$10 a Day

Ok, so I started getting New York Magazine when Variety offered me such a good deal that I didn't want to turn it down...and I love to read about New York since I live there, so I got it. In general, I liked it...but this weeks' theme of "bargain shopping/saving money" really irritated me. This woman (see link) decided to live on $10 a day. Ok. Fine. But the things she did with those $10 were ridiculous. The ideas of where to get good, cheap food were interesting but why couldn't she cook her own food? Why did she absolutely have to take cabs? It doesn't make any sense? And doesn't she have a job? What was she doing all day? It made no sense to me.

Then it seemed like she was being noble because she spent $10 day and no more. That's not noble and it's not special. It's life. I know a lot of people in NYC who watch their money and they don't do such idiotic things with it. Why doesn't that warrant an article? I know I keep my student ID in my wallet that expired 3 years ago because I still look the same and I can get into museums for student rates. My friends send out emails with links to discounted movie tickets. We avoid places with $10 mixed drinks like the plague...unless there's a Happy Hour special. We buy clothes on sale or off-season when they're cheaper. We cook our own food. We share when we go out. This isn't hard, people. Seriously.

Other things you can do to save money: seek out free events, sign up for email lists and pick out the free/cheap things to do. Get a monthly Metrocard; it averages out to be less than $4 a round trip that way. Plan things out. If you have $10 to spend on food, get a salad at Hale and Hearty and don't add anything extra to it. Drink the coffee at the office instead of spending $3 on it at Starbucks. Comparison shop. If there's a DVD that you want, check out how much it is at Best Buy, FYE, Amazon and Target before buying it. Work the system. If you have something to return, return it so you can save money on your next purchase at the store. Bring your lunch to work with you. This saves and unbelievable amount of money...the cost of a loaf of bread and fixin's is much preferable.

I don't know why that story in New York Magazine came across as so patronizing to me. Maybe they think only rich people read it and are trying to expand their horizons. I don't know. But I do know that in order to have enough money to cover my rent, I can't really spend any cash in the next two weeks. Sometimes, even $10 a day is too much.

A Week In The Life...

I've been wanting to write this week...however, I found that I haven't had much time to devote to what I wanted to write...and then when I did, I was at a loss of what to write about. Go figure.

This has been an eventful week: Jack Bauer made his return, I have taken up knitting, I saw one of my favorite music groups, went to a museum and my boss met me dad. Where to begin.

So last Monday we had a day off as it was MLK day which was cool; it's always nice to have a little extra time to myself. I spent most of the weekend on my own as my roommate went home. I enjoyed the time I spent on my own but was thoroughly frustrated with getting together with other people...well, one person in particular to be specific. I know that friendships start and stop, and run in cycles but this is not the first time she has done what she did this weekend. She turned up in the city to hang out with her other friends then basically squeezed me in before she left. I was not happy. I feel like there are defining moment in friendships when you know that somehow, things are now different. This was how I felt last weekend.

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Birthright Israel Alumni has all sorts of events and one thing they sponsored was a knitting class which I attended and am now in the process of making a purple wool scarf. I've never made things like that before...so I'm psyched :o).

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Ah yes, there was an industry party this Thursday and my dad and my boss met for the first time. On the up side, my boss didn't do anything silly which made me less apprehnsive...but he did sort of joke about my dad getting him a job in the future. Oy.

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Rockapella had a show in NYC on Saturday and I can't say it enough times: those guys are brilliant entertainers and top notch musicans. Go see them (www.rockapella.com) My mom asked me if I thought entertainers deserved what they got paid and I said it depended. As long as they have the tlent and the showmanship to back it up, I say bring it. Thise guys are not young; probably between mid-thirties and forties, yet they put on a show that's more energetic and entertaining than most shows out there.

He's Back

T Minus a little less than 2 hours until the second half of the four hour 24 premiere/marathon. So I was watching last night and it was everything you'd expect: explosions, awkward exposition, guns, a stupid teen...and of course, Kiefer Sutherland. Good times.

I wonder what it is about this show that makes an otherwise peaceful person (ie, I'm not really for war in real life and am saddened when I hear about random acts of violence) yell at the tv "shoot him!" "I hope that person's dead by next episode!" It's like I become a guy or something. I don't even care for action movies, save for very specific ones with actors/ directors that I like! But this show somehow releases the testosterone.

I mean, sure, in Deadwood, there are some people who we all hope will meet their ends at the hands of Al or Dan and there are people on the Sopranos who we just know Tony will dispatch Chris and Paulie to kill (more on both of those when they FINALLY come back). But seriously, they go through so many cast members on 24, that not even the principals from previous seasons are safe (If you haven't watched it yet, it's not my problem). But as soon as Palmer and Michelle went down, I was rooting for Jack to KICK SOME ASS! You know, like he usually does.

Looking forward to 8 PM <> 9-10 AM.

Move Over, HBO

So for the past few years, I have had a standing date on Sundays at 9 PM with HBO. Sopranos, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, The Wire, Rome, Carnivale, Deadwood...all the best shows on tv, all on Sunday night at 9. However, Rome was the most recent show and it ended a while back. The Sopranos doesn't start until March. What does a girl do? Seriously, HBO...I'm out in the cold over here!

Then, I discovered something. I got it for free for two weeks. Netflix. You go to the website and pick out DVDs and they send them to you. When you're done, you send them back and they send you another one. Good deal. For less than $20 a month, I can see as many movies as I want! And with my HBO relationship on hold, Netflix is a great backup. Almost too good! They recomend movies based on what you already watched...Oy. I sound like I'm getting paid to adevertise here...I should call their marketing office and ask if I can get a cut.

But really. When there's nothing on tv, Netflix is a very good companion. 24 starts up next week and the tortured soul competition will be on. Until then, Netflix...send me what's next.

Baggage

So I spent New Year's in Providence with my friend Nina from SU...It was fun; Providence is a cool place, though it seems really small after NYC.

Of course, there had to be some drama that happened this weekend...it would have been too simple otherwise. When I got off of the bus on Friday evening, I looked for my bag under the bus...and it was gone. Gone. Kaput. Nada.

I had a good time despite this rather substantial obstacle, but I wanted to take a moment and properly mourn the loss of my possessions. Admittedly, most are replaceable, but I am a 'stuff' person and don't like it when my stuff is no longer in my possession.

So:

The bag itself...was old and needed to be replaced, especially if we're off to Israel this summer. The khakis...were too big since I lost weight and had been around a signifcant amount of time. Same goes for a couple of the shirts. My camera wasoutdted, though it worked ok...the lens cover had broken off. The photo album...chronicled the last couple years, but I have negatives and double to replace them with. Underwear and socks...replacable, though I'd rather not have to replace them...The sparkly skirt. I barely knew you. I would have been good to you. You were worht a lot more than the $20 I paid for you. The Clinique makeup....probably cost as much as the clothes did....I spent a while building up my collection.

Ok. So I got that off of my chest. And if anyone is considering Greyhound, make other arrangements.