Laid Off Lawyers

It is obvious from http://www.abovethelaw.com/ that there are many of you.  Stealth layoffs seem particularly disturbing.  What happens when you are in your late twenties/early thirties, you get used to working all the time and getting a fat paycheck for it, and then you are all of a sudden home wearing sweats and too poor to order out?

Have you totally denied yourself luxuries?  Or are you using your savings to treat yourself now and then?

The virtues of junk e-mail accounts

I know, I know, getting spam is no fun at all when you are waiting for something important or want all your e-mail in organized folders like me.

But there is so much free stuff out there to be had! I recently created a junk mail e-mail account and use that account for any deal-type registration online.  I check it only when I am in the mood to pick through the crap for the gems... which do exist in the form of coupons and other goodies like membership loyalty rewards. 

I have also fallen in love with Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/), which does not seem to spam.  I may upgrade it to my regular account.  It gives you a great coupon/deal every day for your city.  Catch is that enough people have to take the deal.  I haven't been a member long, but so far it looks like there are always enough takers.

Money Vices - pfweeeet! taxi!!!

"Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still.”

~ Lou Erickson

Paying for cabs to work when I have been up super late working or have, oops, slept late - nasty, nasty habit.  To be totally honest with myself, I probably spend $250 a month on cabs. Ouch! That is almost a student loan payment.

It's a pretty pathetic way to fritter away $$, I know.  And sometimes the cab rides suck.  Like the time the cabbie didn't talk to me at all the entire ride, pulled up to my building, and as I opened the door asks me dramatically, "What do you think caused the current economic crisis?"
Seriously?! You are going to ignore me the entire drive and then ask me the most broad psuedo-intellectual question I have ever heard? Seriously?

OK, cab rides are definitely on the chopping block for my new budget.

But because the point is to save and not to deprive oneself of life's luxurious lets throw in a few exceptions shall we?

I can take a cab if:
1) I have had less than 4.5 hours sleep
2) the temperature is above 98 or below 25
3) it is pouring rain or snowing hard (no sprinkles or flurries count here)
4) I have a suitcase

AND - for every time I take a cab to work outside of thies exceptions, I have to walk to work once within the next week.