Amount Spent: $49.21
What: Gas
Amount Spent: $90.19
What: Back-to-school essentials
Amount Spent: $54.50
What: Car registration renewal
Ah, life's annoying but inevitable expenses. Luckily, the end is near. The gas fill-up was probably my last of the summer before going back to school. I've had my errands this week but my tank is still on "full"--good sign there. I drive once more today, and then back up to Miami on Saturday. Then it's hibernation time for the ol' Malibu while I enjoy the perks of on-campus living. Thankfully, gas is back down to around $3.50 a gallon and so happily, the pump treated me with some mercy. Let's hope that $60 fill-ups are a thing of the past...for now.
The $90 explains itself. Going back to college is just EXPENSIVE. I've tried to economize, but I really don't have a say in the matter anymore. There are just some things you need--like shampoo, paper towels, plastic forks--that unfortunately cost money. In an attempt to be frugal, my brother and I bought all of our essentials in one trip to Wal-Mart, hopefully saving gas and a fragment of the ozone layer. Plus, it's Wal-Mart. There's a reason why people protest it: cheap stuff.
And finally, I was sorta coerced by the law into getting my vehicle's registration renewed. Sorry. Otherwise, some nice policeman might feel it's necessary to slap me with quite a large fine. No one wants that. Too bad responsible driving involves such large yearly fees. Well, maybe $50 only feels expensive because I just bought the whole darn car a few months ago. Who knows, but at least that money can go toward feeling a little bit better about my civic virtue. Score.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
School Shopping
What: Books for school
Cost: ~$70
Ah shopping for books. A necessary evil. Much like the past three years, I find myself once again in need of a large amount of novels for my various assortment of English classes; however, unlike the past three years, I refuse to be duped by Dubois Bookstore. A chain that dominates the textbook market at Kent State, University of Cincinnati and Miami University, it has continually raped me of my valuable dollars and cents everytime I trudge back to campus in September and January. I usually make a quick trip up to Oxford about a week before school starts--I detest the crowds during the first week, plus I like to get my hands on as many used copies as possible--but this year the high price of gas made the hour drive to and from potentially as expensive as the load I would drop at checkout.
So upon probing my roommate for the hidden secrets of textbook-buying (well, they're not so secret...I'm just oblivious and easily duped), I learned how to figure out which books are required for each and every class I am taking. Oddly enough, you find this invaluable nugget at the Dubois Web site. According to common sense, one would think professors would post this valuable information before classes start on their Blackboard sites. But alas, college (more often than not) is a nonsensical game of hoop jumping and profitering. So I found the list of books I needed and practically jumped with joy after the first read-through. The one journalism course I'm taking this semester was not listed on the site as having reserved any reading materials--a dubious plus at most. I will most likely walk in the first day and upon reading the syllabus, learn that I need to trek my way Uptown to Oxford's tiny copy shop and purchase a "course packet" that is wildly more expensive than any biology textbook in town. But I'm prepared for this. A real reason for joy lay in the fact that I own at least 5 of the novels on the list. It seems that the benefits of English-majoring for the past three years has paid off in a way.
In my last entry, I mentioned dropping some cash at the Ohio Bookstore. I purchased one book for "fun," however I also bought four others that were strictly school-related. Check. I also dropped into my local Half-Price to scour their selection and found one more on my required reading list. Check.
The last stop was Amazon. Several of the books I had to buy from individual sellers, leading me to believe that Dubois was probably enjoying a considerable mark-up due to the relative scarcity of several of the Virginia Woolf novels. Ordering on Amazon can be a tricky game, though. One needs to balance the relatively inexpensive prices from individual sellers (with such dubious condition descriptions as "used--but like new!") with the free shipping you receive if you order from Amazon and your order is more than $25. My order ended up being comprised of $46 from Amazon (sans shipping) and another $25ish from individual sellers (who had cheaper books...oftentimes ones Amazon didn't offer...but each carried at least $4 in shipping fees). It was a hefty order and I still need two more books (they're more literary in nature, rendering them harder to find online and upping the chances that I'm going to need a specific edition only found at Dubois); but overall it was completely worth it. I've spent too many semesters throwing away close to $300 in textbook costs. This year is going to be different.
Cost: ~$70
Ah shopping for books. A necessary evil. Much like the past three years, I find myself once again in need of a large amount of novels for my various assortment of English classes; however, unlike the past three years, I refuse to be duped by Dubois Bookstore. A chain that dominates the textbook market at Kent State, University of Cincinnati and Miami University, it has continually raped me of my valuable dollars and cents everytime I trudge back to campus in September and January. I usually make a quick trip up to Oxford about a week before school starts--I detest the crowds during the first week, plus I like to get my hands on as many used copies as possible--but this year the high price of gas made the hour drive to and from potentially as expensive as the load I would drop at checkout.
So upon probing my roommate for the hidden secrets of textbook-buying (well, they're not so secret...I'm just oblivious and easily duped), I learned how to figure out which books are required for each and every class I am taking. Oddly enough, you find this invaluable nugget at the Dubois Web site. According to common sense, one would think professors would post this valuable information before classes start on their Blackboard sites. But alas, college (more often than not) is a nonsensical game of hoop jumping and profitering. So I found the list of books I needed and practically jumped with joy after the first read-through. The one journalism course I'm taking this semester was not listed on the site as having reserved any reading materials--a dubious plus at most. I will most likely walk in the first day and upon reading the syllabus, learn that I need to trek my way Uptown to Oxford's tiny copy shop and purchase a "course packet" that is wildly more expensive than any biology textbook in town. But I'm prepared for this. A real reason for joy lay in the fact that I own at least 5 of the novels on the list. It seems that the benefits of English-majoring for the past three years has paid off in a way.
In my last entry, I mentioned dropping some cash at the Ohio Bookstore. I purchased one book for "fun," however I also bought four others that were strictly school-related. Check. I also dropped into my local Half-Price to scour their selection and found one more on my required reading list. Check.
The last stop was Amazon. Several of the books I had to buy from individual sellers, leading me to believe that Dubois was probably enjoying a considerable mark-up due to the relative scarcity of several of the Virginia Woolf novels. Ordering on Amazon can be a tricky game, though. One needs to balance the relatively inexpensive prices from individual sellers (with such dubious condition descriptions as "used--but like new!") with the free shipping you receive if you order from Amazon and your order is more than $25. My order ended up being comprised of $46 from Amazon (sans shipping) and another $25ish from individual sellers (who had cheaper books...oftentimes ones Amazon didn't offer...but each carried at least $4 in shipping fees). It was a hefty order and I still need two more books (they're more literary in nature, rendering them harder to find online and upping the chances that I'm going to need a specific edition only found at Dubois); but overall it was completely worth it. I've spent too many semesters throwing away close to $300 in textbook costs. This year is going to be different.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Shame and Spending
So, I begin this post not with my usual list of prices and purchases--although Lord knows there should be around 50 items listed here, probably to the bottom of the page. I'm ashamed to say that I avoided my blogging duties for the past few weeks, shirking the experiment I laid upon myself in aggressively evaluating the way I spend. A lot of this stemmed from my reluctance to relate my (relatively) recent trip to northern Michigan with my boyfriend, where I was in charge of paying for food and fun. There were a lot of receipts to go through after I returned to Ohio and so I delayed the inevitable. Now, even more weeks have passed--repeated and shameless swipes of my credit card--and yet it is now that I am shamed into returning to my experiment again.
I am shamed by a few second-hand wearing hippies out in San Francisco. I know, it all seems rather prosaic but it's true. A group who calls their environmental spurning of consumerism "the Compact," this group actively avoids making not only unnecessary purchases but ALL purchases except for necessities. They live on the barter system and canned plums from their backyard. They attend "Really Really Free Markets" in downtown SF, where a mohawked biker trades free haircuts for tote bags made out of old chip bags. Ok, some aren't that bad but you get the concept. Anyway, I haven't been exactly shamed into joining them but it did make me think about my own consumeristic habits--particularly how bad they are. Now, I'm a frugal person. My mother says I'm positively spartan in a lot of respects, particularly for my age group and the peers with which I surround myself (spoiled, upper-middle-class, white kids at a relatively expensive midwestern college). I don't engage in a lot of the frivolities of my fellow college students, which can include blowing $100 in shots any given week night. I also tend to avoid the obsession with "expensive chic." I'm happy to say that I actively avoid all Apple products except for my 3-year-old iPod, and frankly don't care about wearing $20 jeans. I think I carry myself well in the world of privilege, despite my limited economic status, proving that it's more than easy to fake your way through even the most materialistic culture.
However, the Compact group touched on items that even I take for granted. I wasn't raised to be brand-obsessed, but is it wrong that I enjoy Dove shampoo and conditioner? Am I just a tad too consumeristic when I swear by an elite line of specialized lotions from Bath & Body Works? What about the make-up I picked up last night at Target? It was just bronzer and Lord knows I don't need it, but it's a product that helps me feel good about myself. In a way, products like these DO define us. It's easy to laugh at the girl who carries a $150 purse, or the Apple-devoted who think nothing of dropping $2000 on a laptop. In a way, these people deserve to be laughed at because of their devotion to "trend." But, what about our daily necessities? The things we believe we need, as opposed to the products we actually do need to survive (food, shelter, etc).
Anyway, I felt a tad bad about the whole thing. However, since I can't see myself giving up my shampoo too soon, I was at least shamed back to this blog. I'm not going to list my purchases, like I've done in the past, but I will try my best to recall the myriad of spending that has occured over the past few weeks.
About a week after my boyfriend's birthday, I tried to swear off spending--didn't work. If the "staycation" is this year's hot travel buzzword for the budget minded, for the petit-ami and I, it was the mini-vacation. I left on a Friday afternoon, driving up the Interstate to Detroit. I of course topped off my gas tank the night before, as well as stocked up on snacks for the drive and hotel room. I also stopped at McDonalds so that I would have at least one "real" meal during the 5-hour drive, but immediately regretted that needless expense as simply disgusting. My boyfriend found us a room at a local Mariott (and quite a fancy one if I may say so myself) for $50 a night, a bargain considering the room usually went for $350. Thank you, Priceline.com. We had a delicious seafood dinner at a nice (expensive) restaurant nearby, which included some fruity drinks and an appetizer to commemorate the festive occasion. We then saw Wall-E--which was totally worth the $18 price of admission for both of us. The next morning, we set off for northern Michigan, my boyfriend at the wheel of his car (thank goodness). It was another 4-hour drive north through breathtaking scenery, only to take us to the western shore near Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes State Park. We first stopped off at Glen Arbor, a sleepy little tourist town that comes alive in the summer due to the impeccably blue waters of its inland lake. It's also the home of the Cherry Republic, a long-awaited destination for my cherry-loving boyfriend. We spent time and money there (although I did use cash), buying cherry trailmix and candies. I also spent about $40 of my parents' money on gifts for them. We ate lunch at the Republic as well, which was relatively affordable and delicious.
We then left Glen Arbor for the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes, which cost about $10 for an all-day parking pass. There were no fees for climbing the sand dunes, nor the driving tour which took us right to the banks of Lake Michigan. Around 4:30, we left the coast for Traverse City, a smaller city located about 30 minues from the coast but right on Traverse Bay. We then ate at one of the best restaurants in town, meticulously picked out beforehand, for more seafood. Then, it was back to the Marriott where we promptly passed out from exhaustion. After lunch at Panera the next morning, I left around 1 and was back home that afternoon.
My boyfriend and I split the cost of our psuedo-two-day escape from reality. He paid for the hotel and all the gas, and I paid for the food (at restaurants and on the road) and the movie. It was an almost a 50/50 split, and probably cost us around $200 each. Not bad, and completely worth it.
Upon coming back to reality, I went out shopping for a friend's wedding present. Speaking of which, my boyfriend still owes me $20 for his half. I also bought a dress for the wedding, some jewelry, and a sweater that I fell in love with through a store window. I also rented the last two DVDs of the second season of Big Love, which I had decided upon watching straight through this summer and had left off midway through due to the high cost of DVD rentals. Of course, I have bought gas more than a few times, although I was happy to fill my tank on $3.50 a gallon a few times. Thank goodness for falling crude prices. I have also paid the interest on my student loans, about $180-worth. Of course, I have made my car payment for August (another $180) and am soon to make my insurance payment. I have bought barbeque at a local street festival and bought a stack of books at Ohio Bookstore in downtown Cincinnati (you can't help but buy something if only keep such a tradition alive). Last night, I purchased a slip-cover for my futon, the only reason being I'm tired of its "redness" loudly overwhelming my dorm room. I bought face wipes, absolutely imperative for removing make-up and oil at the end of the day (see what I mean about "necessary" purchases?) I have also purchased, borrowed or collected roughly three-quarters of the novels I need for my classes this semester (all used). As luck would have it, I joyfully discovered I already owned a $40 anthology of sixteenth and seventeenth century literature, saving me precious dollars. I also bought the appropriate wrappings for my said friend's wedding present. I ordered a $50 parking pass for the semester, although that will have to be paid back to my parents later. I bought around $15 in iTunes, making a mix CD so that I would have something new to listen to on the way to Detroit. And I finally got a haircut--$30 that I have been putting off all summer long.
Now, there probably were a few more purchases in there that I have already forgotten. But this is the best representation I can give you right now. I've stuck close with my family this summer, letting them handle most of the expenses I can guilt-trip them into. Of course, I've gotten paid during this time, so I'm not simply a human ATM machine. I still have many more expenses to address until school, but rest assured, you will be the first to know of it.
I am shamed by a few second-hand wearing hippies out in San Francisco. I know, it all seems rather prosaic but it's true. A group who calls their environmental spurning of consumerism "the Compact," this group actively avoids making not only unnecessary purchases but ALL purchases except for necessities. They live on the barter system and canned plums from their backyard. They attend "Really Really Free Markets" in downtown SF, where a mohawked biker trades free haircuts for tote bags made out of old chip bags. Ok, some aren't that bad but you get the concept. Anyway, I haven't been exactly shamed into joining them but it did make me think about my own consumeristic habits--particularly how bad they are. Now, I'm a frugal person. My mother says I'm positively spartan in a lot of respects, particularly for my age group and the peers with which I surround myself (spoiled, upper-middle-class, white kids at a relatively expensive midwestern college). I don't engage in a lot of the frivolities of my fellow college students, which can include blowing $100 in shots any given week night. I also tend to avoid the obsession with "expensive chic." I'm happy to say that I actively avoid all Apple products except for my 3-year-old iPod, and frankly don't care about wearing $20 jeans. I think I carry myself well in the world of privilege, despite my limited economic status, proving that it's more than easy to fake your way through even the most materialistic culture.
However, the Compact group touched on items that even I take for granted. I wasn't raised to be brand-obsessed, but is it wrong that I enjoy Dove shampoo and conditioner? Am I just a tad too consumeristic when I swear by an elite line of specialized lotions from Bath & Body Works? What about the make-up I picked up last night at Target? It was just bronzer and Lord knows I don't need it, but it's a product that helps me feel good about myself. In a way, products like these DO define us. It's easy to laugh at the girl who carries a $150 purse, or the Apple-devoted who think nothing of dropping $2000 on a laptop. In a way, these people deserve to be laughed at because of their devotion to "trend." But, what about our daily necessities? The things we believe we need, as opposed to the products we actually do need to survive (food, shelter, etc).
Anyway, I felt a tad bad about the whole thing. However, since I can't see myself giving up my shampoo too soon, I was at least shamed back to this blog. I'm not going to list my purchases, like I've done in the past, but I will try my best to recall the myriad of spending that has occured over the past few weeks.
About a week after my boyfriend's birthday, I tried to swear off spending--didn't work. If the "staycation" is this year's hot travel buzzword for the budget minded, for the petit-ami and I, it was the mini-vacation. I left on a Friday afternoon, driving up the Interstate to Detroit. I of course topped off my gas tank the night before, as well as stocked up on snacks for the drive and hotel room. I also stopped at McDonalds so that I would have at least one "real" meal during the 5-hour drive, but immediately regretted that needless expense as simply disgusting. My boyfriend found us a room at a local Mariott (and quite a fancy one if I may say so myself) for $50 a night, a bargain considering the room usually went for $350. Thank you, Priceline.com. We had a delicious seafood dinner at a nice (expensive) restaurant nearby, which included some fruity drinks and an appetizer to commemorate the festive occasion. We then saw Wall-E--which was totally worth the $18 price of admission for both of us. The next morning, we set off for northern Michigan, my boyfriend at the wheel of his car (thank goodness). It was another 4-hour drive north through breathtaking scenery, only to take us to the western shore near Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes State Park. We first stopped off at Glen Arbor, a sleepy little tourist town that comes alive in the summer due to the impeccably blue waters of its inland lake. It's also the home of the Cherry Republic, a long-awaited destination for my cherry-loving boyfriend. We spent time and money there (although I did use cash), buying cherry trailmix and candies. I also spent about $40 of my parents' money on gifts for them. We ate lunch at the Republic as well, which was relatively affordable and delicious.
We then left Glen Arbor for the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes, which cost about $10 for an all-day parking pass. There were no fees for climbing the sand dunes, nor the driving tour which took us right to the banks of Lake Michigan. Around 4:30, we left the coast for Traverse City, a smaller city located about 30 minues from the coast but right on Traverse Bay. We then ate at one of the best restaurants in town, meticulously picked out beforehand, for more seafood. Then, it was back to the Marriott where we promptly passed out from exhaustion. After lunch at Panera the next morning, I left around 1 and was back home that afternoon.
My boyfriend and I split the cost of our psuedo-two-day escape from reality. He paid for the hotel and all the gas, and I paid for the food (at restaurants and on the road) and the movie. It was an almost a 50/50 split, and probably cost us around $200 each. Not bad, and completely worth it.
Upon coming back to reality, I went out shopping for a friend's wedding present. Speaking of which, my boyfriend still owes me $20 for his half. I also bought a dress for the wedding, some jewelry, and a sweater that I fell in love with through a store window. I also rented the last two DVDs of the second season of Big Love, which I had decided upon watching straight through this summer and had left off midway through due to the high cost of DVD rentals. Of course, I have bought gas more than a few times, although I was happy to fill my tank on $3.50 a gallon a few times. Thank goodness for falling crude prices. I have also paid the interest on my student loans, about $180-worth. Of course, I have made my car payment for August (another $180) and am soon to make my insurance payment. I have bought barbeque at a local street festival and bought a stack of books at Ohio Bookstore in downtown Cincinnati (you can't help but buy something if only keep such a tradition alive). Last night, I purchased a slip-cover for my futon, the only reason being I'm tired of its "redness" loudly overwhelming my dorm room. I bought face wipes, absolutely imperative for removing make-up and oil at the end of the day (see what I mean about "necessary" purchases?) I have also purchased, borrowed or collected roughly three-quarters of the novels I need for my classes this semester (all used). As luck would have it, I joyfully discovered I already owned a $40 anthology of sixteenth and seventeenth century literature, saving me precious dollars. I also bought the appropriate wrappings for my said friend's wedding present. I ordered a $50 parking pass for the semester, although that will have to be paid back to my parents later. I bought around $15 in iTunes, making a mix CD so that I would have something new to listen to on the way to Detroit. And I finally got a haircut--$30 that I have been putting off all summer long.
Now, there probably were a few more purchases in there that I have already forgotten. But this is the best representation I can give you right now. I've stuck close with my family this summer, letting them handle most of the expenses I can guilt-trip them into. Of course, I've gotten paid during this time, so I'm not simply a human ATM machine. I still have many more expenses to address until school, but rest assured, you will be the first to know of it.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Interesting article
It somewhat relates to the subtitle of this blog, so I thought it an interesting read...
Oh, and before I forget, there will be another long entry soon devoted to my recent trip to Detroit and northern Michigan, so be on the lookout for that. I typically stave off consumeristic regret by not recording expensive and multiple transactions in my checkbook until I receive a paycheck (which happens to be this Friday), but I can not avoid my moral obligation--to myself, at the very least--to post it here for all the world to revel in my buying habits.
But again, back to the article. If you click the link, it'll bring you to an article with a creepy photo at the top. I hate to think of my face as a Starbucks logo, but the Nintendo kid is just frightening looking.
Oh, and before I forget, there will be another long entry soon devoted to my recent trip to Detroit and northern Michigan, so be on the lookout for that. I typically stave off consumeristic regret by not recording expensive and multiple transactions in my checkbook until I receive a paycheck (which happens to be this Friday), but I can not avoid my moral obligation--to myself, at the very least--to post it here for all the world to revel in my buying habits.
But again, back to the article. If you click the link, it'll bring you to an article with a creepy photo at the top. I hate to think of my face as a Starbucks logo, but the Nintendo kid is just frightening looking.
Branded
From the New York TimesLate in 2006, pollsters at the Pew Research Center called up 2,000 Americans and asked a simple question: Which products could people simply not live without? Take the dishwasher, for instance — was it a luxury or an ineluctable necessity of modern life? And did they believe they needed, rather than merely wanted, a clothes washer and dryer? How about a home computer, a microwave oven, high-speed Internet service and air-conditioning? Yes, yes, yes and yes, the nation nodded in assent. In just about every product category, Americans’ self-professed needs had ballooned since the hand-to-mouth 1990s. Not long ago, we thought of the cellphone as a high-class extravagance; nowadays, we feel naked without it.
That we are, as a nation, consumed by consumerism will surprise few.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I need a raise
Money Spent: $4.95
What: iTunes songs
Money Spent: $79.88
What: Ralph Lauren polo shirt
Money Spent: $66.56
What: Nautica cologne set
Money Spent: $69.06
What: Groceries
Money Spent: $13.00
What: Drinks (one martini, a seven-and-seven, and a vodka gimlet)
Money Spent: $43.78
What: Dinner at Brazenhead
Money Spent: $35.00
What: Gas
Money Spent: $27.94
What: Gas
Frankly, I don't want to talk about it. Since July 1, I've spent over $500. It was worth it because items two through five were dedicated to my boyfriend's 21st birthday (and I don't regret a single penny because he deserves it), but the buck really DOES stop here. I'm done. I'll wait to ask for the external hard drive and new laptop battery for my birthday (in September), and I really don't need new clothes. The only thing I plan on buying (for SURE) this summer is a dress for a friend's wedding and a wedding present. Other than that, it's gas and maybe a few extra bucks during a trip to visit the boyfriend in Michigan. *Sigh* I've been waiting so long to write this entry...I've been too scared to even look at my finances. Thank goodness I get paid this Friday.
What: iTunes songs
Money Spent: $79.88
What: Ralph Lauren polo shirt
Money Spent: $66.56
What: Nautica cologne set
Money Spent: $69.06
What: Groceries
Money Spent: $13.00
What: Drinks (one martini, a seven-and-seven, and a vodka gimlet)
Money Spent: $43.78
What: Dinner at Brazenhead
Money Spent: $35.00
What: Gas
Money Spent: $27.94
What: Gas
Frankly, I don't want to talk about it. Since July 1, I've spent over $500. It was worth it because items two through five were dedicated to my boyfriend's 21st birthday (and I don't regret a single penny because he deserves it), but the buck really DOES stop here. I'm done. I'll wait to ask for the external hard drive and new laptop battery for my birthday (in September), and I really don't need new clothes. The only thing I plan on buying (for SURE) this summer is a dress for a friend's wedding and a wedding present. Other than that, it's gas and maybe a few extra bucks during a trip to visit the boyfriend in Michigan. *Sigh* I've been waiting so long to write this entry...I've been too scared to even look at my finances. Thank goodness I get paid this Friday.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Another month
Money Spent: $180.98
What: Car insurance
It's due on the 15th, so I gave it a go a little early this time. Oh why not get into the habit of making my payments on time? :)
I must point out, though, that there is a suspiciously missing entry between this and my last. I went out and bought my boyfriend's 21st birthday present last night and I'm sure everyone is just itching to see how much dough I spent and what he got. Unfortunately, I won't let him cheat the system on this one. Since he doesn't get to know until Friday, then YOU don't get to know until Friday. But rest assured, I have plenty to say about the art of gift giving. Stay tuned.
What: Car insurance
It's due on the 15th, so I gave it a go a little early this time. Oh why not get into the habit of making my payments on time? :)
I must point out, though, that there is a suspiciously missing entry between this and my last. I went out and bought my boyfriend's 21st birthday present last night and I'm sure everyone is just itching to see how much dough I spent and what he got. Unfortunately, I won't let him cheat the system on this one. Since he doesn't get to know until Friday, then YOU don't get to know until Friday. But rest assured, I have plenty to say about the art of gift giving. Stay tuned.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The last time...I promise
Money Spent: $21.06
What: Dinner at Mimi's Cafe
Money Spent: around $15
What: the DVD "Amelie"
Money Spent: $3.50
What: Candy and frozen lemonade
I seriously think this is my last bout of heavy spending for at least...a week. At least when it comes to eating out. The story behind this is that my friend is leaving for France in two days. A best friend, I will not see her until our birthdays (my 22nd, her 21st) at the end of September. We obviously needed to have a "girl's night out" before she left, bringing us to Mimi's and two delicious dinners--the leftovers of which we both inconveniently left at the restaurant. I then bought "Amelie" at Best Buy because 1) she had not seen it, 2) it was perfectly French and 3) I had been wanting to buy the movie for a long time (it being one of my favorites). We almost waited in line for ice cream at Greater's but decided to buy our own snacks at Krogers instead. (The candy, just to clarify, is for my desk at work). My friends couldn't have picked a worse time to all be flying the coup for bigger and better adventures elsewhere--all these "going away" dinners are seriously going to break the bank. Seriously, what's wrong with Cincinnati, Ohio?
In the spending forecast, there are some major purchases on the horizen. My boyfriend's 21st birthday is only a week away, requiring me to do some major shopping sometime next week. I will delay posting that purchase, however, since he reads this blog. Then there will be the birthday dinner, etc, etc. Also, I need to start seriously considering buying a latop battery and external hard drive. I found the brand I liked in the Dell flyer, and so now I have a more legit way of researching these Iomega drives without resorting to Amazon. And the orange light is still blinking on the laptop, and so that problem HAS to be addressed before I go back to school in the fall.
What: Dinner at Mimi's Cafe
Money Spent: around $15
What: the DVD "Amelie"
Money Spent: $3.50
What: Candy and frozen lemonade
I seriously think this is my last bout of heavy spending for at least...a week. At least when it comes to eating out. The story behind this is that my friend is leaving for France in two days. A best friend, I will not see her until our birthdays (my 22nd, her 21st) at the end of September. We obviously needed to have a "girl's night out" before she left, bringing us to Mimi's and two delicious dinners--the leftovers of which we both inconveniently left at the restaurant. I then bought "Amelie" at Best Buy because 1) she had not seen it, 2) it was perfectly French and 3) I had been wanting to buy the movie for a long time (it being one of my favorites). We almost waited in line for ice cream at Greater's but decided to buy our own snacks at Krogers instead. (The candy, just to clarify, is for my desk at work). My friends couldn't have picked a worse time to all be flying the coup for bigger and better adventures elsewhere--all these "going away" dinners are seriously going to break the bank. Seriously, what's wrong with Cincinnati, Ohio?
In the spending forecast, there are some major purchases on the horizen. My boyfriend's 21st birthday is only a week away, requiring me to do some major shopping sometime next week. I will delay posting that purchase, however, since he reads this blog. Then there will be the birthday dinner, etc, etc. Also, I need to start seriously considering buying a latop battery and external hard drive. I found the brand I liked in the Dell flyer, and so now I have a more legit way of researching these Iomega drives without resorting to Amazon. And the orange light is still blinking on the laptop, and so that problem HAS to be addressed before I go back to school in the fall.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Money Spent: $7.00
What: Two Starbucks frappacinos
Money Spent: $10.64
What: Earbuds
Money Spent: $54.31
What: Gas
Ok, I'll admit it. Starbucks is a luxury item and I shouldn't indulge in the tasty, sugery concoction that is a mocha frappacino too often. Lucky for me, I don't. But my boyfriend took me out to lunch yesterday and so, with 15 minutes to spare before I had to be back at the office, we decided to waste some time at the local Starbucks. Unfortunately, you can't waste time at a Starbucks without buying something, so I provided our post-lunch dessert. One interesting note about Starbucks, though: the company said yesterday that they plan on closing 19% of new stores that have been opened during the past two years. They cite the suffering economy for the loss of business. I find the concept of the closing Starbucks store--as opposed to a new branch opening every other day--rather telling. In the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film "You've Got Mail," Hanks' commentary on their role in society seem to infer that Starbucks had become as ubiquitous a part of American culture as, I don't know, morning traffic. And if they're featured as the meeting place of the Upper West Side book elite, they are also the epitomy of hip and therefore prime material for copy-cat suburbanites. Although I don't see this as the fall of the Starbucks empire, I do find it interesting that Americans, stripped of extra cash by the rising costs of food and gas, can forego those non-fat lattes if they so choose. 10 years ago we may not have heard that tune, but my how times have changed.
The earbuds were a simple choice because the ones that came with my iPod were completely shot...my iPod rounding out its third year on this planet. I refuse to satiate Steve Jobs too much, and either haven't had the money or interest to snap up every product that's come out of Apple. I have my dignity, you know. And those stupid Mac vs. PC commercials annoy me to no end. Sorry Steve, I'm still going to use my Dell no matter how "un-hip" that may make me. With that said, I do need a new iPod but don't have the extra cash this summer. My plan is to wait til Christmas when I can take advantage of the generosity of my elders.
And finally, gas. That's right, it's been 2 whole weeks since I last got gas. I stretched that tank and I'm PROUD. My secret? Well, it is no secret but common knowledge that most people tend to forget. For two weeks, I have barely touched my air conditioning. I drive home with all my windows down and my music turned up, and have reaped the rewards by doubling my drive time. My boyfriend assures me that "everybody" knows about this, but I argue that my discovery is enlightening because I have witnessed this miracle under the terror of $4 gas, the fear of which threatened to completely demoralize me a few weeks ago. I was ready to give up on humanity for awhile. I bought the gas for$4.09 a gallon, unleaded of course. Probably not the best for my engine, and my mother always taught me to automatically default with the "middle button." However, everyone has to buck their upbringing sometime. Filled with this knowledge, I now marvel at those still driving around with their windows sealed tight and their air conditioning pumping. I would have understood them a year ago--when I drove with air conditioning all the time on $3 a gallon. But now, I stand in slightly disgusted awe. I would understand if I took the highway home and witnessed this spectacle, but I don't. I take back roads where the average speed is 35 mph. People... Also a good sign, my car's little computer tells me that I have upped my miles per gallon from 23 mpg to 25.6 mpg. Considering that's all city driving with a V6 engine, I take that as a point of pride. Let's see if I keep it this way for awhile.
What: Two Starbucks frappacinos
Money Spent: $10.64
What: Earbuds
Money Spent: $54.31
What: Gas
Ok, I'll admit it. Starbucks is a luxury item and I shouldn't indulge in the tasty, sugery concoction that is a mocha frappacino too often. Lucky for me, I don't. But my boyfriend took me out to lunch yesterday and so, with 15 minutes to spare before I had to be back at the office, we decided to waste some time at the local Starbucks. Unfortunately, you can't waste time at a Starbucks without buying something, so I provided our post-lunch dessert. One interesting note about Starbucks, though: the company said yesterday that they plan on closing 19% of new stores that have been opened during the past two years. They cite the suffering economy for the loss of business. I find the concept of the closing Starbucks store--as opposed to a new branch opening every other day--rather telling. In the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film "You've Got Mail," Hanks' commentary on their role in society seem to infer that Starbucks had become as ubiquitous a part of American culture as, I don't know, morning traffic. And if they're featured as the meeting place of the Upper West Side book elite, they are also the epitomy of hip and therefore prime material for copy-cat suburbanites. Although I don't see this as the fall of the Starbucks empire, I do find it interesting that Americans, stripped of extra cash by the rising costs of food and gas, can forego those non-fat lattes if they so choose. 10 years ago we may not have heard that tune, but my how times have changed.
The earbuds were a simple choice because the ones that came with my iPod were completely shot...my iPod rounding out its third year on this planet. I refuse to satiate Steve Jobs too much, and either haven't had the money or interest to snap up every product that's come out of Apple. I have my dignity, you know. And those stupid Mac vs. PC commercials annoy me to no end. Sorry Steve, I'm still going to use my Dell no matter how "un-hip" that may make me. With that said, I do need a new iPod but don't have the extra cash this summer. My plan is to wait til Christmas when I can take advantage of the generosity of my elders.
And finally, gas. That's right, it's been 2 whole weeks since I last got gas. I stretched that tank and I'm PROUD. My secret? Well, it is no secret but common knowledge that most people tend to forget. For two weeks, I have barely touched my air conditioning. I drive home with all my windows down and my music turned up, and have reaped the rewards by doubling my drive time. My boyfriend assures me that "everybody" knows about this, but I argue that my discovery is enlightening because I have witnessed this miracle under the terror of $4 gas, the fear of which threatened to completely demoralize me a few weeks ago. I was ready to give up on humanity for awhile. I bought the gas for$4.09 a gallon, unleaded of course. Probably not the best for my engine, and my mother always taught me to automatically default with the "middle button." However, everyone has to buck their upbringing sometime. Filled with this knowledge, I now marvel at those still driving around with their windows sealed tight and their air conditioning pumping. I would have understood them a year ago--when I drove with air conditioning all the time on $3 a gallon. But now, I stand in slightly disgusted awe. I would understand if I took the highway home and witnessed this spectacle, but I don't. I take back roads where the average speed is 35 mph. People... Also a good sign, my car's little computer tells me that I have upped my miles per gallon from 23 mpg to 25.6 mpg. Considering that's all city driving with a V6 engine, I take that as a point of pride. Let's see if I keep it this way for awhile.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Another belated entry
Money Spent: $4.95
What: iTunes
Money Spent: $4.79
What: Blockbuster rental of "Michael Clayton"
Money Spent: $5.38
What: UDF ice craem
Hey, the good news is that all of these tiny purchases are all under $6! Eh? Eh? Ok, I know. Rein in your spending, Laura. Keep that wallet closed. Don't fritter away useful dollars and cents on a music downloading site, where 99 cents songs are like crack to an addict.
I know all these things. But I guess I will, at least, forgive myself these snapshots of discretionary spending in the name of hedonism. Downloading "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John makes me happy...thank you very much. And it's only the second time I've hit the "buy song" button this summer. I consider that an accomplishment.
The other purchases were in the valient name of date nights everywhere. Plus, I've been dating the same guy for more than three years now. I can afford to foot the bill of ice cream and a rental if he pays for dinner. Romance isn't all dead, but fiscal responsibility is also a crucial component of any relationship you expect (or want) to last. If you, as a female, can look your man in the eye and say "Sweetie, I'll pay for that," it should be a moment of liberation as well as maturity. You have a job--don't deny it. And you save money too, as much as you would like the opposite sex to believe that we spend it all on shoes, hence our empty wallets when the check comes. Don't expect him to stay with you long if he has to foot the bill everytime, ladies. Now, I'm not the champion of feminism everywhere--he did pay for the dinner, and drove for that matter. But I hope that these feminist war cries go a little ways toward explaining my extra spending. I mean, it's only $10...
Oh, and the question I know you're all dying for an answer: was "Michael Clayton" worth the money? Maybe, depending on your tastes. Too bad the boy fell asleep halfway through. But ah, so is love.
What: iTunes
Money Spent: $4.79
What: Blockbuster rental of "Michael Clayton"
Money Spent: $5.38
What: UDF ice craem
Hey, the good news is that all of these tiny purchases are all under $6! Eh? Eh? Ok, I know. Rein in your spending, Laura. Keep that wallet closed. Don't fritter away useful dollars and cents on a music downloading site, where 99 cents songs are like crack to an addict.
I know all these things. But I guess I will, at least, forgive myself these snapshots of discretionary spending in the name of hedonism. Downloading "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John makes me happy...thank you very much. And it's only the second time I've hit the "buy song" button this summer. I consider that an accomplishment.
The other purchases were in the valient name of date nights everywhere. Plus, I've been dating the same guy for more than three years now. I can afford to foot the bill of ice cream and a rental if he pays for dinner. Romance isn't all dead, but fiscal responsibility is also a crucial component of any relationship you expect (or want) to last. If you, as a female, can look your man in the eye and say "Sweetie, I'll pay for that," it should be a moment of liberation as well as maturity. You have a job--don't deny it. And you save money too, as much as you would like the opposite sex to believe that we spend it all on shoes, hence our empty wallets when the check comes. Don't expect him to stay with you long if he has to foot the bill everytime, ladies. Now, I'm not the champion of feminism everywhere--he did pay for the dinner, and drove for that matter. But I hope that these feminist war cries go a little ways toward explaining my extra spending. I mean, it's only $10...
Oh, and the question I know you're all dying for an answer: was "Michael Clayton" worth the money? Maybe, depending on your tastes. Too bad the boy fell asleep halfway through. But ah, so is love.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
A new, and belated, entry
Money Spent: $89.37
What: Car Insurance
Money Spent: $5.00
What: Subway
Money Spent: $10.63
What: Under-the-bed storage bin
Sorry about the insurance entry...as I hooked State Farm up with an automatic withdrawal system, I tend to forget that I pay around $90 a month in car insurance. Well, I didn't forget to record in my financial files, but I overlooked it here. Can't say too much about it, though. I forget what my premium is, or what is covered, but just assume it's standard for a 21-year-old female with a clean driving record.
Concerning Subway: it was a Friday evening, my brother and I were starving from "playing" tennis for the past few hours, and the food stash was running low at our house. However, $5 for a footlong meatball sub (don't judge me because I don't eat like a girl) is a pretty good deal. However, whenever I say I'll save the other half, I usually end up eating 3/4 of the entire thing and throwing away the rest. That can't be good.
The last bit of spending was actually a necessary item that I had been preparing to purchase for some time now. I didn't want to make an extraneous trip to Wal-Mart, so I waited for the boyfriend to come home and take me on a "date" there. Heehee. Aren't we romantic. But in all seriousness, my closet at home and at school has been close to overflowing for months now. And since my wardrobe recently saw an influx in new "professional" clothes for my internship, I needed to move some sweaters and sweatshirts out of the closet. Now if only I could find some way to store that prom dress...
Lucky for me, though, is my paycheck from a week ago. Plus, I received a refund check from school for $30--money left over from one of my meal plans. I plan on cashing it in sometime this week and using that cash in my wallet. If there's anything that annoys me more, it is having to whip out my debit card for a $10 purchase. It barely encourages frugal spending.
Also, look out for an upcoming entry about a recent spending spree on iTunes. I know, I know. I told myself to stay away. Luckily, the total isn't going to come out any more than $6 so don't wet yourselves. But I can't say for sure until I receive a receipt. Until then, here's hoping I keep the wallet in my purse, where it belongs!
What: Car Insurance
Money Spent: $5.00
What: Subway
Money Spent: $10.63
What: Under-the-bed storage bin
Sorry about the insurance entry...as I hooked State Farm up with an automatic withdrawal system, I tend to forget that I pay around $90 a month in car insurance. Well, I didn't forget to record in my financial files, but I overlooked it here. Can't say too much about it, though. I forget what my premium is, or what is covered, but just assume it's standard for a 21-year-old female with a clean driving record.
Concerning Subway: it was a Friday evening, my brother and I were starving from "playing" tennis for the past few hours, and the food stash was running low at our house. However, $5 for a footlong meatball sub (don't judge me because I don't eat like a girl) is a pretty good deal. However, whenever I say I'll save the other half, I usually end up eating 3/4 of the entire thing and throwing away the rest. That can't be good.
The last bit of spending was actually a necessary item that I had been preparing to purchase for some time now. I didn't want to make an extraneous trip to Wal-Mart, so I waited for the boyfriend to come home and take me on a "date" there. Heehee. Aren't we romantic. But in all seriousness, my closet at home and at school has been close to overflowing for months now. And since my wardrobe recently saw an influx in new "professional" clothes for my internship, I needed to move some sweaters and sweatshirts out of the closet. Now if only I could find some way to store that prom dress...
Lucky for me, though, is my paycheck from a week ago. Plus, I received a refund check from school for $30--money left over from one of my meal plans. I plan on cashing it in sometime this week and using that cash in my wallet. If there's anything that annoys me more, it is having to whip out my debit card for a $10 purchase. It barely encourages frugal spending.
Also, look out for an upcoming entry about a recent spending spree on iTunes. I know, I know. I told myself to stay away. Luckily, the total isn't going to come out any more than $6 so don't wet yourselves. But I can't say for sure until I receive a receipt. Until then, here's hoping I keep the wallet in my purse, where it belongs!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Vending machines steal money
Money spent: $1.25
What: 20 oz. Dr. Pepper
Money spent: 50 cents
What: A roll of mint lifesavers
And did I get my lifesavers? NO! Because the vending machine is broken ate my money. Thanks vending machine.
In all seriousness, though, I usually do not turn to vending machines for my daily sustanance. However, working in an office, I need some kind of caffeine to get me through the day and my two younger brothers have consumed all of the pop at home. Consumed it selfishly, I should say. Who needs it more--someone who sits in front of video games all day? Or me, slaving away at a computer interning my butt off? I think I've made my point...
What: 20 oz. Dr. Pepper
Money spent: 50 cents
What: A roll of mint lifesavers
And did I get my lifesavers? NO! Because the vending machine is broken ate my money. Thanks vending machine.
In all seriousness, though, I usually do not turn to vending machines for my daily sustanance. However, working in an office, I need some kind of caffeine to get me through the day and my two younger brothers have consumed all of the pop at home. Consumed it selfishly, I should say. Who needs it more--someone who sits in front of video games all day? Or me, slaving away at a computer interning my butt off? I think I've made my point...
Those girlie necessities
Money Spent: $26.59
What: Toothpaste, Cover Girl foundation, Make-up brush, Shaving Cream
Yes, not those kinds of necessities. Geez, get your mind out of the fifth grade. I told you I would record everything I purchsed this summer, and that includes toothpaste and shaving cream. I mean, a girl's teeth gotta stay...clean. And if you're confused by the high price tag of my CVS-aganza, I have to point out that cosmetic products are way too expensive. But faced with the viral marketing of cosmetic companies who want to convince American women that we NEED 20 products in order to leave the house...let's just say it's not cheap to be a girl. Plus, I've (shamefully) grown into a brand snob over the years. I don't care if Revlon's foundation is $2 cheaper. I only trust Cover Girl--sorry. Counterproductive I know, but I feel that if allow myself the illusion that spending a little more on the products that make me feel pretty is a luxury, then I'll won't take them for granted.
On the good news front, if you've noticed, it's been over a week since I last bought gas. Just wait until you see me filling up next...
What: Toothpaste, Cover Girl foundation, Make-up brush, Shaving Cream
Yes, not those kinds of necessities. Geez, get your mind out of the fifth grade. I told you I would record everything I purchsed this summer, and that includes toothpaste and shaving cream. I mean, a girl's teeth gotta stay...clean. And if you're confused by the high price tag of my CVS-aganza, I have to point out that cosmetic products are way too expensive. But faced with the viral marketing of cosmetic companies who want to convince American women that we NEED 20 products in order to leave the house...let's just say it's not cheap to be a girl. Plus, I've (shamefully) grown into a brand snob over the years. I don't care if Revlon's foundation is $2 cheaper. I only trust Cover Girl--sorry. Counterproductive I know, but I feel that if allow myself the illusion that spending a little more on the products that make me feel pretty is a luxury, then I'll won't take them for granted.
On the good news front, if you've noticed, it's been over a week since I last bought gas. Just wait until you see me filling up next...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Not surprised
Consumers Wary Over Economy, Reports Indicate
New York Times
Economy reports released Tuesday offered another indication that Americans remain wary of the current state of the economy, as falling home prices and the rising costs of gasoline force many to make difficult spending choices.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Like getting the wind knocked out of you
Money spent: $54.62
What: Gas
It's times like these that I start to get scared about my budget. It's times like these where I second-guess my desire to purchase "necessities" like a new laptop battery, an external hard drive and a new pair of earbuds. Did we really have to go to the Cheesecake Factory, for God's sake? Yes, cocktails with my best friend was nice, but that dinner is 3/4 a tank of gas. Am I going to think of everything in this manner from now on? My God, the iPod I have desired for so long...that could fuel me for at least a month and a half.
It's times like these where the everyday luxuries of life become...not so everyday anymore. Maybe this wallet crunch will make us--as Americans--re-evaluate our lifestyles. What defines us as a superfluous, consumer-driven culture may no longer be part of the budget anymore, and we may need to retreat to our frugal, pioneer-spirited past in order to survive. Or perhaps a new culture will emerge. One driven by adventurous, optimistic youth rather than complacent baby boomers. One that will have be neither blue nor white collared, but green. And I know that sounds like a campaign slogan (and no, I never supported Ms. Clinton), but it's true.
Something has to be done. Something has to re-evaluated. We can't whine, worry or bloviate about it any longer. If $4 gas is here to stay, well, something has to go. I tried to make a budget at the beginning of the summer, and my boyfriend warned me about "budgeting" $50 for gas every two weeks. What can I say, I was living in summer 2007. Now, I know that something else--something bigger--must change within my lifestyle so that I can make my way in this brave, new world. If only I knew what that should be.
What: Gas
It's times like these that I start to get scared about my budget. It's times like these where I second-guess my desire to purchase "necessities" like a new laptop battery, an external hard drive and a new pair of earbuds. Did we really have to go to the Cheesecake Factory, for God's sake? Yes, cocktails with my best friend was nice, but that dinner is 3/4 a tank of gas. Am I going to think of everything in this manner from now on? My God, the iPod I have desired for so long...that could fuel me for at least a month and a half.
It's times like these where the everyday luxuries of life become...not so everyday anymore. Maybe this wallet crunch will make us--as Americans--re-evaluate our lifestyles. What defines us as a superfluous, consumer-driven culture may no longer be part of the budget anymore, and we may need to retreat to our frugal, pioneer-spirited past in order to survive. Or perhaps a new culture will emerge. One driven by adventurous, optimistic youth rather than complacent baby boomers. One that will have be neither blue nor white collared, but green. And I know that sounds like a campaign slogan (and no, I never supported Ms. Clinton), but it's true.
Something has to be done. Something has to re-evaluated. We can't whine, worry or bloviate about it any longer. If $4 gas is here to stay, well, something has to go. I tried to make a budget at the beginning of the summer, and my boyfriend warned me about "budgeting" $50 for gas every two weeks. What can I say, I was living in summer 2007. Now, I know that something else--something bigger--must change within my lifestyle so that I can make my way in this brave, new world. If only I knew what that should be.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Cocktail Hour
Money Spent: $30.04
What: Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory
The story behind this expenditure is actually quite sweet and sentimental. My best friend is going to be working for a graphic design firm in Boston this summer. She left today and I don't know when I'll see her next. We rarely get together during the school year, so it might be months. I hadn't yet seen her this summer, and I missed her surprise going-away party. So we decided to throw all prudence to the mall and enjoy a truly girl's night out. We went to the Cheesecake Factory, ordered fabulously expensive cocktails (the first experience of the kind since we had both turned 21 last fall) and two dinners that neither of us could finish. We then wandered around the mall, browsing aimlessly in a sea of senseless chit-chat. Sure it was expensive. But spending time with a best friend of nearly 17 years was well worth the extra cash.
What: Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory
The story behind this expenditure is actually quite sweet and sentimental. My best friend is going to be working for a graphic design firm in Boston this summer. She left today and I don't know when I'll see her next. We rarely get together during the school year, so it might be months. I hadn't yet seen her this summer, and I missed her surprise going-away party. So we decided to throw all prudence to the mall and enjoy a truly girl's night out. We went to the Cheesecake Factory, ordered fabulously expensive cocktails (the first experience of the kind since we had both turned 21 last fall) and two dinners that neither of us could finish. We then wandered around the mall, browsing aimlessly in a sea of senseless chit-chat. Sure it was expensive. But spending time with a best friend of nearly 17 years was well worth the extra cash.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Date night
Money Spent: $4.94
What: "Oceans 13" rental
My boyfriend was home from Detroit for the weekend--we deserved a cheap date night. And since he bought the $5 ice cream from UDF, we were actually quite progressive in our dutch action. The movie was confusing and mediocre compared with the brilliance of the series' first movie, so I'm not sure if it was worth it yet...maybe we should have gone with Blazin' Saddles.
On a different note, I think it's awfully ridiculous that it costs $5 to rent a movie. I seem to remember the days of $3 rentals...and then $4 rentals. Now, it's barely less expensive than seeing a movie at the theater. *Sigh* Oh, how I lament the downsides of inflation.
What: "Oceans 13" rental
My boyfriend was home from Detroit for the weekend--we deserved a cheap date night. And since he bought the $5 ice cream from UDF, we were actually quite progressive in our dutch action. The movie was confusing and mediocre compared with the brilliance of the series' first movie, so I'm not sure if it was worth it yet...maybe we should have gone with Blazin' Saddles.
On a different note, I think it's awfully ridiculous that it costs $5 to rent a movie. I seem to remember the days of $3 rentals...and then $4 rentals. Now, it's barely less expensive than seeing a movie at the theater. *Sigh* Oh, how I lament the downsides of inflation.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Life's staples: gas and music
Money Spent: $35
What: Gas
Money Spent: $9.99
What: Vampire Weekend cd
Ok, so gas is the easy one to explain. Again, I was stopped before my gas tank was full...I guess they cap you when you use a debit card? Which makes no sense, considering that rule should actually exist for credit cards, not debit cards. Remember, debit cards come with cash pre-loaded. Credit's the shady stuff. Suffice it to say, $35 only gave me three-fourths of a tank, which will do for now. I was awfully pissed upon pulling into the station. On my way home from work earlier that afternoon, I had passed a UDF selling $3.89 for unleaded. When I pull into Kroger a few hours later, it had already spiked to $3.99. Now, I may not understand all the complexities of these so-called "gas wars," but wouldn't it make more sense to spike the prices during rush hour, when most people buy gas anyway? Just a thought. Everything turned out ok, though, since my family's trusty Kroger Plus Card gives us 10 cents off a gallon anyway.
Vampire Weekend may need some explaining. So I have been really holding myself back this summer. I am an iTunes junkie, ok? It's an awful habit, but those 99 cents songs go down like empty calories. Delicious. And considering I rarely listen to the radio during the school year, I almost have to buy the songs to hear them. During the summer it's a little easier to keep up with the music scene owing to my long commute to work everyday. Radio really is a blessing...except for commercials. That's why Internet radio is awesome. It really is nice to write for a living--there's no reason to listen to anyone else, so our employers allow we scribes to drift off into SlackerRadio-land all day. That's where I discovered this gem of a group. All right, I'm SO over pretending I'm impossibly cool and am able to stumble over unknown bands everyday. But to give myself credit, they are relatively new and are still creating some hype in the effervescent indie world--so score one for the trendsetting poseur. *Gives oneself a pat on the back* Ok, in all seriousness, I heard "Oxford Comma," fell in love, watched some YouTube videos and decided with the same impulsiveness in which I descended upon The Shins that Vampire Weekend was a new favorite. That kind of love doesn't come around often, so can you blame me for rushing home to download the album on iTunes?
Now I have something to listen to on the way home from work...you know, when there's nothing but crap on the radio.
What: Gas
Money Spent: $9.99
What: Vampire Weekend cd
Ok, so gas is the easy one to explain. Again, I was stopped before my gas tank was full...I guess they cap you when you use a debit card? Which makes no sense, considering that rule should actually exist for credit cards, not debit cards. Remember, debit cards come with cash pre-loaded. Credit's the shady stuff. Suffice it to say, $35 only gave me three-fourths of a tank, which will do for now. I was awfully pissed upon pulling into the station. On my way home from work earlier that afternoon, I had passed a UDF selling $3.89 for unleaded. When I pull into Kroger a few hours later, it had already spiked to $3.99. Now, I may not understand all the complexities of these so-called "gas wars," but wouldn't it make more sense to spike the prices during rush hour, when most people buy gas anyway? Just a thought. Everything turned out ok, though, since my family's trusty Kroger Plus Card gives us 10 cents off a gallon anyway.
Vampire Weekend may need some explaining. So I have been really holding myself back this summer. I am an iTunes junkie, ok? It's an awful habit, but those 99 cents songs go down like empty calories. Delicious. And considering I rarely listen to the radio during the school year, I almost have to buy the songs to hear them. During the summer it's a little easier to keep up with the music scene owing to my long commute to work everyday. Radio really is a blessing...except for commercials. That's why Internet radio is awesome. It really is nice to write for a living--there's no reason to listen to anyone else, so our employers allow we scribes to drift off into SlackerRadio-land all day. That's where I discovered this gem of a group. All right, I'm SO over pretending I'm impossibly cool and am able to stumble over unknown bands everyday. But to give myself credit, they are relatively new and are still creating some hype in the effervescent indie world--so score one for the trendsetting poseur. *Gives oneself a pat on the back* Ok, in all seriousness, I heard "Oxford Comma," fell in love, watched some YouTube videos and decided with the same impulsiveness in which I descended upon The Shins that Vampire Weekend was a new favorite. That kind of love doesn't come around often, so can you blame me for rushing home to download the album on iTunes?Now I have something to listen to on the way home from work...you know, when there's nothing but crap on the radio.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The first of five years
Money Spent: $180.98
What: Car payment
You know, I felt a tad bit of sadness watching the envelope with my check being swallowed by the big, bad mailbox. Down the chute went my childhood, the innocence of borrowing mom and dad's car, the relative lack of responsibility that I've enjoyed these past 21 years. I just console myself knowing that it'll all be worth it in the end. Especially when it comes to that transportation/getting to work...thing.
What: Car payment
You know, I felt a tad bit of sadness watching the envelope with my check being swallowed by the big, bad mailbox. Down the chute went my childhood, the innocence of borrowing mom and dad's car, the relative lack of responsibility that I've enjoyed these past 21 years. I just console myself knowing that it'll all be worth it in the end. Especially when it comes to that transportation/getting to work...thing.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Payback
Money Spent: $5
What: Bruegger's Bagels
I know, I know. I'm trying to be a frugal lunch-er this summer by diligently packing a turkey on wholegrain wheat everyday. I usually toss in a small square of dark chocolate to nibble on when my energy starts to lack (and enrich myself with plenty of antioxidants!), as well as keep a baggie of Sun Chips and Smarties in my desk. However when a co-worker offered to pick me up something from Bruegger's...I couldn't say no. I hadn't been to the delicious deli since I'd been home, owing to the fact that I rarely eat out while at home and my college town is disappointingly lacking in one. However, I have grown an affinity for a certain sandwich at Bruegger's--turkey, garlic cream cheese, lettuce and a sun-dried tomato spread, hold the onion. Delicious. Plus, I'm still new to the office so it was also an attempt at fitting in and making friends.
Did it work? No idea. Was my sandwich delicious? You bet. Am I sad that I had to surrender $5? Not really. Like I said, I don't get out much.
What: Bruegger's Bagels
I know, I know. I'm trying to be a frugal lunch-er this summer by diligently packing a turkey on wholegrain wheat everyday. I usually toss in a small square of dark chocolate to nibble on when my energy starts to lack (and enrich myself with plenty of antioxidants!), as well as keep a baggie of Sun Chips and Smarties in my desk. However when a co-worker offered to pick me up something from Bruegger's...I couldn't say no. I hadn't been to the delicious deli since I'd been home, owing to the fact that I rarely eat out while at home and my college town is disappointingly lacking in one. However, I have grown an affinity for a certain sandwich at Bruegger's--turkey, garlic cream cheese, lettuce and a sun-dried tomato spread, hold the onion. Delicious. Plus, I'm still new to the office so it was also an attempt at fitting in and making friends.
Did it work? No idea. Was my sandwich delicious? You bet. Am I sad that I had to surrender $5? Not really. Like I said, I don't get out much.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Oy with the car already!
Money Spent: $3.75
What: Car wash
What can I say? The damn thing is white and there's been so much construction lately, I can't help if the black tar coats the bottom half of my car. It must be done.
What: Car wash
What can I say? The damn thing is white and there's been so much construction lately, I can't help if the black tar coats the bottom half of my car. It must be done.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The last step in making it mine...hopefully
Money Spent: $34.25
What: License plates, car registration
Money Spent: $37.01
What: Spare car key
It was a day to get things done. You know, those nasty little steps that are everyone's least favorite step in buying a car. First you stand in line at the BMV, you make sure you have the appropriate documents that will satiate the bureacratic beast...then you drive from one car dealership to another, looking for SOMEONE who can carve a spare key on Saturday. However, hopefully with these steps accomplished, I can take one more step towards calling my precious white Bu mine.
The beast never rests though...coming up next week: my first car payment!
On a good note though: I received my first paycheck from my summer job, infusing my checking account with some much needed cash. Also, I read an article that said while most businesses are suffering from the drop in the economy, Wal-Mart is still sitting pretty. What can I say--it pays to sell stuff cheap.
What: License plates, car registration
Money Spent: $37.01
What: Spare car key
It was a day to get things done. You know, those nasty little steps that are everyone's least favorite step in buying a car. First you stand in line at the BMV, you make sure you have the appropriate documents that will satiate the bureacratic beast...then you drive from one car dealership to another, looking for SOMEONE who can carve a spare key on Saturday. However, hopefully with these steps accomplished, I can take one more step towards calling my precious white Bu mine.
The beast never rests though...coming up next week: my first car payment!
On a good note though: I received my first paycheck from my summer job, infusing my checking account with some much needed cash. Also, I read an article that said while most businesses are suffering from the drop in the economy, Wal-Mart is still sitting pretty. What can I say--it pays to sell stuff cheap.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Oil and Water
Money Spent: $1.50
What: Water
Money Spent: $44.85
What: Gas
This post is a day late. But a barrage of heavy storms and tornado warnings sweeping through my hometown last night kept me in the basement and off the Internet. However earlier, during a less stormier part of the evening, I went to the local YMCA for my attempted thrice weekly workout. I usually bring an old Dasani bottle and continuously refill it, but upon approaching the sink last night I was stopped by a soaking casserole dish from that night's dinner--a dish that was exuding a strange odor, if I may say. Cautious of getting any closer, I decided that since I had been using this said water bottle at work as well as during my workout, the risk of a bacterial infection was probably getting high. Therefore, with the remaining dollar in my wallet, I bought a new Dasani out of the machine at the Y.
On the gas side, I figure that I need to fill up about once a week or every week and a half (if I'm lucky). My 2004 Chevy Malibu isn't a gas guzzler, however nor is it a Prius. It's still new to me, so I'm not sure how big my tank is but with unleaded at $3.89 at my local Krogers, combined with the 10 cent discount of a Kroger Plus Card, I scored about 11 gallons for a little over $44. This is slightly lower than my last fill-up, in which I spent around $45. *Sigh* If only gas weren't necessary. If only I could turn to more environmentally friendly methods of transport, like the folks in the news are championing. However, living in a rural suburb about 20 minutes from anywhere isn't very conducive to bicycling to work. And since public transport is practically nonexistent in Cincinnati (especially in the "affluent" suburbs), it looks like the only conserving I'll be doing is limiting my trips beyond work and the YMCA.
What: Water
Money Spent: $44.85
What: Gas
This post is a day late. But a barrage of heavy storms and tornado warnings sweeping through my hometown last night kept me in the basement and off the Internet. However earlier, during a less stormier part of the evening, I went to the local YMCA for my attempted thrice weekly workout. I usually bring an old Dasani bottle and continuously refill it, but upon approaching the sink last night I was stopped by a soaking casserole dish from that night's dinner--a dish that was exuding a strange odor, if I may say. Cautious of getting any closer, I decided that since I had been using this said water bottle at work as well as during my workout, the risk of a bacterial infection was probably getting high. Therefore, with the remaining dollar in my wallet, I bought a new Dasani out of the machine at the Y.
On the gas side, I figure that I need to fill up about once a week or every week and a half (if I'm lucky). My 2004 Chevy Malibu isn't a gas guzzler, however nor is it a Prius. It's still new to me, so I'm not sure how big my tank is but with unleaded at $3.89 at my local Krogers, combined with the 10 cent discount of a Kroger Plus Card, I scored about 11 gallons for a little over $44. This is slightly lower than my last fill-up, in which I spent around $45. *Sigh* If only gas weren't necessary. If only I could turn to more environmentally friendly methods of transport, like the folks in the news are championing. However, living in a rural suburb about 20 minutes from anywhere isn't very conducive to bicycling to work. And since public transport is practically nonexistent in Cincinnati (especially in the "affluent" suburbs), it looks like the only conserving I'll be doing is limiting my trips beyond work and the YMCA.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
GM to drop Hummer?...don't tease me
I post this because it's relevant--nothing is more American, it seems, than the consumeristic obsession with buying insanely large, insensible vehicles for your Starbucks runs. But with a boyfriend working with the Detroit automaker, I have a soft spot for the company. GM is receiving a lot of flak on sites such as MarketWatch for not making this decision sooner, but at least it's a step in the right direction. My only concern is for the thousands of blue-collar factory workers, and their families, who will be suffering due to the layoffs. Yet again, I see the economy of my home state spiraling even further down the tube. The greatest news though? Selling the Hummer brand. Anything to get those atrocious monster trucks off the road, I am behind 100 percent. I mean, seriously. Have you ever had one of those monstrosities bear down on you on the highway? *shudder*
G.M. Closing 4 Plants in Shift From Trucks Toward Cars
The New York TimesResponding to a consumer shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles, General Motors said Tuesday that it would stop making pickup trucks and big S.U.V.s at four North American assembly plants and would consider selling its Hummer brand.
The moves, announced Tuesday by the company chairman G. Richard Wagoner Jr., will slash 500,000 units from the automaker’s overall production, and pave the way for increased investment in smaller cars and passenger vehicles.
Mr. Wagoner said that rising gasoline prices had forced a “structural shift” by American consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by G.M.
“These prices are changing consumer behavior and changing it rapidly,” Mr. Wagoner said at a briefing before G.M.’s annual meeting in Wilmington, Del. “We don’t believe it’s a spike or a temporary shift. We believe it is, by and large, permanent.”
In what he called “difficult” decisions, Mr. Wagoner said that G.M. would close plants in Janesville, Wisc.; Moraine, Ohio; Oshawa, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico by or before 2010. (read more)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Books as far as the eye can see
Money Spent: $10
What: Books
I'll start this blog with a particularly favorite purchase of mine: books. Not only am I an English major with a penchant for traditional and modern classics, but my genes have predisposed me to be a collector. With my father's under-the-stairs LP collection and my brothers' battle towards DVD-ownership supremacy, it was only natural for me to chose the literary pursuit of reading as many books as humanly possible. Although I adore libraries on an intellectual and philosophic level, I have never been one for budget-friendly lending. It may be fiscally irresponsible, but I need to own my books. I need to see them on my shelves, lining every imaginable flat surface of my room. My books are a part of me, and they're the one frivolous expense that I allow myself. They are my weakness--bookstores, you might say, are my Achilles heel.
However, I try to remain cost-conscious in my pursuit of literary bliss. Never have I been one for aesthetic scruples--a book is a book, and it does not matter if it was printed last year or 50 years ago, the content (and what is most important) remains the same. I have spent my life combing the various nooks and crannies of my own house, scavenging for treasure buried on forgotten shelves. I have pilfered many of my parents' volumes over the years, eventually adopting them as mine, without them ever being the wiser. I also frequent stores such as Half-Price Books at least once a month, nearly always leaving with something in hand. I usually spend most of my time in the clearance section in the back, searching for the practically brand new "Anna Karenina" for only $3 (and I've found it...with the purple Oprah sleeve from Barnes and Noble) I have even been known to meticulously go through boxes of free books at hippie arts festivals, rescuing two water-damaged but still useable "Ship of Fools" and "Gone With the Wind" (both of which I loved).
Today's purchase wasn't free, but it was close. It was the Cincinnati Public Library's Friends of the Library Book Sale, an annual event that draws surprisingly large and diverse crowds of intellectual bargain hunters to the streets of downtown Cincinnati. It was my first year and as long as I'm in the Queen City, it won't be my last. For a grand total of $10, I found nine books: eight novels from authors such as George Orwell and Eliot and one collection of poetry from Pablo Neruda. I managed to score three Pulitzer Prize-winners for fiction as well. Three of them ranged in price from $2 to $3, while most of the others (all paperbacks by the way--immeasurably cheaper if you're looking to buy in bulk) were a mere 50 cents each. Not a bad deal. Although I'm trying to limit myself to a $50 spending budget every two weeks, I think this was an accceptable trip.
What: Books
I'll start this blog with a particularly favorite purchase of mine: books. Not only am I an English major with a penchant for traditional and modern classics, but my genes have predisposed me to be a collector. With my father's under-the-stairs LP collection and my brothers' battle towards DVD-ownership supremacy, it was only natural for me to chose the literary pursuit of reading as many books as humanly possible. Although I adore libraries on an intellectual and philosophic level, I have never been one for budget-friendly lending. It may be fiscally irresponsible, but I need to own my books. I need to see them on my shelves, lining every imaginable flat surface of my room. My books are a part of me, and they're the one frivolous expense that I allow myself. They are my weakness--bookstores, you might say, are my Achilles heel.
However, I try to remain cost-conscious in my pursuit of literary bliss. Never have I been one for aesthetic scruples--a book is a book, and it does not matter if it was printed last year or 50 years ago, the content (and what is most important) remains the same. I have spent my life combing the various nooks and crannies of my own house, scavenging for treasure buried on forgotten shelves. I have pilfered many of my parents' volumes over the years, eventually adopting them as mine, without them ever being the wiser. I also frequent stores such as Half-Price Books at least once a month, nearly always leaving with something in hand. I usually spend most of my time in the clearance section in the back, searching for the practically brand new "Anna Karenina" for only $3 (and I've found it...with the purple Oprah sleeve from Barnes and Noble) I have even been known to meticulously go through boxes of free books at hippie arts festivals, rescuing two water-damaged but still useable "Ship of Fools" and "Gone With the Wind" (both of which I loved).
Today's purchase wasn't free, but it was close. It was the Cincinnati Public Library's Friends of the Library Book Sale, an annual event that draws surprisingly large and diverse crowds of intellectual bargain hunters to the streets of downtown Cincinnati. It was my first year and as long as I'm in the Queen City, it won't be my last. For a grand total of $10, I found nine books: eight novels from authors such as George Orwell and Eliot and one collection of poetry from Pablo Neruda. I managed to score three Pulitzer Prize-winners for fiction as well. Three of them ranged in price from $2 to $3, while most of the others (all paperbacks by the way--immeasurably cheaper if you're looking to buy in bulk) were a mere 50 cents each. Not a bad deal. Although I'm trying to limit myself to a $50 spending budget every two weeks, I think this was an accceptable trip.
An Introduction
Americans like to spend money. No, I correct myself. Everyone likes to spend money. In some way, fashion or method (honorable or otherwise) we acquire the precious commodity, and are then faced with an innumerable array of opportunities in which to spend it. We could save it for either ourselves or our children’s future, use it to buy something necessary for our daily life or even use it to play in the ever-changing, always unexpected world of the “market.” Or, we merely squander every nickel and dime in the quickest, dirtiest way possible.
Spending habits are also a sign of the passing years and the social systems which evolve out of rising and falling prices of the goods and commodities that make up so much of our life. The state of the national market, as well as what is available for consumers to purchase, defines who we are as a nation, a culture and humans.
This project evolved out of a very typical situation: I, a college student, needed help assessing my financial state before I was shoved unceremoniously into a “real world” filled with such things as mortgages, household budgets and other such still-foreign anxieties. My spending isn’t atrocious—I’ve always been relatively frugal and keen as to how much money I can spend. But I also wanted to consider my spending on another level; one that is socioeconomic, anthropological as well as philosophical. Yes, that seems quite far-fetched and I will probably never mention those terms ever again (they should probably remain in the college classroom). But I hope that by chronicling my spending for at least the next three months (my last summer vacation before I am a college graduate), I can identify patterns, discover my role in this freewheeling and oftentimes unpredictable economy, as well as gain a little insight into U.S. consumer culture.
Oh, and I also need to balance my checkbook so that it’s not as frightening. That’s something I’m sure we all can relate to. Yikes.
Spending habits are also a sign of the passing years and the social systems which evolve out of rising and falling prices of the goods and commodities that make up so much of our life. The state of the national market, as well as what is available for consumers to purchase, defines who we are as a nation, a culture and humans.
This project evolved out of a very typical situation: I, a college student, needed help assessing my financial state before I was shoved unceremoniously into a “real world” filled with such things as mortgages, household budgets and other such still-foreign anxieties. My spending isn’t atrocious—I’ve always been relatively frugal and keen as to how much money I can spend. But I also wanted to consider my spending on another level; one that is socioeconomic, anthropological as well as philosophical. Yes, that seems quite far-fetched and I will probably never mention those terms ever again (they should probably remain in the college classroom). But I hope that by chronicling my spending for at least the next three months (my last summer vacation before I am a college graduate), I can identify patterns, discover my role in this freewheeling and oftentimes unpredictable economy, as well as gain a little insight into U.S. consumer culture.
Oh, and I also need to balance my checkbook so that it’s not as frightening. That’s something I’m sure we all can relate to. Yikes.
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