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I'm about to do something really stupid.

May 30th, 2010 at 07:00 pm

Key facts:

1) I'm 23.
2) I have barely $5,000 to my name, and I'm $30,000 in debt from undergrad.
3) I don't have a frugal bone in my body.
4) I'm about to move to NYC.

My biggest challenge (and greatest fear) is that I don't know how to downsize my lifestyle. I'm not a rich kid by any means, but I'm single, in a town with a low cost-of-living, with a waitressing job that keeps a steady flow of cash coming in. I don't buy generic; I eat organic; I wear designer. Thus far, I've been able to do this while socking away $500/month. Not bad, service industry job - not bad.

I could support these habits in the southwest indefinitely, but in New York my rent/utilities/food costs/EVERYTHING are going to double, even triple. I know I'm going to have to learn to live modestly and like it, too.

In college, the only way I could lose weight was by tracking every calorie and noting the times I made the right choice - apple over brownie, oatmeal over donut, etc. I just needed to visual reminder that I possessed self-control after all.

So that's what I'm going to do here. I'm going to jot down the little decisions along the way, in hopes that frugal will eventually become the new normal. I know my saving strategies are kind of lame, in comparison to many of you. Buying $5 drugstore bronzer instead of my favorite $40 department store brand was a big deal for me, when a lot of people would forgo bronzer altogether (I say: "NEVER!"). I'm not going to defend it. I need baby steps.

9 Responses to “I'm about to do something really stupid. ”

  1. scottish girl Says:
    1275243985

    Good luck, just take it one step at a time.

  2. jaine Says:
    1275244897

    Good luck!! I think buying used is a great way to get quality stuff for cheap.

  3. Ima saver Says:
    1275253296

    Welcome!

  4. ceejay74 Says:
    1275254619

    Welcome! Nobody here will laugh at trying to start frugal behaviors in little ways. And few, if any, bloggers here will judge your level of frugality (unless you out-and-out ask "What do you think of this plan?"). People have plans and lifestyles and incomes on all different scales on SA.

  5. laurelevelyn Says:
    1275257902

    Thanks for the welcome!

  6. crazyliblady Says:
    1275260889

    I'm confused. Why are you moving to NYC if you are doing so well where you are?

  7. laurelevelyn Says:
    1275264042

    Oh - I'm in a temporary situation (why I'm waitressing). I graduated college in '09 and had to move back near my parents for a year for personal reasons, but I'm now able to move forward with things.

  8. baselle Says:
    1275276613

    Welcome. Remember that your goal is to be (and stay) in NYC. Use that to motivate you, along with your journal. Think of every decision in light of that goal - $5 tanner and you go to NYC; $40 tanner and you stay with your parents. Big Grin

  9. Broken Arrow Says:
    1275397494

    Welcome. Ooh yeah, that's... that's going to be tough. Not gonna lie.

    On the other hand, NYC has certain advantages as well. For example, owning a car is optional as you can pretty much go anywhere using the subway. So, that's a major expense you don't have to worry about.

    Eating out is very tempting though, because there is a lot of great foods that is with easy reach, especially when you factor in the subway.

    But living frugally in NYC is entirely doable. Anyways, good luck.

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