Some funny things about money

Thanks to my father, I've gotten into the habit of collecting lucky pennies as I walk and bike around. I've even gotten scrottie into the habit - when the two of us are on a biking expedition together, I usually ride in front. If I spot a lucky penny, I point to it and shout, "Lucky penny!" and then S will screech to a stop, pick it up, and pick up the pace to catch up with me again.

So far, we have just been putting the pennies into containers. I think I'm about ready to get some coin rolls from the bank, so I can tally up what we've collected and tuck the money away in savings. It finally occurred to me yesterday to ask my father how he manages his lucky penny collection. When we were kids, he would divide up his findings amongst us children each month, so we'd get small bonuses along with our weekly allowances, and we'd also get a couple of extra coins added to our college savings funds. Now, he says that he adds up his findings once a month and puts the money into a savings account. In practice, he does this by adding the coins to his pocketbook and transferring money from his checking account. As you may imagine, he can often pay for things with exact change.

Over the holidays, my family has devoted some of our time to discussions of our individual finances. I am so grateful that we're able to have these frank conversations. Part of the conversations have revolved around various different interest rates. I can remember watching the interest rates for my checking account, savings account, and 12-month CD plummet back in 2008, so that came up in discussion. I'm very curious, now, to figure out how much I've earned in lucky pennies, versus how much I've earned in interest over the past year. My total for interest is going to be approximately $86.11. If my lucky penny findings are comparable to my father's findings, they will total up to somewhere between $20-30. I've been stashing lucky pennies for a couple of years, now, but I also suspect that I don't find quite as many as my dad does.

Meanwhile, over the past year I've paid ~$650 towards interest (not the principle balance) on my student loans. Blech. I cannot wait until I've finished repaying them.

Out for a Walk

I took this photo the day before I left Texas for California:



These are the shoes that I have been wearing every day in Texas. Clark's shoes. I didn't like them much when I first bought them, probably around 5 years ago - I don't find the color or style very attractive. But I quickly learned to appreciate the fact that they were waterproof, as I wore them around Seattle during the winter.

The day I took the photo, the right zipper pull finally came off. They clearly aren't waterproof anymore, which was a concern for the present trip. So instead I packed my pair of 14-year-old Doc Martens, and my hiking boots, per the suggestion of our hosts in Tahoe.

I took this photo about a year ago, and just added in the commentary in red. These are all of the shoes that I owned at that time. The ones that aren't crossed out are what are left at this time.


Some time before I took this photo, I blogged about how my shoes were wearing out and how I couldn't quite afford a new pair of shoes (you know, because I insist on buying organic milk instead). A friend quite generously offered me a pair, but I think I hadn't accurately portrayed the situation, so I lined up all of my existing shoes and intended to post this photo by way of explanation. At the time, I felt uncomfortable about posting the photo, so I didn't. Whenever I want to get an idea of a person's economic situation, I look at their shoes, and it's hard for me to show all of my shoes in that context. The shoes from the photo that have worn out are basically all of the good ones - shoes that fall somewhere in between casual and dressy. I could wear them to the lab and maintain some basic level of professionalism (even if I'm only dressed in t-shirts). They were also comfortable for long walks, including all of the crazy long walks we took in Europe.

The Doc Martens that I've brought with me - they were actually given to me by a family friend. The original recipient decided she didn't like them, and they were a bit scuffed, so they couldn't be returned. I walked 5-6 miles in them today, but they still aren't my favorite shoes and they could stand to be more comfortable. They're just too heavy. I think part of my dislike of thick-soled shoes (like those Chaco sandals) also comes from the fact that I often like to sit with one foot tucked underneath me while I work.

The reason I'm finally posting this is because when I get paid at the beginning of January I will finally buy a brand-new pair of everyday shoes. That, the three pairs of jeans that I just bought at a thrift store, and some lumber will probably be it for "fun" purchases for January - I will have to save up for gum surgery, and cover the rest of my living expenses and student loan payments. I'm pessimistic about the odds of finding a good shoe store in Bryan/College Station - I want shoes that are well-made and ethically produced. I know what size fits, for Clark's shoes, so I will order a pair online. I think I will also remove the cleats from the so-so bike shoes I've got - I'm riding on platform pedals these days, anyways. So perhaps those shoes will also serve as everyday shoes.

Photos from California

Some photos from spending Christmas in California.

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