This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I love these striking handwoven flats from reader-favorite brand Margaux. The company, which we’ve featured before, makes its shoes in Spain, offers a surprisingly generous size range, and has a strong focus on sustainability.

At first glance, I wouldn’t think the version of this shoe with the more open weave (pictured) would be comfortable, but the customer reviews actually praise its comfort, and it has a cushioned insole. (A saddle-weave option is available in other colors.) I also like the versatility of the style, and the buckle strap, which keeps it from feeling too casual.

This shoe is $345 and comes in seven neutral colors in sizes 33.5 (U.S. size 3.5) to 45 (U.S. 14) in medium, narrow, and wide.

Sales of note for 8/10:

• Ann Mashburn – Seasonal sale, up to 50% off – we just included them in our updated Top 10 Brands for Comfortable Heels!
• Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase, $99 dresses, and extra 60% off clearance — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it’s a great separate)
• Anthropologie – Extra 40% off sale!
• Bare Minerals – Free shipping over $50! Love their Love thir OG Mineral Veil setting powder
• The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns (new lines added)
• J.Crew – Up to 30% off
• J.Crew Factory – 50% off sitewide
• J.McLaughlin – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Lilysilk – Anniversary sale, save up to 70%
• Madewell – Up to 30% off
• Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added, exclusively online)
• M.M.LaFleur – End of season sale! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
• Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new markdowns up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
• Saks Fifth Avenue – Up to $500 off your purchase! Great selection of Veronica Beard, L’Agence, Vince, and more.
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, 50-60% off all markdowns, and free shipping on 150+.
• Theory – End of season sale is on! Love all the colors their best-selling sweater tee comes in, and some colors are on sale.

Here’s an underappreciated truth. The amount you owe and the cost of owing it are two separate things. You might not be able to wish away a balance, but the interest rate stapled to that balance is not handed down by fate. It’s a number that can be renegotiated, which is what happens when you refinance.

Refinancing can ease debt repayment by making payments more manageable and lowering your interest costs. But it is not a magic wand. Used incorrectly, refinancing can easily cause more problems than it solves.

Read next: Why am I broke? An expert answers

What refinancing means

When you refinance, you are taking out new debt to pay off the old debt. A consolidation loan specifically replaces several smaller debts with a new, larger one. Generally, you want the new debt to have a lower interest rate, but the payment and payoff schedule are also factors to consider.  

It’s worth pointing out that lenders may try to make refinancing sound sexier than it is. The language of fresh starts and financial freedom can be motivating, but ultimately refinancing is a math problem. You must run the numbers and decide for yourself: Will this save you money or help you repay your balances?

To be clear, those are two separate questions with potentially different answers. A refinancing offer can have a lower interest rate and a lower payment but still cost you more over time.

Read next: Silver linings: Should you cash in your silver jewelry?

How lower rates, lower payments help you

A lower interest rate can reduce your total interest costs and a lower payment eases the monthly burden of debt paydown. Ideally, you get both benefits when you refinance, but there are nuances to understand:

• Lenders can manufacture lower monthly payments by extending your repayment timeline, say, from five years to 10 years. This increases your total interest costs.
• Lower interest rates are often available by refinancing unsecured debt as secured debt. Credit card debt is unsecured — there’s no collateral. Home equity debt is secured by your home. If you don’t pay, the lender can foreclose. Every situation is unique but consider carefully before you lock in a low rate by putting your home or another asset on the line.
• A “lower rate” on a consolidation loan is lower than your weighted average loan rate. Use an online calculator to determine your weighted average loan rate.
• New loans may incur fees that outweigh the benefits of a lower rate. Lenders may add your upfront fees to the loan balance, so you end up paying interest on them over time. A $50,000 loan with a 4% origination fee turns into a $52,000 loan; you get the $50,000 to repay credit cards and the lender pockets the $2,000 fee.
• Early repayment fees prevent you from paying off your debt early. Protect your right to repay debt early. You never know when your cash situation will change for the better.
• There are convenience and psychological advantages to swapping out many payments for one. This is why many people choose to refinance with easy apply personal loans, taking several scattered high-rate balances and collapsing them into one manageable payment with one due date.

Refinance examples

The table below shows how interest rate, monthly repayment, and the repayment timeline can affect total interest costs.

Refinance Option 1 offers a lower rate, lower payment, shorter timeline, and lower total interest costs. That’s what you want. Refinance Option 2 provides a radically lower payment, longer timeline, and more than double the interest costs. That’s counterproductive to your financial health. You’ll be in debt longer and spend a lot more in the repayment process.

Read next: Does cosmetic surgery make sense financially?

When refinancing backfires

Refinancing goes wrong in predictable ways.

• You opt for a lower payment with an extended term. You spend more over time on interest and remain in debt for longer.
• You pay high fees to refinance. The net benefit of the new loan is marginal as a result.
• You consolidate credit card bills into a fixed loan and then continue charging. If you have a problem with spending, get that under control first, then refinance the debt.

Pros of refinancing

• Simplifies your payment process
• Lowers your payment
• Lowers your interest costs
• Gives you a realistic path to becoming debt-free

Cons of refinancing

• Does not fix an unbalanced budget or address a spending problem
• High fees can offset the benefits of a lower rate
• Lower payments paired with longer terms cost you more and keep you indebted longer
• Repaying credit cards leaves those accounts open for more spending

The Budget Fashionista takeaways

Refinancing high-rate debt can be a smart move with two caveats. One, you must run the numbers, fees and all, to confirm the new plan will save you money. And two, you must commit to shopping with your debit card so you don’t rebuild the balances you just paid off. While the interest rate is negotiable, the follow-through is up to you.

Saving money at checkout is a fun win, but the benefit is short-lived if you quickly spend the savings. Here’s the financial trick most overlook: You can turn your savvy shopping skills into a runway for long-term wealth. Read on to find out how.

Turn shopping wins into wealth moves

There are two general ways to use money. You can buy things that immediately lose value or you can allocate cash to debt paydown and assets that gain value. The first option depletes your wealth, while the second improves it. Choose to redirect your shopping wins towards wealth-improving strategies and they’ll repay you many times over.

Here’s an example. Say you use FreeShipping.com for cashback rebates. Your monthly payout nets you $10 over the cost of your membership. If you invested that $10 in an S&P 500 fund monthly for 10 years, it could grow to about $1,678 before taxes and after inflation. The first $1,200 represents your total contributions, but the rest — an estimated $478 ­— is earnings. Call it your reward for being patient and disciplined.

Now imagine applying that thought process in a bigger, broader way. Give up your Netflix subscription and redirect $90 a year into your investment account. Switch your car insurance and invest the $300 you saved. Invest the $200 birthday check from your parents. You get the idea.

The combination of consistent saving and investing over time builds lasting financial security. Add in your shopping skills and you have all the components of an effective wealth program.

Prioritizing your money moves

Investing excess cash is not the only way to improve your wealth, nor is it always the most appropriate. You may need to make other, foundational money moves first. Every situation is unique, but most savers benefit by tackling financial objectives in this sequence:

1. Get your budget in order. You cannot spend more than you make and improve your wealth at the same time. Establish some spending controls right away. A structured framework like the 50/30/20 plan is a great starting point. You can then brainstorm ways to improve your income, such as a side hustle or promotion.
2. Pay down debt with double-digit interest rates. Credit card balances cost more than you can earn investing, so pay those off first. Commit to an aggressive payoff plan or refinance the debt, but get it repaid.
3. Build an emergency cash fund. Having enough cash to cover three months or more of living expenses protects you from accumulating high-rate debt if you unexpectedly lose your income. Keep the money in a high-yield savings account, so it’s earning a competitive interest rate.
4. Make sure you are appropriately insured. Insurance protects you against financial catastrophes. Carry enough coverage so you’re not wiped out by a freak accident.
5. Invest. Low debt and cash savings support successful investing. If your financial position is unstable, you’re more likely to stop investing or sell your investments before they’ve had time to grow. It’s far easier to record gains by holding the asset for a long time. That applies to traditional investments like a Vanguard S&P 500 fund and more specific things on your wish list, like a 1966 Shelby GT350 Convertible or the historic American double eagle issue gold coin.

Automate the leap from saver to investor

Automation helps you break the spending cycle and create positive financial habits. Start by defining your top financial priority. Then set up rules to transfer money to fulfill that priority. You might have an autopay from your checking account to your credit card, or a 401(k) contribution from your paycheck for retirement. If the money comes from your checking account, time it so the withdrawal happens on or near payday. That puts the money to work for you right away.

Resist lifestyle inflation and reward spending

Lifestyle inflation is a major risk for anyone working towards financial independence. It happens when you use higher income as a reason to spend more. After a big promotion, you might upgrade your streaming subscriptions, eat out more often, or start buying more expensive clothes. These changes can be so gradual, you don’t notice them until your credit card balances start increasing.

Reward spending is the tendency to spend more because you saved. You might mentally subtract the discount from the price tag to justify a purchase you otherwise couldn’t afford. Or you might save $100 on the designer bag and then buy $100 pair of shoes and call it even.

If you treat a promotion or discount earned as an excuse to splurge, you miss the long-term wealth opportunity. You also reinforce that spending habit that can work against you over time.

Avoid those issues by tracking your savings and the amounts you’re putting towards your long-term financial health. This doesn’t have to be complicated. A notepad or spreadsheet can do the job.

The opportunity in smart shopping

Many people use their smart shopping habits to buy things that are otherwise unaffordable. But there’s a bigger opportunity there. You can use those shopping wins as opportunities to reshape your finances. Each discount, deal, or rebate you secure is one move towards financial independence.

The strategy works in part because, unless you win the lottery, wealth is created in a series of steps over time. You spend a little less, pay off a little more, increase investment contributions slightly. Keep making those moves repeatedly and they always pay off.

Frequently asked questions

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

We’ve talked a lot over the years about getting ahead at work — networking, asking for raises, making your accomplishments known — but let’s talk about something that can feel surprisingly awkward: How do you self-promote at work? How do you get your work noticed?

For example, when you’ve had a big win, do you make sure your boss knows about it? What about your boss’s boss (aka, the grandboss)? Do you speak up in meetings about projects you’ve led or problems you’ve solved? Do you keep a brag book or running list of accomplishments for performance-review season?

And where is the line, in your opinion, between appropriately advocating for yourself and becoming that person who seems to take credit for everything? (Do women worry about crossing that line more than men do — and if so, is that worry justified?)

I’m also curious whether this has gotten easier for you as you’ve gotten more senior. One of those pieces of career advice that sounds obvious is that doing excellent work isn’t necessarily enough — the right people also have to know that you’re doing excellent work. We’ve talked before about finding sponsors at work, but how much of getting that visibility is your own responsibility? Knowing that intellectually and actually saying, “Yes, I did that, and here’s why it mattered” can be two very different things. (We’ve even talked about this in the context of how you introduce yourself and your work — another situation where talking about your accomplishments can feel surprisingly difficult — why can talking about your own accomplishments feel so uncomfortably close to hubris?)

So, readers, let’s discuss: How do you make sure people know about your accomplishments?

Do you have specific strategies for self-promotion that feel natural rather than cringey? Have you ever realized that a colleague was getting more recognition because they were simply better at talking about their work? And have you ever deliberately gotten better at this?

For those of you who manage people: What does effective self-promotion look like from your side of the desk? What makes you take notice — and what makes you roll your eyes?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

I love the drama of this batik top from Ulla Johnson. The high, ruffled neckline combined with the bow detail makes it feel just a little extra special while still being work-appropriate.

Pair this with your favorite trousers for a business casual outfit that really leaves an impression. 

The top is $270 at Neiman Marcus and comes in sizes 00-16.

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The House of Fraser Sale 2026 is bringing major seasonal savings, with up to 70% off fashion, footwear, beauty and home. Shoppers can discover standout styles from sought-after brands including Never Fully Dressed, Barbour, FitFlop, Ray-Ban, BOSS, Aquascutum and Nike. With further reductions across selected sale lines, it’s the perfect time to pick up designer favourites and summer essentials for less. Frasers Plus members can also enjoy an extra 10% off selected sale items at checkout. But hurry – the offer ends at midnight, so shop the latest reductions before your favourite styles sell out.

Most-wanted styles Shop up to 70% off with further reductions across fashion, footwear, beauty and home. Plus, get an extra 10% off selected Sale lines when you checkout with Frasers Plus, but hurry, this offer ends at midnight.†

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Outfit Details: Lake Pajamas Pant Set

The marker of good loungewear, in my opinion, is when it stays on longer than planned.  The pieces I reach for in the in-between parts of the day, when it doesn’t feel right to still be in pajamas but I’m not quite ready to change into something I’d leave the house in. Soft enough for the house, but enough shape to hold up if I do go out to grab a quick coffee, with a jacket thrown over or a sweater tied around my waist. Comfort always comes first, but I rely on the small details to make loungewear feel more dressed: a contrast hem, a colorful stripe, an interesting texture.

Outfit Details: Lake Pajamas Short Set, Celine Sunglasses (sold out, similar here), Call It By Your Name Loafers (sold out, more colors here), Valentino Jacket (sold out, similar here), Prada Bucket Hat | Lake Pajamas Pant Set

I always bring a couple of sets when I’m traveling, when the line between getting ready, getting settled, and heading somewhere next starts to blur. A matching set makes breakfast at the hotel feel easier, and a soft pant still looks good with a knit or a button-down. Thrown-on, but still-styled.