Day 2

I will confess. I walked out of the house this morning late for work and I took out some cash from the ATM. Standard $20. I had a moment of weakness, for I was going to take a cab. But! Just as I was about to plop down in the back of the yellow I saw my bus and ran out. That was a close one.

Today I did make a purchase that was arguably unnecessary. Traditionally, needs are: food, clothes, shelter. I am telling you right now that I need coffee. Perhaps what I don't need is the delicious $4 large skim latte from Crumbs. Let's do some math:

1 Crumbs Latte $4
1 per business day 5 x
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$20
1 Month 4 x
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Boom --->> 80 bucks

So today I got coffee that cost $1.50. Was it the rich arabica bean velvet wrapped in steamed skim cotton coating my taste buds and warming my body, that I love and have gotten spoiled by? Hell. No. But it's caffeine and my head ache went away. I have the shakes enough to at least keep me awake through lunch, and hey its a laxative.

Another alternative is to make your coffee in the morning at home before you leave. At my apt I have a Keurig- which is a pretty nifty device. Load in a K-cup, press go and you have one perfectly measured cup-o-joe in about 4 mins. This machine as well as any other coffee machine is an investment, you also need to consider taking it to go, because I certainly don't have time on only weekday to enjoy my first cup on the couch.

TIP II: DOWNGRADE DAILY COFFEE or BREW YOUR OWN

If you are a person that needs multiple cups of coffee you may want to put a coffee maker in your office (if you have that option). Beware Coffee::Professionals as Blood::Vampires. Meaning they will kill for it. For the office definitely do the Keurig, it is not messy at all. Everything is pre-measured and it only makes on cup at a time.

Once in a while on a Saturday or Sunday morning after a week of thrifty, treat yourself to your local coffee shop for brunch and a barista made caffeinated master piece.

Until Rent...

Day 1

Here is the plan. Save Money.

This may be easy for some people but not for me, especially living in a city where you need to have another job just to pay for your transportation. Lets add in the fact that I love good food. I could be a "foodie" but I don't take the time to critically analyze food before I devour it. But living in this city is taking its toll on my wallet and therefore taking a toll on me. So I have set some goals for myself, and starting today I am going to document my journey to Frugal Fanny.

I also need to consider my health. I will not starve to save money nor will I become a hermit, although some will argue that I already am. If I cut out the things in life that really make me happy than this is all in vain. I am trying to live my life fully in New York, New York, and build a nest egg for my future. It can be done. It will be done and I will do it.

Some ground rules:

1. I will not skip a meal
2. I will go out at least once a week
3. I will incorporate physical activity into my life at least 2x a week
4. I will honestly update this blog on my progress

Today is day one. The hardest day? Well, I have already broken a rule. I skipped breakfast. Which I do everyday, but will not do anymore. For lunch I have a deli sandwich left over from last night, some salt/vinegar chips and an orange, lovingly packed together by my girlfriend.

Tonight we will go grocery shopping for the week. Why? Well if I know that there is tasty food at my house, it will be easier for me not to get a veggie burrito from Chipotle with extra guacamole and sour cream. Enough food for the week to take lunch. And maybe some sandwich meats to throw on some variety.

TIP 1. GROCERY SHOPPING FOR THE WEEK

We begin. This is what a recent grad, living in NYC , with two jobs, bills, student loans, hobbies, dreams, and an appetite must do to make it...

Until Rent,
C