How Does Anyone Afford to Live? (or, Money)
Yesterday, I was craving pizza.
Fortunately, I happened to be in San Diego’s Little Italy, so I headed straight to the nearest slice shop. It was well-reviewed, and the pies looked promising. I ordered two specialty slices: one pepperoni hot honey, one white pesto. My total?
Twelve dollars.
And it wasn’t even good.
How does anyone afford to live?
I think most of us can agree that money is on the mind more often than not.
It’s certainly on mine most of the time, and thus I often have an itch to write about it, but… what of it?
Everything is expensive. No one gets paid enough to compensate for the rising cost of living. Even the people who do make “good” money want more. Old news.
It’s also subjective — not just between us as individuals — but also in different contexts, making it difficult to discuss in any tangible way.
For example, in Mexico, I made my own coffee as often as possible. One, because I enjoy this part of my morning routine. Two, to save fifty pesos, or around three bucks. Those three dollars would pay for my taco dinner later that same night, so it really did feel like a save.
Then, just the other day, I found myself in a cafe where I ordered a chai latte — not even because I wanted a drink, but because I was waiting to check into an AirBnb and needed a place to get some work done.
Guess how much it was.
Eight dollars.
That was with a dollar tip, and it was large and really good, but… for real? This cannot be.
It makes saving on those Mexican coffees seem absurd in comparison. But I was raised to save when you can, so you can spend on the things you need.
Or at least the things you really want.
Not some eight dollar latte, or six dollar slices of mediocre ‘za.
—
I now present:
MAGGIE’S FAVORITE FINANCIAL HACKS
(in varying degrees of seriousness)
ACCOMMODATION
Do not, under any circumstances, pay rent
Spend as much time as possible in countries with a cheaper cost of living
Make friends in many places who will host you when you travel
Volunteer (hostels, farms, prison, etc.)
EATING & DRINKING
For the love of God, make your own coffee
Pregaming is not just for college! Drink at home before you go out.
Happy hour deals (the Internet is our friend — you’d be surprised what you can find out there)
For women: dress up and go look bummed at the bar alone
Street food: affordable eats, often the most delicious
Kimpton Social Hour: congrats — you’ve arrived at the real point of this post. If you’re traveling or live in a city with a Kimpton, check Google reviews to see if/when they hold their daily social hour. Free wine and snacks in the lobby. (You’re welcome.)
GENERAL LIFE
Make friends with money
Date someone with money
Be born with money
—
I mentioned that I was raised to save, and this remains true.
However, if you’re like me and mentally trained to save, save, save — especially with no specific goal in mind (buying a house, a car, etc.) — what’s that money doing just sitting there? Don’t we deserve to spend a little here and there?
“In this economy?”
Still, I’d say that the answer is yes, we do.
Honestly? It takes practice. (Serial online shoppers and other compulsive spenders, I’ve lost you, I know.) But in all seriousness, allowing yourself to spend when you’re not used to it can be scary.
Travel, interestingly, has helped. I’ll gladly live my hostel life and opt for layover flight routes in order to save money that ends up being spent on an unduly fancy meal or even just a round of drinks for some new friends.
Priorities, you know?
This is the lifestyle that works for me. And something else will work for you. Everyone’s different.
But here’s something to consider: if your lifestyle prohibits any freedom of spending, even (yes!) an overpriced coffee every now and then… is it worth it? What kind of life is it when you can’t indulge every once in a while? Even in a small way?
And this, my friends, is why I currently have no desire to live in New York City. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
ONWARDS,
Mag