Where it all goes, a spent journal

2006-06-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 28th, 2006

"Eating, Not Smoking, Still Spending"

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
MTA card $4.00
Sal's Pizza (on Court St.) $14.00
Rice (Fort Greene location) $12.00

I guess the tale is true, you know, when you quit smoking you eat more...
But I always ate more than enough when I was smoking too.
Here's what I spent on 2 dinners last night, yup 2.
Dinner at 8pm and dinner at 10pm.
The weather made me have to add money on an MTA card, had to train it to work, no biking today. I hate the train now, I can't believe it's taken me 3 years to discover biking rules in NYC. Saving so much money biking, and working off these nights of double dinners. Next time you're in the Carroll Gardens area, swing by Sal's Pizza , I call it the "wet pizza", just with sliced tomatoes, it's like juicy goodness, omigod, anyway, i linked a map to it...later!

2006-06-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 21st, 2006

Cafe Madiba $5.00 Mojito

The Mojito was actually $10.00 and Steph covered the rest and included tip, I only had $5.00 cash on me, so I'll have to get her back...Anyway, it was a pretty darn expensive round of drinks, but Madiba's Mojitos are so worth it, and the atmosphere and beautiful people watching is fun. We each just had one and caught a buzz... We rode bikes to Fort Greene to check out some artwork at a cafe called Smooch, Nine works by an artist Kate Sterlin, they were these amazing multi-layered transparent photographs. That's how we ended up right around the corner for a drink, and we missed the reading and music in the park, ah well. It was a great night to sit outside, that's for sure.

2006-06-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice

"Riding Bikes and Saving Money"

Tuesday, June 20th, 2006

Whiskey Sour at the W Hotel $10.00

A dear friend of mine Mikeshot from Chicago e-mailed me the other day and expressed how he missed my spending blog, I then realized it had been nearly a month since I have written. My year long project still has about 4 months left, and then I kiss this blog goodbye, so I will continue to fill people in on my spending adventures and saving tips.
Last night I was lucky enought to go see Sandra Bernhard perform for free...In her show here in NYC called, Everything Bad & Beautiful. Sandy B. was off the hook, it was a blast! My friend Megan got some free tickets thorough her work and invited me as her date.
Okay, so a few things have changed in the past month, and I'm doing a couple of new things to cut back and save money, so I'll list them off...

1. I quit smoking Sunday, May 28th (haven't cheated once)
2. Riding bike or walking into work average of 3-4 times a week
3. Cancelled Netflix for the summer (it's too nice to stay in)
4. Making drinking rules (setting goals i.e. 2 drinks and then go home)

Change is good...

2006-05-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

A new hidden treasure...

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
American spirit Cigs $5.00
Northeast Kingdom $30.00

The new discovery by "Brooklyn new gal of the century" Stephanie is practically in the middle of industrial nowhere land. It's off the Jeffersom stop on the L train in Bushwick, and it's the nicest little joint. The menu is comprable to Manhattan's Soho/Lower East Side food. Well, I guess even Williamsburg style (laid back posh)...I actually heard someone compare it to Freeman's Alley (a compliment), but at least I can afford this place. It was a great dinner with some girls, Amber(from Chicago) Sam (from Portland, Oregon), Stephanie, Emily and I. I shared the BLT with Sam, and the appetizer as well, toast with roasted eggplant, goat milk gouda and basil. I also slurped down a couple whiskey sours and still got away without feeling totally robbed. I'm thinking this is a great date place as well, going for a summer bike ride, exploring a different part of Brooklyn...and just when you think there's no place to grab a bite and a drink, you stumble upon the corner sign (see picture), and you enter this enchanting little place, with great decor, excellent wallpaper, and faux taxidermy. "The Northeast Kingdom" in Bushwick baby.

2006-05-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

"$40 is the new $20"

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Coffee FIXX cafe on Bedford Avenue $2.00
ATM fee $2.00
Union Pool (2 whiskey and sodas) $14.00
Pete's Candy Store (2 whiskey and sodas) $10.00

Remember the days when you could go to the ATM and take out $20 and think to your self cool, this will totally get me through the night (or drunk)! Well I realized that hasn't happened in a really long time...I never just take out $20, I always take out $40, and pray it gets me through the night.

2006-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

Coffee Settipani Bakery .75
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Bed Bath and Beyond (shoe rack, picture frame, garbage can) $46.57
Trojanowski Liquors (2 bottles of wine) $20.00

I was away for a bit, I actually went home to Chicago to see the family, well mostly the suburbs of Chicago, my parents moved out to Huntley, Illinois. "The Land of Consumerism". Yes indeed, and we did the usual routine of hitting up, Target, TJ Max, and Outlet Shopping that Noreen Salm (my mother) ritually and I do when I visit. It's funny, because I live in New York, which you would think I would be calling "The Land of Consumerism", more so than the suburbs of Chicago. But, observationally, I realize when I am there that it's incredibly hard to avoid, and that there is less entertainment and culture, therefore, you shop. The enormity of these stores provides you with so many more options, these open spaces that were once functioning farms are now Wal-Marts, Super Targets, and Old Navy. Not to keep going on and on about it, cus in fact I got some great deals, I must admit, and found guilty pleasure in indulging in the suburban consumerism world, and also enjoyed the great big grocery stores! You forget what it's like when you live in New York, in the burbs we get to push an SUV sized shopping cart through the wide aisles, and look at all of the options there are, so many choices, and grocery shopping becomes this almost zen thing. Here in NYC the grocery store becomes rather stressful, and getting through an aisle with a cart means there's an 80% chance of collision, or just pissing off the person in the aisle who just opted for the hand basket... Then sometimes that hand basket gets too full and your hand hurts from the metal handle, and you just get fed up, and then the lines...I can't tell you how many times I've filled up a basket, realized I had to pee, looked at the enormous line ahead of me, and just set my basket down, walked out of the store, and picked up some carry-out Thai food on my way home from the train. Not matter what, I still prefer city living, but grew to understand why many Americans enjoy the suburbs, whatever floats your boat!

2006-05-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday,May 2nd,2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Strand Bookstore:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami $11.95
Purple Strand bookstore Yak Pak bag $13.95
Sales Tax $2.17
Belly (Bar on Rivington) $24.00
Car Service $7.00

Monday,May 1st,2006

American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Union Pool (drinks & photobooth) $16.00

I was going to borrow The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle from someone and not let myself buy it, it's crazy cus there is Murakami craze, and his books are lying all over our offices right now, and yet nobody had this particular one, the one everyone tells me to start with if you are going to read works by him, so I went to Strand Books and picked it up...I new where it would be sitting, on the best-selling Fiction table, yes, I'm one of those people that reads off the best-sellers list, my roomate has called me out on it, but you know what, there is a reason these books are best-sellers, they are really good! I couldn't stand it any longer, I've been hearing EVERYONE talk about what a good writer this man is, so being the follower that I am, I followed. I can't wait to get hooked on some Murakami, but I will not buy the next one I read, I will borrow it from someone. I should really start a book trading club, though the last time I proposed that idea to my friends they laughed at me. jerks.

2006-05-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

(Jesse's Deli) Iced Coffee, Lime-Aid, Water $5.25
Sweet Melissa (Quiche, salad, coffee) $10.00
Met Foods (groceries) $26.53
Converse (Yard Sale) $5.00
MTA Train card $20.00
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
The Read-Coffee and a Bagel $3.00

Saturday, April 29th, 2006

Dollar Store (gifts for Steph) $16.10
Seventh Heaven Fashion (lace shirt) $35.00
Tuna Salad (deli on Lorimer St.) $4.25
The book: Holes (yard sale) $5.00
2 T-shirts (yard sale) $3.00
2 throw pillows (yard sale) $8.00
Iced Coffee $2.00
Sushi (on Dekalb in Fort Greene) $30.00

2006-04-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 28th, 2006

Coffee Settipani Bakery .75
Coffee (some place in Long Island City) $1.50
Bottle of water $1.00
Dinner and wine (some place in Long Island City)$24.00

Thursday, April 27th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
American Spirits $7.25
Daffy's (white leggings) $6.99
Ticket for dance performance at The Chocolate Factory $16.50

I think the funny story here is the reason behind the purchase of white leggings at Daffy's. Not a usual purchase to be making at 10:30am. See, I haven't got a full length mirror in this apartment (a necessary purchase to make, like today). So, I left the house in my new spring dress, feeling so good. At work in the morning my boss called me upstairs to the Penthouse where the sun was brightly filling the room. As I approached the office they tell me that my dress is completly see through! You could see it all, red underwear and all! So, I was sent out of the office on a mad slip hunt, with my yellow sweatshirt wrapped around my waist to avoid cat calls from the street along the way. Apparently skirt slips are not as easy to come across in this day and age, so I settled for the white leggings.
The dance perfomance in Long Island City was awesome. Rebecca Davis, had a piece that started off the night called "The Birds Are Here. I Hear Them". The piece started off with each of the performers handing gift bags to each audience member, and inside was a huggable teddy bear for each of us to hug onto while the performance shifted into very mesmerizing movement by the dancers with an intelligent and unique sound design. The the second half of the performance we were taken like prisoners into a dark basement, seated by dancer with flashlights for Ursula Eagly's performance "Nobody Try To Be a Hero".
A piece inspired by the Moscow theater hostage crisis, the dancers hold us as audience members hostage, in a very clever perfomance style, the dancers interrogate the audience, but with a comical edge. The girl on my right was passing me kisses and hugs, while the girl on my left was passing me cold hot dogs and noodles. I guess you just had to be there.

2006-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 27th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Aerosoles (green sandals) $39.99
Movie (Friends With Money) $10.75
Small Popcorn Small Diet Coke $9.75

I knew I would like the movie "Friends With Money", and I wanted to wait to go see it with my girls, but wanted to escape into movie world last night after work, so I popped in by myself. Written and Directed by Nicole Holofcener, whom by looking at her IMDB profile has not only directed some other great films, but episodes on television series that I am a fan of both Sex and the City, and Six Feet Under. Anyway, the characters in this movie were so easy to relate to, even the ones with shitloads of money...I thought I would see myself and relate the most to the charater played by Jennifer Aniston, the only single one of the four girlfriends, facing the struggles of being single and broke. I actually found I could relate some with each character in this film regardless of the amount of money they made or their marital status. The writer/director leaves you with those money thoughts in your head, what is the meaning of money, and as I always ask myself and others, does money buy happiness? In one couples scenario money destroys them, and though they are so rich, what they are doing with their money angers others, and as a couple the relationship is cold and empty...I'd say the film was worth the $10.75, and recommend.
Now the shoes I bought, they were also worth the $39.99 tax free, well, because A. I have like no sandals, and B. If you live in New York, you must know that Aerosoles are the most comfortable shoe, and stylin' all in one. Also as I usually go for my seasonal Camper purchase , a purchase that leaves me broke, look back to an October posting where I ended up spending $189.00 on a pair of boots. Justifying this recent shoe purchase of $39.99, I can buy 3-4 pair of Aerosoles for the price of one pair of Campers. Now, why I continue to purchase movie popcorn, and diet cokes everytime I go to a movie? That is something I should be punished for.

2006-04-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006

Iced Coffee Settepani Cafe $1.50
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Laundry Pick-Up $15.00

The more I forget to keep up with my blogging, the more I start to understand why it is that I've been doing this. Example, this past weekend I went to Philedelphia, I shopped at various thrift stores, bought food, ate out twice, had several drinks, smokes, and I didn't keep track, and i felt out of control. I also needed this break to see how I was doing with my spending and check myself. It was almost as if I didn't feel as guilty, not having to report to Bye Bye Money about it, like cheating or lying to my parents. I spent more, it's a proven fact, I have the receipts and the tiny checking account balance to prove it! I did buy a yoga mat and a DVD on monday night after going out for drinks (4 glasses of wine later), I ended up in Virgin Records in Union Square searching for the perfect yoga DVD, I'm going to try it out tonight, stay tuned for new yoga and more spending updates...

2006-04-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 19th, 2006

Sorry readers, I've been off my blogging for over a week now, usually I'm good and I write things down in my journal as I go, and then sit down in front of the computer and go from there...I've been at work non-stop, and have had a few fun spending adventures as well, I can just list a few that you've missed in the past week in no particular order, and then I'll get back on track:

Some Spending Wednesday April 12th-Wednesday April 19th

Used Blue Bike $80.00
Vintage Sale in Crown Heights (purse, sandals, etc.) $50.00
4 packs of smokes in the last week $32.00
Groceries for my Easter Brunch cooking $19.42
Film Noir Late Fees and Rentals $12.50
Average of 7 coffees $4.50
Lunch at Bedouin Tent on Saturday $9.50

Anyway, missing a few minor things here and there, like I said I've been working a lot, which means not spending a whole lot, or just not having time to spend...The excuses of doing a little Spring vintage shopping,somewhat a necessity, and getting a new bicycle (well, new/old bicycle), I've been pretty tight.

2006-04-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Film Noir (Six Feet Under DVD) $3.25

It's no question I am going to have a late fee, i think the last time it was something ridiculous like $32.00 and the nice gentleman at Film Noir cut me a deal and slashed it down to like $20.00, maybe he felt sorry for me. So now that I have finished Season 4 of Six Feet Under I will have to put Season 5 on my Netflix queue, to avoid any unnecessary late fees. It's getting to be that time, Spring, and I need to get a bicycle, so it looks like a fun blog entry/purchase may be nearing...Heading to a traditional passover sedar tonight with a jar Gefilte fish! It's been a bit crazy in my life these days to write any anecdotal thoughts or rants about money, I apologize. Still trying to figure out how to pay my taxes, ugh the joys of claiming 1. Good short read in this week's New York Magazine, under Mating p.94, they ask "Which is worse: cheating on your tax return or messing around on your mate?" Now, I'm not a cheater, but sometimes wish I knew better how to cut some corners, and not have to pay this year. Oh well, better luck to me next year!

2006-04-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 10th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75

Sunday, April 9th, 2006

The Read (breakfast for Steph and I) $10.00
Dollar Store (2 hand towels) $2.17
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
The Old Pioneer Bar (burger/drinks) $12.00

The hand towels got stolen, yes, they did. They were in a bag that I kept hanging on the handle bar of Doug's bicycle while we ran into The Brooklyn Inn for a quick beer and game of pool. He hung his newly purchased books, that he was so excited for on the handle as well. I took his lead in believing nobody would steal some books and a little bag with my new hand towels, but they did. Too trusting for Brooklyn.

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Stir It Up (tip) $4.00
(read abt it in the link provided, yum)
Ziad's Deli (water) $1.25
Liquor Store (Champagne) $11.47
the Drummer at 14th St. Union Square $1.00
Anna Marie's Pizza (2 slices) $4.00
Enid's $18.00

Tonight we toasted to Steph signing a lease on her new apartment!

Friday, April 7th, 2006

Coffee Settepani .75
American Spirit Cigs $8.75

In Soho, why are cigs .75 more?

2006-04-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

Determination.

Thursday, April 6th, 2006

Union Pool (2 vodkas) $12.00
Photo Booth pictures $3.00
Pete's Candy Store (2 vodkas) $11.00

2006-04-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 5th, 2006

Aids Awareness ribbon $1.00
2 Coffee's Landscape Cafe $4.00
Sunac Food Market $17.46
Laundry Pick-up $15.00
ATM Fee $1.50

2006-04-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

Monday and Tuesday

Tuesday, April 4th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Gristede's (goat cheese, Finn Crisps) $8.78
American Spirit Cigs $7.35

Monday, April 3rd, 2006

Coffee- Landscape cafe $1.25
Rent/Bills for April $692.00
Credit Card payment $49.00
Green Forest Toilet Paper(4 pack) $2.00
ATM FEE $1.75

So did everyone hear? New York State drops sales tax on all clothes under $110.00! Pretty much all the clothes I buy are under $110.00, so this is great news for me, and a lot of ladies I know...Usually New York would do this for 2 weeks out of the year, "Tax Free Week", once in Spring and once in Fall...by the time that tax-free week was over I felt as if I never made it to the stores, or if I did I had not even noticed. For now, this looks to be a permanent decision. In the Newsday article I have linked, they say that retail experts think that after a big boost in sales for a few weeks, consumers will spend what they save...So much for saving and not buying, another slimey tactic to get folks out there to spend more money!

2006-04-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

My Weekend Update:

Sunday, April 2nd, 2006

Iced Coffee (Jesse's Deli) $2.00
Polka-dot sundress (Yard Sale) $4.00
watering can, and Marc Jacobs summer tote bag (Yard Sale) $11.00
American Apparel (yoga pants/tank) $43.00
Tip at Pita place $3.00
Sunac Foods (Groceries) $16.98
Coffee $2.00

Saturday, April 1st, 2006

$0.00

Friday, March 31st, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
2 bottles of wine $17.32

One of my favorite things about Spring in any city with changing seasons, not just NYC, is all the things that happen when the season starts to change! People go wild, and break out of their homes in glorious colors, riding bicycles and skateboards, sporting fabulous sunglasses and some even dare to bare legs that have not seen the sun in nearly 6 months...The other thing I love is the Spring cleaning, that encourages folks to have yard/stoop sales where I can score some of my newly most treasured items, like my new Marc Jacobs handbag (yes, a season or 2 old), but a price so low you can't say no. There is more joy in walking and exploring, which equals less time to spend money, more excercise and less drowning of the winter blues in booze and hearty and pricey meals. Along one of our walks this weekend Doug and i discovered that we can possibly take a canoe on to the Gowanus Canal, and we are researching being members of the Gowanus Dredgers. Not only is it a reasonable price to join, but it's being active in and being a member you are part of a volunteer organization that educates the public people, and contributes to enviornmental restoration. The weather changing makes you discover a whole new New York, and as I continue to live here, I see how easy it is as the weather changes to fall in love with NY over and over, again and again. Spring day numero uno, made me start to think, the climate effects our economy, doesn't it? What if I always lived in a consistent climate, then I wouldn't need to buy all the things I buy during the cold seasons, warm seasons, rainy seasons, allergy seasons...Does having seasons cost more money? Or are seasons an excuse to buy more stuff?

2006-03-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Pete's Candy Store $10.00

Besides for swinging by Pete's Candy Store for a night cap, feel free to guess what else I may have done, or could be totally making up, on Thursday, March 30th:

A. Ate 2 Burgers from 2 different places
B. Had a cocktail at the Soho House
C. Read various sections of this weeks New York Magazine
D. worked
E. All of the above

2006-03-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
City Bakery (Tip for latte) $1.00
Cheeks Bakery(2 cupcakes) $3.50
Sunac Food Market $11.49 (stuff for dinner)

Sometimes I feel as if this blog should have been a part of the original blogging idea, "the sweetsavory" (an unsuccessful blogging attempt...a review site of sorts, talk of cupcake shops, NYC snacks, and new discoveries in the area of delicassy, well, basically my daily life here in New York. So I turned the fridge temp at the apartment up, because the Brita container was filled with frozen water. In doing that I ruined a leg-o-lamb that my roommate was trying to preserve to be an edible piece of meat, and I contributed to making it no longer edible. On my walk home from the train I discovered yet, another new cupcake shop, just what New York needs, more cupcakes! Cheeks Bakery, on Metropolitan Avenue, nestled between some cute vintage clothing store and near the BQE. I thought a cupcake would do the trick for ruining a leg-o-lamb. Well, it didn't, and if this were a cupcake review, the stars would not be 5 but maybe 2, we didn't like the cupcake we tried at all, i won't give up all the way on Cheeks, because the red velvet cake they had on display looked really promising, worth a shot. We'll see...(note, these cupcakes i'm showing are not from the bakery, Cheeks cupckaes were very perfect aesthetically, much better looking than these, but, deceiving).

2006-03-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Frank $32.00
ATM fee (bodega on 2nd Ave)$1.75

MOZZERELA di BUFFALA baby! What a great last dinner in NYC to share with my biggest culinary connoisseur of a friend, and the little chef herself, Rachel...Money all well spent, with no regrets, because there is no better way to say goodbye then to share a fantastic meal together. She is en route to the city of Chicago as I write this!! Frank is the place to go have dinner early, if you're not there by 7pm, you're in for a wait. I suggest ordering off the specials, I had the spinach gnocchi, and tried a bit of the black spaghetti with calamari which was tasty...(I'm having leftovers for dinner tonight, see, I thought about my pocketbook, and my bulging stomach).
I got an e-mail last night from a friend in regards to ATM fees,like the ones I got from the bodgea on 2nd Avenue, and the hundreds of fees I've paid in the past and just threw mony out the window...He tells me about his bank, Compass Bank, if you bank at Compass they don't charge you at their ATM machines, pretty much rule of thumb with every bank, including my shitty bank, though Northfork Bank, seems to be popping up everywhere these days. Compass has a great little perk, if you squirrel away all of your receipts from the bodegas or other banks that are not yours, you can mail them into Compass, and they credit your account for those fees! Bad news is, no Compass Bank in NYC.

2006-03-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 27th, 2006

Coffee (Deli on Smith St. ) .75
Cigs $7.80
Bagpiper (Union Square) $1.00

I gave the bagpiper a dollar, I think it was because he was playing the bagpipes. Doug played the bagpipes for a living for years, through his stories, I realize the importance, the beauty and the struggle of being a street musician. Yes, most of us drown out the natural sounds of the day with ipods or other mp3/music playing devices, but there is something to be said about waiting for the train and having a live perfomance right there for you, it feels special. Also, do you know how hard those things are to play? I tried to play them for nearly one second the other night and almost blew a blood vessel!

2006-03-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

The Weekend Update:

Sunday March, 26th 2006

Coffee (Deli on Atlantic Ave.) .75
American Apparel (red boys briefs) $13.57

Saturday March 25th, 2006

Bran Muffin (McCarren Park) $1.50
bottled water .75
I Love Brooklyn Shirt for Rachel (split with Joelle) $15.00
Brunch at Robin Des Bois $19.00
Boerum Hill Food Company (tea & cake) $5.00
Jolie (2 glasses of wine) $20.00

Friday, March 24th, 2006

coffee (Deli on Smith) .75
Movie (Thank You For Smoking) $10.75
Popcorn $5.50
The Dove (3 glasses of wine) $30.00
Cab Home $15.00

2006-03-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 23rd, 2006

Coffee (Deli on Smith St.) .75
Cafe 28 (Bagel w/egg and cheese) $2.53
Metrocard (30 day unlimited) $76.00
LF Flatiron $25.05 (hoodie) $25.05
Pac Foods (Chinese Food) $11.86
Union Pool (drinks) $20.00

2006-03-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006

"Lucky Magazine"

Coffee Settepani Cafe .75
Netflix $19.50
American Spirit Cigarettes $8.00

Yes, there is a magazine dedicated solely to shopping, and for whatever reason they decided to call it "Lucky". Inside this magazine they supply silly little stickers for you to mark the pages having items you either YES want to buy for sure or MAYBE for things you are thinking about buying, but NO they definitly don't have NO sticker, that would defeat the purpose! The purpose of the magazine is to tantalize women and get them to consume! Well, as all great marketing strategies have worked in the past, this one works too. It happens to be my "bathroom magazine" at work, it's part of our yearly chunk of many magazine subscriptions, FHM, BLEEKER, New York Magazine, Vogue, TIME, and the list goes on... Being the solo female at the office I somehow gravitate naturally to the ladies choice, and consumers eye candy, "Lucky". Today I did it, I caught myself marking the page with one of those idiotic YES stickers they provide, and the page marking begins, just like that I became a page marker! I'm now fixated on the new Dove Skin Vitalizer and a very over-priced Marc Jacobs summer bag, yellow and oh so freaking adorable. ugh.
(note, I tried to link to the Dove Skin Vitalizer so you could see it, and guess what? It's been recalled, great now what am I going to do?)

2006-03-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, March 21st, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Cafe 28 (bagel w/2eggs) $2.17
Duane Reade (ibuprofen) $2.99
Union Square Wine Store $8.66
Garden of Eden (bread and tomatoes) $4.82

2006-03-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 20th, 2006

"The Grocery Debacle"

ATM Fee $1.75
Coffee .75
Cafe 28 (2 eggs) $1.44
Sunac Food Market (groceries) $25.96

I have often forgotten to mention the stupid amounts of money I have wasted on ATM fees, I'll start tracking them from now on, I get mad at myself for being careless about my searches for ATM's that won't charge me...
I also get so mad at myself for doing my grocery shopping at the Sunac Food Market, it's purley out of conveinence, my default pit stop. It's right off my train stop, and when it's cold I don't want to walk the extra mile to the local Key Foods or Associated where the mark up on these products is far less. I spent nearly $30.00 and when I got home all I had was milk, butter, a sponge, a salad, a box of mac n'cheese, oh, and some cookies. I walked past the new Trader Joe's, thinking I would make my grocery stop off there, and there was a line up 14th street to get in, insanity! The Grand Opening was Friday the 17th, I think it'll be about a month until the coast is clear to even attempt to go in there. It's all the talk right now, especially opening so close to the Whole Foods in Union Square. Conveinence costs, that's what it comes down to. I was eavedropping on a conversation between 2 girls on the L train last night, they were talking about the cost of laundry detergent, and the one girl said she bought hers at the dollar store and it was so much cheaper there, and the other girl said she never even thinks to go to her local dollar store (well, she's totally missing out). They both discussed their live-in boyfriends, both obviously in freshly domestic situations, and compared the spending habits of their men. One girl said her boyfriend was cheap, she said he's the type that will go out of the way, walk the extra mile to get a good deal, whether it be on toilet paper or detergent... She said that time is more precious to her than a dollar or two, and it kills her that he goes out of the way to save that extra buck. It really made me think, especially in a city like New York, we get so used to having everything we need right at our finger tips, instant gratification always, but what's the big deal? Why are we always in such a hurry? In this scenario her boyfriend seems to be the smart one, a person I would possibly even seek finacial advice from.

2006-03-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 19th, 2006

Sunac Food Market $12.61
Barnes & Noble $24.93

It's always a splurge to buy a new hardcoverbook, but in my research on reading materials, this, just like Not Buying It, comes up in my searches... Actually, when you go to Amazon you can buy them together as a sort of package deal. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing that in the first place, I could have saved a few... The book I bought is called Money, A Memoir, by another woman writer, Liz Perle.

The first thing you read before the table of contents is a quote:

From birth to eighteen, a girl needs good parents.
From eighteen to thirty-five, she needs good looks.
From thirty-five to fifty-five, a good personality.
From fifty-five on, she needs good cash.
I'm saving my money.
-Sophie Tucker

I'd say that Sophie Tucker was a sassy woman, and a darn smart cookie of her time. Stylishly elegant as well, I do love this statement she makes, and how Liz Perle uses it within the preface of her book.

I'll give an update on this book as read it this week, I can already see that it will be insightful and honest, and it looks as if her research touches upon a lot of my true insterests of the psychology of spending, especially again, being a woman...

*Sidenote: I wore my new blue hat over to Doug's yesterday, he complimented it right away. I told him it wasn't the $64.00 hat that I had my heart set on, but instead I settled for the one that was only $4.70, he said he thinks this one, the one I bought, was much better looking and stylishly unique. I agree.

2006-03-19T05:54:00.000-08:00

A well spent, Hat Crazed Weekend:

Saturday, March 18th, 2006

Enids Brunch $16.00
Eckerd Pharmacy (mascara, nail polish remover, tic tacs) $4.73
Cigarettes and bottle water $9.17
Chopin Chemists (face wash, facial mask) $18.44
Coco Cafe (tuna sandwich and tea) $10.00
POP (blue hat) $4.70
Dumont (burger, salad, 2 beers) $32.00
Rachel 2nd payment for bed $150.00

Friday, March 17th, 2006

Cafe 28 (bagel w/eggs) $2.17
POP (white knit hat) $4.70
Coco Cafe (sandwich) $10.00
Clem's Bar $32.00 (drinks)
Cab Home $6.00

Ouch, it's Sunday as I write this and feeling like I'm making a confession, and maybe even asking for forgiveness. I wasn't very careful with how I was spending at all this weekend. POP, a new hipster botique discovery that put me in my hat frenzy, with the 75% off sale, such a frenzy I had to go back Saturday and get another hat! Does a girl really need as many hats as I have? But, "my hair is short, it's keeps the head warm" I exclaim, as if this is a valid excuse. Rachel and I spent one of our last Saturday's together before she leaves NY, and we hit all of our favorite local stops, and had the popular, tres hip and tasty brunch at Enids. Chopin Chemists being another neighborhood goodie, it's a holistic pharmacy that provides a woman with all the essential, pure necessities of skin improving products, where I spent a well deserved $18.44. Which then as you can see the rest of our day was food consumption, I hit Coco Cafe twice this weekend, and since the doctor, Erin was here from Philly for a visit we had to enjoy the best burger in Brooklyn, a Dumont burger. I've paid off the bed to Rachel, which is good, I think I'll be laying in it either watching movies or reading a lot this week to come, because somebody needs to keep this lady away from stores, bars and resturaunts. Back to mac n' cheese and Netflix.
**P.S. that Bell+Howell camera i bought and realized I couldn't use, I gave to Rachel as a going away gift! She can take pictures in Chicago and send them to me!

2006-03-17T06:49:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 16th, 2006

Bodega on Smith St. (water, tylenol) $1.63
American Spirits (Cigs) $8.35
The Park Bar $14.00
Pac Foods (Chinese food)$10.00

One thing I've never been good at is saying no to a social event or drinks out with people, in this event I was asked to go out with work folks, and excusable drinking excursion called "networking". Even nights like last night when all I wanted to do was go home, watch a film and order in Chinese food, I opted to go out. Though I did manage to get the chinese food on my way home, I was a bit tipsy and passed out shortly after eating it...
The weirdly guilted dream came to me in my sleep last night, in one section of my dream (they are like movies, seriously) someone was talking behind my back and I could hear them saying, "that Nicole, she spends all of her money on drinking, she's such a loser, no wonder she never has any money." Partly true, dreams are so funny like that. Though sometimes I need to reprioritize my spending, like I really need new mascara and I just keep putting it off, or I need to save up for a digital camera so I can take good photos for this blog and stop pulling cheesy clip art off google images. Anybody wanna sponsor me for a new digi cam? kidding...But really, just reprioritizing in general is necessary, but also living life, having fun, and networking is part of who I am, if I gave that up, I don't think I'd be a happy person.
Today is St. Patty's Day, and I'm wearing so much green I could puke!! I was getting dressed thinking to myself, why am I such a nerd? Even my hoop earrings are green, and yet I'm not even Irish. It's like I'm a kindergarten teacher and I'm wearing my "special holiday outfit". But, ya gotta love the Irish! I've got some Callaghans in the family and today is a big day for them, a day I also get really nostalgic for Chicago, the parade, the green Chicago River, the drunks... I got off the train at Union Square and walked to work from there, I listened to Sinead O'Conner (suitable for the occasion)on my ipod, and I thought about Chicago, the river being dyed green (though it tends to look green year-round anyway), and then I remembered this drink I loved as a kid, Green River, a favorite amongst Midwesterners.
I almost picked up some Shamrock cookies to bring to the office today, and then I stopped myself, another unnecessary purchase, and they probably wouldn't have even tasted good. At this point it's only 10:30 am and I'm already greened out, I want to go home and change my clothes.

2006-03-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006
"The Almost Full Moon"

Coffee Settipani Bakery .75
Cafe 28 (bagel w/2 eggs) $2.17
Wollman Rink Central Park$18.25
Taxi $6.00
Russian Samovar $20.00 (vodka, puff pastry)
Taxi $6.00
Jesse's Deli on Atlantic (2 waters, carrots, tortellini)$8.73

Ice Skating in Central Park, finally...We really put it off this year, winter is nearing it's end (almost sounds like rearing its end). The Zamboni cracked into our evening on the ice though, it took a good 1/2 hour out of our skating time, and I of course was thinking, hey I paid for this! I want my money back! Kidding, but I did get the tax call from my father earlier in the evening, and it put me in a bit of a funk. Yes, my dad still does my taxes, if he didn't I'd be one of those assholes running to the mail box at the very last minute. The bad news is I owe the state, i get some cash back on federal, but all of that and then some will go to me paying the gosh darn state of New York, yet another reason to love this gorgeousness of a place. A little vodka at the good ol' Russian Samo patched things up a bit, but my head hurts today, and I stayed up way too late, tried to watch Dazed and Confused, with my boyfriend, but fell asleep after the first 5 minutes. The only financial observation I can make here today, un-clear headed as I am, is that I seem to spend more money and want to go out and have more fun when I'm concerned about money. money money money money blah blah blah blah, i'm cut off for today, with both spending and writing.
Am I growing more self conscious because I know there are a few of you out there actually reading this? I might just need a 3rd refresh on my morning coffee.

2006-03-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, March 14th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Dry Cleaning $14.00
Sunglasses (2 pair) $10.00
Brooklyn Lager (Noose left the tip) $5.00

I'm not one to get things dry cleaned, 1 it's a non-enviornmentally friendly way to clean clothes, and 2 I don't really own nice enough clothes to do that. Though, I am one to get pants professionally hemmed, and that's why I visit the dry cleaners. It's another thing that comes along with the territory of 2nd hand shopping, alterations... I've tried to work the sewing maching myself, and talk about attempting to again at some point in my life, but for now i'll leave the hemming up to a pro.
Melissa wanted to go to American Apparel after work, so I came along for the ride. Have you opened the link to this site, come on! I mean it's like 10:00am, and I have a terry clothed ass in my face, so slutty. I know the guys are loving this stuff though. Doug sings praises to American Apparel, he says it made women feel like it was "okay" and "stylish" to dress like sluts. Anyway, Melissa was just going for a very basic and non-whorish tank top. We came across a sunglass stand on out way out and each got a pair of enormous sunglasses, I'm hoping i get the picture Charlyn took of us in e-mailed today so I can post it for you. I paid for the sunglasses, so she paid for my kitchen-aid orange juicer (.99) and french cookbook ($2) I found at the Goodwill on 23rd where we stopped off, and then had a pint at some bar before heading home. *Oh good I just got the picure e-mailed, here we are!

2006-03-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 13th, 2006

Coffee Settepani cafe .75
Cigs $8.00
Laundry pick-up $23.00

This morning got an e-mail from an old friend, not just any old friend, but my old boyfriend, a guy I dated and my "love" from age 16-19. He's reading the blog! I kinda advertise it in a way on my Myspace page, letting my friends on that site know about it, and hoping they take a minute out of their day to view it. I also hope for feedback, and weirdly enjoy the fact that I am letting people become voyeurs into my daily habits and fiscally irresponsible, hopefully and ever-so gradually shifting fiscally responsible patterns. Brian writes in an e-mail to me, that seeing that I'm spending most of my money on food, booze and late night cab rides home, that seems like not much has changed! Then he fills me in on his late life of a baby on the way, trips to Napa with his wife, a career as a Fromagier (as he put it, cheese guy/resident glutton) and I begin to wonder am I doing something wrong? Or am I leading my life as I destined? Just getting by, living and working in New York, heading into my late 20's, but still the same old Nicole! I even sport the same hair cut I had in 1998, am I a creature of habit, maybe that's what I thrive on? never changing? Well thanks Brian, if you read this entry, for opening my eyes and for filling me in on your life. I hope you continue to be a new regular set of eyes on my journal of spending, it was really great to hear from you. As for my Monday's spending, nothing too crazy, just picked up 32 pounds of laundry, a pack of cigarettes (no, I haven't even opened the Allen Carr book yet, do plan on it), and I stayed in and watched Secretary, from Netflix.

2006-03-13T06:49:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, March 12th, 2006

Jesse's Deli (coffee, power sandwich, water) $6.00
Car Service $20.00
Coffee and Banana Bread $4.00
Sunac Natural Foods $25.44 (groceries)
3 cans of Goya Juice at Deli $3.50
*Today I earned $111.00 in cash at Beacon's Closet selling spring clothes, and in trade got a pair of jeans and a spring jacket, that was in addition to the cash!

Saturday, March 11th, 2006

Joe's Busy Corner ("The Godfather" and an Iced Coffee)$7.00
Buffalo Exchange (shirt) $9.00
Cigs $8.00
* "the Godfather" is a sandwich consisting of proscuitto, provolone and fried egg

Friday, March 10th, 2006

Movie $11.00
Diet coke and 1 water at movie $5.50
1 Round of drinks at Bar 119 $16.00
Car home $5.00

Not allowed to mention the movie I saw on Friday, I promised my friends I wouldn't. It was really low-brow, and quite awful. But the fact that the 5 of us ladies all got together to go and see it was even more hillarious. We had fun. Saturday the weather was amazing, very Spring-like, and Doug and I walked around Smith St. where I got to watch him shop for Spring clothing items, like the great gingham jacket he bought, and a cute t-shirt with birds. It was a funny reverse of roles, most men have to get bored watching their women shop, I got near boredom watching him shop, I had to leave the store at one point and buy cigarettes...I went through my Spring clothes and put together a couple of bags to sell and donate. Beacon's Closet was surprisingly great about buying most everything, and what they didn't buy I donated, and walked out of there with some great items as well. The decision has been made by me, that I will try to keep only buying from the used clothing stores, it seems to not only help me with making a little extra cash on the side, getting new clothes in exchange for old clothes. Also the affordable clothes I do spend money on are never lacking in great style and sometimes a label that I would never be able to afford if new in the store.

2006-03-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 9th, 2006

Coffee settepani bakery .75
Sunac Food Market $14.48 (cigs, salad, perogies)

Wednesday, March 8th, 2006

Coffee settepani bakery .75
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Goodwill $35.55 (so much stuff)
Duane Reade (paper towels, kotex, razors)

I knew of the Salvation Army on 23rd street but did not know of the Goodwill until one of the stylists on JJ's film mentioned it the other day in a conversation regarding 2nd hand shopping...
So I left work tonight and walked over there. I found so much stuff, and it was like Brooklyn Goodwill prices! I thought Manhattan would be the worst for thrifting. I got an Original Penguin lilac colored sweater, a Michael Stars Tee, an American Apparel Tee, a poofy sleeved striped top (super 80's), a brown retro coffee creamer and sugar bowl, a belt, earrings and i think a dress as well. It was so great,and like I said, I only spent $35.55. The guilt factor on these sort of shopping excursions is so much less, and the "hunt and find" is so much more fulfilling, I know I've expressed this before in past postings...I mean #1 your recycling and #2 the money you spend there is giving (partly), as proceeds go towards financing Goodwill programs.

2006-03-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, March 7th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
2 Bagels (for me & Pat at work) $3.00
Jin Go Gae Korean Buffet $8.15
Cab Home $13.00

I got my Bell+Howell mini keycahin camera today, oh the thrill of gadgets arriving in the mail to the office! Almost as much of a thrill as when my Netflix show up...Is it as big (or should I say as little) of a piece of crap the reviewers at Amazon made it out to be, well I don't know?? Ya wanna know why? I can't see the pictures, yes, that's right it's for PC users only, yup. I was hoping right away I could take some pictures and post them here on the blog this very moment I write, and no, not happening. Speaking of Netflix, tonight I have a Godard film I've put on the back burner, and I may just watch it My Life to Live, starring Anna Karina who plays a Parisian salesgirl who drifts into a life of prostitution...

2006-03-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 6th, 2006

Rent check $650.00
ING Savings Account $35.00
Coffee (some deli on Smith Street) $1.25
Forever 21 (gifts) $33.35
Healthfood store on Bedford Ave.(tofu, eggs, edamame, etc.) $13.86

Somedays I get an uneasy feeling about letting people know so much personally about my spending habits...Other days I have to keep in mind this is really just an excercise for myself, and I need not worry.

2006-03-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, March 5th, 2006

$0.00

Saturday, March 4th, 2006

Sunac Food Market $51.20 (assorted groceries)
Sunac Food Market $11.90 (Flowers for Doug & Megan)

Friday, March 3rd, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Cafe 28 (bagel) 1.63
Oscar Pool for office $10.00
Pete's Candy Store (drinks) $17.00

This weekend was the celebration of Doug and I being together for 1 year. Saturday Megan had us over for a 5 course dinner that she cooked for 12 people, I've never had braised short ribs like that in my life...I made a quiche on Saturday (asparagus, canandian bacon and bleu cheese), and grape nut appetizers to bring to the Oscar party at Melissa's. I gave Doug orange flowers for our anniversary, as a sort of theme I like to give him gifts in the color of orange. I also brought some flowers to Megan as well. This weekend was quite cold, but left me with that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

2006-03-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Settepani Bakery .75
American Spirit Cigs 8.00
Cab Home $12.00

I have got to quit smoking again, not only is it bad for my skin, my lungs, my heart and my health overall, it's terribly expensive, and killing my budget. I was going to just go home and curl up last night, but Jason and I (editor at work) ended up kicking a few back at a bar nearby. At a certain point of drunkeness, I just avoid the L train and hop in a cab, my cab driver last night would not pull over and let me get a slice, I was so hungry. What a jerk. I ended up eating saltines with butter on them for dinner, delish!

*Groceries are rarely bought by me in the household, the most beautiful fringe benefit of working in post-production, the free meals and a fully stocked fridge!

2006-03-02T06:56:00.000-08:00

Wednedsay, March 1st, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Starbucks- Skim Latte $3.36
Soon Salon (in between haircut) $10.00
Tip for Stylist $5.00
Davines Glossy Plastine no. 6 $23.00

The problem with hair as short as mine, ironically, is that you have to get short hair cut all the time. I was actually just reading in Vogue(March 06) about Natalie Portman's "shocking new crop", come on people, like she's the first person in Hollywood to cut off her long locks, puh-lease. Personally, I think she looks stunning with that haircut! Anyway, she was saying how much she had to get her new crop, "cropped" or else she just looks like a science experiment. True it is, and I've found this great place Soon Beauty Lab, that offer to their customers an "in between haircut", for $10.00. Perfect for my little back of the neck over the ear clean-up...
But here's the deal the cut was cheap, and I was proud of my score on that end, then the stylist rubs some heavenly Italian goop on my hair, and I find myself buying it. What can I say, a girl's gotta look and feel like a woman, and a little product always seems to help!

2006-02-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February 28th,2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
American Spirit Cigs 8.00
Chat n' Chew (dinner with Rachel) $40.00

The book arrived for me yesterday, the Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking.
Rachel sent it to my work as a gift, seeing as my first attempt at quitting was a total failure...I haven't picked it up yet, because I'm reading the other book "Not Buying It" which I've written about a couple of times in previous postings. Part of me is a wee bit scared to start reading it, and part of me is not quite convinced on how this book has helped millions quit permanently, but it's worth a shot. I have heard many success stories, maybe I'll be one of the next on the road to s-u-cc-e-ss.
I finally got off work at a decent, well normal hour today, so Rachel and I met up for dinner. My remaining time with her as a New Yorker, soon to be Chicagoan once again is ticking away! My treat we ate junk food at Chat n' Chew and topped it off with a Coca-Cola chocolate cake (really good stuf for the ever increasing love handles). P.S. If you're wondering who the picture of this fella is, no it's not my boyfriend! It's the man himself, Allen Carr!
**another money saving tip when it comes to downloading music, (legit).
Joel wrote from Chicago seeing that I paid $9.99 for the Cat Power Album on iTunes, and told me about a site eMusic, check it. I started my free trial today.

2006-02-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 27th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Cab Home from work $10.00
Film Noir (Late fee for overdue Six Feet Under) $20.00
Fresca Tortilla (black beans and rice, veggie quesedilla) $5.38

2006-02-27T07:26:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 26th, 2006

Bell Howell keychain camera (Overstock.com)24.99 Free Shipping!

This is why I have money issues, I spend it on stupid shit like this. I've been on the market for a new digital camera, especially so I can take real pictures for this blog, and not use clip art, images like this one with the hand model with a funny looking chubby thumb, and if you look close enough hairy knuckles.
Not even thinking, I should read the specs on this item before hitting "continue with purchase", but i just hit "continue with purchase". Then I read the specs on amazon.com (you can read them too, just open the amazon link), and most people tear it to pieces, and basically it's a one star piece of crapola.
Doug picked the book up Not Buying It for me on Friday night. I talked about it in a post a week or so past. Just getting into it, and hoping her experiment and observations make me think twice and change my consumerist ways.

2006-02-26T10:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 25th, 2006

Forever 21 (shirt, bracelet) $13.86
Supreme Trading $7.00 (vodka)
The Royal Oak $20.00 (round of drinks)
Pete's Candy Store $10.00 (vodka)

Look at me, this is what they call "bar hopping" huh?
Another stupid way to spend money and wake up feeling shitty in the morning.
A night out with Karne and Melissa, we noticed everyone in Williamsburg is so young, and so "wicky"(click on wicky to see the root and meaning of the word). We usually like the Royal Oak for the dance party in the back room, but we were dissapointed to see that in just a year the place had changed.

2006-02-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 25th, 2006

American Spirit Cigs $8.00

working a lot these days, drinking a bit, and smoking too much.

2006-02-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 23rd, 2006

Cafe 28 (hash brown, bacon egg & cheese) $5.30

When you're riding the train to work and your stomach is churning, head spinning and you can't tell if you're quite sober yet, and how bad the hangover will be, you go and get yourself some grease. Cafe 28, has the best hash browns, modeled after the McDonald's ones we all know and love.

2006-02-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Cat Power - "The Greatest" iTunes 9.99

2006-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February 21st, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Metrocard $76.00
Laundry Pick Up $23.00

2006-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 20th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75
Cafe 28 (egg sandwich) $2.38
H&M (2 shirts, socks) $45.62
Credit Card Bill payment $40.00
Orange ING saving deposit $35.00
Agnes Laird (owed monies) $40.00
Cab ride contribution $2.00

The fucking urge to shop, sometimes it just don't stop. Thanks Jenna, the peer pressure she gives me to go to H&M, I tell ya. It's really a special time for her and I though, we do it every once in a while, and ride the guilt train together. In this case it was a tres necessary H&M run because I was in a terrible sock dilemma (no clean ones), but 2 shirts later, the $5.90 sock duo turned into a shirt duo, bringing that grand total to $45.62.
Paying off some bills, and tossing a little bit of dough into savings, time to freeze up again.

2006-02-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

Madiba $10.00
Rachel (check for bed/money owed) $168.00

Kelly, Rachel and I all went to Madiba in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and shared a lovely spread of South African food.
The seperation of two friends (Rachel & Bill) leaves me with a new bed...I'm in the process of a payment plan with Rachel for my new bed which is her old bed, and a great one, might I add.

2006-02-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

Ham and Cheese sandwich/chips $5.50
Goodwill (jacket, dress, shirt) $26.00
Downtown Atlantic Restaurant (cupcake & coffee) $3.00
Jesse's Deli (cheese, crackers, orbit gum) $8.73

Friday, February 17th, 2006

Coffee Settepani .75
movie- Something New (with Noodles) $11.00
Urban Outfitters (little sweater) $10.83

See what did I tell ya, I knew it wouldn't take long for me to start spending again. I laugh though, I really thought at this point in my life, as a 27 year old woman I would be shopping at much more sophisticated boutiques and "schmancy" department stores. Just like when I was 17, ten years later you still find me hitting the ever-so popular sale rack at Urban Outfitters, and making bi-weekly visits to the neighborhood Goodwill. Part of this is because I'm not the 27 year old I imagined myself to be when I was 17 years old, and part of this is what I call my "creative process" of being an excellent bargain hunter (inherited from my mother) and the pure satisfaction I feel when I find an amazing designer shirt for 4 dollars... Then comes the paralell satisfaction of telling others it was only 4 dollars! Some things never change, and I like that.

2006-02-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 16th, 2006

Coffee Settepani Bakery .75

I'm boring you, sorry, but it's been that sort of week. After work I went to a dinner party, bringing fancy cheeses from work that were going to spoil if not eaten as my contribution to the mix. The wine, cheese and people were all fantastic last night. Not to mention the house we were in! Stewart, the birthday man at the soiree last night introduced me to a new blog that I just might love, this lady is a hoot, check it:
brunidigest
So, I'm sure the weekend will fill my pages with more lavish spendings beyond the usual morning coffee, we'll see?

2006-02-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, February 15th, 2006

Coffee at Ziads Deli on Smith Street .75
Duane Reade (hair color, cigarettes) $16.01

Working late again tonight, another day to be free of spending money!
But I endend up getting out of work last night early enough to meet up with the valentine in my life and had fantastic dinner at Cafe El Portal, in NoLita. Dinner was on him (thankfully). The service was incredible and the prixe fixe included a mole dish which I ordered and had food orgasms over.
So, I KNOW I'M BUSTED. Yes, I have been smoking again, which is just awful, I know. I went nearly 2 months without it, and I had one stressful night and next thing you know, slowly I'm back to smoking. I know it's not forever, but I need to quit again, and I will.
I was reading about this book, and then Jenna at work brought it up to me, saying how I may find it interesting. "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping", by Judith Levine.
I think with my next check I may buy it, even though it'll cost money! ha! I guess her and her husband went an entire year without buying anything non-essential to living! How wonderful, good for them. When I get it and read it, I'll tell a bit about it.

2006-02-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day
Tuesday, February 14th, 2006

Coffee at Settipani Bakery .75

It's been a long time no blogging, and It's time to start blogging again. I know this because I'm all fucked with my budget, I spent some money somewhere and I don't remember where and now I'm broke, hanging on like a thread waiting for that next direct deposit.
Not having Valentine's Day dinner with my valentine or my girlfriends, a late night at work it will be, with no time to spend money while on the job! I guess that's a good thing in my case this week.
So Back to blogging, look for my new spending updates, much more regularly.
Happy Valentine's Day! Hope y'all get lucky.
XOXO-nicole

2006-01-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

2 more days of spending...

Thursday, January 12th, 2006

Coffee at Settipani Bakery .75
Sinead O'Connor Album "Throw Down Your Arms" from itunes $9.99
M.A.C. cosmetics (powder/concealer) $41.18
Cafe Bar in Astoria, Queens $20.00

Wednesday, January 11th, 2006

Coffee at Settipani Bakery .75
Cheese sandwich and chips (Deli on Delancey) $3.00

2006-01-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

"Spend-o-rama"
My last 2 days:

Tuesday, January 10th, 2006

Laundry Pick-Up $15.00
JUNK (vintage mod lamp) $27.15
Wasabi Sushi $26.98
Film Noir Video Store (Season 3 "Six Feet Under" and late fee) $5.25

Monday, January 9th, 2006

Bottled Water $1.25
Bentley's Shoesin Brooklyn Heights (incredible green boots) $113.10 CASH!
Jolie Restaurant on Atlantic Ave. $30.52
Gummi Candy at Deli $1.25

2006-01-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update

Sunday, January 8th, 2006

Chez Oskar (brunch w/Megan) $17.00
Beacon's Closet (wedges) $11.38
Gorilla Coffee (coffee) $1.50
Brooklyn Inn (jameson on rocks) $6.00
cupcake $3.50

Saturday, January 7th, 2006

XTRA Discount store (socks,slippers,tights...)$15.59
Salvation Army $22.24 (skirt,slip, sweater...)$22.44
The Thing (salad bowl, purse) $9.00
3 chicken tacos and mexican hot chocolate $9.44
Chinese Food $10.00
Car Service to city $20.00
2 Drinks at Lit $16.00

Friday, January 6th, 2006

Coffee at Settepani .75
Burger, salad and potatoes $10.00
Drinks at Clem's $25.00
Vitamin Water $1.25

2006-01-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January 5th, 2006

Coffee from Settepani on Lorimer Street .75
Macro Dumplings $3.95
Burts Bee's Facial Toner $9.95
4 cocktails at Pete's Candy Store $20.00

Happy New Year! I'm back, Jenna here at work just gave me a blogging push. I've been unfaithful to my year-long project, so It's time to get back to business. I have a new vibrantly colored green day planner that I can keep track of all of my spendings in. exciting stuff...
Anyway, I'm in a new neighborhood, my move is official. Well, I should say a new/old hood, cus I am back in the Greenpoint/williamsburg area where I resided in the past. You'll see new coffee shops and stores in my blog, along with other new things. Still not smoking, well I bummed one the other night, but it was totally necessary, i was having a bad night! Let's just forget it ever happened.
XO-nicole

2005-12-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hi anyone who ever reads this, friends or strangers.
I am on a blogging break, unethical i know...
But, the holidays and my moving have caused a spiral
in my expenses and keeping track. Starting January 2 I'll be back on track
and blogging my expenses.
Happy New Year!!!
(Go out and hit some sales, I hit Urban Outfitters last night)
shhhhhh.....
XOXOXO-nicole

2005-12-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 21st, 2005

JAS Mart 23rd $9.49
(Oolong Tea, Green Tea, Edamame, Noodles, Candy)
Schiller's Liquor Bar $55.00 (Steak Frites and more baby!)

I tried to find a link to JAS Mart because I want people to know about it. It's a great little Japanese Market on 23rd btwn. Broadway and Park Ave.
I couldn't find a link, but I found a really cute sushinyc link cool to check out.

2005-12-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 20th, 2005

Virgin Records (Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz CD) $10.73

Day 1 of the NY MTA strike. I had Doug's key to the basement where his bicycle was, so I had to meet him, we met at the Virgin Records in Union Square. He was going to ride his bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge to get into the city. This is really fucking shit up, it's taking people hours to get into the city from other burroughs. The streets are bustling with bicycles, walkers, bumper to bumper traffic, and loads of lit up cab lights. In 1980 the strike lasted 11 days. we'll see how long this goes...

2005-12-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 19th, 2005

Duane Reade (Dr. Bronner's Soap, Pledge Wipes, and Swifter Sweepers) $25.29
Twin 99 cents plus (cat scratcher and alarm clock) $18.93

2005-12-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

UPDATE:

I have to admit, i lost track this weekend.

December 16th-18th are vague and blurry here's an idea of what kind of spending went on...

I moved, movers cost $200
Storage Fee $105.00
Grilled Cheese, chicken soups and coffee from the Diner for Doug and I $21.00
Doug's Birthday night of celebration $60.00
Brooklyn Industries $80.00 X-mas gifts for my neices and nephews
Coffee's and misc. stuffs, I'd add about an extra $10
Oh, and on Sunday night I bought popcorn and diet cokes at the movie
Breakfast on Pluto. $10.75

Okay, back to keeping track.

2005-12-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 15th, 2005

Peridance (Limon dance class) $15.00
Win 49 Japanese Bento Box w/miso soup $7.80

2005-12-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 14th, 2005

Ramen Noodles at Dollar Store (prawn flavor) .80

So, I went to a New York Knicks game last night! Yeah, it was my first Knicks game. I feel bad, I didn't stay for the whole game, see, sports and me well, I'm just not that into it. The foot long hot dog, the personal pizza and the NY Knicks dancers were exciting, and having some drinks for free at a work related event, not so bad.
Mitch and I went to grab a drink after and stumbled past the Slipper Room where Paco, a friend of Rachel's was hosting his monthly talent show Paco Doubledown. This Paco character is hillarious and the acts were really great. I was supposed to get together and do some tap dancing with Paco and we never got around to it. Maybe in the future...
This Ramen noodle thing is new, bringing it back to the days of being really broke, like "college broke", though in college I wasn't as broke as I am now, how pathetic. So, doing it on the cheap, aside from the massive amounts of sodium, ramen noodles are fucking yummy.

2005-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Tuesday December 13th, 2005

Cafe 28 (Egg and turkey bacon on wheat) $3.00
Eisenberg's (matzo ball soup and chicken salad) $11.00
knit cap from street vendor $5.00
Tower Records (a christmas gift) $10.73
Peridance (Limon Modern Dance class) $15.00
Ramen Noodles (kimchi flavor) .75
Duane Reade (hair dye) 9.42

Ugh, what a waste. Another box of hair dye to try and fix the weird color my hair turned from the previous box of hair dye. Why can't I just leave my hair alone? Because I am obsessed. So my hair is red now, but not a good red. It's not good for my skin tone. Oh well. I'll just wait like a week and maybe dye it really dark and try and cover it up. I've been spending a bit more money this week, but it's the "Holiday Season" and who isn't right? It was my first time taking a dance class at Peridance. I took a Limon class with this amazing teacher Geraldine Cardiel.

2005-12-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 12th, 2005

Train Card (left mine in pocket) $2.00
Christmas Cards/Birthday Card (Hudson Street Papers) $21.13

2005-12-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, December 11th, 2005

Pho Grand (grilled pork soup, spring roll...) $11.00
Japanese dollar store (Q-tips, phone holder) $6.00

Saturday, December 10th, 2005

Dresser from Craigslist $140.00
Samurai Japanese Home Store (on Grand) $16.53
Duane Reade (toothbrush, hair dye, toilet paper...) $20.28
Laundry pick-up $11.00
Owed Rachel $20.00
Vietnamese tuna sandwich $1.50
New Phone (UGH) $155.00

Friday, December 9th, 2005

Zen Palate lunch $14.93
Popcorn and diet coke @ Movie Brokeback Mountain $8.25
slice of cheese pizza $2.00
2 pieces of pie (cherry and blueberry)$6.50

Saturday was one of my most expensive days in a long time. My phone got wet and the motherboard got ruined, I had to buy a new one. It put me in a terrible mood. Then, Doug and I went to a performance my friend Kelly was in that Saturday night at The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn, the historically industrial part of South Brooklyn sprinkled with factories.
The performance was called Nice To Understand You A Tangent in Seven Parts. It put me in a much better mood, got my mind off my stupid expenses, and shifted to thinking about how lucky I am to have such creative and wonderful friends in my life. Seeing Kelly perform for the first time in like 10 years really made me so happy too!

2005-12-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 8th, 2005

Coffee Chinese Bakery .70
Christmas gift amazon.com $15.25
Tips for bartender at Sound Lounge party $5.00
Cab Home $10.00

2005-12-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 7th, 2005

Coffee from Chinese Bakery on Essex .70
Cab to Nextel phone service place $6.00
2 vietnamese pancakes and dumplings $5.00

My phone broke, well the battery died so I had to get it fixed, no charge thankfully. It was so cold today, and it's just going to get colder. When I was on my way home from this party, I stopped at Dumpling House on Elderidge to bring food back for Rachel and I. It was her first Dumpling House experience, she loved the tuna vietnamese pancake.

2005-12-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 6th, 2005

glass of Chianti at Brooklyn Social $7.00

2005-12-06T11:16:00.001-08:00

Monday, December 5th, 2005

Coffee/Deli on Smith St. .75
Empire Schzechuan Ginger Chicken and green beans $8.00
Dollar Store on Grand (2 toohbrushes and 2 coco drinks) $4.00
2 Slices and a peperonni roll Rocket Joe's $5.00

2 toothbrushes, 2 slices and 2 coco drinks, I have a roomate at Ross & Chisato's for 3 weeks named Rachel! We are two little vagabonds with pixie hair-cuts living out of our overnight bags...See, I was trying to call myself homeless the other night, but I am actually the opposite of it right now, I actually have 3 places to live. I was getting her back with pizza and a toothbrush tonight for her generousity the day before. While being roomies, we plan on watching a lot of HBO on Demand, cooking and eating a lot of food!

2005-12-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update

Sunday, December 4, 2005

Figi Water $2.00
DVD's at Blockbuster Birth and Beyond the Sea $12.00

This morning when we woke up the ground was covered in a wonderful layer of snow. I made coffee, hot chocolate and re-heated left over pancakes in Doug's new toaster oven that I got him. I went outside to look at the snow before it melted...
Rachel and I spent the day together, as I was helping her out with some packing. She took me to dinner at Union Picnic.

Saturday, December 3, 2005

Jesse's Deli on Atlantic (pancake mix, eggs, coffee...)$13.15
Pitcher of Beer Melody Lanes Bowling Alley $15.00
Curly Fries $3.50
Car Service $13.00

I made pancakes for Doug and I this morning, cute huh?
It was Lauren Shawe's birthday party (belated) and we went bowling.
Melody Lanes made me feel like I was back in Chicago, we did so much bowling in Chicago, this was my first time bowling here in New York.

wait, i lied it was not my first time bowling here in NYC, I did go bowling at the Bowlmor with people from The Now Corporation once.

Friday, December 2, 2005

Coffee from Deli .75
Carrot Bread $1.00
Egg and Bacon Sandwich/Hash Brown $2.75
Chop't Asian Salad with chicken $10.00
Movie I Love Your Work $10.75
Cab money $5.00

I was really hungover this day, I feel like I ate all day long...
The movie was okay, to be honest there were a lot of times I was like, huh?
Though, 2 seats down from Melissa and I was sitting the stunning, doll-like supermodel/actress Shalom Harlow. She actually had a small role in the film.
Her boyfriend cracked open our beers for us using my keys.

2005-12-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 1st, 2005

Coffee from Deli .75
Secret Santa Gift (co-worker) $31.90
Brown Tights at Duane Reade $7.30
Carton of Milk $1.50
quarters for Laundry $3.50
Hunt's Tomato Sauce .79

The laundry mission got accomplished finally, i just did one load.
I also made some pasta with chicken sausage for dinner.
I ended up drinking a lot though, I went to see Megan at Taku and she poured me some wine, and then we went to the Brooklyn Inn, late night...Though somehow I ended up spending no money while we were out! hmmmm?

2005-12-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

Coffee from Deli .75

The image is this really cool vintage wallpaper I was looking at online today.
http://www.secondhandrose.com/

2005-11-30T07:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 29th, 2005

Laundry Detergent $4.32

Melissa went with me to Duane Reade after work so I could get some detergent, I usually can't just buy one thing at Duane Reade. I usually spend around $30 everytime I step foot in there, I have talked to others about this problem and many people agree they have the same problem. I get caught up in all the little stuff stores like this carry. I find myself saying, "I really need some black eyeliner and some ankle socks".

We took the train back to her neighborhood in Brooklyn, also Doug's hood where I am residing until R&C leave for Japan. We watched Sunday's episode of Grey's Anatomy, one of our favorite shows on-air right now. She taped it for us, and I had some left over chili that she made on Sunday. I planned on washing some clothes tonight, but never got around to it.

2005-11-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 28th, 2005

Coffee at Deli .70
Pellegrino Water $2.00
Pantene Pro-V Shampoo $5.73
Pomegranate Teany Tea $2.00

I made a red curry for dinner, it was missing the ingredient of fish sauce though. It was pretty good, I put spinach, red peppers and tofu in it. Sticking to the goal of cooking in, I'm already thinking about dinner for tonight, check me out!
I got rent payed for the month of December today as well, so I am all set and now just working on staying within the excel chart I have set up.
The Teany Tea I had was white tea with pomegranate juice, it was really good.
2 weeks today, no smokes.
We've started to watch the television series LOST on DVD, and well, it's kinda cheesy... I'm more a fan of HBO television series vs. primetime television, much better acting and writing. But, I may be sucked into this show anyway, i think because it's just weird, really weird.

2005-11-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Weekend Update:

So I was bad, I was writing down everything the best I could and then just lost track of some stuff along the way, so I'll give my Turkey Day weekend update to you, but a bit patchy...
Also, I had a little "session" at the Starbucks (yuck, i know, but free wireless) on Court St. with Doug on Saturday. We broke down my income and my expenses, and then he created a spreadsheet for me in Excel. Calling it the "road to riches", it should be a helpful guide for me to control my spending. This week's new goal is to eat in, start cooking more and stick to my chart best I can. Tomorrow we celebrate 2 weeks no smoking!

Sunday, November 27th, 2005

Coffee at Jacques Torres chocolate shop DUMBO $2.00
Key Foods (mac n' cheese, sponge, coffee filters) $6.55

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

Tip at Diner on Smith St. $2.00
Cookies at Cookies at 68 Dean St. $4.00
Coffee from Deli $1.00
Slavation Army (toaster oven, 2 pair of jeans, skirt, 2 sweaters) $49.52
Pelligrino Water $1.50

Friday, November 25th, 2005

2 little brownies $1.50
bottle water/Alka-Seltzer $2.00
bottle water $2.00
Groceries (Met Foods)$34.03 (though Doug gave me $20, so $14.03 really...)
Gas-X $5.00

Thursday, November 24th, 2005 THANKSGIVING

Coffee from Deli $1.00
Box of Clementines $10.00
Sandwich (turkey and cranberry) $8.00

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005

Coffee/water $2.00
Shake Shack Burger and fries $7.00
Money for Groceries to Rachel $13.00
2 beers Planet Thailand $10.00

Note***Today I sold clothes to Beacon's Closet and earned $60.00 cash.

2005-11-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Coffee (Chinese Bakery on Essex) .70
Rounds of Drinks at Brooklyn Inn $36.00

Last night Justin and Melissa were nice enough to help me lug my stuff out of R&C's apartment and take it over to Doug's...In return they got some drinks at one of my favorite Brooklyn bars, Brooklyn Inn.We ordered a pizza from Sal's on Court street, which has delicious pizza, Melissa generously kicked down for most of it! My tough girl, I was drunkenly calling her last night as we kicked Justin and Doug's asses at pool, and then played a really cute pair that happened to be on their first date.

2005-11-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 21st, 2005

Coffee (Chinese Bakery on Essex) .70

Like I said in my previous post, I am tight on money right now, so I have to
be careful. I just paid my security deposit and now have to pay rent on December 1st. I am also just realizing how easy it is to cut out these little things I did on a daily basis that were actually just spending habits. Deprivation can actually be more fulfilling, especailly when I'll be able to reward myself from it!
Today we can celebrate 1 week without cigarettes in my life and in my lungs.
I did nothing exciting today, just worked, and stayed at work until about 8pm, and then went home and cleaned and packed.

**One thing I noticed is I can still enjoy a cup of coffee just as much without smoking a cigarette.

2005-11-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, November 20th, 2005

$0.00

Saturday, November 19th, 2005

Lit (cover to see band) The 101 $6.00
Cocktails $30.00

Friday, November 18th, 2005

Medium Popcorn and Medium Diet Coke $10.75
pepperoni roll and sprite from Rocket Joe's East on Delancey $3.00

As you can see, I'm still not smoking! I am also spending less money due to the fact that I don't have much of it these days...The movie, Walk The Line was incredible, Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, an amazing performance. Oh yeah, then we snuck into Jesus Is Magic, Sarah Silverman's movie. Holy Shit man! Saturday I didn't even leave the house until after 10:00pm. HBO on Demand sucked me in again, leading to hours of The Sopranos. Saturday night amounted to a Sunday morning hangover. Somebody (Doug) was really nice on Sunday and bought me all sorts of snacks, eggs benedict, fried chicken, pizza and Thai food(yes, i am recently a pig due to not smoking). We rode bikes, went to the park, and I saw The Squid and The Whale for the second time!

2005-11-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday, November 17th, 2005

Fandango (3 tickets) to Walk The Line $36.75
Kwok Wan Laundromat $18.00
Cocktails at Brooklyn Inn $15.00

It's getting easier and easier. The fact that I went out for drinks at Taku for M's birthday and went out drinking after, I fought the urge all night for smoking. So far, so good. I like to see that I am not spending the $8.00 almost everyday, and have to write it on this blog everytime I do.

2005-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 16th, 2005

$0.00

Today I spent no money, I ate breakfast and lunch at work.
I stayed after work and had drinks with people at the office,
and then headed out for a nice little "work" dinner.

2005-11-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 15th, 2005

Lottery Ticket $1.00

Today was a rough day, day 1 at the no smoking attempt. I've also decided to cut out the morning coffee routine, one habit feeds the other... Combined both habits total were costing me nearly $50/week. So now I wait, I do my morning commute smoke and coffee free and make a pot of coffee when I get to the office. I bought the lottery ticket with the silver dollar this man gave me on the street the other night and told me to take it for good luck!

2005-11-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 14th, 2005

American Spirit Cigs $8.00

Well, don't hold me to this, but I think that's it for a while. I left the ones I didn't want to smoke on a stoop on Bowery for some lucky smoker to smoke. M and I smoked about 4 of them a piece while having drinks at Sweet and Viscious. We talked about quitting for a while, she's been in the process of quitting, and didn't smoke for 2 weeks, and I broke her last night...i've decided to give it a shot, and she's going to continue and be my support. I also realized that I was spending close to $200 a month on this dirty dirty habit, and if you only knew how much I could use $200 right now!
The day was on the cheap though, for I am on a spending freeze. I did get the pleasure of being invited along for M's birthday dinner with her Mom and her Mom's boyfriend at Lupa, one of Mario Batali's places, and the meal was incredible. We ordered a lot and shared stuff, meats like Testa, Salumi and Prosciutto, a nice simple pasta, oxtail starter, beets with a goat curd, brussel sprouts with pecorino and more. My dessert was this gigantic ball of chocolate and gelato. It was such a great dinner and a great time.

2005-11-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, November 13th, 2005

30-Day MetroCard $76.00
Burrito by McCarren Park and water $7.50
The Garden, grocery store (Cereal, beets, soy milk...)$13.57

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Duane Reade (shampoo, soap, eye shadow...)$27.28
Nicky's Vitnamese sandwich. $4.27
Urban Outfitter's (skirt & 2 sweaters) $62.59
Cocktail at 151 Rivington $7.00
Cocktails at Les Enfants Terribles $29.00

Friday, November 11, 2005

Coffee 88 Orchard $2.00
Movie Pride & Prejudice (Lowes 18th&Bway) $10.75
Medium Popcorn $5.00
Cocktails at Cherry Tavern $11.00
Vodka Soda at 2A $7.00

This weekend the weather was spectacular, getting up to about 65, sun shining. it felt like early October. On Friday M and I have been trying to have movie dates after work, it's a pleasant way to start the weekend, and end the work week. She's a big Jane Austen fan, so we went to see Pride and Prejudice. We didn't cry, knowing us, I thought we would have...Saturday I slipped, I wasn't going to shop, and I have NO money to be shopping with. I was running errands and having a snack, and a woman walked by with an Urban Outfitter's bag slung over her shoulder, all of the sudden I caught myself asking her where it was! Turns out there is a massive Fall sale, and I leave there with a skirt and 2 new sweaters. PMS enduces these shopping impulses, sometimes I just feel better after buying, or I just end up feeling guilty days later when the bank statement comes.
saturday night was fun, it was a birthday bash for D's friend Z, and we had a fun night out. Sunday then continued my aparment hunt, and it looks as if the mission has been accomplished. What a relief...It was nice to be back in my old neighborhood yesterday, R&B met me in the park for a picnic lunch, burrito and taco style.

2005-11-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

Thursday, November 10th, 2005

Coffee 88 Orchard $4.00
Empanada sampler and black beans and rice
Havana Central $13.00
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Metro Card $6.00
Vietnamese Beef Pancake $1.50

On Wednesday morning I only had a $20 bill, nothing smaller and the girl working the register at 88 Orchard couldn't break it, so she gave me my coffee and told me to pay her the next time I came in...She knows I'm in there every morning, so I paid her right away. I've been wanting to try saving money by eating in, or packing a lunch to work, but how do I resist a fantastic Cuban lunch from Havana Central, and the peer pressure from work mates to order it? So there went $13.00...I've realized it's hard for me to feel bad about spending money on food and movies, i love them both so much.
It was my second Vietnamse Beef Pancake from Dumpling House on Elderidge this week, I can't get over how filling and delicious it is for just $1.50.

2005-11-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 9th, 2005

Winter Coat from Dry Cleaners $25.00
Pho lunch special L'Annam $7.00
Win 49 Japanese Bento Box $7.59
Win 49 Green tea in a can $1.63
Anthology Film Archives (Let's Play Fascination) $8.00

Finally picked up my wool coat from the dry cleaners, it's the coat I love, but being the light green it is, I was constantly spilling coffee on it and it was ridden with stains...
It was an asian cuisine extravaganza for me yesterday. With the comforting Pho from L'Annam for lunch, co-workers and I ate out of these ridiculously large bowls. Then to Win 49 with R&B to have scrumptious bento boxes for dinner, before the screening. We went to and event at Anthology Film Archives. "Let's Play Fascination" was the event curated by a friend of R's, Marian St, Laurent. It was a screening of Ads and short films in all different media formats, and a discussion of the images focusing on, people as objects, fetishism, and the romancing of products. We viewed old commercials from the 60's and 70's, current ads of today, experimental films from the 30's and even peep show films from 42nd street back in the day. I really enjoyed seeing the fashion photography and short films of Guy Bourdin from the 70's and the 80's. There was talk that his films will be shown again somewhere in New York soon. The photo I've posted today is one of his fashion photos, looks like a shoe ad, and you can see more on his site.

2005-11-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 8th, 2005

Coffee 88 Orchard $2.00
H&M (orange wallet)$8.57
Medium Popcorn and Lg. Diet Coke (Landmark Sunshine Cinema)$9.00

So, J calls down to Brandname at around 5pm, demands (slightly) that I go to H&M with her after work. She knows the shopping addict rarely says no. See, she needed a wallet, but who ended up with a new wallet, me an orange one for $8.57. Jenna on the other hand needed some spending control coaching, which was taken care of by me. This made me feel good, seeing that I'm not only learning money control, but teaching it. I helped her edit out from a pile of seven items, narrowing it down to two. One being a staple item, and the other little lacey number being and absolute essential.
D was in SOHO and called telling me to meet him at Landmark's Sunshine Cinema on Houston. We saw the movie Paradise Now a Palestinian film about two best friends who are recruited for suicide bombings, not so much "the feel good film of the year". But a well done movie. D paid for the movie and well, I paid for the good buttery stuff.

2005-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 6th, 2005

MetroCard $10.00
Yoga Pants (some store on Broadway) $20.86
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Bottle of Seltzer water $1.00

Okay, that's it I am going to buy the monthly Metrocard next time around, I can see it all adding up...My morning coffee was free this day, I had filled up one of those cute little punch cards, buy 10 coffee's get 1 free! I realized why I like my morning stop at 88 Orchard, it's a morning ritual, and the girls there know me now by name, and know what I order daily, a medium coffee with half n' half. I think I will miss that when I leave the neighborhood at the end of December...It seems though, where ever I end up living I always find a place like that. Ask me where I'll be living at the end of December? I don't know yet, it's recently the newly added stress in my life. I've been trying to remain dedicated to the dance classes, but I forgot to bring my dance clothes with me to work yesterday so I had to stop and get some new yoga pants in order to attend class.

2005-11-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

Weekend Update:

Sunday, November 6th, 2005

Fine Fare Foods (ingredients for veggie chili night)$27.46
American Spirit Cigs $7.50
Bialy store $2.50
Bottle of water $2.00
Vietnamese Beef Pancake (from Dumpling House) $1.50
6-pack of Beck's $7.50

Saturday, November 5th, 2005

water and a hot dog from stand on Delancey $2.00
Ethiopian food, Ghenet $20.00
CAPOTE, at the Angelika $1.50 (D paid for most of it)
Coffee at Bookstore $2.00
Deli on Spring St. (cookie dough, cleaning stuff, garbage bags, sour cream...) $16.00

Friday, November 4, 2005

Coffee at 88 Orchard $2.00
Sam Flax Art Store (tracing paper/felt) $15.12
Zen Palate (sesame medallions) $10.00
American Spirit Cigs $8.00
Movie, Prime at Cinema Village $10.75
2 Slices at Ray's Pizza (for me and M) $4.00
The Delancey cover for Band (Seems So Bright) $7.00
Cocktails at The Delancey $20.00

Chili night was a success,and I totally winged my recipe. It was more of a chowder than a chili, but it was quite yummy...Now that we are creeping into Winter, we are going to continue the ritual of Sunday night dinners. It's fun and we all save money by staying in and cooking. Capote was a good film, I guarantee it will be up for an Oscar, and the Ethiopian food was so filling and cured the hangover,we went to Ghenet on Mulberry St. I realized that was my first time eating Ethiopian food in NYC. D left his laptop there, he discovered he didn't have it after we got out of the movie, thankfully the funny waitress kept it for him behind the bar! That would have sucked if he lost it.

2005-11-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

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.

2005-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

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.

2005-11-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

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.