My friends' comments to the question about whether I should still carry gift cards as back-ups highlighted some of the fear thatI think is common when embarking on a new adventure.
ideas varied on what kind of safety net or back-up I should have. I identified with many of them, especially those who expressed that you should have some kind of money just as a practical back-up, or in case of emergencies or bad days, or hunger. But I've gone out without any form of money but a bus pass plenty of times. The reality is that I get a disability check of $914 every month, and $92 of food stamps. That's the amount I aim to live within. I haven't been making it, so it's normal for me to get through a few days at the end of the month without spending anything, or at least to spend only the last few quarters and dimes left on a pack of gum. I have a no-fee checking acvount and savings account. They each have less than a dollar in them. So I've had time to develop a strategy and resource net that allows me to travel around the city pretty comfortably without spending anything. And I can't think of any emergency in which money is the most helpful response. Hungry? Carry a Cliff bar in my purse. Carry water. Tired, bored? Spend some time sitting comfortably in public spaces. Take a book. Watch people. I know some downtown buildings that have good sitting areas. If I'm really tired or bored or hungry, I can take a bus back home. In real emergencies, money isn't immediately required anyway. Mugged, assaulted, medical emergencies--what I need in those instances is someone to dial 911 for me, and that usually results in quick help. It has also been my experience that any back-up money usually spends pretty quickly as mundane discomforts suddenly become immediate crises that must be addressed by spending. So. I acknowledge that I'm likely to be uncomfortable sometime this month. And with that, I'm leaving my gift cards home.
1 Comment
Maril
8/12/2017 07:25:38 am
Marvelous!
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ArchivesAuthorVirginia Lore enjoys living life as an experiment and frequently steps out of her comfort zone -- when she's not hiding out in her room with the covers over her head that is. You may email her: [email protected] |