9 Money-Saving Tips For Broke-Ass 20-Somethings

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I work in the arts. It’s a fucked-up industry that I love, mostly because I don’t appear to possess the skills to do anything else, but it does lead to a certain amount of financial irresponsibility. Mostly because I don’t make enough money to save anything, so I’m continually walking a terrible and dangerous tightrope, brought to you by the crumbling economy, my expensive liberal arts degree, and the good actually pretty horrible folks at Bank of America. Snakes? Bring ‘em. Zombie hordes? I’ve got a plan. Sitting down with my parents to have a rational discussion about my finances? That is truly the stuff of nightmares. I’m not gonna sleep for weeks having just thought about it now.

Below: a list of some actual stuff I have done in order to save a buck. Well, anywhere from ten cents upwards of seven dollars. I’m going straight to hell.

1. Steal Supplies

Keep access codes, even when you don’t work at a particular company anymore. Make friends with the custodial staff. (This is way easier if you actually ARE the custodial staff, and/or “intern.”) No one ever inventories the boxes of tampons for the tampon machine, to say nothing of the maxi-pads. Although those are usually the weird lumpy ones without wings that will give you diaper-ass, so proceed with caution. Industrial-sized toilet paper rolls are a lot harder to maneuver now that those giant oversized purses have gone out of fashion, so stick to smaller objects like pens and trash bags.

2. Find the Free Internet

Coffee Shops are amazing places to sit and write and work. There’s usually good music and cute dudes with tattoos and ladies with sweet haircuts holding tiny dogs on leashes. The problem is, you’re gonna want that bagel. Avoid this by seeking out the places with free wifi where you can easily blend in. I recommend lobbies of large performing arts centers while dressed nicely. If you appear as if you’re either a) a young professional biding your time before the symphony, or b) preparing for a job interview, no one looks twice. Also, their bathrooms tend to be gorgeous. Pee in style. For free!

3. IKEA

This is actually just a version of #2, but they have this thing where if you sign up for the “Family Card,” they give you a free coffee whenever you visit. I know this is probably frowned upon, but I’ve been surprisingly productive holed up in one of those fake living rooms, sipping weak Swedish coffee, my bottom comfortably resting atop the store model Ektorp Jennylünd chair in Svanby Grey.

4. Cry

This actually only worked once, but when I first moved to Philly I didn’t understand that not all subway stations had change machines and/or token machines, and I was in a terrible neighborhood with one salty old guy at the ticket window who needed exact change for a token and I only had a five and my train was coming and it was late at night and I started crying and he just said, “Oh, for god’s sake, just GO,” and let me through.

Actually, now I can’t tell if the moral of that story is a money-saving technique or a commentary on the inadequacies of Philadelphia’s transit system.

5. Save Water – Shower Together!

Actually, that one’s totally just wishful thinking. I’m still extremely single.

6. Opening Night Receptions

I work in theatre, so I attend a fair amount of opening night parties. This is a particularly tricky one to navigate, but it works like this: don’t eat before you go. Get yourself to the snack table immediately afterwards. Eat all the tiny spinach quiches and toothpicks with cheese while still attempting to make conversation in a professional and pleasant manner.

Notable failed exceptions to this rule include: when I didn’t realize that I was attending a three-hour musical; when I didn’t realize I was attending a three-hour Shakespeare play; every time I’ve tried to do this while also attempting to incorporate a free glass of white wine.

Actually, pause for me to share this story: I once was at a retirement party for this extraordinary woman who worked at a prominent Philadelphia regional theatre, and as everyone was getting misty-eyed at the farewell toast, I happened to notice this older actress who is like, the Patti LuPone of Philly Theatre, nonchalantly wrapping all of the tiny cannolis into cocktail napkins and stacking them in her purse. Dessert hadn’t even started yet. She caught my eye, smiled broadly, whispered, “Oh, hello, dear! So good to see you!” and then moved right along to the éclairs. I couldn’t tell whether I was horrified or extremely impressed. (I think mostly impressed).

7. Buy Your Clothes In Questionable Locations

I work as a costume designer. Most actors would be horrified to know where most of their costumes actually come from. There’s this amazing warehouse in South Philly where retail goes to die. You have to be really careful about not accidentally buying anything with the word “sample” printed across the ass, but every now and again the Target truck will have dumped a shitload of dollar-bin t-shirts from two seasons ago and it’s every woman for herself as long as supplies last.

It also helps if you can pull off an aura of “thrift store whimsy.” Think Charlize Theron in Arrested Development, Season Three. Except, you know. If you know the show, you know how THAT one turned out.

8. Make Friends In High Places

I basically only survived the year of 2009 because an IHOP opened on the next block to my apartment and this one super lanky dude named Tim who clearly hated his job but liked me just fine would sneak me a few to-go boxes under the table and then repeatedly bring out like, a week’s worth of pancakes if I ordered the “All-You-Can-Eat-Special.” In general, I think everyone should have at least: one bartender friend, one friend who works in a coffee shop or bakery and takes about-to-expire food home, and one friend who works at the Apple Store. (EDIT: I take that back. Everyone should have at least two bartender friends).

9. Lower Your Standards

I used to be the kind of person who went to a salon for a haircut.

That’s fucking hilarious.