Well, I haven't posted in awhile because I haven't really bought anything in awhile. Being so busy with school helps, and the fact that they've paid for pretty much all my meals in the last week helps, too. I mean, I paid for them through my tuition, but since I'm being fed much fancier meals than I would ever buy on my own, it still feels good and fun.

My biggest purchase of late: business attire. Last week I bought a business suit for $300 ($200 for the top, $100 for the skirt). I got lucky and bought a shirt on sale for $20, but then had to buy shoes to go with the outfit: another $80, and leather, which I hate.

I knew it was going to be expensive, but I don't have many options around here, and I'm buying on deadlines (as opposed to taking my time and waiting for sales), which it makes it more expensive. Ann Taylor seems to be my only bet in New Haven, mostly because I'm not supermodel skinny and I'm petite. Welcome to the old-lady look of my life.

How people dress like this on a day-to-day basis is beyond me. Especially women, who can't wear the same thing over and over again (men could reasonably get away with wearing the same sports jacket regularly), this can get expensive. It's true what they say about spending money to look like you have money.

I think one thing that actually works against me is that I'm not a comfortable shopper. This means that I can't spend hours in stores, picking through everything until I find something that's both cheap and likeable. Instead, I frantically grab clothes to try on, make an almost immediate decision on the item, and get the hell out of there as quickly as possible. I will not go into every store (unless I'm with my sister) to find a better price or something different. It makes me crazy thinking about spending a day in a mall. In general, I don't like to browse: I know exactly what I want to buy, and I'll go get it. The only exception to the browsing rule is bookstores, home/kitchen goods, and feel-good stores like Ten Thousand Villages. Otherwise, I begin to panic.

In defense of mail-ordering.

Except for a few trips to Target and Ikea, chauffered by some very generous friends, everything else that I've bought since moving to New Haven has been ordered online and delivered to me.

Although it costs me a few bucks more, I figure it's basically the same or cheaper as if I owned a car and had to drive to get there (if you count the car price, insurance, gas, etc.). In environmental terms, there's more packaging, but the fuel used by the delivery trucks is probably the same as if I drove myself to the store. (There could be an argument about diesel vs. unleaded, but let's not go there.)

As much as I hate being limited in the distance that I can travel without a car, I have to admit it makes me a much savvier buyer. I have to think a lot harder whether I want to carry the junk home with me. Even my online orders are thought about twice, because I'd still have to carry and walk to a post office/shipping store with my return items.

I'm sure I'll be learning much more about costs and value in school, but for now, this works.

This morning I put a few things in my Amazon.com shopping cart for school:

• Recycled notepads, envelopes, and printer paper. Although a few more dollars more expensive than the non-recycled stuff, I feel the need to pay homage to my ideals at least a little bit on this journey towards an MBA.

• Two books for school, originally priced at $130 each (each!). However, I used Amazon's "Marketplace Sellers" to buy from an independent discounter for $70 each instead. This price wasn't the cheapest on the list, but I went with the ratings of the sellers by previous customers to order from the ones that sounded the most reliable.

Why am I buying all this through Amazon instead of through independent stores like my well-trained conscience is screaming to do? Mostly because of a few gift certificates I've been given in the last couple months. I have to admit that the gift certificates only cover about half of my total, though. This is the reason why I haven't actually "checked out" yet.

I'm going to give it another day before I push the button. Tomorrow, I'll go down to an independent bookstore downtown and see if they have what I need. I'll also poke around on the Internet a little more to see what other deals I could get. It's the least I can do at this point...

My school has asked me to buy a new computer. I'm feeling skeptical that I "need" one. I just bought my current computer two years ago, and I think it works just fine.

There's a couple reasons why they want me to buy one. Apparently I will need more RAM than I have now, which I think is a semi-legitimate argument. My current computer no longer has a warranty, and the new computer will have three years' of free technical service. Also, my own complaint is that my current laptop is way too heavy to have to lug to class everyday (but I could live with it).

My father has generously offered to buy this new computer for me. So, money isn't really the issue. But do I "need" one? And should I feel compelled/at ease/eager to buy one because it isn't my money?

I guess my biggest problem is that I don't feel like I have a choice here, that I just have to buy this because outside factors (my school, my father) have decided for me. I just don't think it's in line with being a conscious consumer to automatically buy something because it's newer and better.

In any case, as soon as the bank stuff is over, I will be buying this computer. At least my old computer will be donated, so it won't be entering the toxic trash line where most old electronics end up. Another sigh expended.

Ok, I'm back.

After spending hundreds of dollars on my apartment.

Living alone for the first time really opened my eyes to how much money I saved living with roommates in a cooperative environment. We shared everything. All the kitchen expenses were split among three people. Even the kitty litter was split. Now that I'm footing the entire bill, I appreciate my former living situation much more than before.

Equal to the frustration of having to spend so much money, I'm having a difficult time with changing banks. Closing my bank account and trying to retrieve my own money has been a harrowing experience, especially now that I'm not in the same town as my old local bank. In addition to being the very last thing I have to do to complete my move, not being able to get to my own money has made it difficult to do the things that I have to do: pay rent, buy a new computer (more on this in another blog) in a timely fashion, etc.

You'd think in this electronic age, it wouldn't take a week to clear a check. But it does. You'd think in this electronic age, my bank wouldn't have to send me a check in the mail. But it does.

Apologies for this entry not really being about the topic at hand, but this bank thing is taking up more of my thinking and worrying than actually spending my money right now. I knew I was going to run up a huge credit card bill in the move. I didn't expect accessing my own money to be my greatest problem.