D-Day

Well, this is it. My roommate moves out today and I am now officially responsible for all the bills and everything in the apartment all by myself. I want her to enjoy her life in Texas but I also want to scream and cry and throw her stuff out the window for leaving me in this position. I wrote the rent check for June to send in today and every penny of it will come from my paycheck with no help from anyone else.

I am looking at finding a new roommate but I am going to be incredibly careful and I refuse to live with a stranger so it may take some time for me to find someone to move in and take over her half of things. Until then I am tightening the purse strings and taking care of it all by myself for a while.

Cooking Night

Tonight instead of going out I am staying in and cooking lunches and dinners for the next week. I can save a lot of money by preparing food at home instead of eating out so tonight I will be in the kitchen making lasagna casserole, baked beans and sausage, chicken and rice, not to mention my apple muffins and brownies! I will have plenty of delicious food ready for the week so I don't have to buy anything when I am out and about. I am also continuing to cut the amount of meat in my meals in half to save some money as well as some calories.

The Maiden Voyage of My Washer

I got my washer in the mail today! I carried it home from work on the subway and set it up in the bathtub and washed 3 bras, 5 pairs of socks, 5 pairs of underpants, and 2 sets of jammies. It took about 10 minutes and everything is fresh and clean! I am so in love with my new washer...it requires no electricity, uses very little soap and water, and gets everything just as clean as it would in the laundromat down the street. Hurrah for home washers!

The Metro North

I found a dime on the metro north today! Woot for finding money! I also took a nap on the way to work, but I do that every day so it isn't a big deal.

Free Entertainment

I went to the library last night to return everything that I couldn't take back on Saturday and checked out a bunch of new books, DVDs and audiobooks. I now have a fully loaded iPod and a week's worth of movies as well as several books to keep me occupied! I am super excited!

Central Park Picnic

Today was so great! A group of friends and I went on a picnic in Central Park. There was pizza, cucumber salad, chips and crackers, raspberries, sushi, and some type of eggplant salad thing I wasn't overly partial to unfortunately. We sat around on blankets and towels in the shade and talked for hours.

It was great to be able to spend the afternoon in the beautiful park surrounded by cool people and having interesting conversation. I highly recommend an afternoon in the park as a fun and low cost way to spend an afternoon.

Free Lessons I Learned at Karaoke

I went to karaoke last night with a friend of mine and learned a few lessons.

1. When it is busy you will only get to sing 1 song in 5 hours but if you tip for your glass of water they won't try to make you actually buy anything.

2. When women go out on the town in tiny dresses and get drunk they should really wear underpants. Some poor woman on stage was singing and dancing and turned around and her dress and folded up on itself to expose her bare behind for all to see. Seriously lady, when your skirt is so short you cannot bend over you really need to wear panties and as you are at least 30 you should have already known that.

3. Keeping an eye on your belongings is invaluable. People who go in large groups and then leave their purses, cameras, etc. on the table unattended while they dance are asking to have their things stolen.

I Bought a Washer

I had a washer recommended to me by a friend today and I had to buy one immediately! It is hand powered so it doesn't use any electricity and it uses 90% less water and soap than a standard washer of the same size. It washes clothes completely in about 2 minutes and can be set up on the edge of a sink or in a bath tub to drain properly. For $42 I will never have to go to the laundromat again! Thanks for the recommendation, Clayton!

Survivalists

According to this article there are people in the United States that are afraid the energy crisis is signaling the end of life as we know it. I had no idea there were people taking the gas prices so seriously!

Determined to guard themselves from potentially harsh times ahead, Lynn-Marie and her husband have already planted an orchard of about 40 trees and built a greenhouse on their 7 1/2 acres. They have built their own irrigation system. They've begun to raise chickens and pigs, and they've learned to slaughter them.

The couple have gotten rid of their TV and instead have been reading dusty old books published in their grandparents' era, books that explain the simpler lifestyle they are trying to revive. Lynn-Marie has been teaching herself how to make soap. Her husband, concerned about one day being unable to get medications, has been training to become an herbalist.

I am doing my part to take care of myself and reduce my carbon footprint. I use public transportation, walk whenever possible, I try to reduce the amount of waste and trash I produce. I have about 2 weeks worth of nonperishables stocked and I am looking to push it to 4 in case I run into a problem (layoff, medical emergency, etc.) and I am trying to keep the amount of gas and electricity to a minimum. I can't imagine trying to become much more self sufficient than that at this time though. My spending money and using resources supplied by others helps to ensure that they stay employed and can, in turn, put money into the economy helping to make sure that I stay employed. It is a cycle and taking myself out of it completely the way Lynn-Marie and her husband have would have a negative effect on society as a whole. In NYC that kind of lifestyle would be neither possible nor wise. I hope that Lynn-Marie and the others like her are not all in the same community or their towns will see an economic downfall whether the price of fuel has any effect or not.

Stupid Library

Generally I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the library, but today they really got my goat. They are closed today AND Monday for Memorial Day, meaning they can't even accept returns today either. I have 3 movies and a book due back today. I will take them back on Tuesday night and check them in at the desk to make sure I am not being charged a fine because they closed the library early.

On another note, I captioned a lolcatz that I thought you might find interesting.

A Chorus Line

Last night at the birthday party for the bridge I got to see some really fantastic stuff-Impact (a musical group up for an academy award), the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Mayor Bloomberg, and most importantly Marvin Hamlisch! He was the composer for A Chorus Line, one of my favorite musicals of all time! I would have paid good money to have gone to the event and it was all free! They also gave away cake since it was celebrating the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday. I had a fantastic time!

Electricity

I am charging my iPod at work today. Hopefully that will help save a few cents on my electric bill. Tomorrow I will charge my phone at work!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge!

Apparently today is the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge and they are having a big celebration in Brooklyn. I have a date tonight and we are going to go and check it out and see what kind of fantastic things they are doing to celebrate the creation of the bridge. It should be an interesting evening and better yet it won't cost a dime!

Coney Island

This Saturday my friend Tricia and I are going to Coney Island. We are going to have a fantastic time! The Coney Island museum is only 99 cents admission and I can wander the beach all day for free. It should prove to be a very exciting day and I will make a quick trip to the library beforehand to take advantage of the DVD selection.

My Poor Kitty

Today I came home and my kitty was sick. I called the vet but they are not open today so I called the emergency clinic and they said that it doesn't sound like an emergency but to watch him and if he starts showing other symptoms to bring him downtown. I feel so bad for him but all I can do is give him clean water and plenty of pettings, both of which are free. Think good thoughts for him and let's hope that when I take him to his normal vet this weekend that everything comes back perfectly normal.

Meat, Cheese, & Other Foods

Recently I decided as a cost saving measure (and a calorie saving measure, to boot) I will cut back on the amount of animal protein in my diet by 50%. I implemented this theory and so far it is working out pretty well except for the fact that my body still has not adjusted. My stomach is yelling at me, saying, "What do you mean that's all? You always have more sausage/chicken/beef than that! This is not enough lunch!" I just keep calmly telling my stomach that we have to cut back and save some money so hopefully soon it will realize that is is a permanent change and accept the paltry servings I provide it without complaint.

Book Club for Next Month

This month our book club went very well! We had intense, political discussion and enjoyed a few hours of one another's company. I picked the book The Years of Rice and Salt for our next book and everyone seems very excited about the choice. I purchased a used copy on Amazon.com for 12 cents because it looks like such a good book I would like to own a copy instead of just renting it from the library. If it ends up not being very good I can sell it or trade it for at least 12 cents, I'm sure. I love Amazon.com because I can get books for next to nothing!

Book Club Meeting

My book club meeting this month is a bastion of frugality! I checked out the book from the library so it didn't cost a dime and instead of having our meeting in a cafe with a minimum purchase requirement we have moved it to a quiet bar down the street where I can drink water all night for no cost. I love my bookclub and the people involved. They are all so smart and funny! The 3rd monday of every month is one of my favorite days because that is the day we have our meetings. If you are not currently involved in a book club I highly recommend them.

lolcatz - all about finances

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/10/12/oh-noez-mah-mortgage-dun-readjusted/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/10/08/dis-windowz-close-next-teller-plzkthnx/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/10/01/awl-in/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/09/12/meh-job-sux-pay-sux/

Yahoo News Article on Food Stamps

According to this article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080516/ap_on_re_us/scrambling_for_food there are many people all over the country who are living on food stamps as their sole grocery budget. I feel bad for them but the article makes me think that maybe these people could use more than food stamps. Maybe they could use some help being taught to budget those stamps and how to stretch those food stamps to get the most bang for their buck.

As is evidenced by this line in the article, "For now, many of the needy, including many in Kladis' store pushing carts laden with soda pop, bags of cookies and chips — much of it cheaper than healthier food — are doing what they can to stretch their shrinking buying power.", they are just trying to get as much food as possible with no thought as to the quality of the food or how long it will last. Buying soda when you only have grocery money enough to last for 15 out of 30 days is wasteful. Every budget needs a little give but when that $2.50 you are spending to buy Sprite could have purchased a bag of rice and 2 cans of beans you are making a choice to put soda ahead of 3 days worth of dinner. Your children WANT soda but they NEED to eat every day. Teaching them to use food stamps for sugary treats instead of buying staples is not only neglecting their physical health but also hurting their future financial health. They are learning how to spend from you and if you show them that this is the way money should be spent how should they know any different when they are adults?

I think that maybe food stamps should come with some sort of class or pamphlet teaching people the power of their dollar. Show them how the decisions they are making effect their bottom line and their children's empty bellies and maybe they won't keep making the same mistakes. I haven't paid for soda in 4 months now and I am no worse for the wear and I am sure it would be the same for them. After all, the adage that giving a man a fish only feeds him for a day and teaching a man to fish feeds him for a lifetime is true. I think it is time we start teaching people to fish.

Pants

Last night I took a couple of hours and prepped lunches for the next week and a couple of nights worth of dinner as well. I cut the amount of meat in each recipe by half and stored it all in tupperware in the fridge to make lunch quick and easy this week. This way I won't be in a position where I am in a hurry and don't have time to pack a lunch.

Today I am taking several pairs of my pants and sewing up small holes and such so that I can get a few more uses out of them. I am a big believer in pants. I don't like wearing dresses or shorts, so my pants are very important to me. I can't afford new pants though so I am repairing mine to make them last a bit longer.

Oooh, Cash Prize!

Today at the scavenger hunt my group came in 1st place (because we are awesome) and we learned that the winners got a free round of drinks. I am not a drinker so the guy who was buying for everyone just gave me $6 to cover the cost of a drink. I drank water and came out $6 ahead! Woohoo for winning the scavenger hunt!

Free Things To Do Today

Today I am getting together with friends to go on a scavenger hunt in the West Village. It is absolutely free and will be a fun way to learn about the places and scenery of a part of NYC I haven't been to many times before. I am going to the library first to return some books and pick up some movies.

Then I am going to come home and take a nice, long bath and do a little reading. It should be a fun day all around!

Learning My Lesson About Fruit

I bought a watermelon at the store this week. It was on sale for 59 cents a pound, quite a bit cheaper than any other fruit there! This morning I ended up taking quite a bit of watermelon for breakfast since I have it and it will go bad if I don't eat it. This was a bad choice.

Watermelon is not filling. I ate 3 cups of it and I am still starving! (Well, as starving as a overweight, middle class woman can be, but at the very least incredibly hungry.) I have learned today that fruit makes a good side dish or dessert but it should not be a meal in and of itself. It does me no good to save money on groceries if I still feel like my stomach is trying to digest itself after eating. From now on I will make sure I have either high fiber or high protien at each meal to keep myself from being tempted to go buy fast food or something to make up for my lousy breakfast choice.

News Articles

Here are a few news articles I have found that pertain to saving money, the high cost of living, and other financial topics that I thought were interesting to read. Take a look and see what you think!

http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/news/economy/aaa_travel/index.htm?cnn=yes
"For the first time since just after the Sept. 11 attacks, Americans plan to drive less on Memorial Day weekend than they did the year before, with high gasoline prices in a weak economy a prime reason, according to a AAA study released Thursday."

http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/12/autos/ways_to_not_save_gas/index.htm?postversion=2008051315
With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill.
Here's a look at a few misconceptions..."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080515/bs_nm/countrywide_dc;_ylt=Ar4wBu1_b1M45KMDPIcJZBayBhIF
"Directors and officers of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial (CFC.N) must answer shareholder accusations of insider trading and failure to monitor lending practices that led to the company's collapse, a federal judge in California has ruled, the New York Times reported. "

Pre-Tax Dollars

Today I got a new debit card from work. They have started taking $115 a month out of my check and giving it to me on this debit card to help pay for transportation. I am very excited about this because it gives me an extra $47.15 a month that had previously been going to taxes to be used for my metro card. It will take a little getting used to but I am willing to learn the ins and outs of a new card for almost $50 a month!

Stocking Up On Groceries

Today I went to the store to get some things to make in the oven for a celebratory dinner. Being able to use the oven is so fantastic! I bought some pasta and rice that were on sale as well as some brownie and muffin mix that were discounted. I got some eggs and cheese as well and made my famous lasagna casserole for dinner. I am getting reading to make some apple cinnamon muffins to take for breakfast for the next few days. I have missed my oven so much!

I don't think people really appreciate the everyday things in their lives. If you have never had to be without an oven, shower, or refrigerator you are very lucky. The next time I feel bad about my financial situation I will bake some bread or take a hot bath and count myself among the lucky people here in the first world who have never been without the things we consider basic necessities of life.

Victory Is Mine!

After 6 months of waiting for the inspections, repairs, etc. to my gas line they have finally fixed everything! I can go home tonight and use my oven for the first time in 6 months! My utility bill will go back up unfortunately but now I will have so many more options for groceries instead of just what can be made on a hot plate or in the microwave. I am hoping that my vast grocery options will help make up for paying for gas again. I am going to go home and make a celebratory lasagna casserole (the total cost of which comes out to be $4 and it makes about 6 meals) and then perhaps I will make some cookies or brownies just because I can!

Lunch Time

Today as I was getting ready for work I realized I hadn't prepared anything for lunch. I didn't have anything in the house that I could easily take with me except my roommate's Lean Cuisine. I asked her if I could take it and then I bought her a replacement when I was at the grocery store today. It kept me from having to buy lunch from the cafeteria for $6 or $7 so it did end up saving me some money.

Air Conditioner

Everyone should be so proud of me! I set up my window air conditioner all by myself. I won't need it for a while (it is May but it is still so cold out that the heater kicks on occasionally) but here in a few weeks I will need it and it will be nice to have it set up already. I bought a unit with a timer so I can set it for a few hours during the day but have it turn off at night when I am asleep. I didn't hire someone to assemble it or put it in the window so I saved money there and I got a unit designed to use as little electricity as possible.

Yesterday

Sunday I was so tired that I spent most of the day asleep. When I did finally wake up I washed some clothes by hand in the tub to get me through until tonight so I can do laundry. I also loaded up my bag with many flavors of oatmeal from my pantry so that I have plenty of emergency breakfasts and lunches on hand to keep me from buying anything in the cafeteria downstairs.

Tax Rebate

I checked my bank account this morning and, lo and behold, my account had a deposit of $600! I got my tax rebate check yesterday afternoon! I immediately rolled all $600 to my savings account so I wouldn't be tempted to touch it at all. I could use the money to take a trip or to buy some new bookshelves but I am leaving it alone to help cover my expenses for the next few months. I would have loved to taken myself to California or Florida or something but it is more important to have the funds to cover my day to day life. Sometimes being a responsible adult sucks.

Canned Food Drive

Today is the day that the post offices are collecting food for the hungry. Here in NYC you actually have to take the food to the post office but elsewhere in the country you can just leave your canned and boxed goods out with the mail. I am going to take a couple of canned goods to the post office here in about half an hour. I am in a bad financial spot to be sure, but there are people out there worse off than I am who could really use the help. I had the funds set aside to be able to go to the zoo today (which was cool but very small) but there are people in the world for whom that $8 would have been too much to spend. I hope that the canned goods I bring the post office will help keep someone's belly full. I will keep all those less fortunate than myself in my thoughts today and I hope you are able to do the same.

The Central Park Zoo

I had intended to go to the Tribeca Film Festival this month but the weekend I was supposed to go I was ill. I saved $15 but I missed out on a fantastic opportunity. I have decided that I need to have some kind of culture and fun since I missed out on the festival so I am going to take today and go to the Central Park Zoo after I go to the library. Instead of the $15 for a movie ticket at the Tribeca Film Festival it is $8 for the zoo, so that saves me a few dollars and still allows me to go out and have some fun in the city. I have never been to the Central Park Zoo before so it should be an exciting experience!

Airplane Voucher

I filed a complaint with the airline after my trip to TX because my flights were delayed for so long. They said they would get back to me and yesterday night I got an email with an attached voucher for $100 towards my next flight. This is excellent except for the fact that since it isn't a free flight and is only $100 off I have to spend money to use it. I would love to go to Washington D.C. or Boston or something but I would still have to pay $97 for the trip and then I would have to pay for the hotel too. I love my discount voucher but I have no idea when I am going to find the time and money to take a trip like that. I will keep you updated on my travel plans!

I Love Lucy

Have I mentioned how much I love the NY Public Library? I got 27 episodes of I Love Lucy on DVD for absolutely nothing. This has always been one of my favorite shows. I am watching Lucy roll cigars in Havana right now! I highly recommend you go to your local library as soon as possible and take advantage of all the wonderful free books, dvds, cds, and other services.

Invisible Foods

Every time I buy eggs at least one of them sits in the refrigerator until about 3 weeks past the sell by date. I never manage to use them all even though I love eggs. They are delicious but for some reason they are one of the invisible foods in my house. You know how when you look at the pantry or the freezer and you can tell it is full of food but there is still nothing to eat? That is what I mean by invisible foods - food you buy and enjoy but it doesn't register in your mind when you are debating between ordering chinese or eating something at home. Last night I opened a carton and found 3 eggs inside that didn't expire for a week. I knew I had to use them up somehow so about an hour before bed I took those 3 eggs and mixed them with some milk and cinnamon to create a batter for french toast. I made 7 pieces of french toast and half a pound of bacon and separated it out into 3 days worth of premade breakfasts. This way I don't have to scramble (heh) for breakfast in the morning and my eggs don't go to waste!

Night and Weekend Minutes

Every night at 8:00 my night and weekend minutes kick in so when I make calls after 8 I don't get charged for them. I called my parents tonight at 8:30 and talked to them for an hour. I learned all about how my dad's business is going and all about my mom's plans for the week. It was nice to be able to catch up with the family and I am even more excited that it didn't go against my anytime minutes!

The Assault on My Senses

Every day I walk from the Metro North to the A train because it takes about half an hour off of my total commute time. It is about a 20 minute walk through Harlem, which usually makes me really happy because I find change on the ground all the time and I love all the food and stores and people in that part of the city (which my family thinks is strange, considering I am so Irish I am almost translucent) but I am noticing more and more "sidewalk vendors" as the recession gets worse. Almost every one of these vendors is selling something with a very strong smell, like scented candles and oils. These make my allergies act up but I suffer through it for the reduced commuting time and the occasional dime on the ground. About a week ago this man started selling catfish. He brings a propane grill, a cooler full of catfish, and a card table. Obviously he is not licensed and I can tell by looking at him that he isn't the most sanitary fishmonger on 125th either. The smell is so horriffic that I hold my breath and run by that intersection as fast as possible to prevent gagging and vomiting right outside his fish stand. I don't want to say anything because everyone needs to earn money and it isn't like that is the ONLY way for me to get home but it still makes me ill just thinking about that smell. The things we put up with to save some time and money, eh?

Cupcakes

Today at work they had a celebration for all the May birthdays so I got a free cupcake. It was boston creme pie flavored and quite tasty. I am a big fan of free baked goods.

Book Review - Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back by Karyn Bosnak

If ever there was a book that could help you put your financial problems into perspective this is it. Save Karyn tells the story of a woman who moved to NYC from Chicago and managed to build up a massive amount of debt. She later became the first sucessful internet panhandler and had people from all over the globe talking about her and helping her pay off her debt $1 at a time.

This is a really fun book that is easy to read and helps let you know that you are not alone in your financial woes. Her website (which inspired the book) is hilarious...I found the site first and later bought the book after it came out. Her "Daily Buck" column is actually what inspired me to start this blog myself. For those of you looking for a laugh and someone to help keep you from feeling alone in the fog of financial distress I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book.

Dinner

My roommate bought stuff to make hamburger helper and offered to share if I would cook tonight so I am sharing her food in exchange for labor. I also added a little bit of extra pasta to stretch it so that I can take some with me for lunch tomorrow at work. Woohoo for free dinner and lunch! I believe I will serve it with a side of carrots since carrots are delicious and full of vitamins and whatnot.

A Full Day of Frugality

Today I read part of Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill, which I checked out from the library yesterday. So far it is very creepy and I highly recommend it if you read scary stories! Now I am sitting down with my roommate to watch the movie Music and Lyrics (which I also rented from the library yesterday) and I am making pancakes for dinner. I went to the grocery store and they had a huge sale on quite a few things that I normally buy, not to mention the things I don't buy unless they are on sale and I have a coupon, so I stocked up and now my pantry is full. I took a nice long bath earlier and shaved my legs and played with the kitties. I have had a full, relaxing day that didn't cost me one red cent-except the groceries, but that was to be expected. It is nice to know that I don't have to spend a lot of money to enjoy myself on a Sunday.

Botanical Gardens

Today I was supposed to go to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with some friends but I decided to stay home instead. I would have loved to have gone but I can't justify the admission fee to see pretty plants when I can go to Central Park and see many of the same things for free. I'm sad that I missed out on the opportunity to be there with them but finances have to come first.

Packages

I am sitting here with the cats waiting for the FedEx guy to show up. My grandma is sending me a package that is arriving today and according to the package tracking it was put on the FedEx truck at 7:11 this morning. I don't know what she is sending me but I am so excited to be getting a present for no reason at all! Once I get my package I am going to the library to get my books for my book club meeting this month and check out their DVD selections. I'll be keeping my eye out for other money saving opportunities while I am out and about in the city; I'll let you know what I find!

Hurrah For the Fed!

According to this article from the AP http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080502/ap_on_bi_ge/credit_card_rules;_ylt=AtT_8q3AVFumeDAS6DGx3tCyBhIF the Fed is planning to crack down on abusive lenders and their credit card practices. Among other things they will be forcing them to stop placing unfair time constraints on payments and putting an end to double billing. I always pay my credit cards in full but there are many people who aren't able to do that right now and the companies that move payment due dates without notice and charge retroactive interest rates are really abusing the power they have over people and their finances. I am so glad to see that they have finally stepped in to put an end to to these horrible tactics. I raise my glass of tap water to you, members of the federal reserve!

Brownies for Breakfast

Last night when I came home my roommate had a suprise for me. She bought me a peanut butter brownie! I saved it and took it with me to work for breakfast today. It was delicious. Then on my way to work I got on the Metro-North and there was 11 cents just sitting in the seat. I seem to be finding change in 11 cent incriments here lately, which is strange but cool at the same time.

Gravy

One of the things I miss most about Texas is the food. Everything there was deep fried and covered in gravy. Yes, that even sometimes applied to desserts (well, the deep fried thing, not so much the gravy part.) Knowing how deeply saddened I am by the lack of white gravy in the city my parents sent me about 40 packages of country gravy mix to help me combat the home sickness. Tonight I had mashed potatoes for dinner so I made a package of gravy and it was delicious! I highly suggest you get some country gravy if you haven't ever tried it...it is good stuff!

Board Game Night

Last night was board game night. I got together with friends and we played Trivial Pursuit (80's edition) while another group played Cranium. Everyone ordered pizza except for a couple of us who chose to abstain so my evening of fun and excitement was free. Then on the ride home I found 3 cents in a seat on the subway, so I came out 3 whole cents ahead!