Being Poor

I am poor now. Not destitute or food stamps poor. But get books from the library, staying in for dinner, bringing a pb&j lunch to work, saying no thanks to happy hour and shopping poor. Not that I was making millions when I worked as a legal assistant, so one can only imagine how tight my money is now that I am working (only) part time as a law clerk while racking up the student loans.

In my non-poor days, I'd spend my free time shopping, meeting friends for drinks at upscale bars, and eating out at the trendiest new restaurants. I have a closet full of clothes, shoes, purses, and jewelry to show from my days of excess. I do not mean to paint a portrait of myself as a shopaholic party girl, but just to make the point that I had a bit more freedom and flexibility with my credit card than I do now.

In the past, stress from law school and work took its toll, but nothing a little self-medicating with a glass of wine and a few friends didn't fix. Nowadays, when my friends invite me out, I hesitate to say yes. Instead I offer alternatives: let's meet at my place (a bottle of wine from Target is cheaper than a glass of wine from the Gage), or let's go for a walk (great for my waist line), or let's go to the free day at the museum (great way to instill some culture)! But sometimes, there's something to be said about a dimly lit bar and a glass of (Insert: Cab, Malbec, Shiraz) in front of me and I succumb to the temptation.

I'm not a girl who lives a life of restrictions, but a life of excess does require a bit of limitation. So I'm going to try to balance my old lifestyle with my new one. That means eating out less and cooking in more, buying less new clothes and wearing more old clothes. Generally spending less money and being grateful for what I do have. It won't be easy but I am ready to start making a change. Wish me luck!