purposefully purchased quality antiques, furniture and furnishings that I’ll be able to sell at mostly what I paid for them.  I made sure that I got an awesome 40 inch LED TV that when I sell it in six months it’ll still be worth most of it’s value.  Compared to a 32 inch cheapo brand that wouldn’t be worth squat in six months. The plan is to live in this eccentric and fun place and then leave with most of my initial investment back.  Gotta love your money. Keep loving your money and it’ll help you love your place – even for six months.  Check out my book in Kindle format on Amazon.com.

You can read it on your iPhone or iPad too! Have an awesome week,

Dave