Friday’s Money Menu 10 6 23 or How to Budget Money (From an Absolute Financial Failure)

Money Spent today $16.73

Days until payday: 9 if I’m paid on a Sunday, 10 if it’s Monday

How to Budget Money

How to budget money? It’s something I’ve learned a whole hell of a lot more in the past couple months. I haven’t used cash in several months. I buy everything on WeChat, or Weixin Pay. I go into WeChat, click on the plus sign inside the circle, and the drop down menu offers me four choices, with money at the bottom.

I tap on “money” and my QR code is revealed. The retailer scans it, or I hold my phone over a scanner. Other times, I hit “scan” and scan the retailer’s QR code.

It Involves Basic Recordkeeping–Get an App or Write Everything Down to the Penny

Weixin Pay is one of the many accounts I have on my WeChat. So I tap on that and it has a running record of what I bought and from whom. So you can do it that way, or you can do it the old-fashioned way: literally write everything down to the penny that you’ve purchased. And you should be detailed with WHAT it is you buy, as well as the amount. It’s sooooo easy to forget, and that’s why the science of how to budget money can be difficult.

I know how I roll and what I’ve been rolling lately. Food. Today I walked to McDonald’s and bought my usual. Then, I checked my bank balance (rode the bus there and back) and then bought more junk food. I added the sums together, then, multiplied that amount by .14 to get the USD amount.

Currency Converter: Dollars to Yuan

There are around seven yuan in each dollar. Each yuan is around 14 cents. Sometimes I can do the math in my head, sometimes not. Three hundred yuan is $42. Two thousand yuan is $280. Converting dollars to yuan is harder for me for some reason. I’ve just memorized that 100 RMB is roughly $14 and go from there.

So in terms of budgeting, I have to think about what I absolutely NEED and what I don’t. I have way too many clothes, for example. Some I ordered and didn’t really wear. They’re just a bit too small, but I’m fitting into them better since I’ve lost weight. Even though I’ve had them a while, they are “new” to me. I see stuff in the stores all the time, but the last time I really bought a bunch of stuff at once was over a year ago. So clothes aren’t really important right now.

Just Pretend Your Place Looks Good

Neither is decorating my place. I keep reminding myself when I see stuff that I’m basically renting it. Décor is something I enjoy, but currently, I can’t afford to spend money on that. I’d frame my photographs, as I’ve got some pieces I’m insanely proud of, but the walls are weird here. Pushpins don’t work, and I’m not entirely sure what the walls are made of in the first place. They’re painted with flat paint, so using Fun Tac or similar is tricky. Sometimes I can peel it off no problem, but there are several spots on my bedroom wall that have become problems. I used the Fun Tac to attach battery powered string lights to the wall. I then used mini clothespins to hang the mostly 5×7 inch photos. It was a nice effect, but the Fun Tac gave way and the lights and photos came down.

How to Budget and Save Money? Prioritize

How to budget money requires diligent recordkeeping and a hard look at what’s important to you. It also requires a source of income as well. People say, “it’s not how much you earn, it’s how you spend it,” but that’s a bit of bullshit right now. People aren’t making what they should be making, and after looking at rental properties in my neighborhood at home, I’m gobsmacked. There’s no way a minimum wage job can cover that and the other things needed to survive.

But no one wants to talk about wage stagnation. That’s almost like saying, “I love sucking the penis of socialism.”

Thursday’s Money Menu 10 5 2023

Money spent $14

Days until payday: 10 if I get paid on the weekend, 11 if I get paid the next day.

Cut and Eat for American-style pizza!

I went out to Cut and Eat Pizza again. I’m not sure why I’m eating out so much. Boredom? Restlessness? Anxiety? Who knows? I know I’m down to one meal a day, plus snacks, but not very many.

An unpleasant anniversary is coming up. And there’s going to be a disruption in my daily routine, which will take some getting used to. Things like that always mess me up for a while.

Going for Broke: Potato chip factories and do it yourself abortions

I’m supposed to get copies of Going for Broke. I got an email today saying the books should arrive tomorrow. I visited three book stores here in Xiamen, but didn’t see it. I did order an ebook from Haymarket Books. From what I’ve seen, this anthology is well worth the read, particularly if you’re doing well. Not everyone is doing well. And if you’re sweating because you had to let the gardener go, at least you probably don’t have to perform your own abortions.

But if you do, don’t forget to wash your hands.

Wednesday’s Money Menu 10 4 23

Money Spent: $23.95 (Burger King, pasta sauce, tomatoes)

Days until payday: 12, unless I get paid on that Sunday.

Burger King, and Pasta Sauce and Granny Smith Apples

Stayed home for the most part today. Worked on some writing. Did some housework. Went out for Burger King, then went to get pasta sauce.

Is it pasta sauce, or isn’t it? Google Translate let me down.

It’s easy enough to find pasta, but not the sauce. Which is weird to me, but whatever. Glomy, which had the Granny Smith apples, had something that looked like pasta sauce, but I wasn’t sure. I walked over to Shimao Festival Mall to Sungiven Foods and found some.

Then I walked home.

Going for Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country

Less than two weeks until payday. Looks like I’ll be okay. But the stress and fear of the unknown continues to take its toll.

But trying to look on the bright side. I’m happy to be in Going for Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country. It’s my proudest writing achievement to date.

Tuesday’s Money Menu 10 3 23

Money spent: $18.20 (groceries, e-book)

Days until payday: 12 or 13, depending on if I get paid on the weekend

Today I stayed at home for the most part. I knew I wanted orange chicken tonight, so I went to get fresh green onion. I also ended up with some other stuff as well, which usually happens when I go to the grocery store. I should have picked up some wonton wrappers and fresh cream cheese too.

Moldy Wrappers, Dashed Food Dreams

But the problem is, sometimes the wonton wrappers just aren’t available. And the cream cheese is not exactly a Chinese grocery store staple. So when I was full of rice, but still wanted something else, I thought I’d fry up some cream cheese Rangoon.

Except the wrappers I had were moldy. I should have put everything back into the freezer the last time I had them. And I didn’t. It’s not the first time this has happened. I’ll be in the mood for something, and I’ll go out and buy it. I’ll have a serving or two of whatever, then I’ll be good. Then the food goes bad. That’s the problem when you are eating one meal a day. You THINK you need a lot of food, but you don’t. Buying food would be a bit easier here if you could get everything at one store. But you can’t. The cream cheese is a good 30 minute subway ride away. And to get to the subway quickly, you have to take a bus ride. And then, there’s the waiting for the bus.

Frozen French Fries to the Rescue

So I fried up some French fries since I was still hungry. But somehow, those turned into a sleeping pill because I was super tired after supper. So I napped. What the hell. I’m on vacation after all.

Going for Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country is here!

Earlier, I spent a bunch of time doing some writing and also spreading the word about Going for Broke. It’s out. I bought an e copy of it today. It’s good. There’s a lot of essays in there and a poem about work, health, poverty. Someone did her own abortion. Dark stuff, but important stuff to read. I’ve read three pieces so far, including my own.

And at nearly 400 pages or so, the ebook or paperback are bargains. If you buy from Haymarket Books, you can get a good discount. You can check it out here: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2097-going-for-broke

Monday’s Money Menu 10 2 23

Money spent: $3.50

Days until payday: 12 if I’m paid on the actual day, 13 if I’m paid a day later.

Found a really cute drinks place not far from my house. Did more socializing today, which was nice. Cooling down a bit, but still warm.

Really, really excited for the release of Going for Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country which comes out October 3, 2023. You can buy the book here: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2097-going-for-broke

Or go to your nearest bookstore and complain bitterly if they don’t have it.

It’s probably my proudest writing achievement to date. Certainly better than the time I was in grad school, won an award for “Letters to Karla,” which tried to dig inside Karla Homolka‘s mind,, won $1,000, but only got to keep $10 of it.

So much for that celebratory trip to Cedar Point..

Sunday’s Money Menu 10 1 23

Spent $13.05 (food, water, transportation)

DTP: 15?

Spent some time with colleagues today and tried a vegetarian buffet that was excellent. I got a lot of food for not a lot of money.

I also had soup, kept warm on my own personal induction burner.

What’s cool about this place is the food comes to you!

I also got to know Jimei a bit better. Walked across water and got some beautiful pictures. It’s something I never would have found on my own, I’m sure. So I am grateful to one of my co-workers for showing us this gem. You can rent those pedal bikes where four people can ride at the same time. You can also rent golf carts that look like tigers. It was a nice smooth, path, and I suppose you could roller skate on this path if you want. With it being over the water, it caught a nice breeze.

The walkway across the water. This was really nice to experience.

Bet the rent here cost a fortune when you get to see views like …

Vegetarian Buffet! Hooray for Veggie Hush Puppies!

The vegetarian buffet was the kind where the food comes to you. You’re seated at what looks like a bar, and the dishes come around on a conveyor. They come at a slow enough pace so that you can take what you want from the dish. There was a nice variety of stuff, all vegetarian. One of my co-workers is vegan, the other vegetarian. A coupon deal got us dinner for $4.20. The fried veggie balls were probably my favorite. Think of a Hush Puppy with a ton of veggies inside.

Three College Lecturers Walk Into a Bar…

One of my colleagues struck up a conversation with a young man and his mother. After dinner, they escorted us to the beach. There was an elevated walkway, and it was a beautiful night to go and watch the water.

Music Pub. Or, Music Tavern. I liked the vibe here and the fries were pretty good.

Then we decided to go to a bar. Some of my colleagues can’t/won’t drink, and it’s refreshing. I can take or leave alcohol, but it’s not something I want to get hooked on. I ordered a Coke and fries and split it with my colleagues. I felt in the mood for dancing, but I didn’t. I also wanted to sing, but didn’t. It’s probably time for another trip to KTV. But going solo seems kind of weird. Maybe I can swing it some time. If my colleagues suggest it as an activity, I’ll go.

I uploaded another video about my bus ride last night. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2lbcp5aM88

Also, just another couple of days until this is released! I am so excited to be in it!

https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2097-going-for-broke

Saturday’s Money Menu 9 30 23

Money spent: $18.62 (subway sandwich, chips, soda)

Future New York Times best-selling writer???

I wanted to see if any of the bookstores could special order a book for me. I’m appearing in a compilation of work published by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. Two bookstores said they couldn’t do it, so I thanked them and went on my merry way home. I’ll check Baopals. Maybe they’ll have it. The EHRP is going to send me two free copies, which I hope will arrive. But this is the first time I have appeared in a book traditionally published, and I really hope this collection will show up on the NYT best-seller list.

The Wheels on the Double-Decker bus in Xiamen tonight go round and round…

I actually got a chance to ride on a double-decker bus in Xiamen tonight. I’d ridden one in San Francisco, and also in Guangzhou, but this is the first regular bus that had a second floor.

Even cooler, I had a front row seat.

So I started taking video. A few minutes in, there was a very angry guy who wouldn’t stop yelling. It seemed like he was yelling at everyone. He was really pissed off. We’d been sitting at the side of the road for several minutes. I tapped something into Google Translate and asked the guy sitting across from me if we were being hijacked. He said, no, China is a very safe country (it is.)

Yelling Man, Surveillance Tapes, and The Police

More yelling, and the guy and several passengers got off the bus. The same guy I had chatted with showed me his phone. Apparently, the daughter of Yelling Man had been pinched in the stomach. We were waiting for the police to watch the surveillance tapes. That explains why the guy seemed to be yelling at everyone on the back of the bus. Those of us at the front weren’t being berated, but being Mandarin-challenged didn’t obscure the fact this guy was angry about something. At first, I thought the little girl had done something wrong, as he seemed to be yelling at her as much as everyone else.

The police arrived and several people got off the bus. We sat there for a few more minutes as the guy was telling the cops what had happened.

Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting…

Then on the way home, traffic was bottled up on one of the bridges back to Jimei.

It added some excitement to a Saturday night. It was sort of strange to see someone all fired up like that. Most Chinese don’t have public outbursts. You see some odd behavior, but you never see someone yelling at passengers on the top deck of a double-decker bus.

Yes, I’ve got footage, although it isn’t too good. I was afraid Yelling Man would see what I was doing and slap me.

Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting, in Xiamen, I guess.

Friday’s Money Menu 9 29 23

Money spent today: $8.68 (so far on Coke and water)

Still working and probably will be working into the wee hours, but that’s my fault. I had insomnia last night. But I wanted to get my swim on, so I had an orange and went swimming. Prepared a wonderful pasta dinner with garlic bread. I knew I was setting myself up for a long night of prep, but I wanted to get one last chapter done. I worked ahead of schedule, and technically, I don’t even have to do this. But getting it out of the way and ready to go will be super helpful.

Vacation, all I ever wanted…

I have a holiday coming up. But with seven days off comes seven days of work in a row.

Why we have to have make up days for vacation on the weekend, I don’t know.

On the other hand, it does beat having one day off, or only four days of vacation at Thanksgiving.

I’m thinking if Americans had more vacation time, things wouldn’t be as stressful. But maybe I don’t know anything. When Covid hit, and people were forced to quarantine, so many people were freaking out about being off work for two weeks. That’s because your average American can’t save money. If they’d had enough, it would have been a nice staycation: binging movies and television shows, cleaning house, sleeping late, maybe taking online courses or working on a hobby. But so many people didn’t see it that way.

I found that sad.

I had a blast during that time, but gloating about it pissed some people off.

Thursday’s Money Menu 9 28 23

Money spent: $28 (including last night’s $1 purchase)

After writing last night’s fascinating missive, I caved and bought a subscription for $1. I’m hoping it will help further my new career I’m slowly transitioning toward.

Today’s Purchases were Sort of Odd, Weren’t They?

And with today’s purchase of shrimp, fries, Coke, oranges, anti-fungal ointment, onion, bleach and paper towels, that brought the total up to $28.

Still not too bad. I have nearly $1,000 until payday, which is less than three weeks from now. Even if I spend $600, I should be fine. But I’m not. Not going to spend that much. I’m really hoping I get paid on time so I can transfer the funds over and pay rent when it should be paid.

Next Week Off!

I got some work for school done and also a bit of cleaning around the house today, and that felt good. Going to do what I can tomorrow so I can enjoy this next week off. But knowing how restless I’ve been lately, I’m sure I’ll decide to tackle some project. Maybe I can really clean the apartment. That is something I had on my to do list this summer, but didn’t quite get around to. I’m trying to be kind and work with my personality, instead of against it. So instead of eating an entire cow at one setting, I’m going to shoot for eating one steak at a time. I’ll still make progress, even if it will be slow.

Wednesday’s Money Menu 9 27 23

Money spent: $0 (so far)

19 days until payday?

I noticed blossoms on my pepper plants today. Because of the way my balcony is, the plants are getting more sun because it’s lower in the sky now. That solved the mystery of why my plants were seemingly on steroids about this time last year.

Definitely a mellower September this year. I feel more organized.

Food Boredom

Is it possible to be bored with food? The other night I went out to get KFC because I hadn’t had it in a while. It was good, but somehow not as good as I thought it would be. Tonight, I was thinking of going out to get fried shrimp. Champion Pizza isn’t so great, but they have other things, shrimp being one of them. I ought to get some shrimp and keep them in the freezer. I’m out of cocktail sauce, however. I have horseradish, which I mix with ketchup. But I’ve stayed away from Baopals because of lack of money. It’s a great site, and I’m thankful it exists, but it’s waaaay too easy to browse, and browse, and browse, and before you know it, you’ve spent 1,000 RMB, or $140.

Don’t Shop ’til You Drop

There are all sorts of things I could get: a microwave, a DVD player since my Lenovo doesn’t have a DVD slot, imported snacks. But I’m trying not to buy stuff I don’t really need. I think maybe that’s why I’ve been bored with food. I’m eating the same thing, or else not very much.

Still in a weird mood. I hope that goes away soon.