Day 6... A Basic Human Right

I love you all for commiserating with me over my shower woes. The good news is that the cleaning ladies came today, and my shower is now sparkling! (Well... as sparkling as it can get here.) I bought a drain cover (to catch the hair) and informed my roomie of my goal to keep the drain clear... I hope she got the hint.



After marveling at the cleanliness of the bathroom, I decided to take a morning stroll over to Chelsea Market since it was closed last night. The Anthropologie at Chelsea Market is PHENOMENAL. Seriously, one of the best Anthropologie's I've ever seen. Gorgeous layout, multiple floors... I felt like I was in a museum. And? Despite the beauty surrounding me, I didn't purchase a single thing. Which leads me to my next point...

This is a city of consumerism, for sure. Besides the multitude of beautiful shops, there's the food... oh the food. The amount of money I've spent on food since I've gotten to the city (not even one whole week) is astounding, and well, I am nervous. Because, you see, I am (or I'm supposed to be) on a strict budget here, and I've already blown the food bit. And it's hard because I've never had to pay that much attention to the money I spend on food. No, I don't go out for $200 dinners frequently (or EVER if I'm paying), but I don't hesitate to drop $40 here for dinner or $5 there for an iced coffee. Food is a basic human right! It's not like buying shoes or makeup, right? Wrong. I've got to get my food spending in control, but I'm just not sure how. Right now I'm scheduling meeting after meeting with friends of friends and other contacts, and they all revolve around food. That's not always going to be the norm, but what am I supposed to do now? I need to meet people! Not just for social reasons, but to make professional connections as well.

Tonight, for example, I met up with a friend of a friend at The Smith in the East Village for a late dinner. Although this dinner was fairly cheap (I didn't get a drink, and I ordered an appetizer salad and a side dish) at $18, it's still $18, ya know? But the time spent with her was priceless, and let's be honest, you have to multitask in this city. People have little time as it is so if it's not over brunch or dinner or drinks, it's not happening. And although cooking saves money, it still ain't cheap. Groceries here are expensive, AND my roomies don't cook which means there's no cookware. (So far my "cooking" has consisted of making green smoothies and heating Amy's frozen burritos.)

This is what I signed up for - living in a city that 2-3x more expensive at probably 40% the salary (and I don't even have a salary yet!). This is all part of the journey, the adventure, the struggle, but just thinking about my lack of spending money is un peu depressing. Sigh. Despite all that, I'm still in love with the city. I just need to learn how to live in it without spending a fortune.

The Future

Jennifer's visit got me all hot and bothered about the future and where I see myself in the next 1, 3, 5, 10 years. And with the new year just around the corner (2010... can you believe it??), I've been thinking a LOT about my "word" for 2010. My word for 2009 was simplicity, and even though I don't think I quite mastered the concept, it definitely infiltrated my life in more ways than one. I already have a couple of themes in mind for 2010, one of which is frugality.

In my mind, I already have beaucoup de trips planned for next year. DC in January, New York in March, some international trip in between, and undoubtedly another jaunt to California. I'm not sure when it happened, but I've noticed my sense of entitlement to travel more than ever as of late. Travel used to be a luxury, a treat, and not something everyone can do at the drop of a hat. I feel as though that mentality has shifted, not only for me, but for my friends as well. What's the rush? I'm only 26 and quite well-traveled as it is. Why do I have to do everything and go everywhere NOW?

It's this sort of thinking that led me to ponder 2010 and how it will be a bit of a transition year for moi. I *think* I've decided to not do a big international trip (le sad). I say I think because I'm not sure if that's what I want to do. What I do know is that doing so will help me save thousands of dollars (that I can put towards debt and/or savings!!). It's just one year, you know? I have the rest of my life. And quite frankly, I don't "deserve" anything. I have plenty in my life as it is.

Now, I'm curious to hear what you think. Am I talking crazy? Is this a stupid idea? Or does it make sense? There will be other ways in which I will evoke the concept of frugality in my life, but this is by far the biggest. I really want to hear your thoughts on this one. I also want to know: what will your word for 2010 be? Have you started thinking about it? I urge you to do so!

Recessionista

The term has appeared in more than one magazine article and blog entry in the past few months. The economic crisis continues to spiral, and no one seems to have a definitive answer on when it'll end. Meanwhile i've been spending at least a couple hours of my day surfing fashion blogs with 17-year olds in $1,000+ shoes and other "fashionistas" sporting YSL, Alexander McQueen, Commes des Garcons, etc. There's no denying that seeing these gorgeous gals in their impeccable clothes makes me want to drop some serious ca$h. As a recovering shopaholic, it's a dangerous interest, but i'm determined to persevere NOT by denying myself these fun and well-written blogs by these intelligent, beautiful women but by practicing something i admit having very little of: self-control.

I can't deny (and my bank statements refuse to let me) that i've been a little too spend-happy these days. In actuality the total amount of dollars i'm spending hasn't increased, it has simply shifted from dining out and apartment therapy to clothes. Clothes, shoes, bags, belts... you get my drift. And it has to stop. Right. Now. I told myself that after my NYC trip i would stop spending and start saving (more). Easier said than done. With the flux of online sample sales (Rue la la, Gilt Group, Ideeli anyone?) and, i must confess, an irritatingly low self-esteem these days, i am seeking solace in entirely too many shoes. But no more! It seems these days that the fabulous, credit-card-debt-out-the-wazoo fashionista is out and the still chic but cost-conscious recessionista is in. And i'm totally hopping on that bandwagon. Look! There's even a blog about it!

In the recessionista midset, i've been pondering ways to cut my monthly costs. One obvious (besides shopping) is cable. Everyone knows cable TV is ridiculously overpriced and for a single 25-year old? Practically daylight robbery. At about $70/month, i wonder if it's a luxury i can do without. Admittedly i do enjoy my cable-tv shows and especially my DVR. But with most shows available for viewing (for free!) online and the newfound knowledge that there's some cable that'll connect my laptop to my TV, i'm thinking it might be worth it. Really, in the long run, $70 per month isn't that much. But these things add up, n'est ce pas? So, dear readers, i ask you. What do think? To cable or not to cable?

Paycheck 2 Paycheck

I've been doing some thinking (shocking, i know), and i really don't want to be one of those people who lives paycheck to paycheck. Even though i don't have a literal "paycheck" right now, getting help (read: $$$) from my parents sort of feels the same way. I know that if i ask for more, it is likely that i will get more (although VERY begrudgingly, oh and p.s. these are all "loans"), but then i know my mom will be upset with me and wonder where all this money is going. As a result, i tend to be really careful about how often i ask for "help." And so i pretty much have been living paycheck to paycheck for the past 7 years. This is not bode well for the future. I know what you're thinking. I'm going to be an attorney making a six-figure salary; how on earth could i blow through each paycheck so quickly? Believe me. I am VERY good at spending money. It's outrageous. I should enter contests.

Lola slept through the night again, which is great since i apparently turn off the 3:30 a.m. potty alarm in my sleep. Was running late for class this morning so she only went out (and by out, i mean the kitchen..sigh) once this morning before i had to re-crate her and dash to class. Really hope she doesn't potty in the crate...

I am determined to get my bike fully assembled and ready-to-ride today. Just need to find the correct size of allen wrench, pump up the tires, attach fabulous basket, and GO. Must limit my biking to the Triangle area for now until i get a helmet (yuck...). Am fairly certain that they don't make cute pink helmets big enough for my head. Did i mention that i had the largest head circumference in both middle school AND high school?? And people wonder why i have a complex...

I'm aiming for 100% class attendance today. WOO HOO!! So far so good... I'll let ya know how it goes. Have a good one, darlings!