Consumption Diary #31
A key part of this challenge is to record a weekly consumption diary. This will both hold me accountable to readers of this blog, and will allow me to think about my consumption habits.
As a reminder:
Exempt items are those classes of goods that I am allowed to purchase new, such as food and cleaning supplies.
Watched items are items that I am allowed to purchase, but that I would like to cut back on. Examples include travel and certain productivity softwares. I will also always include a justification for these items.
Restricted items are items I am not allowed to buy new.
Finally, I will also record the goods I have sold or donated.
Physical EXEMPT Items Purchased
$99, Amtrak Rail Pass
$90, Flight to Denver
$120, Flight to Raleigh
$129, Airbnb in Raleigh
$16, Breakfast burrito.
$10, Crepes.
$18, Some Drinks at a local bar.
$5, a great cold brew.
$17, Shipping a laptop.
$26, Thai food with a friend.
$45, Lyft ride to the Burbank airport.
$223, Lyft ride from the Fort Lauderdale Airport.
$23, used headphones from Amazon for Prime Day.
$20, airport snacks.
$19, Cuban sandwich.
$5, some Starbucks.
$26, Vegan Philly Cheezesteak
Digital EXEMPT Items Purchased
Physical WATCHED Items Purchased
Digital WATCHED Items Purchased
RESTRICTED Items Purchased
Items Sold or Donated.
Final Thoughts
- I'm currently in Miami for work, and so the Lyft rides, as well as a some of the food listed above, will be reimbursed my employer. This is good because the 260 or so dollars in Lyft rides I've purchased today are not exactly frugal. The prices above reflect the great rideshare shortage we've been seeing in the post-pandemic. One of the Lyfts I hailed took 40 minutes to get to me. The economy, right now, is in a very strange state. But don't worry folks - my employer is paying for it, and I get Delta and Chase points when I take Lyft. :)
- The above also reflects my intention to, in the coming months, try on a digital nomad lifestyle. My new job allows for permanent remote work, which is very exciting. I'll be flying to Raleigh and then using the Amtrak rail pass to explore the East Coast by train. The nice headphones are so that I'll be able to work while on the train. Amazon does sell used and returned goods, and on Prime Day they offered 25% off used goods, as well as 6% cash back for cardholders, which I am. This week has then involved a lot of gaming of loyalty rewards programs.