OK everyone. I know it's been a while since I posted a new entry. opps. I could go into the 1 million reasons why that is, but that would just be boring and do you really care...? Didn't think so. So let's skip all that and cut right to a NEW blog entry!
I currently live in a very expensive city. Everyday when I walk out the door of my apartment building I tell myself two things: "Christie, this is going to be a great day." and "Don't you dare buy anything you don't need." Then I remind myself how much money I have and skip along my merry way. I keep a budget of my finances and work very hard to stay within my means, I'm a frugal gal. I have held a job since I was 16 and know the importance of a dollar (Thanks Mom!), but every now and then I momentarily lose my mind and end up handing over my debit card for things that just don't matter. By writing this today I hope I can point out the error of my ways and try and do a little better from now on. Here we go!
3. Clothes. Alright, so I know EVERY girl says she spends too much money on clothes. It's in our DNA once we get past the age of 13. When I was in high school I made pretty decent money working for a catering company back home. Sometimes I think about how much money I was making and why I never managed to save any of it. Then I look at pictures from high school and realize that ALL of it went to paying for jeans, sandals, movie tickets, glitter, perfume, hand bags, CD's, sun glasses, dresses, and the ever important supply of jewelry. Oh to be 16 and stupid again. Back then I only had to worry about gassing up my car on the weekend and Rent was still just a musical I belted out with my geeky friends on a Saturday night. Now that my taste has matured and clothes are more expensive, I instantly feel guilty after my purchases. Just 2 weeks ago, my good friend pressured me into buying a very hot $50.00 dress from Urban Outfitters. I haven't worn it yet, and have thought seriously about returning it. But it's just so pretty...and I seem to always find a way to tell myself that I needed that dress or those shoes. My latest excuse for buying clothes has been weight loss. I recently hit my major goal of 60 lbs on Weight Watchers and since none of my old summer clothes fit anymore, I keep buying new ones. I deserve it right? Well if I keep this up I won't be fitting into these recent purchases much longer because I am going to have to give up buying food for fashion. Maybe that is why models are so skinny? And all this time I thought it was due to low self esteem and narcotics.
This is me contemplating a dress purchase for a friend's wedding at Anne Taylor...I had to send it to a friend to be sure. Didn't end up getting it, mind over matter.
2. Going Out. There was recently a study done that said that most Americans would rather spend their hard earned wage on going out with family or friends than saving for extravagant items in a store. I am one of those Americans. When I get paid on Friday the FIRST thing I think about is...where am I going tonight and who am I going to see? I am a social person and when I have worked hard all week long auditioning and catering to every customer's needs at work, I just wanna have a drink in my hand and bop around to some music with my friends. Yes, we bop. I live for seeing a new play with my friends then hitting the bar afterwards and talking about how much we loved/hated it. I love being there when my friends from out of town come to visit and I can take them to a fun new restaurant where we laugh so hard people around us think we are drunk. It's like I said before, all that stupid stuff I bought in high school...I own almost none of it now. When I look back at my life, I want to remember all the good times I had with people I love. So to be honest, as much as I know I should cut back on spending in this department, I am having way too much fun to reel it in just yet.
2. Going Out. There was recently a study done that said that most Americans would rather spend their hard earned wage on going out with family or friends than saving for extravagant items in a store. I am one of those Americans. When I get paid on Friday the FIRST thing I think about is...where am I going tonight and who am I going to see? I am a social person and when I have worked hard all week long auditioning and catering to every customer's needs at work, I just wanna have a drink in my hand and bop around to some music with my friends. Yes, we bop. I live for seeing a new play with my friends then hitting the bar afterwards and talking about how much we loved/hated it. I love being there when my friends from out of town come to visit and I can take them to a fun new restaurant where we laugh so hard people around us think we are drunk. It's like I said before, all that stupid stuff I bought in high school...I own almost none of it now. When I look back at my life, I want to remember all the good times I had with people I love. So to be honest, as much as I know I should cut back on spending in this department, I am having way too much fun to reel it in just yet.
FREE PANCAKE DAY AT I HOP! I found a cheap way of spending time with friends that day.
1. Coffee. If I could have all the money that I have dropped at Starbucks over the last 8 years or so...I could probably pay off my student loans that I racked up going to college where I drank 90 percent of this coffee to pass my classes. It's a crazy world we live in. Buying coffee is so dangerous because you just don't even realize how much you spend on it. In your head you are thinking, "Oh I've got some time to kill, let's get Starbucks!" or "Gah I just really need some coffee." You walk up to the barista, tell them what you want, then drop 5 dollars on a grande iced nonfat chai and skip on your merry way. Apparently, I skip a lot when I spend money. Since moving here I have made a conscious effort to make more coffee at home. I have also stopped buying the food at Starbucks, number one because it's overpriced and BAD for you and number two because it just isn't that good. This is one area of financial messiness I am working on cleaning up.
$10.00 for Amazing Chai and Biscotti at Bis.Co. Latte on 10th Ave. Well worth it.
When I first moved up here I was so worried about making the rent and paying the bills. I still freak out from time to time but there is one piece of advice that has stuck with me through it all. On Thanksgiving Day, my friend Vince listened to me worry about money after less than a month of living here and this is what he said: "Christie you have a job right? O.K. listen. You are gonna spend money in this city, you are gonna make money, you are gonna lose some, you are gonna win some...in the end it will all even out. So stop worrying or it will take over your life and you won't have any fun. Now do this Jager shot."
And so we did. Words to live by people.
