About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
One of my friends was suitably impressed by the dinner I prepared over the weekend and that I cook as much as I do each week. The evidence of my evolution into frugal domesticity was rather striking this weekend, come to think.
I came home from work, did more work at home, made a three course dinner with dessert, served brunch, second lunch, picked up supplies for my friends the intrepid painters, washed, dried and folded a combination of laundry for three, and made dinner again.
As I suspected, several long years ago, supporting my family financially isn’t all there is to running a household. Housekeeping is hard work. I can’t even begin to imagine how much more challenging this would be combined with having children. And pets? No wonder my parents resisted our pleas for dogs so long. Every little bit eats away at your previous time and energy.
The extra effort in having guests who are old friends would be well worth the company alone. In this case, it’s more than repaid because they’ve cheerfully taken on the task of painting the apartment (not my plan or idea, but I can’t get into that right now). All I’ve got to do is provide support services like cooking and cleaning so they can handle the stuff my shoulder and various other joints won’t allow. Our friendships don’t require currency but it’s nice that we’re good about exchanging favors like random chores or emergency break-up moving services.
As I was folding our laundry, the thought occurred to me that the next time I buy detergent and fabric softener – a long while from now as I only use a wee dash at a time, I need a different scent. Something about this combination reminds me of someone I was once fond of but am no longer. It’s strange how something as simple as a fragrance can influence future shopping habits.
Remember that 2 meals out per week thing? It’s becoming pretty challenging.
Those friends being in town didn’t help – we hit the quota, and would have gone over had it not been over a weekend. Twice on Sunday! I mean, really! But it was dim sum, and then the longest afternoon of shopping/errands stretched into a late night sushi dinner, and who was I to argue?
Still, that blew the dining out budget for the entire week so I had to veto Cinco de Mayo. Luckily, I had made a huge pot of homemade chicken soup which heated up wonderfully for Wednesday night dinner. Leftovers sufficed for Thursday night but we had to defrost something that night lest Friday night become another night out.
Having friends over is nice, but between that and the wonky schedule when social obligations come up or when I get home really late from work, my money management’s suffering. I’m starting to wonder if my arbitrary limit needs some evaluation. Should I be targeting a dollar amount per week instead of occurrences? Because I count Costco Dog Dinners as eating out – it’s prepared food.
If I were to be on a monthly dining out budget, I’d just have to be more prudent in a different way, and not limit the number of times I eat out so strictly. Is that better or will it just encourage me to feel like there’s more slack in the system? The grocery budget is already at a more than generous amount so I’m really wary of allowing more spending.
Since I have such major savings targets, I’ve morphed into a bit of a tightwad. (More than usual, yes.) And with the $5K/5K Challenge on now, I’m even more motivated to avoid unnecessary spending.
My iPhone cover is giving up the ghost.
I’m considering checking to see if they’ll do a partial replacement or just going without for a while because this cost $30 when I bought the iSkin revo two years ago. The visor is essential because if I’m using the phone without, there’s a 90% chance I’ll touch the screen and mute/hang up/do something else unintentionally. I’d rather not spend anything I don’t absolutely have to until I’ve regained some savings ground. Rechecking the site, the whole thing costs $20 now. Miiight be worth it.
I know I said I’d stop buying clothes, but does that include underthings?
I rather need a small round of replacements. Or is that a want? Hmm. Either way, I don’t want to spend the money. A single good quality bra that doesn’t fall apart is between $60-70. Or at least all my regular bras that cost less than $20 are in tatters. Just don’t want to spend that kind of money.
The netbook of my dreams starts at $1300.
It makes the $250 “sale” look like an incredible bargain. Again, holding back the credit card.
Shoes.
I hate shoe shopping. But I’ve about worn a hole into the soles of my Kate & Kelly flats because I walk everydangwhere to, at, and from work. I liked walking before but I dread it now that I’m in the company of people who think nothing of trotting (aka demon speedwalking) nearly 2 miles one way to catch their transportation. And then think I should come with them for business dinners. At this rate, I’m just going to have to wear sneakers with business trousers and that just looks wrong.
Another attempt at the Holy Grail bag, partial Fail.
I DID spend $38 on a new bag from Etsy. The order might have gone in on April, but I gotta pay the bill whenever the credit card comes due.
My beloved expensive leather bag that’s butter-soft, got all the pockets I need, and eminently waterproof weighs in at more than three pounds. After it’s loaded up, it’s unmanageably heavy and has been causing serious back and neck pain. I’ve picked out a new lightweight shoulder/cross body bag to get me through until I find a winter option. I hate having too many bags but it doesn’t make sense to destroy my body for the sake of money.
Since these are discretionary purchases, opting to wait is not cheating. What are you saying “not yet” to these days?
A couple friends came to town last night and up until 6 pm, I wasn’t exactly sure if I was hosting a dinner or not. I got a call to expect dinner guests in an hour and a half, so then the scramble to pull together a good meal commenced.
The menu
Caprese salad Broccoli, pasta, potato variation on Frugal Scholar’s Broccoli Garlic soup Roasted chicken Garlic and spinach Red quinoa cooked in vegetable broth Dessert: Pies in jars
That was the last of the pies in jars so it’s time to make up a new batch. (Musing: Did I buy any more flour? I did buy Granny Smiths but haven’t done a thing with them.)
I’ve got SO very much work to do this weekend that I’m all conflicted. I only see these friends a few times a year so obviously it’s important to spend time with them while they’re here. On the other hand, time is running out to get a number of freelance jobbies done and commitments must be honored. It’s just going to be another weekend of juggling!
Will someone out there have a restful Saturday for me?
What a strangely accurate (Post-it Stop Motion) depiction of people at work!
It’s Friday!
If I were a mouse, I’d be playing as the boss is away, but I’m supposed to be “brilliant” so I’m still working.
Would love to see Iron Man, though! Then again, I don’t want to pay full price either. Hm… priorities. Well, an old friend will be in town again and I don’t see him often so it might be a case of going along with with everyone else wants and paying more than I’d like to hang out and see the same movie at the same time. Like high school, only more expensive.
What’s your stance on movie theaters? Yea or nay?
Also: roasted chicken or pork tenderloin for next week’s dinners? (Hint: The first one is WAY easier to make.)
Frugal Scholar with a goal TBD
Cody and Candace with a goal of $500 for debt reduction
Jersey Mom with a goal TBD MochaTrina with a goal TBD
Serendipity with a goal of $250
Doug with a goal of $500
Divorcing Debt with a goal of saving all Amazon/eBay sales money
Fitness
Single Ma running all five Ks Chele
nofearingthemoney (no blog)
Tazzee
mzinspiredmind
Funny About Money with a goal to lose 10 lbs
BOTH Tired of Being Broke with a goal of $5K and losing 7 lbs
Ciawy taking on both with a goal of $500 bringing lunch everyday to work, and signing up for a 5K race
BK Diva
Here’s the plan: I will be updating weekly so send me your updates by email or post a comment, or send me the link to your blogged update on Friday to be included in the post Saturday.
I have been gainfully employed for one full month since the Long Layoff of Ought-nine through Ten.
“How does it feel, Revanche, to be a fully contributing member of society again?” “What does that even mean? I’m exhausted, I’ve worked my toes off and frankly, I’m surprised that I’m still alive!”
Ah yes, welcome back to the American workplace, indeed.
I’d mentioned before that I work with workaholics. Idealists with a vision. Idealistic businesspeople who aren’t naive so much as complete fire-eaters with very little need to connect to human limitations. What I’m saying is it’s hard to keep up with them, much less excel and shine in the manner in which I’m accustomed. (Grump, much?) Still and all, they’re good eggs and I’m exaggerating at least a little.
It’s been kind of a rollercoaster.
Work like a swan on water: Look smooth up top, but paddle like hell underwater. I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they pass me by.
It’s been long enough since starting my last job that I’d forgotten how much harder it would be to start a new role with the management responsibilities I’d earned over time after starting at the bottom. I assumed that my skills were applicable across the board, which they are, and completely discounted the degree of social buy-in that’s necessary to fully engage, productively, with a new team. Oh and learning an entirely new culture and system, let’s not forget that.
When you’re hired in at entry-level, people are pretty happy if you’re only sort of socialized and relieved if you’re not an utter mess. They are, however, not surprised if you fail at either or both. The attitude is frequently that the “first job out of college” is a significant benchmark: the fresh-minted new grad or the fresh to the workforce babe-in-arms can be readily excused just about anything.
When you’ve hired yourself out to the highest bidder as an experienced and seasoned veteran of the work trenches, however, it’s an entirely different story. You have to, as they like to say, “hit the ground running” and be prepared to contribute as a fully functioning member of the team in many capacities: facilitator, communicator, politician. This is not an unreasonable expectation.
What’s even better is when you’ve taken on direct reports. You really have to maintain composure because frankly, who can really respect someone they’ve yet to take the measure of who appears to be a basket-case? You can excuse the long-time boss’s befrazzlement to some degree, he or she has presumably long since earned both formal and informal authority.
It doesn’t *feel* professionally acceptable to look frazzled and confused after your first two weeks – a seasoned professional should have absorbed all the relevant details and adapted by then, no? I can almost hear Gunny Highway barking at me: “You adapt. You overcome. You improvise. Let’s move.”