Balancing Act
Lol hollo LJ fronds~
Sorry for the recent inactivity and for the whole not-commenting-in-your-posts thing but I've been super-stressed lately, mainly due to $$$$$ concerns:
Last October I had a major expense and ever since then I feel like I've been playing catch-up, financially. December was the only time I felt like I actually had a bit of cash (because I got paid thrice instead of twice that month) but that was quickly blown on buying holiday gifts. I didn't even spend that much because I bought gifts for very few people (I can count them on one hand) but even that was money I could have used elsewhere. I need to remind myself this coming December that if I'm in the same financial situation then as I was in Dec. '10 that I can't buy candies for coworkers or actual gifts for friends or anyone else. It has to be nothing, except maybe cards and candies for my parents.
Two weeks ago was my last payday and most of that check went to this month's rent and the rest went to some emergency expenses. This means that I've been trying to get by on $20 + some change FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. With a refrigerator that was near empty two weeks ago. 8D Seriously, fuck being poor. I had to pass on driving up to see a friend of mine this past weekend (she'd traveled in from out of town) because I couldn't afford the fucking bridge toll, I had to cancel plans to keep my February tradition of going to see some tennis in San Jose this week, and only my stash of grains/flour/legumes/gourds and few remaining pantry goodies has kept me from starving completely. As it is I still had to spend on food and other small expenses over the past two weeks and now I'm down to $1.97. Ah ha ha ha ha. HA HA HA HAAAAA. I JUST HAVE TO HOLD OUT 'TIL I GET PAID ON FRIDAY BUT TOTALLY WHITE-KNUCKLING IT RIGHT NOW. Seriously, if my knuckles were any whiter they'd be the Palin family. I've planned out my meals and I'm just grateful I actually have enough fresh/frozen vegetables to last me 'til Friday and keep the basic building blocks of my meals properly supplemented.
Thankfully I didn't have any major bills where the due dates fell on these past two weeks so I'm good there, and despite not having $ I was able to go out and do stuff during my free time: The weather was unseasonably gorgeous and warm this weekend so I went running for hours in the large nature reserve that's a mile away from where I live, and a frond of mine invited me out to the movies and agreed to pay for my entire evening when I told her that I literally could not pay for anything nor even drive very far to see her since I was afraid of running out of gas. Also, HBIC Glenn Greenwald was set to give a talk in my pants area this past weekend but he had to reschedule because he'd come down with the dengue fever (O_o), so an event I'd resigned myself to missing due to lack of funds might be one that I will end up going to after all. :D Lol thank you Glenn I guess for coming down with the plague? :|
There are a lot of essential purchases I've been putting off because of the lack of funds, so this coming payday will not exactly be a celebratory one-but at least it will provide me with some breathing room. I've been trying (with little luck so far) to sell some of my stuff on Craigslist this past week: I already sold off my TV since I hadn't turned it on more than ten times since I moved into my new place, haven't had cable in three years, and I watch everything on my computer now. Still need to try and sell off my GameCube, my old DVD player/speaker array, old CD/tape player, old cellphone (used, but with a lot of unopened accessories), etc. Even if I get hardly anything for those items, some cold hard cash in exchange for shit I don't have the time to touch or even think about sounds pretty good right now.
Also, I just got my tax forms last week and I need to file my return; I know for sure I'm getting some money back because I always have an extra portion of my checks automatically taken out for taxes, but for several reasons I doubt I'll be getting back as much as I did last year. I was hoping to go on vacation this April like I did last spring with that year's tax return money, but I don't think I'll have that luxury this time. If I do go on vacation, it will probably be locally, most likely going up the coast for a few days or staying local and checking out a few restaurants and parks I've been meaning to go to but haven't had the time for.
Anyway enough depressing $$$$ talk! As stressful as this all is and as broke as I currently am, all my bills are paid, I'm healthy, I'm able, I haven't had to go hungry once, I managed to make plans around and ration out what little money I did have left to make it to this coming payday by the skin of my teeth, and I have friends who are willing to pay to see me. To tritely paraphrase Firefly, that's not much, but it's enough.
Now I'm off to cook tomorrow's work lunch and prep for tomorrow's dinner, and then go to sleep. As a parting gift, plz enjoy Laura Nyro covering "Walk on By" in Kōbe:
<3
Sorry for the recent inactivity and for the whole not-commenting-in-your-posts thing but I've been super-stressed lately, mainly due to $$$$$ concerns:
Last October I had a major expense and ever since then I feel like I've been playing catch-up, financially. December was the only time I felt like I actually had a bit of cash (because I got paid thrice instead of twice that month) but that was quickly blown on buying holiday gifts. I didn't even spend that much because I bought gifts for very few people (I can count them on one hand) but even that was money I could have used elsewhere. I need to remind myself this coming December that if I'm in the same financial situation then as I was in Dec. '10 that I can't buy candies for coworkers or actual gifts for friends or anyone else. It has to be nothing, except maybe cards and candies for my parents.
Two weeks ago was my last payday and most of that check went to this month's rent and the rest went to some emergency expenses. This means that I've been trying to get by on $20 + some change FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. With a refrigerator that was near empty two weeks ago. 8D Seriously, fuck being poor. I had to pass on driving up to see a friend of mine this past weekend (she'd traveled in from out of town) because I couldn't afford the fucking bridge toll, I had to cancel plans to keep my February tradition of going to see some tennis in San Jose this week, and only my stash of grains/flour/legumes/gourds and few remaining pantry goodies has kept me from starving completely. As it is I still had to spend on food and other small expenses over the past two weeks and now I'm down to $1.97. Ah ha ha ha ha. HA HA HA HAAAAA. I JUST HAVE TO HOLD OUT 'TIL I GET PAID ON FRIDAY BUT TOTALLY WHITE-KNUCKLING IT RIGHT NOW. Seriously, if my knuckles were any whiter they'd be the Palin family. I've planned out my meals and I'm just grateful I actually have enough fresh/frozen vegetables to last me 'til Friday and keep the basic building blocks of my meals properly supplemented.
Thankfully I didn't have any major bills where the due dates fell on these past two weeks so I'm good there, and despite not having $ I was able to go out and do stuff during my free time: The weather was unseasonably gorgeous and warm this weekend so I went running for hours in the large nature reserve that's a mile away from where I live, and a frond of mine invited me out to the movies and agreed to pay for my entire evening when I told her that I literally could not pay for anything nor even drive very far to see her since I was afraid of running out of gas. Also, HBIC Glenn Greenwald was set to give a talk in my pants area this past weekend but he had to reschedule because he'd come down with the dengue fever (O_o), so an event I'd resigned myself to missing due to lack of funds might be one that I will end up going to after all. :D Lol thank you Glenn I guess for coming down with the plague? :|
There are a lot of essential purchases I've been putting off because of the lack of funds, so this coming payday will not exactly be a celebratory one-but at least it will provide me with some breathing room. I've been trying (with little luck so far) to sell some of my stuff on Craigslist this past week: I already sold off my TV since I hadn't turned it on more than ten times since I moved into my new place, haven't had cable in three years, and I watch everything on my computer now. Still need to try and sell off my GameCube, my old DVD player/speaker array, old CD/tape player, old cellphone (used, but with a lot of unopened accessories), etc. Even if I get hardly anything for those items, some cold hard cash in exchange for shit I don't have the time to touch or even think about sounds pretty good right now.
Also, I just got my tax forms last week and I need to file my return; I know for sure I'm getting some money back because I always have an extra portion of my checks automatically taken out for taxes, but for several reasons I doubt I'll be getting back as much as I did last year. I was hoping to go on vacation this April like I did last spring with that year's tax return money, but I don't think I'll have that luxury this time. If I do go on vacation, it will probably be locally, most likely going up the coast for a few days or staying local and checking out a few restaurants and parks I've been meaning to go to but haven't had the time for.
Anyway enough depressing $$$$ talk! As stressful as this all is and as broke as I currently am, all my bills are paid, I'm healthy, I'm able, I haven't had to go hungry once, I managed to make plans around and ration out what little money I did have left to make it to this coming payday by the skin of my teeth, and I have friends who are willing to pay to see me. To tritely paraphrase Firefly, that's not much, but it's enough.
Now I'm off to cook tomorrow's work lunch and prep for tomorrow's dinner, and then go to sleep. As a parting gift, plz enjoy Laura Nyro covering "Walk on By" in Kōbe:
Click to view<3