Waste of Cash

2007-03-21T10:35:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has come to end this blog.

I wish I was ending on a victorious note, like that I solved all my money problems by winning the lottery, and therefore don't have anything else to write about. That's not true, nor is it true that I lost somehow. Money will just be an endless struggle for me, and I've accepted that truth and am ready to move on.

It's hard to think about money in a culture where buying equals happiness. Money is so stressful, and noone should think about it constantly. I think about money way too much, and I write about money -- in my checkbook, for Conscious Consuming -- so much already that I no longer want another avenue in which I have to worry about this subject. Hopefully not having this blog will be a stress-reliever for me, instead of losing a reminder of one of the things I don't have control over in my life.

Waste of Cash will stay in the archives of wherever Blogger keeps this type of thing, for however long it keeps it. So, thanks for reading.

2007-03-15T19:52:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to decide whether or not to shut this blog down.

First, I'm a bad blogger. I don't update regularly, I probably have no audience (I don't keep a site tracker so I wouldn't know), and I rarely have anything to say that relates to anyone else's lives except for my own. Plus, the worst blogger is the kind that doesn't know whether or not she should blog. That's me right now.

Secondly, I'm having a hard time with the purpose of this blog. I'm obviously a priviledged person talking about saving a couple of bucks. It makes no sense. I don't have to decide between food or shelter or any other necessities. My agonizing is about spending $80 on a pair of shoes. This is not blog-worthy material.

Thirdly, I don't have any answers. I try to do positive things, like last month setting and sticking with my goal, which was a victory for me. But then, I splurge in Boston last week and spend $300 on clothes. I'm a bad example and I'm tired of recording my bad deeds.

So, for now this blog is on hold unless I find out that people actually read this and it helps them in some way. Thanks for reading, if you were.

2007-03-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

Hello, you might be wondering where I've been.

Truth is, I've been so busy with school, I haven't had any time for either myself or others.

The good news though: it means that I don't have time to spend any money either. I actually met my goals for February!

I want to keep this up, and hopefully the warmer weather will help (less heating bill).

I'm on Spring Break next week, which means a week of bargain shopping with my sister in Boston.

Until then, back to studying.

walletbuddy.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2007-02-18T10:37:00.000-05:00

I'm proud to say that I haven't used my credit card since February 3rd.

That's when I slipped my credit card into the Center for a New American Dream's wallet buddy (PDF). This little envelope reminds me why I'm trying to be a Conscious Consumer. I have to admit to almost using my credit card and, having taken the envelope out of my wallet, thinking twice, and putting it back.

Even using cash is better, because it's a much more tangible way for me to keep track of what I'm spending. It was hard not to miss that $20 bill after dinner last night!

So far, my strict budget for February is going well, and I'm not missing the things that I'm not buying. I'm afraid that I'm holding off some purchases (like clothes and entertainment) until next month, but hopefully I'll come up with a good system, and a realistic budget, so that I can still buy the things that I "need" and not feel bad about it all the time.

2007-02-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

My dear three readers:

I'd like to step away from myself for a post, albeit not completely, to announce that Conscious Consuming has a new website.

Conscious Consuming is a great resource, especially if you live in the Boston area, for a network of people concerned about living simply, with as little damage to themselves and the environment, and celebrating life not through how much money and possessions we have but through the time we spend with friends and family doing the things we love. I should know: I'm one of them!

I hope you enjoy our new website! Please pass it on!

2007-02-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday, and I'm trying to think of things that are fulfilling to me that don't cost money. It's a small list right now, and ranges from life-saving to trivial. But I'm pleased with it and will continue to add to it.

My friends, of course
My family (I probably cost them more money!)

And now the more trivial:

Making coffee just the way I like it
Watching my cats play for hours with sticks and the laser pen
Being told that I'm hot by a stranger (female)
The satisfying *click* the cross-walk button makes on my way to school
Figuring out a new trick on Microsoft Word (pretty much an everyday occurance)

I'll think of more later. Happy birthday to me!

2007-02-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

Even food:

Yes, I'm going to cut down on the amount I spend on food. That doesn't mean starving myself, however; it just means making different decisions.

For one, I'll buy less processed foods and more ingredients in which to make my food from.

Second, I'll eat out less often and spend less when I do.

Third, I'm going to stop making "quick stops" at the neighborhood grocery store on my way home from school and instead do more consolidated shopping at cheaper venues like Peapod.

Lastly, (and I'm embarassed to say this), I'll stop eating out of the vending machines when I'm at school late into the night, and I'll just bring snacks from home, because I know I'm always going to be hungry when I'm there.

It sounds so damn easy, but it's not, especially when I'm hungry and have no time and don't know when I will. Well, I'll just have to make time or plan early more often. It's all part of the experiment!

2007-02-02T13:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is going to be fun:

For the last six months, I've been tracking how much I spend on everything: food, utilities, clothes, entertainment, school stuff. I haven't been doing much, though, apart from entering numbers into an Excel sheet and clucking to myself about how I spend too much money. I've been calling this "my budget," even though I haven't really been limiting myself to any amount of money (within my own judgment, of course).

This month, though, is going to be different.

This month, I'm going to give myself a budget and make sure I stick to it. I've taken an average of how much I've spent over the last six months (minus outliers, like my computer, furniture, etc.) and deducted 10%, which is how I'm going to limit the amount I spend. I've divvied up this deduction to different areas listed above, although obviously I can't pay less than my fixed payment on my cellphone, which just means I'll have to cut something else down even further.

Think I can do it? I'm not so sure myself, but I'm going to try. I should have done this long ago, but I didn't, and that's no excuse not to start now. I'll keep you updated!

2007-01-28T09:23:00.000-05:00

I'm having a consumption hangover.

I've spent so much money in the last week, even in the last three days.

It's a combination of just starting school and trying to do all my errands at once. It also has to do with the fact that I spent more money than I have. Here's the rundown:

Got my cat spayed: $67*
Rented a car to get to spay center: $106 (plus $20 in gas)
Because I had a car, went grocery shopping: $78
Also went to Target: $212
Books for school: $114
My once-a-season dry cleaning: $59
Total: $656

I feel gross.

In retrospect, I could have saved some money with a little more conscientious planning. I rented a car for two days just to be on the safe side; in fact, I did get home early enough to have returned the car on the same day. That would have saved me about $50.

I could have, uh, not bought so much stuff at Target. This is the thing, though: I looked over my receipt two or three times, and I look around to see if what I bought is not being used, and I've decided that everything that I bought -- mostly toiletries, cat stuff, and things to keep me warm** -- was either essential or will be in the future. It's just that I saved up my list to buy it all at once.

I am not looking forward to my next credit card bill. I know I feel too guilty to spend any money in the next couple weeks, though, and I shouldn't have to, because I've essentially filled my needs for the next month at least. Anything that I buy in the near future would just be superfluous.

*I actually saved some money getting my cat spayed at TEAM, a non-profit spay/neuter clinic in Connecticut. My vet wanted between $200-$400 for the same procedure!!
**I'm trying to save on my heating bill by keeping my heat down a bit, but it gets cold. I bought another blanket, some curtains, and a space heater. I don't know about the environmental tradeoffs of using electricity vs. gas heating though; I know it will just save me money in the long run. Can anyone out there help?

2007-01-24T11:49:00.000-05:00

What's better than having a cellphone do everything I want it to?

Having one that gives back to organizations that I care about.

I just switched my cellphone service from Verizon to Working Assets Wireless, which gives a percentage of my bill to progressive causes that I already support. Ok, it's only 1%, but that's better than the 0% I was giving through Verizon, right?

My new cellphone costs the same with the same services, and I feel much better about giving my money to a socially responsible organization than a big conglomerate like Verizon. Plus, I'm so relieved to finally have a phone again. So, my new cellphone is getting lots of attention and love right now for more than one reason!

2007-01-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking yesterday how I "needed" another chair in my apartment, and last night, there one was, on the side of the curb, free! It's actually sort of comfortable and I haven't yet got any disease from sitting in it.

Celebrate the small things...

2007-01-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I longingly look back at the days before I knew about lifetime value, amortization, and depreciation.

I ruined my mp3 player while I was in Costa Rica. It cost me about $200 in September of 2005, about 16 months ago. Given that I didn't spend any money on the music that I put on there (don't worry, I used only legal downloads and my own CD's), and the fact that I used it constantly for about a year of that time, in accounting terms I should feel like I got my money's worth.

But in real world terms, this baby had probably another year or two of play left in it, and knowing that potential, it's hard to be satisfied with my past use of it.

I do now know the value of electronics though (my cellphone also died on the trip), and will take much better care of them in the future. For now, I don't feel that I deserve (or can afford) to buy a new one, though.

2007-01-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

Whenever I go to New York, I spend so much money.

I went Friday, and spent approx. $38 just for food: $3 for a coffee and bottled water, $12 for brunch, $10 for tea, and another $15 for dinner. Not to mention transportation ($33.50 for the Metro-North roundtrip, $7 for a subway day pass) and all the things that I buy when I'm there: this time, books from Bluestockings.

Part of it is my excitement in seeing my friends, wanting to spend time with them in places we love. Another part is just my excitement of being in New York: all the stores that I don't get to go to often, feeling like I can splurge because I'm only there for a day. I guess it's sort of a mini-vacation for me, but at the same time I need to either cut down on my expenses or feel ok for spending money. It is a good thing for my wallet that I don't go very often, but I don't want to feel bad about spending money every time I do.

2007-01-18T18:44:00.000-05:00

In terms of my spending in Costa Rica, I did manage to keep it under $100. I avoided the temptation of taking home a little bit of my vacation with me and only bought souvenirs for others: 5 bags of (fairly traded, organic) coffee for $4-5 each. In fact, I spent most of my money on a lavish dinner at a restaurant that catered to Westerners on one of our last nights in San Jose.

I probably spent more money on the outset, preparing for the trip. Because we were to spend a few days in the rainforest, I was pursuaded by a few people (a tropics nurse, my brother, myself) to buy a few outdoorsy stuff: some nylon pants, a rainhat, bug spray, etc. Because I did this at the last possible minute, I ended up buying more expensive clothes than my budget would normally allow: $28 for a rainhat?!

It's easy when you have a school doing your trip planning for you, otherwise I'm sure I'd be seeing the money leave much more quickly. But maybe I can keep this in mind for next time...

2007-01-17T21:12:00.000-05:00

I just took a glance at my refridgerator door, and what I saw startled me: lists upon lists of stuff I "have" to buy.

I like to keep lists because it's the best way I found to keep my thoughts organized. I keep them all in different places: my planner, my computer, and apparently, also on my fridge. I keep lists of stuff I have to do, people I have to talk to, assignments I have to turn in.

I also keep shopping lists, one for groceries and random lists for types of items (clothes) or certain stores (Target) if I know an excursion is coming up. In general, this also helps me keep track of how much stuff I'm buying, too.

The reason that I did a double-take this time, however, probably is because of the timing of the lists. I just did a food shop (thanks, Peapod, another post for later) and I just visited my parents, which means home shopping. So I shouldn't "need" anything right now. But I find myself looking at two lengthy lists and automatically thinking "ok, what else do I need to add?"

Why is this happening? Is this reaction coming from a lack of something else in my life? Am I that bored with my vacation, or that controlling about every aspect of my life?

More importantly, why am I letting myself do this?

My consumption is really starting to bother me.

2007-01-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

I'm back! Actually, I've been back for a few days. I had a great time in Costa Rica, learned a lot, etc. etc.

I'm still gathering my thoughts and trying to put them in coherent sentences. Until then, enjoy this artist who thinks about what she buys even more than I do: Obsessive Consumption

2007-01-04T13:11:00.000-05:00

Although I was doing so well with the blogging, it's time to take another break.

I'm heading off to Costa Rica for 10 days on a class trip. We'll be looking at how the country has managed to make conservation into a profitable industry through ecotourism, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and partnerships with for-profit companies from the U.S. and Europe. Doing so makes Costa Ricans -- from politicians to farmers -- realize how important it is to conserve the unique and diverse natural resources the country holds, hopefully allowing these resources to be around for hundreds of years to come. (If only we could do this here!)

As a tourist from the U.S., I'm very aware of my role in a country that's struggling with immense poverty. I'll uphold my pledge of responsible tourism with the awareness that my individual behavior reflects on my school and my country.

At the same time, I'll be acutely aware of the amount of money I spend on this trip. This trip is not a shopping or party binge for me. I'm going with only $100 in cash with the knowledge that, as long as I don't lose it, this amount will take me far in this poor country. I have my credit card for emergencies (my food and lodging is already paid for), so I should be all set.

With that, I'm off. See you in 10 days.

2007-01-03T17:39:00.000-05:00

Speaking of utilities, I have done one small thing that's going to increase my electric bill.

I've switched to all renewable energy.

Connecticut has the great option of letting electricity customers to choose from clean energy options. This means that for every kilowatt I use, that same amount of clean energy will be delivered to the grid. In essence, I'm using zero fossil fuels to light up my apartment.

I've chosen Commmunity Energy to fuel my electricity with wind energy and landfill gas. Doing so increases my electricity bill by 1.1 cents per kilowatt. I think it's definitely worth it.

2007-01-02T19:11:00.000-05:00

My heating bill has been kinda high lately. $146 for November!!

Although global warming means ultimate destruction of our planet as we know it today, I'm thankful for a mild winter so that I don't have to use so much heat. But it's still been surprisingly high, probably due to the rising cost of fossil fuels and the propensity for my old house to lose tons and tons of heat.

I've done a few things to try to stop all the escaping warm air: I've covered most of my windows with draft-reducing plastic, and I've lined my doors with insulating tape at all the places where light can shine through. I already have area rugs down on the hardwood floors and I'm going to get curtains, which I think will help a bit.

Oh yeah, and I'm also wearing tons more sweaters and keeping the heat as low as I can stand it (around 62-64 on most days, lower at night).

However, being a renter, there's not much else I can do. I can't go insulating the attic or wrapping the water pipes, which I'm sure are exposed. I wish the most that my landlords would change the windows but know that won't happen for a million years.

So, hopefully with the combination of no snow and these winterizing things I've done, December's heating bill won't be so bad.

2006-12-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

My internal struggle with shopping at big box stores.

I'm at my parents' house in the Midwest for the holiday. Yesterday I decided to buy some stuff I needed in New Haven. Where did I go? The first and only place I thought of: Target.

So, I'm ideologically against big box stores -- all of them -- because of their tendency to push down wages in the community and to put local independent stores out of business.

In addition, I worry about the environmental impact one store can have: because they tend to be located on the outskirts of towns, people need to drive farther to get to them, which means they are using more fossil fuels, and the store has to pave a larger tract of land for the parking lot, not to mention the amount of energy it takes to power one store, and the fuel it takes to get all that stuff there, etc. etc. etc....

...But then there's my need to save money and time. Time doesn't really matter here on vacation, but in general I prefer to save time by doing a one-stop shop. Saving money is important right now.

Balancing these issues is what I struggle with every day. I can't justify my shopping at Target (which has just a shade better reputation than Wal-Mart, but is more expensive). But it's just way too easy. What am I to do?

2006-12-29T00:49:00.000-05:00

Why do I want to torture myself into continuing this blog?

Because I want to remember what's most valuable to me.

In business school, I spend hours figuring out ways to save companies money -- either millions or even a couple cents per product. While it's not especially fun for me, I know it's a skill that I will need in future jobs.

All I think about all day is money, money, money.

But I want to remember that money is not the important thing. I want to remember that I'm working for the environment, that I should do everything in my power to lessen my environmental footprint, educate others, and work to make environmental organizations more effective and powerful.

I want to remember that that's the reason why I helped start Conscious Consuming.

So what does this have to do with wasting cash? I guess it has to do with not wasting anything, with not being a glutten, and continuing to remember that generosity and selflessness are important.

I'm finding it hard to remember these things these days. Hopefully, if I have a place to write it down, a place where it's public and remind me daily, then I will continue to work on this in my life.

2006-12-28T00:11:00.000-05:00

Well, apparently I'm not as good as I want to be with this thing. I'm really sorry.

But, as the old year ends and the new one begins, I promise to be better. Or at least, to try.

For now, check out this person who does a much better job of keeping up with her own life: http://myopenwallet.blogspot.com/

2006-12-17T20:03:00.000-05:00

An interesting article by my hero Peter Singer on how much to give away:

What Should a Billionaire Give – and What Should You? - New York Times

My winter break is nearing, and I have lots to say. Stay tuned.

2006-10-06T17:49:00.000-04:00

In my problem solving class this week, the professor talked about how hard it was to make decisions consistently over a period of time, because all the problems that need to be solved don't come all at once. Because of this, it's hard to keep your reference point from problem to problem.

Take money, for instance. A survey of our class showed that most of us (80%) were willing to go out of our way to save $25 on a $125 watch. But only 30% of us were willing to go the same distance to save $25 on a $500 camera. Somewhere in between these two decisions, we lost our reference point on how much $25 was worth to us. (I fell into these respective categories, by the way.)

This lesson resonated well with me, because I often lose the value of money in my day-to-day life. It is easier to go to the gourmet grocery store down the street, and it was easier to buy the fun stuff for my apartment when I was already spending hundreds on needed stuff like furniture. But is it really worth my money in the long run?

My professor suggested always having a reference point to think about when making decisions. Monetarily, this means: how much is $50 worth to you? $100, $1,000? A nice dinner, an extra day on vacation?

I'm still working out what my reference points are, but I think this will be useful in my future purchasing decisions.

2006-09-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

In economics class, I learned about how consumers make tradeoffs based on the amount of money they have to spend and what mix of "stuff" would make them the happiest. We all have a different mix of stuff, but we can figure out based on what we can afford what we'd like to buy and how much of it.

I understand this in class, but I can't seem to get a grasp on this in my own life. I do have a budget of sorts; it's not like I can just go out and buy whatever I want, but at the same time I'm not making conscious tradeoffs when I do buy more of something or a more expensive product than I think I can afford. How can I justify, for example, my $78 shoes, or my $100 computer bag? At the time I buy it, I definitely tell myself that I won't buy any new clothes this month, or I'll buy less frivolous stuff at the grocery store. But two weeks later, when I'm actually at the grocery store, I never think about that promise to myself. I never factor that into my shopping. The only time I know if I've over- or under-spent is at the end of the month when I'm totalling everything up.

I feel like I've tried a number of tricks to try to keep me conscious of this. I've tried writing out a budget, complete with amounts of money I can spend in different categories. But this is difficult for me to keep track of on a daily basis; for instance when I'm out to a restaurant or bar with friends, it's hard to think, "Ok, now how much money to I have to spend on this meal? I allocated $100 for eating out this month, divided by how many meals there are in a month, but then again I ate lunch at home last week, and I only spent $5 at dinner yesterday..." Some readers with very good long-term memories might even recall past references to such a budget. Yeah, I was making it all up.

I've tried different ways of budgeting my money through a combination of cash, debit, and credit. For awhile I only used cash for lunch and little things I had to buy, debit for biggish purchases (such as groceries and clothes), and credit for monthly bills like gas and electric. But inevitably, I'd find myself at a convenience store with only $1, or at a quandry about where to put semi-regular things like magazine subscriptions.

Miraculously, I'm managing to save a little money, even in graduate school. But I still wish I could figure out how to go about my everyday life without wondering if I'm putting myself in the hole. Can I afford those $78 shoes? Sure, I have the cash in my account, but does that mean I should be using it? I don't know.

2006-08-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-08-19T13:08:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-08-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

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...

2006-08-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-08-07T11:50:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-07-16T18:17:00.000-04:00

Ok, I've decided not to blog until after I've moved to New Haven. Why? Because every single thing I do from here to there is going to cost money. In some cases, lots of money. And I can't think about it right now, because then I'll think about it all the time, and I'll go crazy.

This is how I'm going to prevent myself from going crazy:

I got my last paycheck last week, and my first stipend for school. Add that up, minus all the costs I know I will have (moving van, first month's rent, utilities, etc.). The total of that is how much I can spend on new apartment things, having fun my last two weeks in Boston, and overall keeping myself sane during the move.

Obviously, my goal is not to use up all the money that I have. But I have a good sense of how much I can spend; I know my limit, and with this and all the bargaining/prioritizing/thriftiness that has now been ingrained in my head since starting this blog, I'll be able to spend money intelligently and almost guilt-free.

So that's that. I don't know what's going to happen to this blog once I start school, but we'll figure it out then. See you on the flip side!

2006-07-10T19:14:00.000-04:00

I am spewing cash (or credit, really) like crazy these days.

$250 for furniture.
$100 for kitchenware.
$100 for a laptop bag (is this a good/bad price?).
$100 for books. For one class.
$XXXXX for tuition.
$more for fees to everything: new health insurance, student activities, tuition payment plan, new bank account, etc. etc.

And much more to be bought.

I guess it's all a part of moving, right? And starting anew? Perhaps, but it still hurts!

2006-07-05T12:43:00.000-04:00

There's a phrase in the non-profit sector about a "culture of philanthropy:" having employees, board members, and volunteers always thinking about donations and donating themselves. This makes everyone more aware of giving opportunities that are out there.

I try to do the same in my life by adopting a "habit of philanthropy." I'm priviledged to make the amount of money I do and to live the comfortable lifestyle that I have. I give for a variety of reasons, not excluding assuaging my guilt, "giving back" to the community, and having another outlet for my activism.

I've decided to continue my current level of giving (approximately $300/year) when my income ends in a month and I go to school. Why?

Because I can skip two meals out every month.

Because I shouldn't make the excuse that I'm a student to think of only myself.

Because the organizations I give to are as important to me as any of my friends and family, all of whom I'd gladly give money to if they needed it. I don't want to forget them as they continue their struggles for justice in the world, just because I'll be in my own little world for the next two years.

In reality, $300 a year isn't that much. I'll be able to give more after I graduate. But for now, it's a way to remind myself that giving is good and important.

2006-07-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

My friend Dave sent me this interesting link on How to Buy Nothing. It's an interesting site, not only for its content, but also because it's a wiki - a lot of people contributed to it, which means a lot of people are thinking about consumption, too!

I like the 7 rule: "if something you want is over 7 dollars, wait 7 days and ask 7 trusted people whether this is a good purchase. Then buy it if you still think it is a good idea. This rule will curtail impulse buying. Note: not everyone will enjoy giving their opinion every time you want to make a purchase."

Take what works for you, and try to challenge yourself to buy nothing! (or at least less!)

(cross-posted on Conscious Consuming)

2006-07-03T17:34:00.000-04:00

Today I took the plunge and bought an expensive-for-me thing:

KitchenAid 7-cup food processor: $80

I actually feel good about this purchase. Why? I did a lot of research and slept on it for over a week before I went to buy it. I trust the brand, read good reviews, and know the appliance will (provided I treat it well) be around for many years. Any food processor below this was not rated well and has proven to break on a bunch of people on the Internet.

My dad and others always try to reinforce the lesson of a good investment. I think this is one of them, something that I can be happy about and use for a long time.

Do I "need" a food processor? Depends on who you ask. I probably could live without one, just as I have lived without a microwave for the past two years (and plan on continuing this tradition). But, in the long term, my life will be easier, and in some sense happier, because of it.

2006-06-29T10:40:00.000-04:00

My parents were here last weekend, and I have to admit I did carry on a version of home shopping while they were here. Except, of course, I couldn't take free things they already had; they had to buy stuff for me.

I feel conflicted about this for a few reasons. First, whatever I ask them to buy is just a drop in the bucket for them. Not that they are enormously rich, but they live a comfortable lifestyle, and I don't ask for anything grotesquely outrageous. So, I'm not hurting them in any way by spending their money, and I am saving my own (the whole point of this blog).

However, as you might have guessed if you've read more than one post of mine, I try, almost always, to be a concientious shopper. My parents have none of these qualms, and it's hard for me to explain to them why it's bad to shop at, for example, the Gap.

Yes, we went to the Gap. I got $30 worth of "free" clothes. Was it worth it? I'm not sure. I'm caught between being happy to get clothes I "need" and supporting a conglomerate that is injurious to others in many ways.

Ug. Sometimes I just want to give up on the whole damn thing and decide to no longer care. Of course, I can't really do that. But sometimes, I do think I kick myself more than I really have to.

I think I'll just score this one as a loss and try again next time.

2006-06-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

Ok, well as you can imagine, making a budget wasn't as easy at I would have liked. The problem is, a lot of my expenses are still up in the air, or very flexible, so I don't even know where to start. For instance, I've never bought groceries for one person before (I've always shared with roommates). How much will I end up paying for them? The same for utilities: I've never not shared this expense with others, and I have no idea how my new apartment is going to hold up in the winter. How am I supposed to budget for this?

I've been in this situation before, when I just graduated from college and lived in my first real apartment with some friends. We had no idea what we'd spend on anything and was just going on the fly for many months. What I did to finally create a budget, though, is something extremely anal and annoying (but overwhelmingly helpful): for those first three months, I wrote down everything that I spent money on. Everything.

Afterwards, I used a personal budget that I found online (there are trillions that you can use, but Richard Bolles has a couple good suggestions on his site) and categorized every purchase (food, transportation, entertainment, etc.) and added it all up. Then I looked at places where I could cut out extraneous things or find ways to cut down on costs (I believe this is where I stopped buying clothes for 6 months!).

It's extremely tedious, but worth it, so I think I'll do that again. Not that I won't be a careful buyer in the next two months, but I will be sort of blind to a few deals or cost-saving measures. Someday I'll come up with a better way of doing this, but for now, this works!

2006-06-19T15:31:00.000-04:00

My thoughts on money are increasingly focused on the big change in my life that's coming.

In almost exactly one month, I'll no longer have a salary coming in, and I'll be spending more than I currently make. Yes, I am going back to school!

First things first: This week, I'll put together a budget for the year on a monthly schedule, including everything -- phone and utility bills, nights out with my fellow grad students, interview clothes, food, etc. I'll start big and cut it later as much as I can.

I'm also going to put together a separate moving budget, including all the things that I think I need to buy for the new place, transport costs, and pizza for everyone who's helping me move! Again, I'll cast a wide net and then take out things that later seem unnecessary.

Next, I have to learn to stick with my budgets! This is probably the most difficult part, but good for you, readers, because it will elicit many more posts!

2006-06-14T20:00:00.000-04:00

So my boss very generously gave me a gift certificate to Amazon.com as a thank-you for some stuff I did for her. Now the question is, what do I do with it?

For the past few years of my life, I've been trying to find alternatives to the conventional. I've found obscure vegetarian restaurants to eat at, I go to farmer's markets to buy my fruits and vegetables, I've found sweat-shop free and leather-free clothes and shoes to wear.

The same goes for internet shopping. For music, I support Public Radio through buying music and movies at prms.org. If I can't find a book at my local independent bookstores, I try to buy online at Powell's or Strand Bookstore. And so forth and so on.

So, I really have no use for Amazon and don't want to patronize such a huge conglomerate anyways. I'm not ungrateful, though, because my boss was being very kind. I will end up using it and be very happy to get stuff without spending any money. But, how do I tell others close to me in life (besides the two people who read this blog) to make a donation in my name instead?

2006-06-13T17:03:00.000-04:00

Words to the wise!

A good article on how to spend wisely from the New York Times. The tips are good not just for recent graduates but for anyone trying to save a few bucks. The part I like best is where he spells out how much you will save over 10 years, just by taking your lunch to work!

2006-06-13T09:26:00.000-04:00

This weekend I went accidentally yard sale shopping in Jamaica Plain. I've never really been to yard sales before, but I think I'm hooked!

I've avoided yard sales in the past because my image of them is old, dusty clothing from the 70's, broken furniture, and sticky baby toys. Granted, there was a lot of that, but there was also cheap, interesting other clothes and things that I wouldn't normally buy at normal price but am very excited about when it's $2.

This weekend I got two shirts, a sweater, and a lamp for my new apartment for less than $10. All of this at retail price would have probably cost me at least $50.

So, this summer's new activity will be scrounging around people's unwanted stuff for treasures. If I'm conscious of the money I spend, and keep reminding myself that I'm looking for useful things, and not just cheap stuff, I will have a ball with this new hobby!

2006-06-02T22:47:00.000-04:00

What do you do when the same 8 people ask you for money every single day?

This is the situation I face working in Harvard Square. Like every city in the United States these days, Cambridge and Boston have a lot of people who've gotten so desperate for the necessities of life that they've abandoned all their pride to ask total strangers for money. Someone told me that this is the worst thing he ever had to do.

There are a lot of issues with hunger and homelessness, including the lack of funds from the government to house every person in the country, the culture of independence and "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps," the best solution to the problem, and how I feel about it myself, that I can't go into in a short format that is the blog. In the context of the subject of this blog, though, let's add up the cash:

If I gave one dollar (which isn't a lot, by the way) to every person who asked me for money every day I work in Harvard Sq: $6-10 per day (let's average at $8)

I work approximately 230 days per year: $1,840.

If I spent my money this way, I would not-even-close support 8 people for a year, and only on the days that I work (what a priviledge it seems like now!).

If I donated all that money to Project Bread, a MA-based hunger relief organization, I could

supply an emergency food program with more than 6,000 pounds of food
allow a community health center to provide immediate food assistance to 20 hungry families
permit a food pantry to give a week’s supply of groceries to 10 families in need
ensure that 20 families receive a hot, nutritious dinner at a weekly supper program

according to their website.

That would be amazing.

But, I would still have to walk past those eight people every day and say no to their faces. That's probably one of the most difficult things I have to do.

So what to do? For me, everything in moderation. Although I feel like a big jerk about it, I only give to people who ask when it's convenient to me, when I'm in a good mood, and when I have a dollar bill (vs. a twenty dollar bill) on me.

And a few times I year, I give bigger donations to Project Bread and Oxfam America and then feel great about myself for like a day.

Then, I have to say "sorry, no" the next morning, and I'm back at the beginning.

2006-05-31T20:46:00.000-04:00

It's gotten to the point where I congratulate myself on days that I don't spend any money. Today is one of those days. It was almost completely accomplished by the fact that I was so busy at work that I didn't have time to even think about going outside (into a vast and enticing marketplace).

As the weather gets nicer, I'm more tempted to spend lunch hours and evening hours outside, and for me much of the excuse is to go out and "get something." Anything, a snack, a drink, running an errand, even if I need none of these things.

So, my goal this summer is to find ways to spend time outside that isn't centered around consuming. I think this will mean a lot of walks, parks, and reading. Sounds good to me!

2006-05-29T21:17:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the little break. I'm back now.

A sad farewell to wonderful(ly expensive) Harnett's in Harvard Square, which is officially closing this month. In its place will be Boston's second American Apparel store.

American Apparel sells clothes that are made in the USA by people who are treated and paid well, which doesn't happen a lot these days, and has lots of organic cotton versions of their best-sellers. Plus, I like the style and color of their clothes and can find stuff that fits me!

But, I'm feeling totally mixed about this. On the one hand, I'm so excited that American Apparel will be so close to me and that I can finally shop somewhere near my house that I like and don't feel guilty about. To know that I'm buying a shirt that's equivalent in quality and price to, say the Gap, but more of that is going to the worker makes me feel like a righteous (and awesomely dressed) consumer.

On the other hand, I've been recently sketched out by the recent actions by CEO Dov Charney, which makes me feel less positive about the brand's image. Plus, the clothes are still a little expensive for me to be buying regularly, especially for casual clothes that I won't be wearing on a daily basis come September.

I was originally enthusiastic about American Apparel when it was only in L.A. and on the Internet and I felt that it needed my support as a company that fits my values. But now, I'm on the lookout for a brand that encompasses all of my values and has clothes that make me look like a legitimate business student. So for now, I'll keep browsing, both at American Apparel and other places.

2006-05-19T16:48:00.000-04:00

So, I'm having renewed buyer's remorse about a year later after my purchase.

Last year, I was heading to New York after work when I realized it was going to rain all weekend -- and I had canvas sneakers on. Thinking I was in an emergency situation, I went across the street to the super-snotty and expensive Jasmine Sola and got a pair of rain galoshes for $40. (They were on final sale, meaning that I can't return them under any circumstance and that the cashier would be sure to smirk extra-hard when I was checking out.)

The problem was they didn't really fit me and I regretted buying them that weekend. But I perservered, and either they stretched or my feet shrunk because now I can wear them comfortably in the rain.

Plus, I found the boots for $25 at another store a little while later, making me ever more mad at myself for not shopping around.

And then today in the puddles I noticed that one of the shoes has a big rip in it! I'm so mad! There goes my $40. I'm going to try to fix it, but they won't be the same.

The moral of the story is: cheaply made + expensive price tag = not worth it.

2006-05-15T06:58:00.000-04:00

This weekend I took the train to New Haven, both ways total: $115.

It cost about twice as a Greyhound bus ($65 round-trip), but took 1 1/2 hours less each way. And it was much more comfortable than sitting on a bus.

I also considered taking a Zipcar, which probably would have ended up being more after adding miles driven. Plus, I was taking public transportation and could relax rather than be really stressed out about driving to a place I've never driven to.

So, I guess this is about trade-offs, and how much my comfort is worth. For me, even though it cost so much money, taking the train was a good decision and I'll continue to take it.

2006-05-11T16:52:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has ever talked to me knows that I absolutely cannot stand the amount of money, energy, advertising, and stuff that goes into a wedding.

Believe it or not, I just discovered this great blog by Jennifer Errick, a staffer at the Center for a New American Dream. Her most recent entry is about balancing her desire to celebrate her marriage while keeping a tight budget and not sacrificing her environmental ideals. While I'm not getting married soon, I, in my own cheapness, can appreciate her thoughtfulness in making their ceremony celebrate everything about them, even the values that mean the most to them.

2006-05-04T20:12:00.000-04:00

I had a confusing trip to the Verizon store today. My phone's been acting wacky, so I went to get it fixed. My primary concern was that I didn't get a new phone and just throw this one away, mostly because I didn't want one more phone, toxins and all, to end up in a landfill somewhere.

Me: So I'm going to get this phone back?
Verizon guy: Yup.
Me: This exact phone?
VG: Yes.
Me: Ok then, here's $50*.
VG: You're all set. Your new phone will come in the mail in two days.

So what happened here? Some miscommunication, obviously, but also the fact that Verizon and all those other companies (and every retailer, basically) has ground into our heads that new is better, and who gets stuff fixed anymore, and cheaper is better, and it's cheaper to get something new versus getting it fixed, and besides it's new, which is better! VG just assumed that I was there to get a new phone, and didn't consider "fixing" was an option. My good intentions were curtailed today. I will try to give my old phone to someone or company that can refurbish it and put it back to business. (P.S. When my plan runs out this winter, I'm switching over to Working Assets, which donates a part of their revenue to non-profits that their members vote on.)

*Due to the fact that my warranty ran out, I couldn't get it "fixed" for free, but instead had to pay $50 for... something (I thought it was to get it fixed!). My other option, given to me by VG, was to buy the same exact phone in the store for $200. More confusion!

2006-05-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent $6 on one bottle of Corona.

Ok, before you (or I) scream, here was the situation: I was stuck at O'Hare airport. My flight was delayed two hours. We were told we were then going to board, get on the runway, and sit there for another hour. Wouldn't you have liked a drink?

I admit this was disastrous and that I would have liked to gone to a smaller, hopefully less expensive bar (vs. the Chili's I ended up at). It did deter me from getting a second, however. Wow, this was definitely my most extreme experience with price gouging at any airport.

I do have some new mantras for the airport, though:
1. Bring your own snack.
2. Bring your own water.
3. Bring your own nips.

2006-04-30T17:06:00.000-04:00

Home shopping!

No, not the TV channel. I'm currently visiting my parents, who have amassed a lifetime's worth of junk. My parents are the symbol of consumer glut, willing and able to buy any new gadget, kitchen accessory, or shoe out there -- especially if it's cheap at Wal-Mart.

The good thing of all of this is, I get to go home a few times a year and go shopping in our basement! It's free, I get items in either slightly used or new condition, and I save loads of money on things that I need -- usually replacing things that have worn out since I last retrieved them from the basement.

I love that my mom and I have the same shoe size, and that she has expensive taste in shoes. I do have to admit that I'm a freegan at that point: these shoes are definitely leather. This time around, I've gotten a pair of each (and almost if not new): New Balance, sandals, flats, brown work shoes, and black work shoes. And clogs. If I had bought the equivalent, I would have spent at least $400. Instead, in the last three months I have bought three pairs of uncomfortable, blister-forming shoes to the total of almost $160 (yes, I did actually spent that much on shoes). I could have saved that much if I had planned accordingly.

Other things I got: two brand new luggage pieces, a wok, some snacks, and some cookbooks. I might also take a pair of good headphones from my dad and a used cellphone (my dad just bought a new Blackberry-type gadget). So, I'm all set for the next couple months, until I come to visit them again!

2006-04-27T19:31:00.000-04:00

This week reiterated for me how expensive it is to eat out. I've been having fun at TV Turnoff Week events this week, but that included two dinners out at $10 apiece. Then, because we have no food in the house, I bought my lunch today, another $6.

Versus eating at home:

My two roommates and I share our food. Our monthly grocery expenses add up to about $400, which is about $133 each. Which is about $4-5 bucks a day for all three meals, each. Not too bad! And we don't go hungry, either (except for now because none of us have gone shopping). We make ourselves scrumptious dinners and use leftovers for for lunch the next day.

I do end up buying at least two meals out every week, which adds up, especially if it's a special occasion. I'm going to work on limiting it to two meals and having people over more often for dinner. It might not seem like much right now, but it'll add up...

2006-04-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

Two amazing things happened to my bank account last week: I got my tax refunds back and I got a bonus at work. Now I have mucho dolores in my name.

My goal is not to blow it all at once. Ok, actually here's a more productive goal: use my debit card, which automatically takes out of my checking account, instead of my credit card, which just piles up to this huge bill I pay off once a month. That way, when the credit card bill comes, I'm not going to be deathly afraid of opening it, or have to dump money from my savings into my checking to cover it all. (One of my huge fears is going into debt and never crawling out.)

Also, I feel better about meeting my monetary needs for the coming month: buying some books for school and probably putting a deposit down for an apartment in New Haven. So, although I'd like to transfer a lot of this "extra" money into my savings, I'll feel better about my money situation for the next month.

Don't worry, dear readers: I'll still be making spending mistakes, so I'll have lots to post about!

2006-04-22T22:52:00.000-04:00

Rant: gym memberships are evil. They are painfully attractive and also painfully difficult to get out of. You think that you want them, and that you'll use them, and feel all great about yourself and your future hot body when you sign up for one. Then... slowly... you've realized you've made a big mistake. You never go, or your commitment wanes after a few weeks. Then, you're freaking stuck with this membership for however long you've agreed to. And the muscles don't grow just because you're making an automatic monthly payment from your credit card.

I've made this mistake twice now, and am in the middle of untangling myself from the second membership. I'm done with this crap. I'm taking advantage of the free gym that is the outdoors, now that the beautiful spring and summer is upon us in Boston.

2006-04-21T21:04:00.000-04:00

I'm back! I did pretty well with my vacation budget. Factoring airfare, hotel, and rental car beforehand gave me a really good picture of how much I was going to end up spending overall. The only things that I didn't buy that weren't consumed on my trip was one t-shirt and two postcards (created by a friend of a friend, so I can say that I'm supporting a local artist!). I probably could've gone cheaper with the food if I wanted to, but the food that I did eat significantly enhanced my happiness during my vacation, so I didn't feel bad about any of it.

One strange and convoluted free pleasure I find everywhere I go: museum stores. You'd think it'd go against my anti-capitalist instincts, but they have some advantages: 1) they're free, as opposed to the $10+ fee to go in the museum; 2) you get to touch and play with the stuff, as opposed to the museum art itself, and 3) everything's way too expensive anyways, so there's no real "threat" that I'll buy anything, because I can't afford it! (Of course, some would argue that a postcard or mousepad rendition of a painting or sculpture is not the same as seeing it in person, but I'll leave those experiences for when I'm hanging with the art experts in my life, who make viewing art so much better anyways.)

Wow, vacation is so great, I'm so much more relaxed and can confidently face all the work that's ahead of me for the next couple of weeks. Money well spent!

2006-04-09T20:52:00.000-04:00

For the next two weeks I will be on vacation. I have a budget that clearly designates how much I can spend on transportation, food, etc. My goal is to stick with this budget, or even use less than I plan for, and not buy anything frivolous, which includes not only touristy material items but also food (such as snacks in between meals, which is easily done on my vacations), unnecessary transportation (such as taxis vs. public transportation), and fillers of time. I'll cut out things like my glass of wine at dinner or extra magazines, etc., to make it a little cheaper.

I won't try to restrict myself, but just find ways to relax and have fun without feeling the need to buy anything. I'll try to make this vacation not only a time away from work and my usual life, but also time away from the little things I buy everyday that I "need" to keep me sane.

Wish me luck! I'll report back in two weeks.

2006-04-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

This blog was inspired by a sandwich.

A sandwich that I had to buy, because I was so hungry that I couldn't wait 30 minutes to get to my house and make myself something homemade (and therefore, cheaper).

A sandwich that I felt pressured to buy, after spending 15 minutes in line and having the counter guy stare at me while I read the menu. A sandwich that I immediately regretted, but was too embarassed to rescind my order while he went to go make it.

A sandwich that, 15 minutes later, I didn't really want, but ate anyways because I had already bought it and didn't want to waste food.

A sandwich that gave me a stomacheache, continuing even as I got home a half hour later.

The power of impulse and satisfying my immediate desire: $6.

2006-04-07T20:31:00.000-04:00

OK, let's start with March:

Flats from Payless Shoes: $18. Cute, not made out of leather, but definitely made by a child in a poor country. Plus, they gave me a blister the first time I wore them.
Collared shirt from Benetton: $40. I was desperate; thought I needed something for an interview (ended up wearing something I already had). It's pink, people, that's how desperate I was. Doesn't actually fit me. I got it on sale, which means I can't return it. Still has the tags on.
Colors: Tibor Kalman: $12. I love the magazine Colors and think it's really well done. This anthology is about the first publisher, whose issues I've never even looked at. It was on sale and on a whim, decided to buy it. Haven't even opened it yet.
WERS membership: $50. Ok, a membership to a local radio station that I listen to every day is not a bad thing, in fact, I would encourage everyone to support this great service. But, I did not have to give that much in a month which I was supposed to be saving money. I think my reasoning was, "I can get the Wilco CD as a gift, and since it's a 2-CD set, it'll be like I'm getting two things, a membership and a CD, for one!" That's how they get you.

Total spent frivulously/desperately/needlessly: $120.

Believe me, this is just the beginning...

2006-04-07T20:24:00.000-04:00

This blog isn't intended to be a guilt trip for me. It's not meant for readers to judge my buying habits or cluck along with my grief.

I'm creating this blog to be able to rationally understand what goes on in my (and presumably others') mind when deciding to buy a material good. I want to start deconstructing my purchases and buying habits and STOP them before it's too late... before I buy something I don't need.

Is "need" or "want" that very different from each other, and do we all really think we can clearly define the two? I think I can, but judging from things I've bought in the past, I might have to look more carefully at that. This is where the blog comes in.

Hopefully it won't be a daily drama.