I am a big fan of consumerism and capitalism. If you don't believe me check my credit and debit card statements.
When not at home, school or work, look for me in the mall. Chances are I'll be in Lord & Taylor. Yeah, I have expensive tastes...perhaps too expensive.
Recently, after spending a lot more than I should have in a single day, two of my closest friends challenged me to go one week living on what a person on minimum wage earns (approximately $250) in one week.
This may not sound difficult, it certainly did not to me, until I realized the phone I bought earlier that day cost more than that.
The rules to the challenge were simple - everything counted toward the challenge from gas, food, new outfits, everything and there were no such thing as credits or buy now, pay later.
Going into the challenge, I was confident that I would come out the victor in what turned into a friendly little wager among friends. The first thing I paid for following the bet was a chocolate milk shake and a side of spaghetti - it was just an early evening snack - that cost me approximately $10. I went to bed that first night confident I just made an easy $10.
The next morning, yesterday morning, I woke up and took my car in for an oil change, an oil change I should have taken my car to approximately 7,000 miles earlier, oops. After the $44.84 oil change, I came to the unfortunate realization my car needed fuel as the gas gauge pin was below the empty line. Considering I had run out of gas three times in my five years of driving and not wishing to make it four, I decided the prudent and wise decision would be to fill up my tank. $27.89 later, I called my friend Jon.
Jon gave me the unfortunate news, the approximate $75 I had spent within the hour went towards my $250 limit. "Welcome to the real world," I said to myself.
While I had been paying for my own gas for more than two years now, I never had to pay for anything else for my car, until now. I suppose this is just another aspect of growing up. Yay?
As for my $250 challenge, I have spent an additional $13 or so on dinner yesterday, had a free lunch today at home and spent $8 on dinner tonight. While I am concerned that I am hovering around the $100 mark, I am afraid. I think, I hope I will persevere but only time will tell. If nothing else, this is a good first test of my skills at really budgeting an exact sum of money.
I will keep you updated on who wins the bet.