Counting My Pennies » dc

The American Dream?

Megan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:22:38 +0000

I’m going to talk Politics. I never talk politics, because after living in DC for five years, I kind of hate politics. But there is a financial issue going on right now that I find interesting.

A big thing during Presidential elections is the release of the candidates’ tax records. Obviously, it’s good to know that our candidates are paying their taxes, aren’t getting money from illegal sources, and it’s nice to see that they give to charity. But really, what does it mean?

So Mitt Romney released his tax records. And he paid around a 15% tax rate while Gingrich paid around 31%. That is a big difference, and 31% is closer to what I pay. Or is it? These people make so much more money than the “average American” that on some level, it’s kind of meaningless. They’re rich. Different levels of rich, but they’re rich.

So the big deal is that Romney’s money all comes from investments. He (legally) didn’t pay taxes on the trusts set up for his kids. He and his wife gave about 15% of their income to charity.

And while that is so far from my understanding that I can’t comprehend the numbers he lives by, isn’t this sort of the American Dream? He founded a company and got rich. I’m not saying he built up from nothing, but he has the lifestyle that many of us dream of. Come on, wouldn’t you love to be able to live off of your investments and spend your life doing what you want? Maybe doing what you want is volunteering or traveling, or maybe it’s doing your job because you love your job. But that’s some awesome freedom.

Does this mean that Romney can understand the plight of the average person who struggles to pay their bills? I have no idea – but I don’t think any of the candidates truly understand that. They’re all wealthy, some just happen to be more wealthy than others.

I’m not endorsing Romney in this post. I’m not not endorsing him either. I really don’t have an opinion of the man, or of any of the Republican candidates. But I find the focus on their personal finances very interesting.

Snow plans.

Megan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:31:16 +0000

Back to work today. Looks like things are slowly getting back to normal, though the roads are still a mess with giant piles of snow. I’m hoping the sun will help melt some of it over the week so I can get outside to run this weekend. I’ve got a ten mile run scheduled in my half-marathon preparation and I absolutely do not want to have to do it inside!

I realized over this storm that I could have been better prepared for the weather. Oh, I didn’t suffer at all. But after listening to some coworkers talking, I realize that there are few things I should have in my snowstorm arsenal.

First off, I need a snow shovel. No, I don’t have one. I live in an apartment. I have nothing to shovel. Unless I want to get my car out of the parking lot. I used to have one, but I got rid of it when I moved. I had friends who used baking trays and cutting boards and milk crates to dig out their cars. Clearly, we all could have used a shovel or two.

Second, I need better snow boots. I have a pair of sub-standard rain boots and a pair of warm winter boots, but the rain boots are not warm, nor are they particularly comfortable, and the winter boots are not waterproof enough (as I learned when my feet got wet from a slushy puddle). I found a great pair of boots in a catalog, boots designed for either rain or snow (lots of room for extra socks and tucking in pants when necessary). The problem? They’re $80. Compared to my current $20 boots, that’s a bit much to spend. However, the $20 boots clearly aren’t doing their job. So it’s something to ponder.

Third, when trapped at home, I need to be more productive. I think it was because I was fighting a cold, but I was such a sloth over the past week. There was so much more I could have accomplished. Instead I accomplished things like watching Netflix discs and clearing off the DVR. At least I didn’t spend the week shopping online. That could have been dangerous.

Really though, I did a lot of things right. I had plenty of candles and batteries for my flashlight. I had lots of food stocked up, including food I could eat if the power went out (lots of canned soups that could be heated on the gas stove). I had water and when the storm was coming, I made sure that all my pitchers were full. I had books to read and other things to occupy my time.

So just a few changes to make and I’ll be ready for the next historic storm. I just hope it waits for next season.

Okay, I’m Going a Little Crazy

Megan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:15:44 +0000

Six day weekend.

It is literally blizzarding outside. Seriously. The forecast includes the phrase “life threatening blizzard conditions.”

Needless to say, I’m not at work right now. I never thought I would say this, but I am ready to go to work tomorrow. I feel like such a slug. I’m not getting any of the exercise I normally get, and I can feel it in my body. There are only so many times I can do laps around my apartment. Later, I might go and climb up and down the stairs for a while.

So far, I’ve managed to not spend a fortune shopping online. I’m pretty proud of that. I have been doing a lot of browsing though, just to pass the time. I did order a few things for my mom’s birthday later this month. I’m not so sure that they’ll get here in time for me to get them shipped back out to her in time for her birthday, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

I actually did manage to get out yesterday. The roads aren’t awesome, but I was able to walk to the movie theater with some friends. It was nice to get out and actually talk with people not on the phone! I think that might be the biggest reason I want to go back to work. Real, extended conversation. I don’t care if we’re talking about growth and acquisition rates. It would be real words.

You might be thinking “Megan, if you had a roommate, you would be able to have conversations.” No, I think this is one time I’m glad to live alone. Being trapped with other people gets old no matter what. It would be nice to have friends who live in the building though.

Snowmageddon!

Megan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:24:25 +0000

So we’re supposed to get 16-26 inches of snow by tomorrow night.

Awesome.

I’m kind of bummed that it’s happening over the weekend. Snow days are much more fun when they’re during the week and we get some time away from work.

The grocery stores here have been INSANE. Of course, it doesn’t help that one county was told to be prepared to shelter in place for three to five days. The news has featured reports of long lines snaking through the stores, people getting into fistfights over food and parking spaces and lots and lots of empty shelves.

One running joke is “Why do people always buy bread, eggs, and milk when a storm comes? Are we supposed to be eating a lot of french toast?” With the storm hitting on the weekend, it makes sense that people needed to make some purchases, as a lot of people do their grocery shopping on the weekends. So like everyone else, on Thursday, I was thinking about what I needed from the store. And I couldn’t come up with anything!

I’ve wondered if my emergency supplies are sufficient, but when I sat down and thought about it, I realized I have more than enough food to get me through three to five days (and then some). I’ve got lots of canned soup. I just bought eggs and milk last weekend. I have a loaf of bread in the freezer, as well as a number of other items. I also have three gallons of drinking water put away, plus a few 2 liter bottles of tap water for washing. I should have more water for a five day shelter in place, but the full Brita pitcher plus the case of VitaCoco (coconut water) should be more than enough on the off chance I can’t get out. And of course, there’s always all that snow falling from the sky (which you should never eat for hydration if you are trapped outside).

While I don’t expect to be trapped for days, it was reassuring to not have to worry about going to the store. I’m just hoping we don’t lose power. Or internet. I do have some books to read, but this is a great excuse to catch up on my Netflix queue.

More no spend failure

Megan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:33 +0000

Well, this week just gets more and more expensive. Yesterday, the Metro was still down in my area due to the horrific accident, but the commuter rail line was back up, so I decided to take that route. I picked up a one way pass… for $4. It’s a whopping 13 minute ride. Then I still had to hop on the Metro to get the rest of the way to work. That money was already paid though.

When I got to Union Station, I picked up three more one way passes – one to get me home and two for today, because I wasn’t sure if the Metro would be back on some semblance of a normal schedule.

Again, this wasn’t money I had to spend. But my options were limited. I could have taken the shuttle busses to one of the other Metro stations and ridden from there. But the local news and friends both seem to indicate that perhaps these aren’ t the best alternatives, as they’re slow and confusing. I could have taken the bus. Again, slow, crowded and confusing, due to all of the people looking for alternate routes. I could have driven to work. There is apparently a parking lot about half a mile away from my office that charges $6 a day to park. That would save me $2… but then there’s the cost of gas. And the hassle of driving in D.C. I could have parked in the lot by my office… for $20. Not really an option.

So I dropped another $16 this week. However, due to said transportation issues, I didn’t make PF Blogger Happy Hour, so I guess it all evens out in the end.

I’m lucky that this is the biggest “crisis” in my week. Very lucky.

Safe and sound

Megan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:42:21 +0000

By now, I’m sure many of you have seen the news about the Metro collision here. While that’s definitely my area of the city, I was still at work when it happened, and though I didn’t manage to get home til almost 9 tonight, I’m fine. Hope the rest of my DC friends are safe. Scary images coming from that accident.

Not sure how I’m getting to work tomorrow, if at all. Small concerns though.

Support your non-profits

Megan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:00:24 +0000

A few hours after I found out about my raise, I went to choir rehearsals, where we were treated to a conversation about the financial status of our organization. We’re a non-profit choir, and one of the big choirs in DC is ceasing operations at the end of the season. Naturally, we’re all a little bit worried about the status of our organization. We know that times are tough and that tickets aren’t selling like they used to.

Our news was better than the other choir’s. While they were struggling for the past three years, we’ve been in the black until this year, when it looks like we will take a relatively small loss. Given the economy, that’s not unexpected. Having just heard about my raise, of course, I made a mental note to make an extra donation to the choir this year. We’re never asked to donate, as we donate our time and our voices, but I get so much out of the organization that it never helps to give back in more ways than one.

I’ve noticed a lot of non-profits struggling lately. For as long as I’ve been here, the National Cathedral has had a little donation box sitting just inside the doors with a suggested donation for individuals, families, and military and seniors. It’s not required, of course, but the Cathedral continues to struggle. In the past few weeks, I noticed that they put up a bunch of fairly tasteful signs asking people to please give $5 to help support the Cathedral’s operations.

Those of us in D.C. often tout the great free things to do here. I regularly visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery on my lunch break, and I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I have not once bothered to drop a donation in their box. The problem is, nothing is really free. These wonderful things cost money to operate, even with the numerous volunteers. With the government struggling to bail out banks, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see funding to these sorts of programs get cut.

If you’re out enjoying the free or inexpensive programs being put on by non-profits or community organizations, maybe consider making a donation. It doesn’t have to be something big. If you’re visiting a museum with a donation box, drop in a few dollars. If you love community theater, consider sending them a small check or seeing if there are any supplies they could use. Spend a lot of time at the library? See if there are any books that they are hoping to add that you might be able to donate. Some libraries have Amazon.com wishlists. Maybe your library could use a donation of supplies for a children’s event. If we all just give a little, we can make a big difference.

What Obama collectibles should I buy?

Megan — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:55 +0000

I’ve been seeing this question a lot lately. My answer? None of them.

Well, I take that back. If you’re looking to buy something because it might have value later, then you shouldn’t bother. If you see a collectible that you really like, by all means, go for it. If you can afford it, that is.

It seems like everyone and their brother is currently selling some sort of Obama/Inauguration collectible. I’ve seen everything from t-shirts to thongs to buttons to pictures, and you can buy them everywhere – infomercials, vendors, specialty websites, and even at the grocery store! Sorry CVS, but I don’t need your commemorative Obama plate. The Obama coins being marketed? Those are not made by the U.S. Mint. Well, they are, but they’re just U.S. coins that have been altered to put Obama’s picture on them. They’re not official commemoratives. So they don’t have any added value either. Though at least they’re worth the coin that has been altered, provided you can get someone to accept it.

I caught a clip on the news a few days ago with a collectibles expert discussing the current memorabilia available and his advice was what I stated above. Don’t buy something because you think it will be valuable later. There’s so much out there that it probably won’t have much value at all, at least not during your lifetime. But if you want something that you can treasure, something you can show your grandchildren, then yes, go buy that Obama button. Wear it proudly. Just don’t expect to sell it for $500 down the road.

Coming to Inauguration?

Megan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:00:27 +0000

So, who’s planning to come to D.C. for Inauguration?

If you raised your hand, I hope you’ve found a place to stay! I’ve been following a lot of the local news about the Inauguration on January 20th, and they are expecting between 2 and 4 million people to attend. I have to admit, even though I only live about 6 miles from the Capitol, I will not be attending. I am not a fan of crowds, it’s too far to walk (especially in January!) and the statement from Metro indicating that after the ceremony, it could take up to 8 hours for everyone to get home by Metro rail alone made me decide to make alternate plans.

So as you can probably tell, I’m not planning to attend the ceremony. I’ve gone back and forth on this, but my ultimate decision hinged on the fact that I’m very uncomfortable in large crowds (I’m short, and have been smashed between very tall people before and it is quite claustrophobia inducing) and the fact that so many people are going that I would probably end up watching on a jumbotron. Instead, I’m planning to have a few friends from my neighborhood come over and we’ll watch together and have brunch and drinks and relax and enjoy the event from afar and not have to deal with the crowds.

I have a number of friends who are renting out their homes for the weekend and who are making a significant amount of money doing so. There are a number of very well written contract templates out there for people looking to get renters. My friends are making $8000 for 4 nights in their two bedroom home. I considered this for a brief second, but decided against it. I don’t like the idea of strangers in my home, plus I’m not sure where I would go that I could take my cats with me. Additionally, I’m sure there’s something in my lease agreement that forbids such a thing.

So, are you one of the millions who will be here? I have a few tips for you, and will have more as the event gets closer.

First, do you have a place to stay? Seriously. If you don’t, you better start looking now. People are reserving rooms that are hours and hours away.

Be prepared to be patient. It will be crowded. WMATA is working to make public transit as easy as possible, but well, I have very little faith that all will run smoothly. If you can stay close enough to walk, even if it’s 3 miles away, you should walk. Seriously. And don’t think about driving in the city. Just don’t do it.

Watch the weather. D.C. weather is unpredictable. 62 degrees one day, 34 degrees and rainy the next. It might be nice, it might be miserable. Be prepared.

Don’t expect to rely on cell phones. They are working to bring in additional temporary cell towers, but it may be tough to get a call out while you’re at the ceremony. Everyone will be calling their friends and family so they can share in the event.

Bring cash. Yes, D.C. has ATMs, but with all the people coming in, the ATMs might get drained faster than you think.

Watch out for the doors on the Metro. They are not like elevator doors. If they are closing and you stick your arm in, they will not stop and will close on your arm. You will bruise. And be yelled at by a Metro driver because they can’t move with the doors open. Watch your bags and clothing and small children as well. While I find it hilarious when someone gets their backpack stuck in the door and ends up pinned, it just causes delays and that’s the last thing anyone wants on such a crazy day.

Be courteous and respectful. This is a historic event. It will be crowded and people may be miserable while trying to get home. Remember that you’re there to celebrate. Smile at the stranger standing next to you. And have fun!

Visiting Washington D.C. (Part 2)

Megan — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:05:00 +0000

To continue my guide to Washington, D.C. for the frugal traveler, I thought I would list some very basic tips for getting around D.C.

The Metro
I am a huge fan of the Metro system in D.C. Sure, it has it’s problems, and for a while, I was cursing the red line daily, but all in all, it’s a great way to get around. But I do have a few tips for using the Metro.

First – D.C. residents know this quite well, but when using the escalators at the Metro, you should stand right and walk left. If you want a leisurely ride down, stand on the right. Don’t block those in a hurry and stand on the left or in the middle. It sounds silly, but I think this is one of the biggest pet peeves locals have about tourists. Along those lines, don’t cluster at the bottom of the escalator either. I thought that was common sense, but last week, I careened into a group of tourists when I got to the end of the escalator.

The Metro will be the most crowded and the most expensive during rush hour. That’s right – the regular rates are only during rush hour. Metro charges a “reduced rate” the rest of the time – including on the weekends and federal holidays. If you really want to save money, you might want to check out the fare schedule on the Metro website and figure out when you want to ride, but if you just want to avoid the crowds, I would recommend not leaving your hotel until around 9, and avoiding the metro from 5-6ish in the afternoon. Of course, your mileage may vary, but in my experience, those are the times when the metro is the busiest, meaning that you might get packed in. Of course, if you don’t care about being pressed up against strangers, by all means, go for it. It can be a little bit intimidating for small children, however, if they’re forced to stand on a very crowded metro train. Don’t expect anyone to give up their seat for you either. If you have a physical need for a seat, don’t be afraid to ask, of course.

You can pick up a free Metro map at any station, but I would also recommend getting a D.C. map with the metro stations marked on it. The Metro map is absolutely not to scale, and frequently, it can be just as easy to walk as to ride the Metro. And walking is free. I have seen a number of tourists get on the metro and ride two stops to get somewhere when they could have simply walked four or five blocks and passed a number of attractions on the way. You’re always welcome to ride, but if you’re looking to save money and it’s a nice day, why not walk and see the sights while you do so?

D.C. also has a bus system that I admit I am not too familiar with. It can also be a good way to get around, but I find the Metro much simpler. Additionally, while the Metro can get off schedule, I have found that the busses are even much more so, simply due to the unpredictability of traffic patterns. The one site that comes to mind as not being accessible by Metro is the National Cathedral. It’s a beautiful site, and worth the visit, but you will either have to take a cab, drive, or take a bus. You can walk it, but it’s a hike.

You can buy Metro passes at any station, and the machines will take both cash and credit cards. You can also buy day passes, but unless you plan to do a significant amount of traveling, I think it’s easier to just pay per trip.

You will need a separate pass for every traveler – you can’t just put a lot of money on one pass and then share it among your group. You need to insert your pass both to enter and to exit the metro (as you are charged by your trip, not by a flat rate), so sharing won’t work. Additionally, that means that when you get to your destination, you will need your pass again, so don’t put it safely away at the very bottom of your bag while you’re riding. Wait until after you leave the station.

The Circulator
The Circulator is sort of an extension of the metro system. It is a bus, much cleaner than most Metro busses I’ve been on, that goes to a few specific places. I find that it’s a great way to get to Georgetown, for example. It costs $1 to ride. Might be worth checking out before your trip.

The Blue Signs
D.C. is a tourist city. And to help the tourists get around, on many street corners around the “touristy” areas of the city, you will see blue signs with arrows pointing you towards various attractions and towards the nearest Metro stops. Not only is this a great way to help you get around on foot, but it can help you figure out where you are and compare to your map.

Most importantly, if you get turned around, don’t be afraid to look for a friendly looking person and ask for directions. You might get blown off, but I’d say most people are pretty nice about those sorts of things. A lot of people in the city didn’t grow up here, so we were all newcomers at some point.