Think Outside The Piggy Bank

waste not, want not

Apparently this idiom was first recorded in 1772 (yes, I Googled, LOL), but an even earlier version "willful waste makes woeful want" (never heard of that one I have to admit) goes all the way back to 1576. So I'm certainly not the first or only person to dislike waste, but it continues to surprise me when blatant waste occurs in times that are not exactly economically healthy, or by people who I wouldn't think could afford it. For example, not too long ago I saw this woman throw a skirt into the garbage can at the laundromat. When I happened to walk by I noticed that it still had a price tag attached and was obviously brand new. In a joking manner I asked her what was wrong with it, and she replied that it didn't fit. Personally I was floored as I would have automatically tried to pass it along to someone else or would have donated it to a second-hand clothing store, but what really got to me is that this happened in a laundromat. I mean, most people who can afford their own washer and dryer don't have to go to there, or else they simply to drop off their clothes and pay someone else to do it for them. (I once peeked at someone's bag to see how much it cost and was so flabbergasted that I now don't mind paying the $3 per load.)

But waste is everywhere. While I might complain about what I consider to be major waste at the macro level (and certainly lots of people would disagree with my stance on the Olympics for example), it's everywhere you go and it drives me nuts. Now I'm not saying that I never waste anything because of course I do, but I've lost count of the number of times I've seen perfectly good couches, chairs, tables and TV's so big they dwarf my little 20" antique set, just rotting in the rain. Hello? And it's a shame because there are lots of agencies that will come and pick up your stuff as long as you call them. (Or if you want to donate more directly, post your items on Craigslist, Kijiji or Freecycle.) The other day I saw this couple literally unload an entire truck of belongings at one of those charity boxes. I actually went up to them and asked them about it (no, I don't always mind my own business, snort) and they replied that they didn't have room in their new place. The kicker though was that they looked as if they couldn't even afford the old stuff they were getting rid of. I left shaking my head.

My own personal feeling is that wasting is not only foolish, but also disrespectful. It's taking for granted what you have, and what you can acquire, and it's almost like thumbing your nose at those who may not be able to afford what you can. If you think about it, it's just kinda rude on all levels. Don't you agree?

FORTY billion spent on Olympics?!

Okay, now I'm TWICE as appalled.

Back tomorrow.

I've taken the job!

As mentioned in my last post, I was considering taking on a babysitting job (okay, let's call it providing before-school care just to make it sound more adult, snort) as an additional income stream, and having met the kid and parent in question yesterday, I've decided to give it a go. Now in case you're wondering why I'd have to start so early (I'll be working 4am to 8am-ish), it's because dad has an early morning radio show that he hosts.

I liked them both, didn't mind the place where I'll be spending my early morning hours, and am still in love with the idea of not having to work 9-5 even though I'll be clocking over 40 hours a week with both jobs combined. Call me strange, but I like not doing what's considered conventional. True, the jobs themselves are not so far off the beaten path, but I'm pleased that I've come up with a schedule that suits me better than the standard one. Now to see if I like the reality of the gig as much as the idea!

I start September 3rd. Oh, and my commute is exactly four minutes, and that's on foot. Gotta love that!

adding another income stream

As you know, I'm all about multiple income streams. That doesn't mean they all have to be big streams, but I think it's a good idea to not count on any one source of income to cover everything. I like to have at least three income streams going at any one time so that when necessary I can drop a stream, or add one when an opportunity comes up. The primary (and biggest) income stream right now (weekend job at the rest home) covers my rent and most of the bills, the second largest covers groceries, and the third (selling online) is basically for miscellaneous stuff.

My second income stream (cleaning houses) has been dropped for now as my last client is on a road trip, and I'm seriously thinking of not going back to that kind of work. Even though the pay as an independent cleaner can be good, the work is tedious (especially when you've cleaned the same place for years), and I'm at the point now where I'd rather clean my own place than someone else's. As some of you also know, the most stressful part of this type of work for me (which I really wasn't prepared for), was realizing just how badly some (many?) pets are treated. I could write a whole book on the topic, but let's just say for now that I've been in houses where: there was no water left out for the four-legged, food in cat dishes had turned fluorescent-green because of mold, clumping litter had turned to cement with every inch on top covered with poop, dog poop was smeared on leather couches, cat poop had popped up all over the house as boxes were too full -- you name it, I've seen it. Unreal. And it certainly didn't make me think highly of the human race.

But anyway, I have an opportunity soon to do some babysitting for this 8-year old kid in the neighbourhood. Now I've babysat in the past so am not unfamiliar with this line of work, but what intrigues me about this position are the hours. Four to eight. In the MORNING. I know I'd have to get up really early for this gig (although I get up at five on weekends anyway), but I love the fact that I would be done for the day when some folks are still in bed. I also really like the idea that while I'd be working a combined total of 44 hours per week, I'd still be free Monday to Friday 9-5, plus all evenings. How cool is that?!

Am going to meet kid and parent tomorrow. Will let you know how it turns out.

why I'm not watching the Olympics

And no, it's not because I get lousy reception on my cable-free TV. Although had I wanted to watch, that factor would have bummed me out considerably. I also realize that one person not tuning in will have no impact whatsoever, but I feel it's the only thing (short of writing letters to the editor I suppose) that I can do. Why China was picked to host is beyond me for starters, and their abysmal record of human rights alone should have prevented that (sadly, their equally poor record of animal welfare/rights didn't get much attention), but the main reason for me is that I think the money spent on the Olympics is a colossal waste regardless of what country is hosting. I believe the figure China is spending is about $20 billion. Twenty billion! Are you kidding me? For an event lasting less than a month? Good grief. Think of how much good could be done with that kind of dough. Cleaning up the environment and helping to eradicate child poverty are but two things that come to mind right away. They say that you can tell where your true priorities lie by looking at where you spend your time, and your money. So do we as individuals and nations really want to see mega dollars used like this?

What do you think?

anything is possible

If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth or power, but for the passionate sense of potential, for the eye which sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. --SØREN KIERKEGAARD

my cheap hairdresser

Actually, he's fairly expensive, but after a friend of mine treated me last summer to an appointment with him, I realized that he was worth it. For years I'd gone to either barbershops or chain store franchises because I figured that with short hair it wouldn't make much of a difference, but I was wrong. Not only does he spend almost an hour cutting as opposed to ten minutes, but the cuts also grow out well, and after almost a year I have yet to be disappointed. Yep, it certainly costs more than the $10 I'm used to, but sometimes you DO get what you pay for, and I figure that by having become a member of the "graygirl" revolution in my late twenties already, I've saved oodles of money just by never having coloured it. And I certainly don't have any intention of starting now.

So when I say that my hairdresser is cheap, I don't mean frugal cheap (which to my mind is a good thing) but stingy cheap (which is not good). Apparently he lost his wallet, but when a gentleman was nice enough to return it to the shop, he inadvertently parked in the wrong spot and got a ticket. Did my hairdresser reward him for returning the (money-packed I might add) wallet by paying for the ticket? Nope. Offered him only half. Now even I wouldn't go that far! I mean, not everyone expects a reward for returning lost property, but then to lose money by trying to do the right thing? Yikes. The worst part is that I know my hairdresser is doing well enough financially because he travels (both locally and abroad) about every six weeks. We're talking Paris, France here. But did I speak up and say anything today at my appointment after having heard about this? Did I, like the two other customers I know, decide to find another hairdresser? Nope. And does that make me just (or almost) as bad?

how much money does any one person need?

I ask this after learning the other day that Oprah rakes in $260 million a year. A year! Frankly I think the only fitting word to describe that kind of money is obscene, because really, what on earth would any one person do with all that cash floating in year after year? But what personally galls me is that this apparently isn't enough as her website continues to collect revenue through advertising, thereby slowing down my old computer every time I happen to go there. Hello? I would argue that Oprah is probably the least person in the world in need of making even more money through ads. And please don't think that this is Oprah-bashing as such because I'd be leveling this criticism against anyone in that position. (I've been arguing for years for example that the type of salaries made by athletes and actors is beyond ridiculous and that if the money were capped at a reasonable rate it would maybe better indicate who is in their field for the love of their craft or sport.) Maybe it bothers me more because this is a woman who is supposed to about empowerment, betterment of oneself, and reaching out to others. And reach out she does in her charitable donations I'll admit, but still. I just can't get over the fact that $260 million just doesn't seem to quite cut it for her, and that having a finger in as many media pies as possible (is there anything this woman isn't involved in?) isn't enough either. What this also says to me is that it probably isn't money being sought after but power, and that my friend, scares me a little.

There, a bit of a rant for you on my first day back on the blog. Maybe I should have extended my mini-vacation? Snort.