Profile

I am thirty years old and I still work as an assistant production manager… for a few more weeks. I’m debt free, live in one of the most expensive cities in America… for a few more weeks, and my yearly salary is $53,560… for a few more weeks.

Saving & Spending

So savings wise, I did ok this month. I’m about to put half of what’s in my checking into my savings account, so that will be a $400-ish boost.

I can also cross off my goal of buying another stock this year! I didn’t actually go with any of the 5 I was watching earlier this fall. I opted to go with Coca-Cola instead… because it’s like crack and I’m pretty sure it’s a solid long term investment.

Speaking of, sort of unrelated but I’ve been reading a lot about how incredibly terrible sugar is for us this month, which has led to me trying to drastically reduce the amount of sugar I ingest. I’ve never actually tried to quit a drug before, but I have a lot more sympathy for addicts because I legitimately could not cut it out of my diet completely. The closest I came one week, by the end of the week I felt sick as a dog. I literally drank a single Coke and felt fine again.

Seriously, WTF? That’s terrifying.

And also, hopefully, an excellent investment.

So there’s that.

The question now is can I hit that $5,000 goal in my savings by the end of December… we’ll see.

Spending wise, it was a rough month. I renewed my passport – what the heck, America?? I feel like as a citizen, I should not have to pay $110 to be able to leave you. And have to wait 4-5 weeks to get that thing back.

I grabbed lunch out way too many times. According to Mint, like $101 of too many times.

I had an incredible time at Universal Studios with one of my best friends for a few days this month which was followed by catching up with an old friend from ships for a few days in Williamsburg. The Florida half of that trip was super expensive. The Williamsburg half was not.

I thought that it was going to totally derail my savings progress, but actually, I wound up getting by comfortably enough anyway thanks to some side hustling and credit card rewards.

Speaking of:

• brokeGIRLrich income: 195.80
• Collected Coins (that change jar I’m going to travel the world with): $22.06
• Dividends: $98.53

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Most Popular Post of the Month: 114 Side Hustles: Ways to Make More Money (you know how we roll here)

My Favorite Post to Write This Month: All of My Friends Keep Getting Married & It’s Just Costing Me Money

This month, my friend Stefanie, a successful Equity actress, over at The Broke and Beautiful Life and I launched a YouTube channel, Inside the Artist’s Wallet, featuring everyday people who work in the arts (aka any of our friends willing to help us in this mad venture) and we discuss different money issues that are part of working in the arts – from how you pay your loans on an actor’s salary in NYC to the financial aspects of starting a theater company to when it’s ok to work for free.

Check out the first two episodes here: What Do You Do with a BA in Theatre? and Art and Entrepreneurship.

Elsewhere on the Web: How to Plan to Financially SINK at DINKS Finance

Breaking the Romantic Starving Artist Misconception Starts With You at Theatrefolk

How Working on a Cruise Ship Could Boost Your Finances at U.S. News & World Report (like ya’ll haven’t already heard that story from me before… here. And here.)

There’s No Need to Be Broke in College at Blonde & Balanced

I’m not sure why I keep using ya’ll in this post. It must’ve been the trip to Virginia.

Entirely Unrelated to Personal Finance 

 Actually, that’s a lie, it’s not entirely unrelated to personal finance because the song of the month, that I have been listening to on repeat like a psychopath, actually popped up in my Facebook feed because it turns out Lisa of Lisa vs the Loans has incredible music taste…. and some ninja-like debt repayment skills. So you should check out her blog. But first, check out this super fun song:

Goals 
Well, I may have achieved one of last month’s goals… but more details about that next month. For now, let’s just say I’m not looking too hard for a new job.

Get a physical. Because prevention is a lot cheaper than fixing actual problems. Also, figure out my HSA and use it to get new contacts.

Hit $5,000 in my emergency savings. I think it can be done… but it’s going to be really close. If I don’t quite make it, my security deposit from my apartment will definitely get me there, but assuming I can make it there, that security deposit refund will be the start of IRA 2015 investments.