**Long Post Warning**
As I have written in previous posts, publishing is not exactly a lucrative career. We make a decent income. It's not always a great, high income, but it's also not a low income. Still, money is tight for many of us who work in this industry. We're watching our pennies and dollars just like everyone else in this country. And things are getting worse and more volatile in our office. People are getting more angry and frustrated about contributing money to department or office events. These days a $3 or $5 contribution is cause for a riot. Things are so bad that there is a good chance that our department will stop celebrating our co-workers' birthdays because people are getting tired of contributing money to bring in food or treats. I think this is really sad, because getting together and celebrating birthdays is one of the ways that we try to take a break from work and try to boost morale. However, how can you boost morale when half the people are angry and resentful about their $5 donation? And maybe this will be a good thing for me, considering I'm often the one who contributes more to cover any shortfall. While others might complain about donating $5, I'm usually the one contributing $10 or $15. Why should I keep doing that?
These birthdays happen maybe once a month. We've even tried to combine an entire month's birthdays on one day so that it is less of an inconvenience. So it's basically a $5 donation once a month. But still this is a problem. Like everyone else, I'm trying to be careful with my money, but I have my own tricks and tips that help me save money. Here are a few ideas that might help frugal and fiscally conscious readers.
1. Don't buy coffee from a coffee shop every day. There is a wonderful ritual about going to coffee shops. There is the smell, there are the nice and/or cute baristas, there is the tasty, freshly ground coffee. It's wonderful, and I used to go to coffee shops all the time when I was in school. But the money you spend on coffee adds up. $3-4 a day equals $15-20 a week. If you still want to go to a coffee shop, try going every other day. Or if you have enough will power, save it for Friday and consider it an end-of-the-week reward/treat. Or, better yet, brew your own coffee at home and bring it to work in a thermos.
2. Don't eat out every day for lunch and/or dinner. Some people, many of my co-workers included, just don't like to cook. And I can understand that. There are days when I don't feel like cooking after work. But eating out every single day really adds up. $7-8 a day for lunch equals $35-40 a week. A $10-20 dinner every night can mean $50-100 a week. All of that money can be spent on groceries and you'll get a lot more bang for your buck. Take a little time to make your lunch or cook your dinners. I might get teased at work for loving peanut butter sandwiches, but when you add it all up, that sandwich probably costs about $0.50. I'm one of those types of people who like to cook, and when I cook, I tend to make a lot of food. Even when I try to cut recipes in half, I always seem to have enough food for 6 or 10 people. I eat leftovers at work for lunch, or I freeze the leftovers and save it for one of those days when I don't feel like cooking. One meal could possibly be stretched for a week or more.
3. When you go to happy hour, drink maybe 2 or 3 drinks instead of 6 or 8. I love alcohol as much as anyone and I love getting together for happy hours, but I also know that it can get expensive. Binge drinking in a bar is not cheap. So be careful with how much you spend in the bars. This is good for your wallet and for your safety! If you want to binge and drink a lot on one night, buy your booze form a liquor store and celebrate at a friend's house where you can spend the night. It will probably be cheaper in the long run and it will be safer too!
4. Cut unnecessary expenses. If there is something that you absolutely don't need, consider consider getting rid of it or putting it on hold. I've canceled a lot of magazine subscriptions. I don't have much time to keep up with these magazines, and when many of them are online for free, why spend $50 dollars a year for a subscription. I also canceled my Netflix subscription. I might sign up again when we get out of this furlough period, but saving even $14 a month on this helps out.
5. Clip coupons. For whatever reason people laugh at me when they hear that I clip coupons. I think they think that coupon clipping is something that only old ladies do. But, hey, pennies saved are pennies saved. Who cares when a fistful of coupons can save you $5 at Target or $10 at the grocery store. Do you know what $15 equals? Lunch at Wahoo's: 2 tacos, rice, black beans, chips, salsa, guacamole, and a beer! And you'd probably have money to spare. $15 can also equal a very good bottle of wine.
These are only 5 examples of how to save money, but I'm sure there are dozens more. The basic rule is just be sensible and know what is worth the money and what is not. Save where you can, but splurge and treat yourself (and others!) every now and then. These treats and rewards will be good for your mind and soul. And most of all, stop whining. That's bad for both your soul and the souls of others!
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