another mundane ramble
Dec. 12th, 2008 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
floatingleafWe had our annual holiday lunch at work today, after which they let us go home early - so I used that opportunity to get my new driver's license (otherwise I would need to take time off work to do this). I had my car title with me, but no one even asked me about it - they just wanted proof of name change. So I guess it's not necessary to get the title changed as well, after all (and if it's not necessary, I'm certainly not doing it, because it would involve an extra fee). Anyway... I have this brand new shiny license with a new name and a new photo now.:) The photo looks better than the previous one, which showed a fat face with a double chin (it was taken before Weight Watchers, lol) - but guess what? It shows a big, red, nasty cold sore on my lip instead.:( And I don't even get cold sores anymore. Not since I started actually drinking plain water on a daily basis, as opposed to only sweetened and/or caffeinated beverages (which does improve the skin considerably, among other things). Seriously, I haven't had a cold sore in months - so it figures I would get one now, just when I need to have a photo taken.:/ But what can you do - it's been very cold, dry and crispy this week, and my lips keep cracking even though I apply chapstick every five minutes or so. *sigh*
In other news, last night I went to another cheap grocery store that a coworker told me about, and got a solid supply of food for less than fifty bucks. Not sure how long exactly it will last me, but I bought ingredients for three different recipes - and usually every time I cook I make at least 3/4 servings (= meals), sometimes more. So it is technically possible to feed a single stomach on $200 a month.:) Of course, it means no fancy stuff like swordfish steaks or lobster salads, but for God's sake, chicken's healthy too.:) And if I get tired of it, I can always expand my vegetarian profile.:) Most veggies are dirt cheap if you know where to get them. So perhaps watching my grocery expenses will be enough to avert the imminent financial catastrophe. *crosses fingers*
There are, of course, other cut-back options, like changing the cell phone plan or the internet service provider (I have cable internet, I could switch back to DSL) - but I don't really want to do that unless I have to. I like my phone - it's not fancy, but it works for me, and the number is easy to remember. And even though I always have plenty of unused minutes, I'm not sure that even cutting this particular bill in half would make any significant difference (it's only around $40 a month). Same with internet - I could save perhaps $25 or so a month by giving up the high-speed connection in favor of DSL... but what's $25 a month? Is it worth the trouble of switching the service? But then again, maybe that's the wrong reasoning - I always say "oh, that's cheap" or "oh, that's nothing, really", and then end up broke, because all my money went away on a shitload of cheap nothings. I need to finally get it through my thick skull that all those little things add up. I seem to have lived under the misconception that I was pretty frugal, because I never bought anything expensive. And by "expensive" I meant any single item that's over fifty bucks. So I wouldn't buy a nice hardcover edition of a book for the aforementioned amount - but I would spent $70 on 5-6 paperbacks, because each single one of them was cheap. Stupid, right? But that's how I was able to assuage my guilt about spending too much and to convince myself that everything was still OK. So let's see now what happens when I no longer allow myself to get away with this lame excuse. As of today, the question will no longer be: "Is it expensive?", but: "Do I really need it?". That should get tangible results just by itself, methinks. *nods*
In other news, last night I went to another cheap grocery store that a coworker told me about, and got a solid supply of food for less than fifty bucks. Not sure how long exactly it will last me, but I bought ingredients for three different recipes - and usually every time I cook I make at least 3/4 servings (= meals), sometimes more. So it is technically possible to feed a single stomach on $200 a month.:) Of course, it means no fancy stuff like swordfish steaks or lobster salads, but for God's sake, chicken's healthy too.:) And if I get tired of it, I can always expand my vegetarian profile.:) Most veggies are dirt cheap if you know where to get them. So perhaps watching my grocery expenses will be enough to avert the imminent financial catastrophe. *crosses fingers*
There are, of course, other cut-back options, like changing the cell phone plan or the internet service provider (I have cable internet, I could switch back to DSL) - but I don't really want to do that unless I have to. I like my phone - it's not fancy, but it works for me, and the number is easy to remember. And even though I always have plenty of unused minutes, I'm not sure that even cutting this particular bill in half would make any significant difference (it's only around $40 a month). Same with internet - I could save perhaps $25 or so a month by giving up the high-speed connection in favor of DSL... but what's $25 a month? Is it worth the trouble of switching the service? But then again, maybe that's the wrong reasoning - I always say "oh, that's cheap" or "oh, that's nothing, really", and then end up broke, because all my money went away on a shitload of cheap nothings. I need to finally get it through my thick skull that all those little things add up. I seem to have lived under the misconception that I was pretty frugal, because I never bought anything expensive. And by "expensive" I meant any single item that's over fifty bucks. So I wouldn't buy a nice hardcover edition of a book for the aforementioned amount - but I would spent $70 on 5-6 paperbacks, because each single one of them was cheap. Stupid, right? But that's how I was able to assuage my guilt about spending too much and to convince myself that everything was still OK. So let's see now what happens when I no longer allow myself to get away with this lame excuse. As of today, the question will no longer be: "Is it expensive?", but: "Do I really need it?". That should get tangible results just by itself, methinks. *nods*
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-13 12:00 pm (UTC)I do want to note that every financial advisor I have ever read or gone to see makes a point that you absolutely cannot cut out everything or you will go nuts and possibly rebel, much like someone who goes on an extreme low calorie diet. If you don't plan (plan being the key) for a little fun or treat you could really resent it by the time you are done.
I also had to really reduce expenses in the last 14 months as I realized I had overextended myself. I have managed this year to pay off $15,000 in consumer debt plus deal with the family expenses I whine about all the time. ;) It wasn't pretty but I did it. Cutting back on food expenses (I ate out WAY too much, at least $100 a week), getting rid of landline (cable is about to go, too, but I won't get rid of the internet), getting rid of luxuries (cleaning service, petsitter, massages, Aveda haircuts, etc) and generally just paying more attention and not always taking the easy way out (like for Christas, instead of automatically renting a car I asked around and instead am taking one of my friend's second cars since no one as to work those days).
I also am a smarter consumer. I will buy the more expensive item if it makes sense to do so. In 2006 I decided I needed a pair of walking shoes and a pair of sandals for all the travel I did. I bought a pair of Dansko clogs ($125) and a pair of Rockport sandals ($85). I have probably worn one or the other of those shoes 600 of the last 700 days and they are still in excellent shape. Quality matters, too.
Anyway, I know things probably see dismal, but on the plus side, you don't have much if any debt, right? That seriously puts you wayyyyyy ahead of a lot of people. I am sure you will manage this. *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-13 08:21 pm (UTC)Yeah. I don't care much for either rice or pasta, but I like beans. So I guess I'm lucky.:)
you absolutely cannot cut out everything or you will go nuts and possibly rebel, much like someone who goes on an extreme low calorie diet
I know. This 'cutting out everything' is only temporary, until I can see how much it saves me and make sure the account balance isn't dropping anymore. Once I feel like a have a handle on the situation, I will try to set up a monthly allowance for pleasure/entertainment or something.;)
And of course Viggo-related stuff is exempt from this new harsh policy - so I will get the Appaloosa DVD when it comes out in January, and I will go see Good and The Road when they start showing in theaters. That should take care of my entertainment needs for the immediate future.;) And online slashfic is free, thank God.:D
Unlike you, I don't have that many luxuries to cut back on. I never had cable TV (only cable internet) or a landline, never visited a beauty salon in my entire life etc. But I never financially helped anyone either (quite the contrary, my parents helped me a lot when they could still afford it). And I never made more than $30,000 a year - so I guess it's rather difficult to compare our financial circumstances at all.
you don't have much if any debt, right?
No. Luckily for me, I don't have any debt - unless you count the $3,000 I owe my mother for the car I drive. She bought it used for $4,500 back in 2002, I paid some of it back while I was still living with them, then after I moved out, I stopped paying and my mother stopped reminding me to. I think she decided to let it go, or possibly even forgot about it - and I'm not planning on reminding her anytime soon, LOL.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-13 08:53 pm (UTC)You seem to have gotten a much better grounding earlier in life about money, so I imagine you will be weather this just fine :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-13 11:19 pm (UTC)Wow. That's way higher than my monthly income... so yeah. Different world, baby.;)
I have considered going back but it's so COLD.
Tell me about it! *shivers*
You seem to have gotten a much better grounding earlier in life about money
Well, I was supported by my parents for much, much longer than an average person, especially here in the US (back in Poland education was free, so not many people started looking for work while at college/university, and then the unemployment rate was very high, so many couldn't find work for a long time even after completing their education; which is why we're all here, basically). And that's probably why I never learned to 'see the big picture' when it comes to my finances. So, in a way, it might be a good thing that I have to learn this now. Something tells me I'm going to need this valuable skill for the rest of my life.:|