So, the first full day of my experiment was relatively easy. Andy bought all the food for the SuperBowl party we were attending, all I had to bring over were some cooking utensils. I had intended to go grocery shopping today, but never got around to it (which is really a good thing, since I am working off-site all week, and won't need lunches or many dinners - so I didn't really need any food in the first place. Grocery shopping tends to be a habit, I guess).
We spent $20 on bets at the SuperBowl party, of which Andy won $10 for predicting the correct score at halftime, and $50 for a pre-determined bet on the winning team (out of the 12 playoff teams). So, I got my $20 back on the ride home.
Day 1 cost: $0. Feeling somewhat in control of my $: Priceless. I don't pretend to think that it will be this easy every day, but kind of a nice way to ease into it. On an unrelated (but fortuitous) note, I learned tonight that Restaurant Week in the Twin Cities is March 1-6. Hooray for the timing on that one, because I will be eating out every night that week, and breaking my $20 rule for 6 consecutive days :)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Frugal February
Given the current horrid state of the economy, I've decided to try an experiment. For the entire month of February, I am going to watch what I spend. I've never bothered to keep a budget before - as long as my credit card gets paid off every month, I don't really track my money all that much. Bad Adrienne...
So, for the next 28 days, I will be limiting what I spend - which is both an exercise in self-control, as well as prudence (I know more people who have been laid off in the past 4 months than I can count on one hand). I've decided on a few ground rules:
1. Must bring lunch to work 3 days per week.
2. Non-essential spending is limited to less than $20 per occasion (limiting my costly clothes-shopping habit, hopefully).
3. Leave my credit card in the car - small purchases to be made with cash only.
So, we'll see how I do. Goal is to cut down on my credit card spending, and start growing my 6 month emergency fund. Much like a corporation, cash is king. Time to get some assets on my balance sheet :) Happy saving to you all!
So, for the next 28 days, I will be limiting what I spend - which is both an exercise in self-control, as well as prudence (I know more people who have been laid off in the past 4 months than I can count on one hand). I've decided on a few ground rules:
1. Must bring lunch to work 3 days per week.
2. Non-essential spending is limited to less than $20 per occasion (limiting my costly clothes-shopping habit, hopefully).
3. Leave my credit card in the car - small purchases to be made with cash only.
So, we'll see how I do. Goal is to cut down on my credit card spending, and start growing my 6 month emergency fund. Much like a corporation, cash is king. Time to get some assets on my balance sheet :) Happy saving to you all!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Resurrection
The blog is back. Maybe it's because I need to get some things off my chest. Or maybe it's because I am not a quitter. Or maybe it's just something that only happens in the winter when there is nothing else to do (see last post in JUNE).
At any rate, the witty repartee is back. Stay tuned...
At any rate, the witty repartee is back. Stay tuned...
Monday, June 30, 2008
Happy Pride!
So, my parents were in town this weekend - looking for some entertainment, we took them to the Pride parade in Mpls yesterday morning. What a good time! I learned a lot of things - 1) Most stickers in the world are printed for political campaigns, 2) Al Franken is a short man, 3) You can make almost anything out of a pair of high heels, leather straps and tulle, 4) Cameras seem to stop working at the most inopportune times (like when a white terrier painted like a rainbow flag walks by).
However, the thing that struck me the most was how involved the gay community seems to be. There were groups of every description - gay Jews, gay Athiests, gay Catholics (funnily placed right behind the athiests...), a gay hockey team, the Mpls Gay Men's Chorus, the Pride Band, riders from the gay rodeo, lesbian bikers, the list goes on and on. And not only were there lots of gay activists, but lots of people who support the GLBT community - PFLAG, Rainbow Families, Politicians (hopefully genuine), Chipotle (my new favorite restaurant doing good in their local community), myriad corporate clubs promoting diversity (3M was NOT among them). It struck me how proud gays are not only to be out, but to be out doing good in the community, not just for themselves, but for others, too. That a group of people can be proud of a community, which does not necessarily return them the favor, is very humbling indeed.
So, Happy Pride to one and all!
PS - on a separate note, I hate my job.
However, the thing that struck me the most was how involved the gay community seems to be. There were groups of every description - gay Jews, gay Athiests, gay Catholics (funnily placed right behind the athiests...), a gay hockey team, the Mpls Gay Men's Chorus, the Pride Band, riders from the gay rodeo, lesbian bikers, the list goes on and on. And not only were there lots of gay activists, but lots of people who support the GLBT community - PFLAG, Rainbow Families, Politicians (hopefully genuine), Chipotle (my new favorite restaurant doing good in their local community), myriad corporate clubs promoting diversity (3M was NOT among them). It struck me how proud gays are not only to be out, but to be out doing good in the community, not just for themselves, but for others, too. That a group of people can be proud of a community, which does not necessarily return them the favor, is very humbling indeed.
So, Happy Pride to one and all!
PS - on a separate note, I hate my job.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Lovely Day
Spring has finally arrived in Minneapolis/St. Paul (it's only a month late...) - yesterday we officially hit 70 degrees, and it was gorgeous. Made my search for a new apt, with a patio so I can BBQ, even more relevant. Spent the afternoon looking at places, then went over to a friend's house for some burgers and stayed late around the fire pit as the stars came out, sipping watermelon screwdrivers. What a perfect end to a lovely day :)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Irony
The last place one would expect to step in a big pile of shit is in a bathroom. Am I wrong? Seriously - you'd expect to step in shit out on the street somewhere, but not indoors, on a pristine bathroom floor.
Well, things can't get any stranger, because this morning, I stepped in a big pile of shit - IN THE LADIES' ROOM AT WORK! Are you fucking kidding me?! I was talking to someone when I went in the stall and didn't even notice until I had stepped smack in the middle of it. Things haven't been swell at work the last few weeks, so this is either a metaphor come to life, or a sign from above. Oh, the irony...
I cannot believe that someone would make a mess on the floor, and not attempt to clean it up. I surely hope it was an accident - I can understand if we were in the bathroom at a bus station, or on Bourbon St in New Orleans (yes, human feces on the ground here, too), but in the bathroom of a fortune 500 company?! I never knew women could be so un-hygenic.
No way am I going to become a lesbian now!
Well, things can't get any stranger, because this morning, I stepped in a big pile of shit - IN THE LADIES' ROOM AT WORK! Are you fucking kidding me?! I was talking to someone when I went in the stall and didn't even notice until I had stepped smack in the middle of it. Things haven't been swell at work the last few weeks, so this is either a metaphor come to life, or a sign from above. Oh, the irony...
I cannot believe that someone would make a mess on the floor, and not attempt to clean it up. I surely hope it was an accident - I can understand if we were in the bathroom at a bus station, or on Bourbon St in New Orleans (yes, human feces on the ground here, too), but in the bathroom of a fortune 500 company?! I never knew women could be so un-hygenic.
No way am I going to become a lesbian now!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Duck, duck... grey duck?
It's funny how often you learn something new. I learned quite a few new things this week.
1. I learned that I can sing Aretha Franklin at the end of a long night of Karaoke and (almost) pull it off. Set stretch goals, and go out and get them (some beer and a supportive group of friends doesn't hurt, either).
2. Work. On the upside, this week I learned that loyalty and trust are two of the most important qualities I value in people. On the downside, I learned that upper management at 3M do not possess either of these qualities.
3. By far, the most interesting thing I learned was that in St. Paul, kids don't play duck, duck, goose - they play duck, duck, grey duck. WTF? Minnesotan humor, apparently. You can mess with people this way - "duck, duck, duck, green duck... Gotcha! I said green duck, not grey duck." Kids playing games of semantics? Kind of messed up, if you ask me.
1. I learned that I can sing Aretha Franklin at the end of a long night of Karaoke and (almost) pull it off. Set stretch goals, and go out and get them (some beer and a supportive group of friends doesn't hurt, either).
2. Work. On the upside, this week I learned that loyalty and trust are two of the most important qualities I value in people. On the downside, I learned that upper management at 3M do not possess either of these qualities.
3. By far, the most interesting thing I learned was that in St. Paul, kids don't play duck, duck, goose - they play duck, duck, grey duck. WTF? Minnesotan humor, apparently. You can mess with people this way - "duck, duck, duck, green duck... Gotcha! I said green duck, not grey duck." Kids playing games of semantics? Kind of messed up, if you ask me.
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