My mama taught me right. After about mid-September, regardless of the temperature, a lady wears hose and when it gets cold, tights. So the first clothing issue I will blame on my superior upbringing. I noticed the big hole in the upper thigh of my hose at about 9:00 am. I figured that it was high enough that I could just be careful and keep it from getting bigger and running down the leg. But as anyone who has worn hose knows this is not an easy feat.
Then during our morning meeting to my absolute horror I discovered a hole in the back of my dress at the end of the zipper. I asked my (female) intern to see how bad it was and she said that "they were small holes." THEY! So there were two holes in the main seam in the back of my...wait for it...$115 dress! Anything I pay more than $50 for I expect to a) work and b) not fall apart from normal wear. One hole I could have safety pinned, but two is a fashion emergency.
So I high tail it to the dry cleaner on the Hill where I take my suits. I know that they do alterations and they have a dressing room where I can hide in my tights while they repair it. I blow in there and show the nice Chinese lady behind the counter what is CLEARLY an urgent clothing matter and express how the fate of the day rests on her expertise in handling clothing matters. Her response? "I no do the alterations."
There is only one appropriate response from a true recessionista in this situation. Take the brown thread and needle, get in the dressing room, strip down and sew that bad boy up yourself. So there I sat, in my shoes, hole-y tights and bra sewing up a dress that NEVER should have fallen apart in the first place during my work day. Truly laughable.
Picked up a new pair of hose on my way back to the office and in less than a half an hour I am back at my desk in new hose and a flash repaired dress.
Sometimes when you need something done, you've got to do it yourself.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Treads
I have done it again. Thanks to my trusty, paid-in-Cuervo mechanic and Al Gore's glorious invention I am coming in almost $100 under budget for the great tire replacement project. I have dedicated both the September and October tutoring paychecks to tires so that I will keep it off the credit card. I bought cold weather tires online as per Julian's suggestion, had them shipped to Merchant Tire who is going to mount and balance them for me for under $20 each. Total is $450. I put away almost $560. Conclusion: I. Am. Awesome.
Now if only I could find a way to go home for Christmas without going into debt. It could be a very recessionista Christmas alone in DC....
Now if only I could find a way to go home for Christmas without going into debt. It could be a very recessionista Christmas alone in DC....
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Recessionista in love
In Colombia there used to be this great telenovela (soap opera) called "Hasta la plata nos separe" (Until money do us part). It wasn't a typical telenovela with sex, crime, scandal and interfamily drama. It was about two business partners and their struggle to run a successful sales team. They had schemes within the staff, did a big push to hit their sales numbers and went on business trips with hilarious conclusions. But the title is what hits me today: until money do us part. How often is money a source of conflict in relationships.
You see, your recessionista just started seeing a gentleman, and the most difficult issue to tackle thus far has been money. Inevitably dates are involved in dating relationships and dates have the distinct potential to cost money. I will be perfectly fair to the gentleman and say that significant financial investment on his part (a few elegant dates at nice DC restaurants for which I did not pay) played a part in convincing me to go out with him. We both make about the same amount of money, though only your recessionista has a large pile of debt. (Please see preceding blog posts for background on this saga)
So what is the modern, urban couple to do? The first thing I have discovered is that frank conversation about expenses is the most practical thing to do. To assume, as the old saying goes, makes an ass out of "u" and me. So I told him all the background information he would need to know why I am a tad paranoid about finances, why I work a second job (more on that soon!), and why I like to split the check, eat in and have him pay for things. Turns out though, that he is not much better off, having significant expenses and making about the same salary I do. This revelation brought us to a place of mutual understanding.
Compromise is proving a very healthy thing and surprisingly endearing to do, if not particularly glamorous. We try to split things, meet at each other's homes, and plan for "date nights" that involve spending. It's not perfect and sometimes it's uncomfortable but it's a challenge in communication that causes growth.
Deciding where the line is may prove difficult since the object of Recessionista affection (henceforth referred to as the ORA) is employed in the financial sector. I am sure he has a wealth of advice to offer (none that I can easily comprehend--he's kind of a financial wunderkind) and could help me improve my portfolio, but I am thus far ill at ease with advice about personal finance from him. I guess it's because there a more significant level of commitment that's necessary before you let someone influence how you spend your money and that is a long way down the road.
For now I am going to have to create a new column in my budget just for date nights with the ORA. Because planning ahead is sexy and being able to pick up the tab is even sexier.
You see, your recessionista just started seeing a gentleman, and the most difficult issue to tackle thus far has been money. Inevitably dates are involved in dating relationships and dates have the distinct potential to cost money. I will be perfectly fair to the gentleman and say that significant financial investment on his part (a few elegant dates at nice DC restaurants for which I did not pay) played a part in convincing me to go out with him. We both make about the same amount of money, though only your recessionista has a large pile of debt. (Please see preceding blog posts for background on this saga)
So what is the modern, urban couple to do? The first thing I have discovered is that frank conversation about expenses is the most practical thing to do. To assume, as the old saying goes, makes an ass out of "u" and me. So I told him all the background information he would need to know why I am a tad paranoid about finances, why I work a second job (more on that soon!), and why I like to split the check, eat in and have him pay for things. Turns out though, that he is not much better off, having significant expenses and making about the same salary I do. This revelation brought us to a place of mutual understanding.
Compromise is proving a very healthy thing and surprisingly endearing to do, if not particularly glamorous. We try to split things, meet at each other's homes, and plan for "date nights" that involve spending. It's not perfect and sometimes it's uncomfortable but it's a challenge in communication that causes growth.
Deciding where the line is may prove difficult since the object of Recessionista affection (henceforth referred to as the ORA) is employed in the financial sector. I am sure he has a wealth of advice to offer (none that I can easily comprehend--he's kind of a financial wunderkind) and could help me improve my portfolio, but I am thus far ill at ease with advice about personal finance from him. I guess it's because there a more significant level of commitment that's necessary before you let someone influence how you spend your money and that is a long way down the road.
For now I am going to have to create a new column in my budget just for date nights with the ORA. Because planning ahead is sexy and being able to pick up the tab is even sexier.
Monday, September 28, 2009
When I was your age...
So finally had the talk with my grandparents about the great debt repayment venture. I expected them to be proud of my current efforts. But the response was mixed. It started with "Why on earth did you ever use a credit card in the first place?" and ended with tales of life in the Great Depression. My grandmother's father was a pastor and she was one of three brought up on a preacher's meager salary. She said she couldn't believe that after three years of teacher she brought home more money than her father for 25 years of preaching. There are valuable lessons from the experience of our grandparents. I don't honestly know how anyone who was not working for the government survived the Great Depression.
The question: How did I get into this mess? is pretty easy explain. I needed to get started, I don't have wealthy parents and I don't have a trust fund.
Everything including a functioning car, furniture and all my work suits is because I have a credit card. I have a job because I sold my car back to the bank to live off of it. From my education to my position in my office to my ability to speak Spanish fluently (and therefore make some money tutoring) all comes from debt. Some of it is so called "good debt" like my college loans, some of it is "bad debt" on my credit cards. I will say that there were some dumb buys on my credit cards, but I can't consider all that debt bad. It's helped me get good things not least of which is the job that helps me pay it off.
And I am learning the lesson that my grandparents want me to know. If you don't have it don't spend it. I can see now that there are times in the past where my lifestyle should have looked a little bit more like it does now, low-key and frugal. But at least I am there now.
This sort of thing does not come naturally to America's young people. Very few of us have "the talk" about the power of credit cards and just how long that type of loan with interest takes to pay off. Too many of us figure it out the hard way. At least my debt was under $6, 000 when I finally had the wake up call.
The wisdom I take away from listening to tales from the Great Depression is that in hard times you do hard things. This is a hard time and I am doing the hard things I need to do to put me on more solid financial footing. I have a second and occasional third job. I am putting $200 a month toward debt more consistently than I ever have before. My parents did hard things to make sure I went to college and that I had that care as the one thing of value I owned. Our grandparents did hard things to support their families.
And now it is our turn to do hard things.
The question: How did I get into this mess? is pretty easy explain. I needed to get started, I don't have wealthy parents and I don't have a trust fund.
Everything including a functioning car, furniture and all my work suits is because I have a credit card. I have a job because I sold my car back to the bank to live off of it. From my education to my position in my office to my ability to speak Spanish fluently (and therefore make some money tutoring) all comes from debt. Some of it is so called "good debt" like my college loans, some of it is "bad debt" on my credit cards. I will say that there were some dumb buys on my credit cards, but I can't consider all that debt bad. It's helped me get good things not least of which is the job that helps me pay it off.
And I am learning the lesson that my grandparents want me to know. If you don't have it don't spend it. I can see now that there are times in the past where my lifestyle should have looked a little bit more like it does now, low-key and frugal. But at least I am there now.
This sort of thing does not come naturally to America's young people. Very few of us have "the talk" about the power of credit cards and just how long that type of loan with interest takes to pay off. Too many of us figure it out the hard way. At least my debt was under $6, 000 when I finally had the wake up call.
The wisdom I take away from listening to tales from the Great Depression is that in hard times you do hard things. This is a hard time and I am doing the hard things I need to do to put me on more solid financial footing. I have a second and occasional third job. I am putting $200 a month toward debt more consistently than I ever have before. My parents did hard things to make sure I went to college and that I had that care as the one thing of value I owned. Our grandparents did hard things to support their families.
And now it is our turn to do hard things.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Restrait in the face of seasonal lattes
I have settled for a new way to restrain my spending on my absolute favorite comfort food. Whereas in the past I was attracted like a moth to the green siren whenever the impulse struck me or I "just had a bad day" I am now restricting my latte consumption to one each pay day and whenever someone else is paying. Thus far this month I have allowed myself to visit Starbucks only twice on aforementioned pay days. Today was my one Pumpkin Spice Latte until October 5. Be proud of me. This was a major budgetary step.
Here's an prayer on payday:
Oh Lord, source of all my true income, thank you for this payday.
Thank you for the means to pay my bills and my rent. Help me to realize this independence is really a dependence on you for everything.
Thank you for my job and my colleagues. Thank you for every opportunity to earn a living, like the workers in the vineyard. Thank you for everyone who helps me along the way.
Teach me to be generous with the gifts you give me. Help me to think of the needs of others and know that you are taking care of mine. May I value the simple treasures you give us that cost nothing.
May every payday be a chance to praise and thank you and do what you ask:
To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you.
Amen.
Here's an prayer on payday:
Oh Lord, source of all my true income, thank you for this payday.
Thank you for the means to pay my bills and my rent. Help me to realize this independence is really a dependence on you for everything.
Thank you for my job and my colleagues. Thank you for every opportunity to earn a living, like the workers in the vineyard. Thank you for everyone who helps me along the way.
Teach me to be generous with the gifts you give me. Help me to think of the needs of others and know that you are taking care of mine. May I value the simple treasures you give us that cost nothing.
May every payday be a chance to praise and thank you and do what you ask:
To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The sick recessionista and the tale of the bald tires
Just when I was starting to get all confident in my ability to budget and save money I got sick. Really sick.
If I didn't have FlexSpending money put away from every paycheck this illness would have set me back well over $100. I don't have $100 worth of flexibility any month. I saw the Urgent Care doc which was $20. I bought all the herbal supplements he recommended- $70. I saw my primary care doctor for a copay of $10. I bought all the medicine he recommended- $35. Luckily I have good health insurance at an HMO which does everything in-house, so all my lab test to check for serious illness didn't cost me anything.
Three thing set me ahead of other people who live paycheck to paycheck: good health insurance from my federal government job, decent credit, and FlexSpending. I seriously think that had I not set aside money for my health I can't honestly say if I would chose to spend it. I know right away that the herbal supplements would be out.
This is a little disturbing. When I zoom out I see that I already cut spending on food. I cut it on health care by not dedicating the mere $20 it would take to joint the company gym. I would further cut on health care if I didn't have Flex. What less essential things can I cut? Maybe I have to drop my cell phone plan. Maybe I sit down and do a hard analysis of the cost of gas versus the bus. By the end of the month I will have eaten out twice. Maybe that's got to go to zero.
I am not going to expound on the need for health care reform. This isn't a political blog. But I am getting a taste of what it is like to think about health and nutrition as someone who is poor. If there's not money for it I don't get it. If I do need it, I have to go into more debt to get it.
Which leads me to...bald tires. I was pleased with myself for having the connections to get my tires rotated, my brakes checked, my bike rack removed, and my clutch adjusted by a friend of a friend for a nice bottle of tequila. I thought this sort of cleverness was a very recessionista thing to do. I was even more pleased when, upon checking the brakes, the keeper of the Cuervo discovered they do not need to have the pads replaced. Also I was glad when he said I could get a chip in my windshield replaced and paid for by car insurance. Saving yours truly about $70.- $100.
Unfortunately the mechanic/acquaintance is a decent, upstanding and Subaru-savvy guy and he told me I would need 4 new tires before winter or the car would be too dangerous to drive. Fab. Also in 25,000 miles (not as far as it sounds) I need to do 100,000 mile maintenance which my good friend with the wrench assured me will cost around $2,000.
Recessionista reality check: $2,000 is the total debt I am painstakingly trying to pay off by next July. It was accumulated all over a period of years' worth of thoughtless spending and immature budgeting abilities. Not all in one day at a single auto shop.
I am wracking my brains trying to think of what I can sell in order to keep my car. What job can I do that will make me $2,000 before the end of the year? I don't even know how I am going to buy tires without going into more debt so this 100K maintenance is staring me down like a fire breathing dragon.
And my throat still hurts making me feel like a fire breathing dragon...guess that's another $20 visit to urgent care.
What's a recessionista to do?
If I didn't have FlexSpending money put away from every paycheck this illness would have set me back well over $100. I don't have $100 worth of flexibility any month. I saw the Urgent Care doc which was $20. I bought all the herbal supplements he recommended- $70. I saw my primary care doctor for a copay of $10. I bought all the medicine he recommended- $35. Luckily I have good health insurance at an HMO which does everything in-house, so all my lab test to check for serious illness didn't cost me anything.
Three thing set me ahead of other people who live paycheck to paycheck: good health insurance from my federal government job, decent credit, and FlexSpending. I seriously think that had I not set aside money for my health I can't honestly say if I would chose to spend it. I know right away that the herbal supplements would be out.
This is a little disturbing. When I zoom out I see that I already cut spending on food. I cut it on health care by not dedicating the mere $20 it would take to joint the company gym. I would further cut on health care if I didn't have Flex. What less essential things can I cut? Maybe I have to drop my cell phone plan. Maybe I sit down and do a hard analysis of the cost of gas versus the bus. By the end of the month I will have eaten out twice. Maybe that's got to go to zero.
I am not going to expound on the need for health care reform. This isn't a political blog. But I am getting a taste of what it is like to think about health and nutrition as someone who is poor. If there's not money for it I don't get it. If I do need it, I have to go into more debt to get it.
Which leads me to...bald tires. I was pleased with myself for having the connections to get my tires rotated, my brakes checked, my bike rack removed, and my clutch adjusted by a friend of a friend for a nice bottle of tequila. I thought this sort of cleverness was a very recessionista thing to do. I was even more pleased when, upon checking the brakes, the keeper of the Cuervo discovered they do not need to have the pads replaced. Also I was glad when he said I could get a chip in my windshield replaced and paid for by car insurance. Saving yours truly about $70.- $100.
Unfortunately the mechanic/acquaintance is a decent, upstanding and Subaru-savvy guy and he told me I would need 4 new tires before winter or the car would be too dangerous to drive. Fab. Also in 25,000 miles (not as far as it sounds) I need to do 100,000 mile maintenance which my good friend with the wrench assured me will cost around $2,000.
Recessionista reality check: $2,000 is the total debt I am painstakingly trying to pay off by next July. It was accumulated all over a period of years' worth of thoughtless spending and immature budgeting abilities. Not all in one day at a single auto shop.
I am wracking my brains trying to think of what I can sell in order to keep my car. What job can I do that will make me $2,000 before the end of the year? I don't even know how I am going to buy tires without going into more debt so this 100K maintenance is staring me down like a fire breathing dragon.
And my throat still hurts making me feel like a fire breathing dragon...guess that's another $20 visit to urgent care.
What's a recessionista to do?
Friday, September 11, 2009
Shout-out
A big ole shout out to M is for Money . This blog really has a lot of practical advice and no nonsense self awareness. The best part is that by the looks of the ad on both sides, this blog is monetized.
If you think I am in intense, be sure to check out M.
If you think I am in intense, be sure to check out M.
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