5 Things You Don't Realize the Cost Of
1. Vacuum cleaners.
So last night I was babysitting (because I had to get a second job to help pay off student loans) and I saw a commercial for a vacuum cleaner. Brian and I, well, more just me, have been looking at getting a vacuum cleaner to use since the dogs track leaves and sticks into the house all the time. His mom left us a great handheld dust buster with an extended handle, but I think the dogs are a bit too big for the current vacuum. So when I got up this morning, I couldn't for the life of me remember what type of vacuum I saw on the commercial! I knew that it was more of a streamlined version and that it transitioned from a longer handled vacuum to a hand held, etc. So I decided to start Googling, like always. After some research, I was dismayed to learn that the vacuum that I had seen on TV was a Dyson DC44 Animal Cordless Vacuum...for $399. Seriously? $400 for a vacuum? No thank you, unless it happens to do the laundry, cook dinner, and massage my feet as well. So I am currently in the market for a vacuum cleaner in case you guys have any suggestions.
2. Car Insurance
Holy car insurance. I got lucky that my parents have helped me pay my car insurance since I got my license. I've kept a (fairly) clean record, and I don't have a super expensive car, so I figured that I was probably in the lower range in terms of car insurance. Nope. Dad told me that I was now responsible for paying my car insurance starting in April when it expires. Turns out my car insurance is $90 a month. Holy lord. So aside from comparing the prices of vacuums, I am now comparing the prices of car insurance. Awesome. Again, any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
3. Groceries
Believe it or not, I miss eating in college. Meal plans were awesome! You didn't have to worry about cooking or cleaning up, you just got to go in, swipe your card, and eat. Not so much in the real world. I've always been a decent cook, but it's totally different when you have to work an 8 or 9 hour day and then come home and make dinner...which reminds me that I didn't think of anything to set out for dinner tonight...oops. This weekend Brian and I are sitting down and organizing exactly what we want for dinner next month so that we can stick to a budget. The worst thing is that I love fresh foods like fruits and veggies, cheeses, eggs, and things like that. Well, they're expensive. It turns out that eating healthy is super expensive. Which sucks and is totally unfair. So any advice on extreme couponing is also appreciated.
4. Living in General
For those of you who got apartments while in college, you seriously already have a leg up on me. I lived in a dorm all four years of college, and so my supply of household things was rather low. It wasn't until I moved in with Brian that I truly realized how expensive it is to live, and how much stuff you need that you don't realize. Spices, toilet paper and paper towels, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, trash bags, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, light bulbs, and batteries...and that's the short list. Don't forget about pots and pans, baking dishes, tupperware, a hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, and everything else that you need. Dear mom, a care package would be really nice right about now!
Okay so I've said before that I'm a little bit of an addict when it comes to coffee....well, luckily for me, my job has free, freshly ground and brewed, Starbucks coffee each morning. Unfortunately, I have yet to invest in a coffee pot other than the lovely french press that Kassie gave me. I also haven't purchased coffee, so the french press isn't being used yet. Lately, I have been waking up on the weekends and running errands, which usually includes a stop at Starbucks. Brian totally supports my habit (mostly because I pay for it), but I think it has gotten a bit out of hand. I did some math, and realized how much money I spend on coffee each year, and I was a bit shocked.
Right now I only drink Starbucks on weekends on when I'm driving long distances, which equals out to probably twice a week. Not nearly as much as I would be drinking it if it wasn't supplied at work. So if I spend $4 on coffee twice a week for a year, I would spend over $416 on coffee. I could buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner if I gave up my weekend coffee splurge, groceries for two months for me and Brian, rent for a month and a week, 13 years of Netflix, 10 tanks of gas, 8 Victorias Secret bras, or...I could have almost enough money to buy THESE SHOES!
Maybe next year I'll forgo Starbucks in favor or these shoes...
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