Random thoughts from a Monday

Driving Stick

I think that at some point, every driver should make an attempt at learning how to operate a vehicle with a manual transmission. 
I mean, come on, you never know when you're going to find yourself in an "Amazing Race" scenario in a foreign country, where the only vehicle at your disposal is a standard. 
At least learn the basics, right? If not, at least make yourself useful and mow some lawns. 
Hey, remember four lokos?


Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Fresh orange juice is awesome. Not pasteurized not modified, just straight up orange juice. I like my juice all natural, I don't need "no pulp," "extra pulp," or "some pulp." Just give me whatever came out of the orange when you squeezed it. That would be just great, thanks. 

Making Your Money Work for You

Do you have cash money that's just floating around in a dumb checking account? Why?
Fix it. Put it in a high-yield savings account instead. Or a CD. Or 401k. Or Roth IRA. Literally anything that's not a dumb checking account. Do some research. Ask some questions. Make money by doing very little. You like money, right?

Plants

Why don't you have plants in your apartment? They're super cheap, you can buy them at the grocery store, and many are useful too! I recommend basil. You can add it to pretty much any meal, and it counts as one serving of vegetables*!

*I made this up

I want to start blogging again...

But before I get started, lets set a few ground rules. 

1. This blog is not for you, it's for me. It's a way to clear my mind. I'm not a writer, and the last thing I'm going to worry about is formatting or clarity of content.
2. As a continuation of the above clause, consider yourself merely a visitor. If you don't like it here, you can leave. 
3. The viewpoints and opinions I express should be considered "relatively accurate." If you do not know me well, I suggest you take these posts lightly. 
4. The content of these posts is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied. While every attempt will be made to provide factual and accurate information, I bear no liability for any mistakes.  

Now that we've got that legal mumbo jumbo out of the way, let's jump into what's currently on my mind:

A Desk

I'd like a desk. My room currently lacks one. Sometimes, it would be nice to sit at a desk, you know? Maybe even to write more of these posts. I'm intending to get one from IKEA, hopefully in the coming weekends. The closest IKEA is two hours away, in Montreal. 

I hear someone flying one of those cute drone things outside. 

Laundry

Currently, the laundry is half folded and put away. I suppose you could say that my sudden excitement for writing this post was triggered by my lack of excitement for folding my clothes. 

Random People Asking for Money

Today I was approached, or rather cornered by a young woman on St Paul street who said she was pregnant, near tears, and needed help. She asked if I knew of any ATMs in the area that dispensed bills in less than $20 increments. She had her wallet open, and was displaying cash. Figuring she wanted change, but not yet convinced that I should check my own wallet, I asked if she had checked at any of the local stores. 

She said that she had asked City Market, and they refused. 

This woman was a bit frantic, was not making eye contact, and having trouble piecing together what was seemingly a straightforward request. If you know me well, you should have no trouble picturing what happened next.

I took a physically defensive stance (not that I wasn't in one already) and made my "not convinced"/"go on..." face. 

The woman then said that she needed $15 extra because her car was in for repair at Handy's, and she did not have enough to get it out. 

Aha. So she's gone from vaguely asking for change, to asking for $15. 

"Why don't you use your credit/debit card at Handy's?"

>>"Because I don't have any money left"

Alright. By not making your intentions clear from the get-go, your chances just dropped significantly. 

The interaction would have gone quite differently had I have been approached with "I'm stranded because XXX and need XXX because XXX, would you be able to help me?"

I apologized, declined to assist, and continued walking. 

Here are my issues with this interaction:

• She had a working iPhone. You're telling me that there are *zero* people that could have been called to provide financial assistance?
• She went wayy too far from Handy's. Why not stand outside of the actual location of issue, and request money? Then you could point to the vehicle of issue, and if necessary, I would be able to consult the staff in the repair shop directly. 
• Handy's is right across from City Market, and there is no lack of people in that area. Why go to an empty side street blocks away instead of a busy area? Why not stop at Church street, even?

In case you ever are truly stuck, here are my recommendations:

• Don't be stranded without money. What's the logic behind walking around with an empty wallet? Tuck an extra $20, $50, or $100 bill in there, and don't ever touch it. 
• Phone a friend. 
• Be honest, direct, and polite. 

Budgeting

I realized yesterday that despite my addiction to finance, I don't know how much I'm truly making each month, and therefore what is a safe amount to be spending. Things are less straightforward now that I am traveling for work, and expensing things. (I wouldn't trade the travel for anything, though)

End

I think that's enough for now, right?

I should probably get back to folding my laundry...