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All The Single Ladies, All The Single Ladies...

7 years later and we’re still being “Carried Away.”

Typically when a beloved television series ends, there is the requisite mourning period in which one rewatches all of their favorite episodes and remembers the good moments before moving on to the next big show meant to follow in its footsteps. In the case of the HBO hit series Sex and the City which concluded its run in 2004, these have been some pretty big Manolo Blahniks to fill.

Sex and the City (affectionately abbreviated as SATC with fans) is about 4 single successful women living in Manhattan looking for love. The four women are all good friends and all in their mid-thirties (with the exception of one in her forties). Their names and personalities have become part of the pop cultural lexicon, the saucy Samantha, edgy Miranda, and romantic Charlotte, but the glue that holds the group and show together is protagonist and narrator Carrie Bradshaw. Each week viewers could catch an episode trailing the romantic trials and tribulations of the four girls who spoke as frankly as possible about their sex life in the early seasons.

Gradually throughout the series, they would change their tone slightly to discussing other matters such as converting to Judaism, pregnancy, cancer, and the purchase of a first home within a marriage- all matters dealing with just how far one will go for love. Each week viewers could count on Bradshaw’s voiceovers and Macbook typing to muse out the important questions of the episode. This tried and true method kept the series both structured and engaging.

Carrie Bradshaw has been described as a modern-day Cinderella, the girl next door, and the best friend we all wish we had on multiple occasions. These qualities translate to her character, acted by actress Sarah Jessica Parker, leaving a lasting impact in the world of pop culture. Even though the series ended 7 years ago, it hasn’t officially “ended.” Two blockbuster movies have been churned out and the series’ author Candace Bushnell has published two Bradshaw prequels:   Shop Coast dresses for the finest occasion and maxi dresses available online. prom dresses cocktail Find beautiful party dresses and cocktail dresses at Coast uk.” wedding party dresses wedding party dressesThe Carrie Diaries” on Bradshaw’s high school years and most recently “Summer and the City”, a sequel to the prequel. Tours of the hot spots from the series are still offered in New York and the Cosmopolitan is now the cocktail of choice for every woman who loudly and proudly proclaims “I’m a Carrie.”

But what does being a Carrie mean?

According to popular blog The Frenemy, being Carrie Bradshaw and living her fabulous lifestyle means swimming in a sea of debt. Most episodes of the series feature Carrie writing for her column in The New York Star and much later on in season 4, transitioning to freelance work for Vogue. When she isn’t writing her column, she’s out shopping for shoes, designer dresses for dates, and having lunch or drinks in nearly every episode with the girls. Later still, she gets a book published and earns a hefty advance but you have to wonder how in the early years she affords her rent, utilities, constant cab rides, and shoes.

There’s a suspension of disbelief to employ when examining SATC in detail, one that is best summed up by the network’s motto. It’s not TV, it’s HBO. Not every moment in the Carrie Bradshaw version of NYC measures up to the real thing.  There are moments in some episodes where our Everywoman admits to having financial difficulties and even gets her credit card declined publicly on one occasion. Carrie does make more money later on and becomes successful on her own, but it’s anyone’s guess if she has learned how to manage her finances well.

For all the ladies out there who envision themselves stepping into Miss Bradshaw’s shoes, take some of this advice to heart:

Start a Savings and Keep It Healthy

In season 4, we learn just how much Carrie Bradshaw has in her savings account when she tries to apply for a loan to purchase her apartment. $957. This is also the episode where we find out that the column is her only form of income, how much money she has in checking (a smaller number than savings), and that she doesn’t have any outside collateral to speak of. She doesn’t get the loan and feels humiliated. Much of the episode makes frequent mention to her then-age of 35 and how her friends are in much more comfortable financial positions.

To her credit, Bradshaw understands that she is in trouble and will work to save her apartment. She even gives up taking cab rides (well, sort of) to save on money and takes the bus. Had Bradshaw of started taking just the bus when she first arrived in New York instead of hailing a taxi so frequently, she could have saved the money spent on the rides and put it into her savings early on. Might not appear like a lot at first, but a small percentage saved a month can really add up and create a nest egg ideal for the future.

Needs v. Wants

In keeping with creating a savings, the best kinds of savings are created by socking away money for a future pressing need that clearly overshadows current wants. This is where it’s important to remember to not spend every penny you make and definitely not before you make it. In season 4, Carrie mentions to her boyfriend that she can hardly afford rent and just charged a purchase of tomatoes to her charge card. Six episodes later in the season finale, she struts out for old flame Big’s last night in New York in a pair of new Christian Louboutin heels. We have to assume that the new freelance gig at Vogue and the fact that Charlotte saved Carrie with her apartment situation are reason enough for a little “me” purchase.

Or let The Frenemy describe it.

“I can’t even imagine ENTERING half the stores you enter. They all have white walls and Cheesecake Factory music and even the keychains are 400 dollars.”

The Frenemy isn’t alone, as many, many young professionals looking to live in New York may have to put their desire for Jimmy Choos over paying for rent back on the shelf. Put perspective on what you need versus what you want. It might have you eating Ramen noodles more times a month than you’d like to, but it’ll keep that fabulous roof in the Big Apple over your head.

Go Into Business For Yourself

A very famous Bradshaw pun is “I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet.” The closet is where Carrie’s collateral can be found in piles of designer clothing, shoes, and handbags. With an enviable list of names that would make any fashionista salivate, Carrie is an ideal candidate to work at Vogue and write about Marc Jacobs accessories.

Except she can’t. Her first draft gets ripped apart by the editor for being more about men than accessories. In a more scathing critique, the same editor dismisses Bradshaw’s draft as “ bridesmaid dress bridesmaid dresswhat you’ve handed us here is essentially your newspaper column with the word ”style” jammed in where the word ” affordable wedding dresses online affordable wedding dresses online;sex” used to be.”

Carrie’s talent lies in writing about relationships. This is what she does. She writes about her relationships and the relationships of her girlfriends in her column and in season 5, her first book published is a compilation of old sex columns from The Star. For Vogue, wholesale cheap wedding dress she writes about shoes which she knows even if she doesn’t know men. But it’s her constant questioning of the opposite sex for The Star that provides the meaty material that her readers crave.

In the show and out in the real world, Carrie Bradshaw is a brand. She stands for eternal single girls and is the best rep they have to show that being single in today’s society doesn’t have the “ cocktail dresses cheap ;old maid” implications of years gone by. More than just being a champion for single ladies, Carrie is independent and has a strong work ethic. Her views on marriage and children, as a single girl, cheap bridal dress have taken a backseat to her career. She later argues in the final season with Charlotte that if she wanted to be married and with kids, she would have made it happen.

“…if I really wanted to have a baby,  cheap cocktail dresses uk wouldn’t I have tried to have one by now? I wanted to be a writer, I made myself a writer. I want a ridiculously extravagant pair of shoes, I find a way to buy them.” chiffon summer dress chiffon summer dress

As a writer, Bradshaw further cements her brand by taking my advice and going into business for yourself. It is possible to make money doing what you love. What excites you and what you are passionate about will be seen by all and lead to financial success. Carrie’s passion in her witty columns has so much of her heart in it that it catches the eye of a publishing house and leads to her being published and becoming an internationally known author. Carrie holds to her deadlines and accepts criticism when needed.

Within her career field, she’s very responsible, knowledgeable and disciplined- something that all young professionals and entrepreneurs within their chosen careers can identify with. She’s in the business for herself. Yes, the road to success is difficult and paved with break-ups and financial fears, but it’s a road that so many have gone down and come out on the other side of, fully intact and richer for the experience. I can’t say it nearly as well as Carrie B. though.

“The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.”