Amount spent: $24.40
What: gas
This purchase comes at the end of an exhausting bout of check writing, in which my checking account was severely depleted. However these expenses (not exactly purchases, I would say) were not recorded here for several reasons. First, they came at a severe emotional toll and left me completely unenthused to record them. Second, I believe I was trying to deny to myself that my bank account was growing dangerously low, and perhaps I thought if I denied that I spent that money, I wouldn’t have spent it at all.
But the fact remains that I did write a $274 check to Uncle Sam for taxes owed, and a $875 check to NYU housing as a deposit for their Summer Publishing Institute, which I will be attending in June.
But don’t hyperventilate yet. Let me explain. First of all, the $875 will be paid back to me because while I will be paying for the bulk of the NYU program (to be explained at a later date), my family has graciously volunteered to pay for housing. Unfortunately, I had to send a check for the first three weeks with my deposit and letter of intent, and so I had to cut the check. However, my mom has said this money will be refunded me soon, or at least whenever I see her next. I’m not going to press her too hard because I’m really appreciative of their help, however that sum will be returned.
The $274 comes with a bit of better news. You see, when I first did my taxes I believed I owed that amount, which was unfortunate but I wrote the check anyway. Well, yesterday I received word from my mom that after going over my taxes a second time, she realized that I missed a worksheet and didn’t include a deduction that I was due. She will be filing an Amend Sheet for me, but because of this goof-up, I will not only be receiving the $274 back, but I will be receiving a refund close to $400!
You see how complicated this can be? Although I won’t get refunded in full for awhile, knowing that I have this money relieves me to no end. My checking account was dangerously low (well, it still is) for awhile, and so I have plans on transferring $1,000 to my savings account once I hit $3,000 in checking. Knowing I have $3,000 in checking allows me too much freedom in my purchasing power, and I need to be reined in. Plus, squirreling away that extra $1,000 somewhere safe will make me feel much better in the long run.
In other news, I have learned that this obsession I have with saving (see above paragraph) is a psychological condition, known as hyperopia—marked by far-sightedness and an inability to enjoy the fruits of my labor in the form of purchases. Well, at least it has a name. Like I said, I do have a plan for paying for NYU but due to time constraints (I’m hoping to duck out of my internship early) I need to cut this short.
Showing posts with label Gas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gas. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Horrible time for saving
Amount spent: $274.00
What: Taxes
Amount spent: $26.09
What: CO Bigelow products
Amount spent: $63.37
What: Gap jeans
Amount spent: $13.40
What: Gas
Amount spent: $19.48
What: Groceries
So let's just go ahead and say the budget is already blown for March. It's not even over, let me tell you. I know most of this is pretty inexcusable...I know, $63 for Gap jeans when you're supposed to be on a budget? And what's with this shopping at CO Bigelow?! They're never good for the wallet, so why did you allow yourself to wander into their midst?
I honestly don't know what to say for myself. I had to pay Uncle Sam $274 because I apparently didn't pay enough in federal taxes this year. I'm getting $100 or so back in state refunds, but I clearly won't break even this year. My only explanation for CO Bigelow was that I needed new face cream. Ok? Plain and simple. I have dry skin that is also very sensitive, and it's winter. Under these circumstances, the aforementioned skin becomes very painful and it's damn near impossible to live with such unhealthy-ness chipping away at your beautiful face. Impossible, I tell you! Now, my old skin treatment used to come from Bath & Body Works. It was $20 but I was OK with that. I had soy, which meant it was "all natural," thereby containing no harsh chemicals that would turn my face into a giant tomato. It was also heavy enough to moisturize my parchment dry skin in winter's harshest months. Well it was spring break, and I drove to my neighborhood Bath & Body Works to buy a replacement jar because I was running dangerously low. Unfortunately, I was informed that they had stopped carrying that line. However, I might find it at CO Bigelow, at the mall.
Well you can imagine the conundrum that I now faced. Should I walk down to Target and find a replacement face cream from the budget rack, a mystery substance with the high probability of being yet another disappointment. As much as I hated to be high maintence, I knew I need to find that cream or a replacement akin in quality. So I went to the mall that night, with my brothers as company. I told them we were merely popping into CO Bigelow, finding a lotion and leaving, and they seemed OK with it. At CO Bigelow, I was informed that they had stopped making my face cream altogether. However, the store had such a cornucopia of specialized lotions, I knew I could find an suitable alternative. And I did. I also found a lovely lip balm with shea butter and almond oil that made your lips feel like satin. It was $5. The lotion was $20.
Now we were in the mall. I felt bad heading for the door, so I asked if my brothers wanted to do a bit of shopping. We headed to the GAP. Now I've never bought anything at the GAP, ever. However I had made a mistake that night. I had made the mistake of wearing a pair of jeans that were much too small for me. They clung to my legs and made my ass look much too unnatural, but they were all I had clean so I wore them. At home, I never thought much about how these jeans didn't fit me...I didn't realize that I had gained a few pounds since I last shimmied into these jeans and the junk simply couldn't fit in the trunk anymore. But at the mall, your entire appearance comes in sharp perspective. On parade for all the chic to see, you begin to recognize your body's every flaw, your bad hair and your horrible wardrobe choices. That's why the mall is so dangerous. Feeling so bad about yourself, the only balm for this wound is to shop for a NEW identity, and hey there are countless stores at your disposal.
That's the way I felt walking into the GAP. I realized how much my jeans didn't fit...I realized that many of my jeans didn't fit...and I realized how much I needed NICE, grown-up jeans. Jeans that ran with even sizes, instead of the 5's and 7's I had been fiddling with in the junior section of Kohls for years. 5's and 7's never quite fit me correctly, but they were cheap. So I always disregarded the more expensive, even-sized jeans of the mall and choose their trashy cousins instead. With a rush of indignant rage, I realized, standing in the GAP, how much I had short-changed myself over the years. How much I had sacrificed my own dignity (look at me now, walking around in these ridiculously tight jeans!) for price. Well no more. I walked right up to a table with boot cut, dark washed jeans, immediately found a size 6 and didn't look back. Luckily, I only bought one pair of jeans, but the damage was done. On the flip size, I now have this great pair of jeans that fits me perfectly and that will last for years to come. Hey, it might even turn out to be a wise investment.
The other purchases were out of necessity. And hey, I almost stayed in my grocery budget. And I'm still doing OK on gas. Unfortunately, there is trouble ahead. I was accepted to NYU's Summer Publishing Institute and while my parents have wrote the $500 deposit check, I will writing a check to NYU housing in the upcoming days. Stay tuned.
What: Taxes
Amount spent: $26.09
What: CO Bigelow products
Amount spent: $63.37
What: Gap jeans
Amount spent: $13.40
What: Gas
Amount spent: $19.48
What: Groceries
So let's just go ahead and say the budget is already blown for March. It's not even over, let me tell you. I know most of this is pretty inexcusable...I know, $63 for Gap jeans when you're supposed to be on a budget? And what's with this shopping at CO Bigelow?! They're never good for the wallet, so why did you allow yourself to wander into their midst?
I honestly don't know what to say for myself. I had to pay Uncle Sam $274 because I apparently didn't pay enough in federal taxes this year. I'm getting $100 or so back in state refunds, but I clearly won't break even this year. My only explanation for CO Bigelow was that I needed new face cream. Ok? Plain and simple. I have dry skin that is also very sensitive, and it's winter. Under these circumstances, the aforementioned skin becomes very painful and it's damn near impossible to live with such unhealthy-ness chipping away at your beautiful face. Impossible, I tell you! Now, my old skin treatment used to come from Bath & Body Works. It was $20 but I was OK with that. I had soy, which meant it was "all natural," thereby containing no harsh chemicals that would turn my face into a giant tomato. It was also heavy enough to moisturize my parchment dry skin in winter's harshest months. Well it was spring break, and I drove to my neighborhood Bath & Body Works to buy a replacement jar because I was running dangerously low. Unfortunately, I was informed that they had stopped carrying that line. However, I might find it at CO Bigelow, at the mall.
Well you can imagine the conundrum that I now faced. Should I walk down to Target and find a replacement face cream from the budget rack, a mystery substance with the high probability of being yet another disappointment. As much as I hated to be high maintence, I knew I need to find that cream or a replacement akin in quality. So I went to the mall that night, with my brothers as company. I told them we were merely popping into CO Bigelow, finding a lotion and leaving, and they seemed OK with it. At CO Bigelow, I was informed that they had stopped making my face cream altogether. However, the store had such a cornucopia of specialized lotions, I knew I could find an suitable alternative. And I did. I also found a lovely lip balm with shea butter and almond oil that made your lips feel like satin. It was $5. The lotion was $20.
Now we were in the mall. I felt bad heading for the door, so I asked if my brothers wanted to do a bit of shopping. We headed to the GAP. Now I've never bought anything at the GAP, ever. However I had made a mistake that night. I had made the mistake of wearing a pair of jeans that were much too small for me. They clung to my legs and made my ass look much too unnatural, but they were all I had clean so I wore them. At home, I never thought much about how these jeans didn't fit me...I didn't realize that I had gained a few pounds since I last shimmied into these jeans and the junk simply couldn't fit in the trunk anymore. But at the mall, your entire appearance comes in sharp perspective. On parade for all the chic to see, you begin to recognize your body's every flaw, your bad hair and your horrible wardrobe choices. That's why the mall is so dangerous. Feeling so bad about yourself, the only balm for this wound is to shop for a NEW identity, and hey there are countless stores at your disposal.
That's the way I felt walking into the GAP. I realized how much my jeans didn't fit...I realized that many of my jeans didn't fit...and I realized how much I needed NICE, grown-up jeans. Jeans that ran with even sizes, instead of the 5's and 7's I had been fiddling with in the junior section of Kohls for years. 5's and 7's never quite fit me correctly, but they were cheap. So I always disregarded the more expensive, even-sized jeans of the mall and choose their trashy cousins instead. With a rush of indignant rage, I realized, standing in the GAP, how much I had short-changed myself over the years. How much I had sacrificed my own dignity (look at me now, walking around in these ridiculously tight jeans!) for price. Well no more. I walked right up to a table with boot cut, dark washed jeans, immediately found a size 6 and didn't look back. Luckily, I only bought one pair of jeans, but the damage was done. On the flip size, I now have this great pair of jeans that fits me perfectly and that will last for years to come. Hey, it might even turn out to be a wise investment.
The other purchases were out of necessity. And hey, I almost stayed in my grocery budget. And I'm still doing OK on gas. Unfortunately, there is trouble ahead. I was accepted to NYU's Summer Publishing Institute and while my parents have wrote the $500 deposit check, I will writing a check to NYU housing in the upcoming days. Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Days of research, days of spending
Amount spent: $7.77
What: lunch at Skyline
Amount spent: $27.46
What: gas
Amount spent: $6.35
What: four DVD rentals at Blockbuster
Amount spent: $17.63
What: lunch at Skyline (for two)
Amount spent: $180.98
What: car payment
Amount spent: $6.75
What: parking in downtown Cincinnati
Don't panic; I haven't lost my resolve to rein in my spending just yet. As bad as this may look, remember that I'm still trying to get into the habit of recording my purchases in this blog again, and so more than a week of purchases are merely catching up with me here.
Most of it is self-explanatory. The car payment was a necessity, as was the gas (I still can't get over how cheap it is compared to last summer). I have been eating out a bit too much lately, although I'm lucky my cravings have merely been for Skyline. The larger bill was when I paid for both my boyfriend and myself, the smaller when I went out with my younger brother. We probably didn't need to eat out, but it was the least I could do considering he went downtown with me, keeping me company while I conducted research for a journalism capstone project (that's where the $6.75 garage fee comes in). I was going to pay for him, however the waitress perceived that we weren't on a date (thank goodness) and gave us separate checks.
I would like to point out the relatively low bill for DVD rentals at Blockbuster, though. Last summer, when I was determined to catch up on the first two seasons of Big Love, DVD rentals cost me a small fortune. In fact, it was getting so expensive I had to hold off renting until my coffers were refilled. It seems, though, that Blockbuster has switched financial philosophies. Now, rentals for new movies are $1.99 and old movies are merely $.99. Whereas four DVDs last summer would have put me back $16-$20, now I barely broke $10. Amazing.
What: lunch at Skyline
Amount spent: $27.46
What: gas
Amount spent: $6.35
What: four DVD rentals at Blockbuster
Amount spent: $17.63
What: lunch at Skyline (for two)
Amount spent: $180.98
What: car payment
Amount spent: $6.75
What: parking in downtown Cincinnati
Don't panic; I haven't lost my resolve to rein in my spending just yet. As bad as this may look, remember that I'm still trying to get into the habit of recording my purchases in this blog again, and so more than a week of purchases are merely catching up with me here.
Most of it is self-explanatory. The car payment was a necessity, as was the gas (I still can't get over how cheap it is compared to last summer). I have been eating out a bit too much lately, although I'm lucky my cravings have merely been for Skyline. The larger bill was when I paid for both my boyfriend and myself, the smaller when I went out with my younger brother. We probably didn't need to eat out, but it was the least I could do considering he went downtown with me, keeping me company while I conducted research for a journalism capstone project (that's where the $6.75 garage fee comes in). I was going to pay for him, however the waitress perceived that we weren't on a date (thank goodness) and gave us separate checks.
I would like to point out the relatively low bill for DVD rentals at Blockbuster, though. Last summer, when I was determined to catch up on the first two seasons of Big Love, DVD rentals cost me a small fortune. In fact, it was getting so expensive I had to hold off renting until my coffers were refilled. It seems, though, that Blockbuster has switched financial philosophies. Now, rentals for new movies are $1.99 and old movies are merely $.99. Whereas four DVDs last summer would have put me back $16-$20, now I barely broke $10. Amazing.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Life's many pitstops, and the hotdog and big chug that inevitably comes with it
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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