Depression era fun

Okay, okay, what can we do... what did people do during the 30s?
Fashion's fun.  We can all embrace the "dirty waif" look.  "Textured" hair, super thin, a thick layer of grim covering your skin.  That saves on hair products, is always fashionable, and the grim not only allows you to save on soap, razors, lotions, it also lets you conserve water.   And the filth will probably act as a sunscreen.  And we'll all pretend this look is intentional, that it's chic, and then we'll compete over you can be the skinniest, dirtiest urchin.   Oh, and fingerless gloves are always cool.
Dine and dash anyone?  With our bare feet and tiny bodies we should all be quite nimble, especially after getting some much needed nutrients.  And who knows, maybe going to spend a night in jail will be a good thing?  Four walls and a roof, three meals a day, a cot and a thin blanket will be better than another night on an ever expanding skid row, huddled around a garbage can fire.  So this dine and dash thing is not just fun, it also practical.
If only my grandma were alive today, I could ask her... but then again she was a kid during the 30s.  And lived on a farm.  In the deep south.
This requires much thought.

I just couldn't resist

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Hi-laaar-ious

I'm not the only with good credit who's getting rate hikes and limits lowered!

I was sorta listening to the radio while working, when I overhead the words "AmEx" and "closing accounts." This got my attention immediately. I went to the NPR site and found this and this .  The article's good on its own, but the best part, for the most part, are the comments.  Everyone is getting hit with ridiculous rate and limits.
The part that is so troubling to me is that these measures were meant to keep people who are credit risk in line.  That if you fuck around, or are irresponsible, or just unlucky, you have to deal with these particular consequences.  But when you managed to stay on the straight and narrow path that is good credit, no matter how hard it is, to still get the same treatment what is your incentive?  Credit card companies are still a business, by doing this they are just alienating the clients they need.  I know it's a great short term fix, hike up the rates, get more money, lower the limits and lower your risk.  What a winning combination.  But then the ugly problem of long term consequences rears its ugly head...

Used clothes challenge!

Just for me.  I'm doing this in the interest of M expanding her wardrobe.  And saving money.  And expanding my own wardrobe while saving money.  And to practice sewing...

Anyway for the next six months I will only buy used clothes.  Decent used clothes (i.e. cardigans, skirts, jeans and work pants should I be so lucky, things that don't get a lot of use), which I can modify myself, either by altering it so it fits well or adding wried details.  Anybody else up for the challenge?  I'm looking at you, X.  Maybe a no restaurant challenge will be next?  Any takers? C'mon guys, there's a recession agoing on, we all know it's the wise, but painful, thing to do.  

If it (the clothes one) works out, I do it for the rest of the year.  

This challenge will exclude underwear, shoes, socks, and funeral clothes.

Back at work

*sigh* I suppose I should be grateful that I don't work in Ukraine, or in any of the other former Soviet satellites.
Anyway, what can I do that's fun and not spend? Going out to clubs has been moved to the back burner, bars too. I would say house party/ potluck combo is the way to go, but every time we've gotten together to do this everyone wants to make their best/newest dish. The dish that requires it's own shopping trip, so it winds up being kinda of costly. I think we might be regressing back to my teenage style of partying fairly soon. BJ wine coolers (8 for $5), the small bag of chips from 7-11, and a single movie. Oh, and we'll need a shitty boom box and a collection of early '00 dance music (ya' know, Zombie Nation and Omnibus). And here I was thinking all that was behind me...
The other option is buy a giant case of really cheap beer, payment (equally divided amongst us)and start crashing parties. Isn't that what Myspace/Facebook/the acquaintances you never speak to is for?

It's best to plan ahead, while everybody I know is still employed, and get in the habit of having fun for very little money. Or maybe practice dancing for nickels...

Savings binge

I can feel it coming on, because the harbingers are already here; insomnia, the need for more booze and pills, junk food cravings, the strange feeling in my stomach, and the lists.  Oh, the list... There are lists of various things to cut back on, food, clothes, going out(cover+drinks), books, gas, character goods from that place by my job.  The companion to this list is a list of benefits; reading more, exercise, quality time at home, etc.  eewww...  Not that those things are bad, but when it reminds you of financial insecurity, the pleasure kinda lessens and stress goes up.  And everything that's wrong with your wardrobe, home, you is so much more in your face, because now you can't throw money at your problems.  

BTW, this always, always, cuts into my arts 'n crafts budget, so I can't say that any of the benefits will be creative ones.  If I can't buy rubber to make molds, then I can't have fun.

In 'n Out proposal

Every week we go to In 'n Out, this last time with our regular cronies, and was struck by a brilliant idea thanks to really lousy service.  That we get jobs there!  Second jobs, actually, but they pay well compared to other fast food places, at least.  I can serve people poorly! 

 This idea only works if we get we all get to work the same shifts, otherwise it won't be quite the adventure I'm hoping for.  This also meshes very nicely with my plan to have myself, and all friends, live in a cheap, read rat's nest, place in Long Beach.   If we live in the bad part of town, we could probably get a two bedroom for less than $800.  It won't even matter if the place gets robbed, because we will all have pawned our valuables by that point in time.  

I always feel better when I have a plan B, or in this maybe I should call it plan FU.

More ways to have fun during a recession

I've noticed that consumer credit has worsened. Three of my cards, all with no balances, never a late payment, etc., were closed by the credit company. I think all of limits have been reduced and most of my interest rates have gone up. So now I'm starting to worry. We do have cash savings, but we always felt that we could rely on credit to pay for any large, unexpected, emergencies so we wouldn't have to dip in to our savings...
So now we need a much larger pile of cash for emergencies so we'll still have something in savings if/when something bad happens, which means it's time to come up with more ways to have fun, or at least remain occupied, without spending too much...

• Potluck.  But a potluck with a price limit,  maybe no more spent than 5 bucks a dish?  Or only what you have in your fridge...
• Exercise.  I know, I know, but at least you're prepping your body for the tough times ahead.
• Can't stress this enough, learn to make moonshine...
• Sleep.  Not only does it feel good, it's also free.  It'll even save you money because you won't be eating, driving, etc.

Speaking of recessions

I just bought a $70 dollar Marc Jacobs head band!  I didn't pay that much for it of course, I got it for $17, which still hurt but it's very cute.  I think the conversation on the way home between M and I was dominated by the thought of who would shell out 70 bucks for a cute head band.  Will there ever be a time, once we're actual professionals, when we would be okay with that?  We kinda agreed that day may never come, but M had a positive spin on it.  "We know about the Rack, don't we?  We aren't accustomed to paying full price for anything right now, and we'll never be."  I love you too M, I love you too...

I can't find an image of my headband, but here's one of the cute clip M bought.  Original price was $50, she got it for $13.

New Year's resolutions during a recession

Obviously my main resolution is to save money.  Which means I'll be brown bagging it for the rest of the year, which means no more fried cheese for lunch, which means I'll be eating health food because vegetables and fruit are cheap.  So its kinda of like I'd be taking care of two resolutions at once; save and eat better.  I also want to cut back on my drinking, I know that must come as a shock to you my dear readers, but I know the combo of drinks and pills are not good for my body.  This will also allow me to save a lot by not spending so much at clubs.  I would say this will save money at Trader Joe's, by not getting two buck Chuck every time I go there, but I like the fizzy drinks from there (and the Izzies from Target) which cost as much as wine.  If not more.
Taking a moment to talk about my compulsive drinking, I was home alone during the day on the 31st and I drank half a carton of orange juice and a bottle of wine, because that was all we had.  Then I had like 5 beers at a NYE party.  And a rum and coke. And half a martini.  And diet coke.  And a milk shake.   We started our evening at In n' Out, then a house party, then a club, then conked out at X's.  Other than having to use the really nasty bathroom at the goth club (I had no idea that it took so much strength to ... um... hover over a toilet, but when there are no seat covers, what's a girl to do?) there were no ill side effects.  Not even a trace of a hangover.  It appears that I drink and it affects M, because she did wake up with a headache.
Back to the topic of resolutions; everything will be fine if we can just keep our jobs for the rest of the year. So far it seems that we're in no danger, but if we hit that 10% unemployment rate, or an economic depression as it is called, it will be time for all our friends to move in to our studio (we've got rent control!)