Sure it sounds like a lot when I type it, but apparently my monthly budget isn't enough to keep me from spending too much too soon. Instead of just keeping my bank account stocked, I'm going to take out my weekly cash at the beginning of the week and do my best to live on it. I know it sounds like a huge amount, but between food, going out and life's other necessities it ads up.
So far this week it's only Thursday afternoon, and I've already spent $48 which leaves me a whopping $52 to get through the next 3.5 days which would be great if I didn't have something lined up every day until Sunday.
My friends wouldn't judge me, but the idea of just going home because I'm out of money galls me. I never think to pull out my debit/cc card and float myself whatever I need. Also, if I'm already having a good time, why leave?
That's it. For the rest of this week and then all of August it's $100 a week or bust.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Drinking int he City is for Millionaires
So basically, the second I created this blog I went on a public food and going out bender that shames me as I write about it.
I bought coffee at Starbucks on Monday
Lunch at Maoz on Tuesday
35 bucks last night on drinks at three different bars (so fun!)
and then today I spent 8 bucks on a sandwich.
wow, other then the drinks out, it has just been such an overindulgent week. I didn't need any of the food or calories I consumed, and even if I had applied the food money to my cc debt, it would have taken care of the interest.
It's just that I've been paying down debt and/or saving aggressively since August of last year, and I am so sick of being frugal all the time. As much as I want to have no debt sooner, I can't just give up my social life which I'll totally regret.
It's tough though. I feel fatter then I've ever felt in my life, and I'm mad at myself now for going crazy. Starting now I need to be back on track.
I bought coffee at Starbucks on Monday
Lunch at Maoz on Tuesday
35 bucks last night on drinks at three different bars (so fun!)
and then today I spent 8 bucks on a sandwich.
wow, other then the drinks out, it has just been such an overindulgent week. I didn't need any of the food or calories I consumed, and even if I had applied the food money to my cc debt, it would have taken care of the interest.
It's just that I've been paying down debt and/or saving aggressively since August of last year, and I am so sick of being frugal all the time. As much as I want to have no debt sooner, I can't just give up my social life which I'll totally regret.
It's tough though. I feel fatter then I've ever felt in my life, and I'm mad at myself now for going crazy. Starting now I need to be back on track.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Avoid the Public Food
Manhattan street vendors are the devil, if the devil was the most delicious concoction of fried greasy deliciousness. Every day I try and bring my lunch to work.
Usually, on any given day I'll show up with
1) apple
2) carrots
3) sandwich
4) yogurt
after my breakfast of shredded wheat + banana, so basically I have plenty.
This should be enough. Calorie-wise it's more than enough, but this is so not the way to save money in this city. It kills me because I grew up here, and I've known this for years, and somehow even though I'm not even hungry, I run over to Maoz for some sweet potato fries, or I head over to Wendys and grab nuggets because obviously I need those to lose weight.
Wow, hopefully if I type about it enough here, I'll actually start facing the obvious.
Lesson 1: Do. Not. Buy. Food. In. NYC.
if you're new to NYC, you might think that you're getting a deal on your meals, but the truth is that nothing you buy outside of the supermarket (with exceptions) will save you money on a meal, and the chances of it not fattening you up are slim to none.
That's it. As of today, July 28,2009 I'm instituting a 1 month food at work ban. If I don't bring enough, then I'll drink water until I get home. As Leo Babauta says, focus on eating less healthy food, and this will make you healthier and save you money. (This isn't all in this post of his by the way, but I'm obsessed with his blog, and I'm sure that's in there somewhere.)
Usually, on any given day I'll show up with
1) apple
2) carrots
3) sandwich
4) yogurt
after my breakfast of shredded wheat + banana, so basically I have plenty.
This should be enough. Calorie-wise it's more than enough, but this is so not the way to save money in this city. It kills me because I grew up here, and I've known this for years, and somehow even though I'm not even hungry, I run over to Maoz for some sweet potato fries, or I head over to Wendys and grab nuggets because obviously I need those to lose weight.
Wow, hopefully if I type about it enough here, I'll actually start facing the obvious.
Lesson 1: Do. Not. Buy. Food. In. NYC.
if you're new to NYC, you might think that you're getting a deal on your meals, but the truth is that nothing you buy outside of the supermarket (with exceptions) will save you money on a meal, and the chances of it not fattening you up are slim to none.
That's it. As of today, July 28,2009 I'm instituting a 1 month food at work ban. If I don't bring enough, then I'll drink water until I get home. As Leo Babauta says, focus on eating less healthy food, and this will make you healthier and save you money. (This isn't all in this post of his by the way, but I'm obsessed with his blog, and I'm sure that's in there somewhere.)
Greetings
My name, for all intents and purposes, it Living Pretty. I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, not to mention one of the most attractive. I work in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Manhattan, and it's hard not to feel like I'm missing something in the way of, oh, I dunno a model body, a trendy wardrobe, a care-free devil-may-care attitude etc.
A few years ago, all I cared about was keeping up appearances. I charged up a mountain of debt on all sorts of credit cards, I exercised to the point where it was more of an obsession than a healthy habit (still didn't lose any weight :P), I went out constantly even though I couldn't afford it, and I didn't leave any time for personal growth, basically I was a normal girl in her early-twenties.
Now I'm in my mid-twenties. I've paid off most of my shopping debt. I don't go out like a maniac anymore, and I certainly don't have the trendy wardrobe.
Basically, this isn't quite working for me anymore. This blog is going to be a tool to keep me on track while I finish paying off existing debt, run off those last 15 pounds in a healthy way, and somehow create a life here that I actually enjoy more than I get through.
A few years ago, all I cared about was keeping up appearances. I charged up a mountain of debt on all sorts of credit cards, I exercised to the point where it was more of an obsession than a healthy habit (still didn't lose any weight :P), I went out constantly even though I couldn't afford it, and I didn't leave any time for personal growth, basically I was a normal girl in her early-twenties.
Now I'm in my mid-twenties. I've paid off most of my shopping debt. I don't go out like a maniac anymore, and I certainly don't have the trendy wardrobe.
Basically, this isn't quite working for me anymore. This blog is going to be a tool to keep me on track while I finish paying off existing debt, run off those last 15 pounds in a healthy way, and somehow create a life here that I actually enjoy more than I get through.
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