One topic I've been interested in and reading a lot about for the past two years is personal finance. At 39 years of age, I am finally beginning to realize that the only person who's going to take care of me in the future is me. A slightly annoying realization, honestly.
In order to be prepared for whatever that future will be for however long it lasts, I feel like I need to arm myself with information and take action so I'm not a burden to friends, family, or society at large.
On this journey, I've been following a couple of blogs fairly regularly - The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly. And I've made some concerted efforts. I save 10 percent of my pre-tax income in a 401(k) and I save another 10 percent of my pre-tax income (after taxes have been taken out) in a savings account. In order to achieve these savings goals, I've incorporated some mental games and frugality activities into my life.
About once a month I do a $10 weekend. As in spend only $10 from Friday after work to Monday.
Most other weeks I try to only spend money on weekends and buy only one thing during the work week. This means if I go to lunch on Monday, that's it. No other spending until Friday after work. I'm not completely strict on this one, but I do try to go into the week knowing exactly where my money will be going so there are no impulse purchases. I've also cancelled cable, started packing lunch every single day and cut out all stops to the bakery or coffee shop. Everything I consume in a day has to come from home.
Frugality can be addicting so I find myself looking for new and better ways to cut expenses. And today I found one while reading another favorite blog - Unclutterer. Today's entry describes a challenge called the Great American Apparel Diet - a movement to abstain from spending any money on clothes for one year. One year!
While reading this blog entry, I recalled a recent conversation with Staci (I think we can safely assume her name's going to come up a lot on this blog). As we were talking I went on and on about how perfect my current wardrobe is and how there is absolutely nothing missing.
So if this is true, why not put this little challenge to the test? Can I go a year without buying any new clothes? I'm willing to give it a shot. There's absolutely nothing to lose. Here's me, vowing to my little cyber world that I will not purchase any clothing for one year from today, July 24, 2010. With one caveat - I need a light spring/fall jacket and have been on the lookout for the perfect one for forever. If I find it this year, I'm going to buy it. Oh, and shoes don't count...and neither do undergarments.
Game on.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Table for One
One of the loneliest times of the day for me is dinnertime. Eating alone day after day is one of the biggest downers of the single life. Not that I don't go out with friends on a regular basis. I do. And not that it really impacts me all that much in my day to day life. It doesn't. Just that sharing a meal seems like one of the most basic forms of human connection and eating alone most of the time is a frequent reminder of a void.
Before this gets too maudlin, I'm also in the mood to share because I've been in a serious cooking mood this summer and I want to show the world (who knows how long it will last). Here are a couple of recent dinners. Nothing fancy, but it feels good to share with others, even virtually.
Blueberry buttermilk pancakes (from scratch) with real maple syrup.
Quinoa with eggs, cheese, salsa, cilantro, and avacado. A newly discovered favorite.
Before this gets too maudlin, I'm also in the mood to share because I've been in a serious cooking mood this summer and I want to show the world (who knows how long it will last). Here are a couple of recent dinners. Nothing fancy, but it feels good to share with others, even virtually.
Blueberry buttermilk pancakes (from scratch) with real maple syrup.
Quinoa with eggs, cheese, salsa, cilantro, and avacado. A newly discovered favorite.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Pitter Patter
I woke up this morning (6:11 am) to the sound of soft rain on the skylight. It's been a while since it rained other than summer thunderstormy sort of rain and it sounded nice and calming and made me happy. Go figure.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Motivation
A recent comment from a friend motivated me to start this blog, something I've been contemplating for years. I went hiking last week and posted a few photos to Facebook.
Staci commented that she was so happy to see pictures since it's rare to get a glimpse into my life. Very true. It's a life lived primarily alone, without observation. And although I'm satisfied (and dare I say happy) with how I live, I still have a need to tell the world that I was here. That my life, despite being unwitnessed, mattered and matters and is worthy of being shared.
So I'm putting my everyday thoughts and life out into cyberspace, not really expecting anyone to read it, but mostly to fulfill my own desire to live a documented life.
Staci commented that she was so happy to see pictures since it's rare to get a glimpse into my life. Very true. It's a life lived primarily alone, without observation. And although I'm satisfied (and dare I say happy) with how I live, I still have a need to tell the world that I was here. That my life, despite being unwitnessed, mattered and matters and is worthy of being shared.
So I'm putting my everyday thoughts and life out into cyberspace, not really expecting anyone to read it, but mostly to fulfill my own desire to live a documented life.
Come Over, There's Plenty to Eat
I spent a lot of my day off today shopping and cooking.
These whole wheat blueberry muffins would be even more perfect if I'd remembered the sugar.
Homemade granola is my newest obsession. I must have a batch in the fridge at all times. Excellent with plain yogurt and fresh blueberries for breakfast.
Dinner tonight was fish with a zucchini salsa. Good but a little bland. Next time I'll add a little kick. Maybe garlic? Or cilantro?
As Big as my Head
These sunflowers are absolutely huge and spectacular and literally as big as my head. I love them.
Each week during the summer I buy flowers from the flower vendor outside of Whole Foods. The guy who owns the flower booth is from Senegal so every weekend we chat in Wolof (briefly) and then in French which makes me so happy.
Plus, just look at these flowers!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Burnt Beets
I got so into creating this blog that I left beets on the stove boiling in water that eventually evaporated down to nothing. It doesn't smell so good in here right now AND I ruined 4 perfectly beatiful orbs. Moment of silence please.
Directions Karma
I get asked for directions all the time. As a city dweller and avid walker, I must look like I know where I'm going. I always try to help and most of the time I'm right, but some of the time I'm wrong. Like yesterday.
We were at Dupont Circle on New Hampshire Ave. and the woman wanted to know how to get to National Geographic which I KNOW is at 17th and M. When we got to that really confusing intersection where 18th and New Hampshire and Q all come together, I mistakenly told the woman to keep going straight on New Hampshire to 17th when I should have told her to take Q to 17th. She went on her merry way and 5 minutes later I realized my mistake.
The biggest problem with being so familiar with the city is that when I've given bad directions I usually figure it out at some point. And then I feel horrible that I led some perfectly clueless strangers, who trusted me completely, off in the wrong direction. It sort of haunts me. The interaction with the woman happened around 12:30 pm and I literally stewed about it for the rest of the day. She put her fate in my hands and I let her down.
Fast forward to 8:00 pm as I was emerging from the metro on my way home and another unsuspecting stranger asked how to get to 15th and L. Well I gave her the most perfect and accurate directions ever given.
I don't exactly know how karma works, but hopefully it evened everything out.
We were at Dupont Circle on New Hampshire Ave. and the woman wanted to know how to get to National Geographic which I KNOW is at 17th and M. When we got to that really confusing intersection where 18th and New Hampshire and Q all come together, I mistakenly told the woman to keep going straight on New Hampshire to 17th when I should have told her to take Q to 17th. She went on her merry way and 5 minutes later I realized my mistake.
The biggest problem with being so familiar with the city is that when I've given bad directions I usually figure it out at some point. And then I feel horrible that I led some perfectly clueless strangers, who trusted me completely, off in the wrong direction. It sort of haunts me. The interaction with the woman happened around 12:30 pm and I literally stewed about it for the rest of the day. She put her fate in my hands and I let her down.
Fast forward to 8:00 pm as I was emerging from the metro on my way home and another unsuspecting stranger asked how to get to 15th and L. Well I gave her the most perfect and accurate directions ever given.
I don't exactly know how karma works, but hopefully it evened everything out.
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