How I Spent My Extra 10 Bucks: Week 4
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Socks! Yes, I spent this week's $10 on socks.
Hey, I never promised all of these entries would be entertaining. It's been a rough week. But they are nice socks.
Labels: My Extra $10
posted by Vinessa @ 9:42 PM,
How I Spent My Extra 10 Bucks: Week 3
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Almost 2 years ago, a friend introduced me to the fun and addictive world of Postcrossing. It's a very simple idea: you mail a postcard to a Postcrossing member in another country, and after they've received it, another member will send a postcard to you. Each postcard is assigned an ID number so it can be tracked on the website, and all recipients are assigned at random so you'll never know which country your next postcard will come from.
I was dubious at first, but it's really a lot of fun! The majority of members come from just a handful of countries - the USA has the most members, with Finland, surprisingly, at #2. As a result, the majority of cards I've received have been from Finland (they have some really cool stamps, by the way), but you still a pretty good mix of countries. Today I received a card from Düsseldorf, Germany!
Although the element of surprise is fun, it can also be frustrating. Although I've received more than 60 cards - including a whopping 18 from Finland - I have yet to receive a single postcard from Italy! Italy ranks 13th out of all countries in the number of Postcrossing members, so it's not as if the chances of getting a card from Italy are slim. I've gotten cards from Norway, New Zealand, Belarus, and even Estonia, of all places! Why can't I get just one measly card from the land of my ancestors? I think Postcrossing's "random" distribution system is mocking me.
I sent out a bunch of cards recently (trying to finish off my stamps before the postal rate increase next month) but yet I remain thwarted in my quest for an Italian postcard. So I put this week's $10 toward some more international postage that will inevitably result in 10 more cards from beautiful Lapland. But there's always hope! And if you'd like to check out all the neat cards I've received so far, click here.
Labels: My Extra $10
posted by Vinessa @ 9:05 PM,
How I Spent My Extra 10 Bucks: Week 2
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My local library is awesome. It's big, it's well-stocked, it's actually open past sundown several days per week, and it's part of a huge cooperative so my card is good for lending at nearly every other public library in the surrounding area. It also sponsors fun bus trips to Broadway shows (a time-honored tradition throughout the north Jersey suburbs). My one complaint is that its book renewals max out at eight weeks, which isn't nearly long enough for a slow reader like me. Then again, maybe if I didn't check out 10 books at a time, that wouldn't be such an issue...
Anyway, as a librarian, a library patron, and an English major, I figured a $10 donation was the least I could do to support a place, a concept, and a career choice that is quite awesome indeed. And I also didn't want to fall into a pattern where I end up spending my $10 on food every week. (Speaking of which, libraries have awesome cookbook collections! Check it out!) Viva la biblioteca!
Labels: Libraries, My Extra $10
posted by Vinessa @ 8:55 PM,
How I Spent My Extra 10 Bucks: Week 1
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Last week, a new federal tax credit kicked in, resulting in an extra $10 per week in the paychecks of about 95% of the U.S. workforce. Consumers are encouraged to spend the extra cash in order to stimulate the economy. Since I happen to be a) a part of this illustrious 95%; b) paid on a weekly basis; and c) looking for a blog gimmick, I thought I'd share the fruits of my weekly windfall with you, gentle reader. You get to learn more about me and my spending habits (until you grow bored after realizing what a dull person I really am), and I get to brush up on my writing skills. It's a win-win! At least until I run out of ideas by Week 8 or so. But until then, here goes.
This week's choice was an easy one. I happen to love Easter candy - Gertrude Hawk Easter candy in particular. According to my latest test results, my blood is 4.3% Peanut Butter Smidgen filling. It's good stuff.
I also happen to know at least one person with a child, which means I've been solicited for every conceivable school fundraiser in the tri-state area. Candles! Gift wrap! Cheesecake! Oranges! ....Oranges? And Easter candy. Glorious Gertrude Hawk Easter candy. So I gladly signed away $10 of my precious stimulus money for some delicious Almond Butter Crunch.
I won't reveal when this picture was taken, but I've already finished all of the candy. Happy Easter/Passover/2nd Weekend of April to all!
Labels: My Extra $10
posted by Vinessa @ 10:31 PM,
