Thursday, November 3rd, 2005

Kwok Wan Laundromat on Hester (pick-up laundry) $16.80
Dollar Store on Grand (toilet paper and scarf) $4.75
Coffee from 88 Orchard $2.00
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Sammy's Noodles for lunch (pork over rice entree) $10.00

So, it was another day of fairly light spending, and mostly money spent on necessities.
Though, my evening did not lack alcohol or food consumption. Drinks and snacks were provided by my friends at P.S.260 where there was an after work party!
My friend A wrote, she said that I could possibly check with my work and see if they could take my metrocard expenses out of my paycheck before taxes, but I don't think it's an option, I've asked about it. But, I am aware of this program, and they just mail you a new card every month, pretty cool...
S wrote, but not with financial advice, just commenting on how doing this must be freaking me out, just seeing how much I spend on little shit. She said it would for sure freak her out. I agree, it is a little freaky, and yes, slightly obsessive. I think that's why I am doing this.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Coffee from 88 Orhard $2.00
Toenail Clippers from the Deli $2.49

I guess some days I can really keep my spending to a minimum.
I can eat food and drinks we have provided for us at the office,
not step foot into a store, and not go out for dinner or drinks.
Last night I took a dance class
that I had pre-paid for a couple of months ago, so it felt free, and it was
fulfilling, to say the least.

I sent this blog to a couple of friends to view yesterday and got some economical advice already! Not that I'm doing this for advice, but, I am openly letting people into my world by revealing my spending habits. M was shocked at the fact that I spend $8 almost every day on cigarettes, I agree it's a terribly expensive weakness of mine. She made a great point, that if I quit I could be putting an extra $200 a month in my new Orange ING savings account! M also thinks I would be a good candidate for a financial planner, and says that the $76.00 a month Metrocard is the way to go in terms of saving some bucks.

Since September 1st, I have been living rent and bill free as a live-in cat sitter on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, so money has been spent in more of a free manner,
as of December/January I'll be a normal rent paying/bill paying New Yorker, just keep this in mind...
So I have a couple of weeks of money logging to get caught up on today,
here we go:


Tuesday, November 1st, 2005

Metro Card $20.00
Cat Food for Hachi $13.22
Cocktails and Food with Devon & Peter at Art Bar $43.00

Monday, October 31st, 2005

Busy beaver button order (viking buttons) $63.00
Deli (cat food, and a snack for myself)$10.00


Sunday, October 30th, 2005

Duane Reade (toothpaste, face wash, visine...) $30.00
Campers (new boots) $189.49
H&M (shirt, hat, skirt) $42.00

Saturday, October 29th, 2005

Juice $1.25
Jamaican Patties $7.00
Metro Card $4.00
Salvation Army clothing purchase $11.00
Metro Card $6.00
Coffee $2.00
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Cab Ride $13.00
Car Service $15.00


Friday, October 28th, 2005

Coffee $1.70
Korean Food $15.00
Cocktail $6.00
Cab Ride $12.00

Thursday,October 27th, 2005

Lunch $8.00

Wednesday, October 26th, 2005

American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Lunch $12.00


Tuesday, October 25th, 2005

Soup + delivery tip $8.00
Forever 21 pants and shirt $39.94
Chicken Soup from comfort Diner $5.00


Monday, October 24th, 2005:

Metro Card $20.00
Large Soup cafe Medina $6.00
Juice from gormet Garage $3.00
Lentil Soup from Chutney place $6.38


Sunday, October 23rd, 2005:

Coffee from Deli $1.00
Tip for Mexican Lunch with Doug $5.00
Wine for Dinner at Melissa's $25.00
More Coffee $1.50
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Homeless person Hoyt/Schermerhorn stop $1.00
Car Service home $20.00

Saturday, October 22nd, 2005:

American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Latte from 88 Orchard $4.00
Long Underwear set from some store on Delancy: $12.50
Cab ride $10.00
Cocktails at Lit $30.00
Cab ride $6.00

Friday, October 21st, 2005:

American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Fed ex package to London $75.00
Umbrella from street vendor $3.00
Metro Card $10.00
Lunch $11.00
Forever 21 (new shirt): $19.00
Cocktails $20.00


Thursday, October 20th, 2005:

Lunch $9.00


Wednesday, October 19, 2005

American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Bottle of Wine $10.00
Carry-Out from ZOZO's $13.00

Tuesday, October 18, 2005:

Cafe 28 Deli, egg sandwich $2.50
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Lunch $10.00
Storage Mart Storage fee $80.00
Drinks at Lolita with D&P $28.00
Dinner at Barrio Chino with Devon & Peter wedding gift $75.00

Monday, October 17, 2005:

Metro Card $6.00
Chicken Tender at Lowes Columbus Circle (free movie screening, SHOP GIRL) $6.77
Coffee, Lowes Cinema $2.00
Owed Petty Cash at work $2.00
Metro Card $10.00
*for some reason I don't pay to get the $75/monthly pass for the train, maybe I should consider it, may be worth it.
American Choice Deli Purchase $4.55

Sunday, October 16, 2005:

American Spirit Cigarettes $8.00
Movie, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE at Angelika $10.75
Small Popcorn and Small Diet Coke $8.00
Chicken Salad Sandwich $7.50
Coffee from Dean & DeLuca $2.75
H & M (socks and tights) $22.00
Duane Reade (toilet paper,moisturizer,mascara,razors... ) $27.93
Thai Food Delivery $15.00

So, I am doing this as an experiment, and I am posting for all to see. It's something in a way I should be ashamed of, maybe keep more private, but privacy isn't really my thing, and for some reason I think writing this all out will make me think twice before reaching in my wallet. If you live in New York you find it's a constant struggle for money no matter how much you are making, and it's a city of spending. Since moving here from Chicago in August 2003 I have talked about money, worried about money, and spent more money than ever before. I started keeping this journal a couple of weeks ago as a little project for myself, writing down EVERY little penny I spend, so I can see where my money goes. Living in the days of ATM's most of us no longer balance our check books, so I can look at this simply as an act of checkbook balancing, but it's also to keep myself in check. Maybe I will stop being a compulsive spender, cut certain things out of my life, or at least cut back, but really it's a great way to observe and see where it all goes...
Now I won't mention the amount of money I earn, a bit too personal, and also keep in mind this money I spend all comes out of the money I earn, nothing spent in this journal is on a credit card (i don't use one ever) thank god, or I'd be in serious trouble. So, enjoy my personal journal, and please try not to judge. Though you may say to yourself while reading this, why does she need to buy a $200 pair of boots, why the cabs home so often, and why does she spend so much money on cigarettes, maybe she should quit? Better yet, does she have a drinking problem, a shopping addiction, is she an over-eater, should we worry? Learn from it, enjoy it, and watch where my money goes this year!
This blog is inspired from other year long projects that I have seen evolve into great works of art. One being a year long series of polaroid self-portraits taken by my dear friend and talented photographer Stephanie Land. Also, great book I recently purchased as a gift for Rachel, by Tucker Shaw, Everything I Ate: A Year In The Life Of My Mouth . Now my journal begins, it was started on Sunday, October 16th, 2005.