Those who knew me well last year know that it was the “Year of Excess” (or YOE if you like acronyms).
In changing jobs from Corporate Cog to Spelunking Coordinator, I managed to swing myself a 30%-ish pay increase and I was fun, fabulous, and single! So you’d better believe I was livin’ large. After all, that sounded much more fun than paying down my student loans faster.
Oh what a year it was!
An approximate count of ticket stubs, photographs, and things in my closet indicate that I:
-Acquired J’Lo (and all of her expensive repair issues)
-Attended about 18 concerts, many at major venues, most of which included acquiring overpriced concert merchandise
-Cheered my way through at least 12 NHL hockey games (and consumed an average of 3 NHL priced beers at each)
-Had my hair done monthly at Valente Hair & Co, at an approximate cost of n-$1, where n = the cost to sponsor a half-dozen starving African children for a month
-Acquired enough wardrobe additions to shoe and clothe those starving African children – none of which are appropriate for the new job of course.
-Succumbed fully and completely to my new mistress, the TiVo.
Then all of that culminated in a 10-day Carribean Vacation.
And just when I thought it was all over, we went to Korea.
Aah, the good ol’ days.
And now this year (and don’t all new years really start around September? I far prefer it as a time of new beginnings to January, where after the clock strikes midnight there is nothing new, it still gets dark at 4:30pm, and no more vacation until like… Easter, so welcome to the most depressing 10 weeks of the year… but I digress…)…
This year is the Year of “oh holy hell, we bought a damn house and someone’s gotta pay for that shit (along with the last of the shit Visa paid for toward the end of the YOE) and I can’t believe I’m still making student loan payments.”*
Otherwise known as the “Year of Fiscal Responsibility”, because that other one seriously got way too long.
So steps are being taken to ensure that I can still be fun and fabulous, and acquire new shoes, on a slightly more realistic budget.
And this is where you, lovely readers, come in! If you’d be so kind, please be leaving your answers to the following questions in the comments box:
1. I’m no longer so keen on paying what I do to maintain the bleach beach blonde. What do you suggest I do for a lower-maintenance colour that isn’t just my boring, basic, natural, mousy, ash brown? Note that all drug-store dyes to date have turned my hair varying shades of orange. Current regimen for those who know/care: Full head of foils alternating with top-layer-only of foils every 4-6 weeks.
2. Do you know of any amazing and fabulous and CHEAP concerts coming to town that I can not miss? Because last year I simply bought a pair of tickets to everything – and that is just not gonna fly anymore. Some strategic planning is in order.
3. What are your favourite ideas for some fun, cheap things to do around town for the boy and I to entertain ourselves as the weather gets cooler and the beach becomes a less-viable option? Wanna do a book club? Movie Night? Games Night? We’re in.
4. What are your favourite recipes or meals to make yourself? Because we’ve definitely put the kaibash on going to Chambar or Tatlow’s “because we’re hungry” or “don’t feel like cooking.”
5. What do you feel is an acceptable number of pairs of new shoes for a fiscally responsible woman to acquire over any given season? I happen to think three is appropriate – however there are others who disagree.
6. If I were to have a kissing booth, what would you be willing to pay to pucker up with yours truly? Of course, kisses will be above the neck only, 10 seconds or less, with no tongue. Downside: if Neil gets wind of this idea, the dog may have to stand-in for me. Upside to that? LOTS of tongue.
Thanks all! Best answers get the fantastic prize of…. my undying appreciation!
(What, you thought it would be a prize worth something? I wasn’t kidding about the saving money thing!)
*For the haters: put your panties back on – we’re not in any sort of dire financial state, and aren’t mired in debt (unless you count an upcoming mortgage). We’d just like to be able to afford some new furniture for the new place once it’s finished and take a nice vacation sometime within the next couple years – both of which require living (and spending) a little more for tomorrow and a little less for today than we have been. Hyperbole. It’s the new black.
three pairs of new shoes each season is TOTALLY reasonable. Really – how can you get by on any less???
re concerts: keep an eye on http://www.pollstar.com it’s the industry site where concerts are announced before the general public knows about it. means you’ll know bout the ones ya gotta see before ticketmaster does and you can at least plan for em.
beyond that, i got nothin. 😉
1. No idea. It’s painfully obvious I know nothing about good hair.
2. Depends what you like. The Silver Jews are playing soon, but they’re not to all tastes. For a nice cheap local band, the Buttless Chaps are playing a couple of shows very soon.
3. Lots of options…you’ve listed some good ones already.
4. You know what’s good? Soups. You can make them as light or hearty as you want, full range of ingredients, and you can make LOTS in advance for when you don’t feel like cooking.
5. It’s painfully obvious I don’t know anyting about good shoes either.
6. Set your own price, then let the market decide. Make sure to charge less if it’s the dog.
I’m a big fan of the public library. Most of them have DVD’s (and VHS tapes) that you can take out for a week for the low cost of the walk to the library. I’m in for a games night!
When I was living in London and there was no way I could afford the extortionate prices they charge in hair salons over there I discovered Toni & Guy’s training school. They only charge for the cost of the product and the tutors watch them like hawks so there’s no way they can stuff up. Check out where the students from the top salon in your city get their training and you could save a fortune.
For the hair… have you thought of going to the Aveda Academy?
http://www.robsonstreet.ca/shops/display.asp?h_id=16
Cheaper as done by recent graduates or interns, but overseen by master sylists. Aveda’s easier on your hair and luscious to boot.
as for entertainment, just go to Gas town and people watch. *hah*
hair – stop getting your hair done downtown. my stylist is great – blonde blonde foils & cut for approx $125 (includes tip). that or start weaving in dark lowlights – awesome look for fall and they don’t need to be maintained as often ’cause the dark roots blend right in.
food – call me. we’ll talk cooking. oh and dinner parties ’cause i LOVE them.
concerts – new pornographers coming up. kasabian at the commodore.
K 3 pairs of shoes for fall/winter will work…. your hair and any other “girlie” things, try spa utopia training school at the international village on keefer street, they do waxing, coloring, everything you need in spa services ( hair cuts are 10.00 ) eye brow waxing is 4.00 so you can still have someone that knows what they are doing do you hair. good luck on the 3 pairs of shoes though.. hehehheh…. shoes good! now does that include boots cuz 3 shoes and 3 boots sounds a bit easier… LOL
hair: I guarantee, punky color’s “dark tulip” will not cause your hair to go orange. Pink, perhaps… but not orange. 🙂
entertainment: I want to start a poker night, but I still need to figure out the logistics.
shoes: I have no advice, as I am not a real girl. I don’t remember the last time I bought new shoes. I need a new pair, but … meh, I need to go skydiving more.
For the shoes: the first thing that popped into my mind was 3, but ONLY, and I mean ONLY! after all the OTHER non summer pairs have worn out. And by that I DON’T mean, one loose stitch. They don’t have to smell like hell’s underarms, just not be able to be wiped clean anymore. Does that make sense?