Poor in New York: Retirement Plan

February 12, 2012

When I was working at Bloomingdales, I was considered a full-fledged employee. This meant I was entitled to certain benefits, as well as an “investment plan.” Eventually I left the retail world and moved on to the next job sometime last summer.

But.

I forgot about my “retirement plan.”

Apparently, my money has been sitting in an account somewhere, waiting to be claimed. Since I’ve never really thought about an extended vacation, much less retirement, you can imagine my surprise when a check was sent to me from Macy’s financial services.

Yes, my retirement money has arrived.

My 401(K) is waiting to be spent.

My financial planning has really paid off.

Or maybe I should save the money? You know, make a little interest.

But then again, what's the fun in that.

So guys, it looks like I might be able to buy lunch one day this week. Dollar-a-slice pizza on this money-making gal.

I think it's safe to say I have a few more years of work left in me.

Poor in New York: Super Bowl Style

February 6, 2012

Alright. So my team lost.

I know, I know… I live in New York, I’m supposed to support the Giants, the Rangers, the Yankees, the Jets, the Knicks… and even the Mets.

Well maybe not the Mets.

And I would have supported those Giants, had it been any other Super Bowl. But you see, the Patriots and I go way back. In fact we go back to 8^th grade when my mother made me pick an NFL team so that “I’d like football.”

And I picked them because I saw them help an opposing player off the field in 2002 (I know... a very factually-based decision on my part).

And then I got really lucky.

In fact, I was so lucky I think my mother was secretly furious I’d picked a continuously Super Bowl-worthy team while the poor Redskins were blown to smithereens.

(It’s okay Mom. One day they will rise again).

Unfortunately this time, we lost.

C’est la vie.

Let the streets of New York riot.

I just simply cannot join in.

But here’s the thing…

Who is the real winner in this situation?

The Giants, I suppose.

But also…

ME.

Why?

Leftovers.

Congrats New York. Third time's the charm. PS - Don't you love these Microsoft Word photo editing skills? Yeah. 'Bout that.

Poor in New York: Peanut Butter

January 30, 2012

Peanut butter, oh peanut butter. Where do we even begin? I have a certain love hate relationship with you that began nearly a year and a half ago...

Mom rarely packed us PBJs in our lunches. We had turkey, ham, bologna - even more exotic treats like pimento cheese or egg salad.

So it's safe to say, when I moved to the city, my affair with this nutty spread was untarnished. Peanut butter was a luxury addition to apples and bananas. Not a staple to my diet.

But this ideology soon changed. Buying groceries for one is just as much of an art as buying groceries for five - particularly when your budget is about $25 for two or three weeks at a time. You learn how to shop the deals, to dig through the two-for-one sales, and slowly begin to understand what should and shouldn't be bought in mass quantities.

Peanut butter is one of those items I got used to picking up every few trips to C-Town (which is the New York version of The Food Kitty, The Sh*ty Kitty, or maybe best known as The Food Lion). Think about this: I have to pack lunch four to five days a week. That's 10 pieces of bread. Together the P and the J part of a sandwich consist of less than $5. Two loafs of wheat bread is also right around $5. So the grand total for 1.5 weeks worth of lunches? $10 bucks. Buy a $3 dollar bag of apples with a $2.50 box of Chex Mix and you're golden for nearly eight meals!

There is, of course, a problem. Sometime between July and August of this year, I had a running count of about 25 PBJ lunches in a row (excluding weekends). On that 26th day, my stomach revolted. It literally said, “No. Give me one more PBJ… just try… and I’ll make a mess out of you.”

I obeyed my stomach and splurged on a $7 salad (Argh! The cost of my meals for a week, spent in one day!).

Ahhh, but it was so worth it.

The reason I am writing about my peanut butter fixation today is because today is the first Monday in nearly a month where I’ve once again brought this classic lunch to work.

So cheers, my friends.
To soggy bread and nutty spread!

Let’s get this over with.

No. I don't buy the healthy, organic kind.

Sorry. Some things just can't be compromised.

Poor in New York

December 5, 2011

You know you are kind of destitute in the Big Apple when...

You keep having to ask cashiers, "is this still gonna work?" It's also reason #17856 why I love my life. Don't worry - I'll just keep asking and laughing my way through Manhattan.

Poor in New York

December 1, 2011

I walk… a lot.

Every time I call my parents or friends from home, they ask, “What are you doing?” And my reply about 90% of the time is “Oh you know... walking.” Living 15 minutes from the subway has its perks (like never going to the gym) but also makes life difficult at times (like when the streets and wind eat my clothing).

Thus my shoes have taken a beating. I think I’ll have to show you the full extent of damage my wardrobe has endured some post soon, but for now here is a snapshot of what these city streets have been doing to my feet.

Time for new Toms? And yes, these were once the same color.

You know what I'm asking for this Christmas.

Poor in New York: Where to Find Deals

November 9, 2011

Yesterday was a great day.

I enjoyed a free cupcake from Crumbs Bakery, and then dined on $1 fries from Pomme Frites in the East Village. Last weekend, I grabbed a $15 brunch with friends that included two Bloody Marys, and in the near future I’ll be partaking in a “wine night.” What do all of these things have in common, you ask? Besides food (oh how I love food), all of these activities involve some sort of deal.

So without further ado: Here are five great ways to save a buck or two while living in New York City… or really anywhere.

1) Do Your Research

“Hey Brit, let’s get some drinks at so-and-so!”

I then Google search so-and-so restaurant. $17 drinks and no happy hour?

“Hey girl – let’s not.”

Okay, sometimes you’re going to splurge. But on the average, I don’t like paying more than $7 for my drinks - and even then I cringe a little. So here’s a tip: If you haven’t heard of a restaurant or bar, look up the menu first. You will be shocked at some places prices, particularly in cities like New York, DC, LA, etc. Use Yelp, Urbanspoon, and restaurant’s websites to explore just how much you might be spending before you agree to a paycheck thrashing.

2) Know Your Apps

While research is great, more often than not you’re going to find savings on the go. We don’t usually think about a way to save money until we realize we’re about to spend money. Hence, the smart phone. But a cellular isn’t so clever without a quick-thinking user. Below are a few apps that might just make you brilliant:

Foursquare

- “Check in” to a place you visit on this website, and sometimes you will find a discount waiting.

Scoutmob

This relatively new app is only in the large cities as of yet, but its scrolling list of deals for 50-100% off got me my free fries this evening. And you don’t have to buy the deals! Plus you can send pictures of yourself looking like a mobster with a mustacheto friends. Get it? Scoutmob.

Love it.

Yelp

- As mentioned before, apps like Yelp will help give you a price range of your favorite restaurants.

Living Social and Groupon are two other coupon-like apps, usually with a purchase price for a deal that can be used over a certain period of time.

Free fries from Pommes Frites... Delectable with a Pesto sauce.

So the next time you don’t know where to go with a friend for dinner, scroll through your apps and find the best deal. Ta da! Your meal is served.

3) “Follow” Companies You “Like”

“Following” companies on Twitter or “Liking” organizations on Facebook can definitely lead to a few perks. For example, yesterday I got a free cupcake because I donated a children’s book to Crumbs Bakery. I originally learned about this event on Twitter from a coworker, but then forgot the details. So I looked the bakery up on Facebook and verified the event. Thank you social media!

My free cupcake, which gave me quite the sugar high.

To avoid getting overly inundated with advertisement-like messages on your Facebook and Twitter, make sure you only follow the companies you really enjoy or pages that you truly find useful.

4) Know the Turf

When you find a deal, keep it in mind for life! Explore the city and learn the cheap options in each neighborhood. This way, when you’re out and about, you won’t accidently spend your entire paycheck on a burger and fries. Make note of your finds mentally, or type them into your phone. Google Maps even let’s you drop “pins” on its virtual map so you can remember the places you’ve visited in the past.

5) Use Your Friends…

… for fun. Don’t forget to throw a wine night, holiday soirée, or birthday bash at someone’s apartment. Bars are great, but no matter where you go, the spending quickly adds up. BYOB and potluck dinners are fabulous money savers and can be more fun than a night out on the town. Why you ask? Because there’s no long trip home at 2am.