$1000 per week?!?

WaPo has this story today about the Wheelock family in Alexandria, Virginia, not spending money for 2 weeks, including groceries (everything but bills and the mortgage). Apparently they didn't stock up beforehand, they just went cold turkey one day, which I think is impressive. Here's how it went:

One of the saving graces of the experiment, they said, was their decision to keep up with their prepaid weekly fresh milk and egg farm co-op vegetable deliveries. Other than that, they ate out of the fridge. Katy Wheelock took the breadmaker out of its box and began baking bread, substituting honey for sugar when the sugar ran out.

They dug through mysterious packets of meat in the freezer -- finding a leg of lamb that saved them one night when they had to entertain -- and finished all those dusty cans of black beans, olives and soup and packages of pasta, rice and weird taco seasonings stashed in the back of their cupboards.

"The first week was pretty normal," Austin Wheelock said. "But the second week was," he paused, "a little leaner."

But by then, they were hooked on not spending. Finding savings provided the same feeling of instant gratification that a little retail therapy does, Katy Wheelock said.

It was agonizing when, with the help of mint.com, a free money-tracking software program, she tallied the family's expenses. In October, the Wheelocks had spent $844 eating out. In November, $200. In October, they had spent $1,171 shopping, and for the life of her, she can't remember what they bought. In November: $224. And in the "personal care" category, they'd spent $313 in October. In November, $0.

By using mint.com to track their expenses (and non-expenses), the mom of the family estimates they saved $2,000 over the course of two weeks. This seems to me a little insane for a family of four...

I'm out.

Yeah, I've been eyeing several winter coats for a while now and there's this one I like-- classic but not boring, synthetic insulation, hood, long length, not too sporty and not too dressy, and age-appropriate for someone coming out of her 20s.



Anyways, the available sizes seem to be disappearing fast on several sites, which really had me worrying. So yeah, I bought it. Got a pretty good deal, and I also got something for Elliott so he wouldn't complain.

The way I see it, my current coat is too thin, too short, too "I'm in my early 20's," and someone else could probably use it this winter. I've had a good 7-8 years with it. So hopefully it'll find a good home.

Holiday Specials? Yes...?

So it occurs to me that if I do all my shopping in January, I'm just going to miss out on the great 2008 holiday deals. And then I'll just have everything 21 days later at a higher price. And that's a little upsetting considering how much I hate paying full price for anything. SO, the way I see it, if I'm allowed to buy these items in January, it doesn't really make sense for me to just pay more in 20 days, RIGHT? Plus all those grubby holiday shoppers will have bought up all the best stuff in the size I need.

So... close....

I've been doing a lot of online window shopping lately, gearing up for the big 1-1-09. My plan is to make a list before January 1st of things I may buy the coming year, and then stick to buying those items only. I think I started a list a while back; gonna have to update it soon. New items include:

-a swimsuit that allows me to be taken seriously at the pool

-swim cap and maybe goggles (other people seem bothered I'm not wearing goggles, not sure why. Swim cap, I can understand, but goggles seem like personal preference...)

-winter coat that reaches past my knees and doesn't make me look 18

-some base layer shirts/camisoles

-elliptical machine (used from Craigslist)

-maybe a Wii and Wii Fit, but current owners seem to be in consensus that you don't use it once you actually own it... (also ideally from Craigslist)

Black Friday Indeed

The New York Times has this piece on Jdimytai Damour, the temp worker who was trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in Long Island. It's just crazy and senseless...

On Thursday as we were driving back from Thanksgiving I asked Elliott "what would happen if America didn't have Christmas?" It's such an odd atmosphere that is supposed to be of peace, goodwill, blah blah blah. Even non-Christians have fond childhood memories. We had a tree up every year. I mean, what would America look like without Christmas? Would our economy be the same? What would kids sing in music class? It's so ingrained in us, this bizarre creation of a holiday. I can't think of anything about Christmas that isn't manufactured, from the date of December 25 (to co-opt existing pagan rituals), to Santa Claus, to those crazy carols that now start after Halloween, to "Black Friday."

Sarah Palin Single-handedly Jumpstarting the Economy

The AP reports that in September alone, the GOP spent $150,000 on "clothing, hair styling, makeup and other 'campaign accessories.'" I wonder how much those hooker boots cost...



And this crazy getup:

This is why Obama can afford to spend so much more on TV ads. He's not confusing the presidential election with a beauty pageant.

Why I'm Voting for Obama

This is a partial list:

* Obama won't have to "have my staff get to you" on how many homes he owns (Obama owns one, valued at $1.6M). McCain, so far, owns at least EIGHT homes valued at around $13M. Take a tour of them:


* Obama's wife didn't introduce him at his convention wearing a $300,000 outfit. I was about to type and $30,000 and still be outraged. Then I double-checked. It's $300,000. 3 followed by 5 zero's. Vanity Fair notes:

To most Americans, $300,000 buys ...

... one and a half houses, given the national median home price of $206,500.

... a year's worth of health care for 750 people.

... the full array of back-to-school supplies and clothes for 500 kids.

... enough gas to drive cross-country 543 times.

... 365 round-trip flights from Washington, D.C., to Anchorage, Alaska. (John McCain should have splurged on at least one.)

... a three-course steak dinner (at Mat-su Resort) and a movie ticket (for the Mat-su Cinema) for every man, woman, and child in Wasilla, Alaska.

... enough money for three Troopergate investigations.

Michelle Obama's convention outfit cost $1,500 and was created by an up-and-coming local Chicago designer.

* The Obamas own one car, a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. The McCains own 13, and he lied about his fleet, saying, "I've bought American literally all my life and I'm proud." Actually he also owns a 2005 Volkswagen convertible and a 2001 Honda sedan, and he seriously can't remember whether or not they bought Meghan McCain's foreign made Prius. (Source.)

* Obama doesn't consider $250,000 annual income as middle class, whether you are a plumber or a fake plumber.