This morning a student came into the library and asked me, "Are you always here?"
I just started laughing and told him, "You have no idea how true that is."
It was one of those moments of innocent curiosity that summarize a current situation better than you could ever hope to. Now if there were only a way to innocently present that to the administration...
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Spending Less on Groceries (1 month in)
We did it!
L and I worked hard to stick to a budget, plan our meals for each week and use up all the food we had lying around. We were about $120 under our projected goal.
I keep track of grocery expenses in a notepad and also via mint.com. The Mint total was a little more than my paper total and I think that is because there are some things that we buy at the grocery store that don't exactly fall into what I categorize as groceries. Then again, those items were lumped into other shopping trips, so it's safest to go with the Mint total.
I'm confident we could drop another $80 off our monthly bill on a regular basis. For now, this October was a great month. As a result of our savings in the grocery department we rarely used the credit cards on emergency shopping trips and I was able to squirrel away a portion of two paychecks to the savings account.
I also devised another system to distribute my tips from the coffee shop. Each day that I bring home tips 50% goes into savings, 25% goes into a "Out-to-eat" fund and the final 25% goes to my "social budget". I feel like these ratios are pretty fair. I'm paying myself first and foremost. 1/4 goes towards something that Liz and I can share together and the final 1/4 goes to me being able to have a few drinks at the bar with friends, without taking a card with me (which can get dangerous, if you are a generous friend).
Another plan we have in place is a $50 allowance for each of us. We can spend it on whatever we want and can borrow up to one month ahead ($100). This prevents us from spending more impulsively. It has made us look hard at what is important to us and also creates a level playing field when we ask for something. I was really bad about letting L get stuff at the store because I wanted her to have the things she wanted. She works her ass off! This system keeps our extra spending in check.
However, we created a crack in the system this weekend when I bought a pair of these. I had been desiring these since they were announced back in February. Having little (read ahead for pun) expectation that they would be available at a local retailer, I was floored when I saw a pair in the window of Little's Shoes. As soon as I suggested we go in, L knew I had it bad.
Yes dear reader, the price listed on the webpage is the price I paid. $325. Doing some quick math you realize I can not spend any allowance money for 6.5 months. This will be a true test of endurance for me. I intend on decreasing that wait, by forfeiting the 1/4 of my tips for my social budget.
The crack in the system comes from being allowed to borrow ahead of one month. However, I have not had one ounce of buyer's remorse. It is a product I have researched and know to be of quality. These boots will last me a decade or more with resoling and tender care (note: I also got a free container of mink oil thrown in by the nice salesperson) and they are comfortable as hell. I wore them all Saturday and my feet felt great.
I feel much better about our current financial situation. The allowance system has kept me out of the thrift store. Having control over our grocery spending has made a huge difference in our overall budget and given us the ability to build our rainy day savings.
We are making due with what we have right now. It is important that L and I lay the groundwork for being financially responsible now, while we make far less money. This time in our lives has given me a wake-up call before we start making more money. I think it is easy to have two professional salaries and never really have to worry about your budget. Being at the bottom now gives us perspective for when I get a librarian position and salary.
L and I worked hard to stick to a budget, plan our meals for each week and use up all the food we had lying around. We were about $120 under our projected goal.
I keep track of grocery expenses in a notepad and also via mint.com. The Mint total was a little more than my paper total and I think that is because there are some things that we buy at the grocery store that don't exactly fall into what I categorize as groceries. Then again, those items were lumped into other shopping trips, so it's safest to go with the Mint total.
I'm confident we could drop another $80 off our monthly bill on a regular basis. For now, this October was a great month. As a result of our savings in the grocery department we rarely used the credit cards on emergency shopping trips and I was able to squirrel away a portion of two paychecks to the savings account.
I also devised another system to distribute my tips from the coffee shop. Each day that I bring home tips 50% goes into savings, 25% goes into a "Out-to-eat" fund and the final 25% goes to my "social budget". I feel like these ratios are pretty fair. I'm paying myself first and foremost. 1/4 goes towards something that Liz and I can share together and the final 1/4 goes to me being able to have a few drinks at the bar with friends, without taking a card with me (which can get dangerous, if you are a generous friend).
Another plan we have in place is a $50 allowance for each of us. We can spend it on whatever we want and can borrow up to one month ahead ($100). This prevents us from spending more impulsively. It has made us look hard at what is important to us and also creates a level playing field when we ask for something. I was really bad about letting L get stuff at the store because I wanted her to have the things she wanted. She works her ass off! This system keeps our extra spending in check.
However, we created a crack in the system this weekend when I bought a pair of these. I had been desiring these since they were announced back in February. Having little (read ahead for pun) expectation that they would be available at a local retailer, I was floored when I saw a pair in the window of Little's Shoes. As soon as I suggested we go in, L knew I had it bad.
Yes dear reader, the price listed on the webpage is the price I paid. $325. Doing some quick math you realize I can not spend any allowance money for 6.5 months. This will be a true test of endurance for me. I intend on decreasing that wait, by forfeiting the 1/4 of my tips for my social budget.
The crack in the system comes from being allowed to borrow ahead of one month. However, I have not had one ounce of buyer's remorse. It is a product I have researched and know to be of quality. These boots will last me a decade or more with resoling and tender care (note: I also got a free container of mink oil thrown in by the nice salesperson) and they are comfortable as hell. I wore them all Saturday and my feet felt great.
I feel much better about our current financial situation. The allowance system has kept me out of the thrift store. Having control over our grocery spending has made a huge difference in our overall budget and given us the ability to build our rainy day savings.
We are making due with what we have right now. It is important that L and I lay the groundwork for being financially responsible now, while we make far less money. This time in our lives has given me a wake-up call before we start making more money. I think it is easy to have two professional salaries and never really have to worry about your budget. Being at the bottom now gives us perspective for when I get a librarian position and salary.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Spending less on groceries
L and I have decided we need to budget our grocery spending. Compared to what we make annually, our grocery spending is astronomical. This is partly due to the fact that we purchase quality organic products, but it mainly has to do with the fact that we don't plan our meals beyond a few days or use what we already have (I can be blamed for latter).
This is a list of what we've decided to implement:
These will be the initial efforts. I know that there are many more options like clipping coupons, buying in bulk and joining a co-op. We may be able to employ some of those tactics in the future, but we want to get comfortable with our own system and see how much that effects our bottom line.
I have also subscribed to some gluten-free recipe blogs. One of my issues is that I'm not terribly helpful when it comes to deciding on a menu. Having more recipes at my disposal, that meet L's dietary requirements, will help me in creating our weekly menu.
I'm hoping to save a few hundred dollars in this area of our budget. That money could go towards more important things, including building our emergency fund (I realize how grown up that sentence is). Time to grow up Bri Guy!
If you have any tips that might be helpful, let us know.
This is a list of what we've decided to implement:
- a strict meal planning system
- making an effort to use what food we already have
- trying to limit ourselves to a set $ amount each month
- a Google Calendar to assist in planning and storing instructions/recipes
These will be the initial efforts. I know that there are many more options like clipping coupons, buying in bulk and joining a co-op. We may be able to employ some of those tactics in the future, but we want to get comfortable with our own system and see how much that effects our bottom line.
I have also subscribed to some gluten-free recipe blogs. One of my issues is that I'm not terribly helpful when it comes to deciding on a menu. Having more recipes at my disposal, that meet L's dietary requirements, will help me in creating our weekly menu.
I'm hoping to save a few hundred dollars in this area of our budget. That money could go towards more important things, including building our emergency fund (I realize how grown up that sentence is). Time to grow up Bri Guy!
If you have any tips that might be helpful, let us know.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A treatise on the reduction of ones wardrobe or, How to let it go...
"The simple test is to look at an item in your closet and gauge your gut reaction to it: If you’re not immediately filled with fondness, get rid of it." Link
I could stand to employ this tactic.
However, I would argue that there are two types of fondness associated with getting rid of an old thrift-find, which make these decisions all the more difficult. The first is sentimental. "Oh, I remember buying that when I went to that thrift store in Columbus when I visited for an intramural soccer tournament" (GAP green corduroys, now shorts with one back pocket). The second is a fondness for the design or piece (L is going to hate that I said piece). "This Penguins shirt is a little too big on me, but it has an awesome logo and ringer sleeves!". If I am able to overcome these two emotions, I can let it go.
I recently narrowed down my dress shoe collection down to three. One black, one brown, one maroon. Obviously there are plenty of casual shoes in between, but those are actually necessary...mostly.
Over eleven years of thrifting (jesus, has it been that long?!) I have accumulated a lot of clothes. I still have some from the earlier years and those have been the hardest to get rid of. Granted, most of them are t-shirts because that was the only thing I knew how to buy. One of my best strategies is to really take a hard look at my wardrobe and decide what I can live without.
Once I've decided I can live without them, the clothes have a determined path. First, they go to Avalon to be traded in for cash/store credit. This is the first place I go, because I can replace a few nice pieces that don't fit for a great staple that helps complete my wardrobe. For example, I recently unloaded a few items I never wore (or gave me corns...fuck you, shoes!) and got a simple green/grey striped sweater that fits really well, plus some cash back. This is a win-win.
Whatever isn't taken by Avalon goes into two categories: vintage and non-vintage. Hey Beatty! and Eons get to take a look at the vintage goods (for cash) and Goodwill gets the rest.
This is always a theraputic endeavor. Coming home with a nice sweater, some extra cash (to spend on my lady) and more room in our closet for the clothes we do have is very rewarding.
Ideally, I could avoid this entire cycle by not buy this stuff in the first place! Alas, I get attached to items very easily at the thrift store. I feel that I have gotten better at making decisions at the thrift store; reasoning between price, fit, style and neccessity. I still catch myself thinking, "This is a little big...but the design is too good too pass up!". As I practice restraint, this little voice will become smaller and I will make better judgments about what to buy. Until then, I'm hanging onto to that Pens shirt.
I could stand to employ this tactic.
However, I would argue that there are two types of fondness associated with getting rid of an old thrift-find, which make these decisions all the more difficult. The first is sentimental. "Oh, I remember buying that when I went to that thrift store in Columbus when I visited for an intramural soccer tournament" (GAP green corduroys, now shorts with one back pocket). The second is a fondness for the design or piece (L is going to hate that I said piece). "This Penguins shirt is a little too big on me, but it has an awesome logo and ringer sleeves!". If I am able to overcome these two emotions, I can let it go.
I recently narrowed down my dress shoe collection down to three. One black, one brown, one maroon. Obviously there are plenty of casual shoes in between, but those are actually necessary...mostly.
Over eleven years of thrifting (jesus, has it been that long?!) I have accumulated a lot of clothes. I still have some from the earlier years and those have been the hardest to get rid of. Granted, most of them are t-shirts because that was the only thing I knew how to buy. One of my best strategies is to really take a hard look at my wardrobe and decide what I can live without.
Once I've decided I can live without them, the clothes have a determined path. First, they go to Avalon to be traded in for cash/store credit. This is the first place I go, because I can replace a few nice pieces that don't fit for a great staple that helps complete my wardrobe. For example, I recently unloaded a few items I never wore (or gave me corns...fuck you, shoes!) and got a simple green/grey striped sweater that fits really well, plus some cash back. This is a win-win.
Whatever isn't taken by Avalon goes into two categories: vintage and non-vintage. Hey Beatty! and Eons get to take a look at the vintage goods (for cash) and Goodwill gets the rest.
This is always a theraputic endeavor. Coming home with a nice sweater, some extra cash (to spend on my lady) and more room in our closet for the clothes we do have is very rewarding.
Ideally, I could avoid this entire cycle by not buy this stuff in the first place! Alas, I get attached to items very easily at the thrift store. I feel that I have gotten better at making decisions at the thrift store; reasoning between price, fit, style and neccessity. I still catch myself thinking, "This is a little big...but the design is too good too pass up!". As I practice restraint, this little voice will become smaller and I will make better judgments about what to buy. Until then, I'm hanging onto to that Pens shirt.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
One year strong!
L and I had a quiet dinner on our porch the evening of September the 13th, 2009 to celebrate our young marriage turning one. Although we had to make some last minute changes, everything turned out fantastically.
Our friend M made us a pork tenderloin roast and some grain-free carrot cake. The tenderloin came out nice and tender with all its juices remaining. The carrot cake was a nice alternative to the one year old carrot cake from our wedding, which was grain-o-riffic.
While I picked up the cake and pork, L set up our 'dining room' on the porch. Luckily we had some borrowed TV trays from a recent BBQ and they served as our tables. L even went to the point of stamping some little cards, on which we wrote messages for each other and put them in a tin for next year.
After a fabulous meal L opened her gift and quickly sported its contents. We had way too much cake and called up some friends who attended the wedding, but live in Pittsburgh to join us for the remainder of the slices (even though we still did not finish it).
The weather was gorgeous and punctuated the evening perfectly. Here's to another wonderful year!
Our friend M made us a pork tenderloin roast and some grain-free carrot cake. The tenderloin came out nice and tender with all its juices remaining. The carrot cake was a nice alternative to the one year old carrot cake from our wedding, which was grain-o-riffic.
While I picked up the cake and pork, L set up our 'dining room' on the porch. Luckily we had some borrowed TV trays from a recent BBQ and they served as our tables. L even went to the point of stamping some little cards, on which we wrote messages for each other and put them in a tin for next year.
After a fabulous meal L opened her gift and quickly sported its contents. We had way too much cake and called up some friends who attended the wedding, but live in Pittsburgh to join us for the remainder of the slices (even though we still did not finish it).
The weather was gorgeous and punctuated the evening perfectly. Here's to another wonderful year!
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