A Bizarre Way to Save Money
I got invited to go to the movies with this new group of people I met last week. I had a great time with them that I definitely wanted to hang out. To do it cheaply, I wanted to eat at home first and then meet them at the theater.
Well, I never got to go. I got stuck in traffic all for some stupid rubberneckers on the highway. Really, people. Come now. The cop is pulled over with lights flashing. WHO CARES WHO HE’S STOPPED? Don’t you want to get home and eat?
Admittedly, I was too kind to cut off the co-worker droning on about their problems, hence my late departure from work. But you’d think that my turning around to code something would be a sign that she should cut it short.
Either way, instead of paying $9 bucks for a film, I spent nothing tonight. I would have had a no-spend day today, but I tanked up on gas and bought a Coke out of the vending machine.
Gotta love traffic. It wastes your time, and yet it can save you money. HARUMPH.
Single Ma wrote:
Traffic around these parts is horrendous. It makes me WANT to eat out. I leave work in one city (A) and rush home to another city (M) to pick up BabyGirl, take her BACK to school in another city (FC) for cheerleading practice, then drive back home (M)only to pick her up again (FC) 1 hour later. Mind you, practice lasts 2 hrs but getting stuck in traffic eats up 30 minutes both ways. By the time I finish all of that, I just want to eat. NOW! So what do I do? Stop and buy something. *sigh*
Posted on 12-Sep-07 at 9:16 pm | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Oh Single Ma. I don’t know what to tell you. Why do you think the busy single girl that I am, I never eat at home? It’s work then to the bars and clubs afterwards. I have to eat something in between there.
Posted on 12-Sep-07 at 9:32 pm | Permalink
Ugly Debty wrote:
Aw, shame. I think $9US is about $12AUS which is the same for our movies (on cheap night). Never mind, there’s always next time.
Posted on 13-Sep-07 at 2:44 am | Permalink
Dean J wrote:
I’ve ranted in the past *hugely* about Americans overrating where they live due to underrating the cost of a daily commute.
I’m doing it myself. I saved $700/month on rent (later cut to saving $400, due to unforeseen events), by moving another half hour farther from work. Twenty days commuting an extra hour works out to $20/hour cash for my time in the car…
But for things I missed, like seeing my friends last night for lack of time, would I give up that extra $400 to live in the city, instead of on the far side/outside of it?
Posted on 13-Sep-07 at 8:50 am | Permalink
Asset Gatherer wrote:
That’s why I live in the city! But I also don’t have to worry about a child’s education.
Posted on 13-Sep-07 at 9:42 am | Permalink
Sistah Ant wrote:
I am so discouraged that in order to buy a home, I’ll likely have to move farther away from the city for a longer commute. When I lived in central Virginia, everything was a 20 minute ride, and I hated it! Part of what I love about Philly is its quick walkability, bus-ability, and train-ability.
Posted on 13-Sep-07 at 10:00 am | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Sistah Ant- I LOVE Philly! Yes, I love walking the old tree lined streets downtown and in Chestnut Hill/Germantown. Out in the ‘burbs where I grew up, it’s hard not having a car, but I could walk a mile to a train station or drive about 5-10 minutes to three other stops. My commute to Penn was easy back then. I loved to read on the train. *sigh*
Single Ma- I tell ya, I cannot wait for there to be a train out to Dulles, but I’m not holding my breath for it.
Posted on 13-Sep-07 at 10:09 am | Permalink
SavingWithMe wrote:
I feel so fortunate to have a 15 commute to work each day in my current city and job. However, moving to a larger city is something my job may demand which would be great for the culture and opportunity. However, even before considering moving the intense driving makes me dread the thought.
Posted on 15-Sep-07 at 10:15 pm | Permalink