march goals wrap-up March 31, 2008
Posted by deepali in goals.add a comment
So, how did I do with my March goals?
1. Develop thesis idea and rough outline. I need to work on my thesis this month, and at least have an idea for where I want to go. Specifically, I need a topic by March 12th (per my schedule). This was a no-go. I have no topic and definitely no outline. I’ve sent out a few emails to assess research needs in the hopes of finding a thesis topic that way.
2. Develop proposal for project at work (ideally, two projects). I have two ideas for new projects. Both need proposals written. One I will do this weekend, and the other might have to wait until I return from my trip. I got one of them done, and I think I will hold off on the second one for a couple of months. But in the meantime, I was given a few other ideas to work on.
3. Eat less crap. I’m not exactly sure how to measure this one – it’s harder in the negative than the positive. But perhaps something along the lines of measuring how many days I go without eating something completely non-nutritious (basically, overly processed foods like packaged sweets and snack items). I actually did quite well with this one! There were a few days when I had soda, and there was some chocolate on my vacation (I’m a sucker for the international version of KitKat). Otherwise, I’m calling this a success!
4. Take a vacation! This is one of my yearly goals, that will be completed this month. I am going to SE Asia for just over a week. Done! And it was a great time. I really needed it.
weekend rewind, weight loss edition March 29, 2008
Posted by deepali in weight loss.2 comments
So I started reviewing older posts, and thought it might be nice to revisit some of them every so often. This weekend, I read through the ones I’ve tagged “weight loss”, and thought I’d highlight a few that I liked:
On November 13th, I turned 30.
The Biggest Loser is for serious contestants only.
Exercise is a cornerstone of good health.
And some favorites from other bloggers:
Brip Blap once lost a lot of weight.
Lazy Man and Health can’t save money and be on a diet.
Debbie Rocker keeps it simple.
living by example March 28, 2008
Posted by deepali in personal growth.3 comments
Sometimes it frustrates me when my friends tell me that they must have consumer item XYZ, and that they cannot possibly live without luxury good ABC, and that life is just so difficult. Sometimes I want to scream at them that they’re sending us all in a downward spiral to hell, and that those kids they dream about having are going to inherit one hell of a messed up planet.
I used to get all sanctimonious about these things, until I realized that it didn’t really make a difference. We all have our deep-rooted excuses for why we are the way we are, and any pushing on my part just makes them even more intransigent. I’d love to see some real change on the parts of many people, but I’m not going to reach that goal by getting annoyed. Besides, I have my own flaws too.
I took a look around one day at the people I admire most, and tried to figure out what it was that made them so great. One person in particular stands out to me. He’s an older gentleman whom I’ve known for about 4 years. He leads an exemplary life, one I try to emulate. And that’s when it struck me – what is so remarkable about this person is that he lives by example. He doesn’t preach (not even in the classroom), he just quietly goes about doing what he does. In doing so, he serves as a guidepost for the rest of us.
So I’m going to try a change of pace. I’ll still rant on my blog about American entitlement while a billion people starve. I’ll still send emails soliciting donations for my favorite causes. But I’ll stop criticizing people’s lifestyle choices (at least in their presence). I’ll start walking the talk myself. And maybe slowly I’ll see some positive change both in my life and in the lives of others.
(Inspired by this post)
everything’s perspective March 27, 2008
Posted by deepali in books, happiness, personal growth, travel.3 comments
A little over a year ago, my life seemed terribly important. I had important things to do at work, at school, at volunteer gigs and organizations I was a part of. These were Very Important Activities that only I could do, and they required all my time and attention. And heaven forbid I didn’t get things done on time – the whole world hung in the balance.
Four international trips and a couple life-changing books later, and I have a different outlook. Nothing is so important that I have to kill myself over it. It’s not as if someone’s life is at risk. And there are a lot of things I take for granted that make my life soooo much easier than I used to think it was. A year ago, everything was just so hard. Now, I’m more grateful than anything else.
So – a brief rundown of things that have changed my perspective in the past year:
1. My trip to Nicaragua. A year ago, I worked on a public health project in Nicaragua. We were in the mountains near the border with Honduras, where some of the best coffee in the world can be found. I had a chance to visit a coffee plantation, in addition to the work we were doing (a survey assessing community knowledge of dengue fever). Coffee pickers make pennies a day, while carrying bags weighing up to 70 kilos. Coffee growers make about $2 a pound, for coffee that you will likely pay $10 a pound.
Three days a week, we had no running water in the house we stayed in. In the developing world, average water use is under 50 liters a day. In the US, it’s about 150 liters (12% of which goes to watering grass).
2. What is the What? If you haven’t read this book, go to your nearest bookstore and pick it up right now. This is the story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. After trekking across East Africa before the age of 10 to flee terrorists, Valentino arrives in Atlanta to experience a different, but no less exhausting, set of problems. I am an immigrant, but it was my parents who bore the brunt of the problems that immigrants face. And at least none of us were ever chased by lions.
The Lost Boys left their homes and families in Sudan to flee to Ethiopia, where they lived in refugee camps before they were kicked out. They trekked again to Kenya, where many of them still live in refugee camps. Some of them have been relocated to the US, to cities such as Syracuse and Pittsburgh.
3. My trip to India. I went on pilgrimmage last year, and the first day of my trip it took us 8 hours to go less than 300 kms. Patience was the most important thing I packed for that trip. At one point, my brother got sick, and we had to hire a man with a basket to carry him. My brother is 5′10″ and weighs about 175 lbs. The man was maybe 150 lbs (on a fat day). He carried my brother 3kms on his back… and charged about $12. My dad tipped him extra, but still far less than what I’d want to be paid to undertake such labor.
4. An earthquake in Peru. A week before we were due to leave for Peru, a major earthquake struck in the south. Ultimately, we had to change our itinerary, but that’s a minor inconvenience compared to the fates of the people living in the slums of Pisco and Ica. An entire city disappeared overnight, and so many were left homeless.
5. Collapse. The concepts Jared Diamond talks about in Collapse are not unfamiliar to most of us. But his detailed analysis of failed civilizations makes me pause and take a good hard look at where our current civilizations are heading. We seem to be making the same mistakes those others made, which led to disaster for them. Will it also lead to disaster for us? I’m really starting to think so.
6. My recent trip to Cambodia. This warrants its own post, later this week. I was in Cambodia for the first time 8 years ago, and a second time last week. A lot has changed in 8 years… and a lot hasn’t changed at all. Cambodia was an unfortunate victim of our incursion into Vietnam 30 years ago, and it still bears the scars. Major parts of the countryside still contain the landmines planted then and since.
My good friend has been working there for the past three years. She’s a friend from primary school, and it’s amazing to see how different our lives are now. She leads a simpler life, but the things that are Very Important to her really are important.
Looking back at myself a year ago, it’s amazing how convinced I was that all the stress was so necessary. But starting with my trip to Nicaragua, I’ve begun simplifying things in my life. I’ve also stopped worrying about all the little unimportant things (which is more of my life than I used to think). I’ve started stripping my life of the unessentials, to the best of my abilities. And I find I’m less stressed, my debt is decreasing, I’m getting more sleep, and I’m enjoying life more. It’s amazing how nothing significant has to happen to enact a real change in your life. You just have to change your perspective.
fun in the sun March 26, 2008
Posted by deepali in travel.6 comments
After a grueling 24 hours of travel (and an additional 12 if you count the overnight in NY), I made it home in one piece. First stop was laundry, and checking email. Then a quick nap, and then I even managed to get my act together and go to yoga and climbing. Now I’m slowly getting caught up at work and at home.
Vacations are fun, but they can also get out of hand. All thoughts of my budget go out the window when I’m on vacation, so I was a little worried when I got home and gathered all my credit card and ATM receipts. I haven’t totaled them yet, but just a quick check online and my credit card is actually in really good shape. I guess when you get into the habit of being frugal, you can still subconsciously follow those instincts. It also helped that Cambodia is not exactly a high-priced country. 
But now I’m sunburnt and a little tired, and I’m not sure I want to be home. Everything seems fast-paced and complicated, and my to-do list is growing. I’m already behind on schoolwork too! Right now, I just want to crawl back into bed….
exhausted, sunburnt, and pensive March 23, 2008
Posted by deepali in travel.add a comment
Almost home… Just 20 hours of flying to go.
a brief hiatus March 13, 2008
Posted by deepali in misc.add a comment
So I’m finally taking my vacation and will likely not be on the internet very much. See you when I return!
a long list of dumb purchases March 12, 2008
Posted by deepali in budget, personal growth.1 comment so far
There’s a contest going on regarding people’s dumbest purchases ever. Apparently, you could win a Nintendo DS Lite. Sounds like fun, but mostly, I love the irony of confessing a dumb purchase to possibly win a frivolous item. Based on some people’s answers, it seems like the prize ought to be a smack upside the head.
But it got me thinking about my spiral into debt and the slow crawl out. I can’t pick one dumbest purchase ever, because frankly, there’s been a lot of them. So I figured I’d list a few and let someone else decide how truly dumb I used to be.
1. The funky fashionista phase. I used to love bargain shopping. I would buy all sorts of ridiculous things because they were cheap and funky. Of course, they would be poor quality or ill-fitting, and they’d never get worn. But to make it worse, there were also the more expensive items that looked good in the store, but that I had nothing to match. So these items just sit on hangers waiting to be worn. I’ve probably donated about 10 bags of just these purchases to Goodwill in the past 8 years. Damage? Maybe 2-3K.
2. Stitching and bitching. One day, I decided I was going to relearn how to crochet. As I started to relearn, I got a little overenthusiastic and went on a shopping spree to buy yarn, crochet needles, patterns, beads, and all sorts of other useless items. When I moved, I finally gathered everything together and gave it to a friend. Damage? Approximately $300.
3. So you think you can dance? I got a gift certificate to a dance studio for a birthday. I used it to buy a series of belly dance classes. I absolutely loved it and decided to take the next level. All that would have been fine, but then I started exploring other classes at the studio. I bought series for belly dance and break dancing, drop-in passes for jazz and hiphop, and workshops out the wazoo. I also bought all sorts of clothes and accessories for these dance styles. But to make it all worse, I barely made the classes I had already paid for; my attendance was maybe 50%. After two and a half years of that nonsense, I finally stopped. At this point in my life, I am neither a belly dancer nor a b-girl. Damage? Close to 4k.
4. Moving on up… A few years ago when everyone was buying a condo, we decided it was a good idea to buy one also. So we looked around quite a bit and finally settled on one. I don’t think it was an entirely dumb purchase, but if we’d waited a couple years, we might have gotten a better deal. We might also have gotten something we liked better. Financially, it was also stretching my budget to be able to pay the mortgage. Damages? At worst, $400 a month for 3 years.
There have been other budget-damaging purchases, but those have been issues of timing and not necessarily bad ideas. I bought a computer when I was temping, but it wasn’t a purchase I regretted. I’ve spent a bit of money on beauty and skin care, but I also don’t regret that. But if I could go back and eliminate the four purchases above, I would in a heartbeat.
being frugal doesn’t mean missing out March 11, 2008
Posted by deepali in budget, food, happiness, personal growth, weight loss, work, yoga.11 comments
A lot of people think that just because you are on a budget, that means you have to make major sacrifices in your life. That is not true at all. Granted, your “buy it now” mentality might have to change, but let’s be honest here – that’s not really a sacrifice. That’s just learning maturity.
And just because you shop around for the best prices doesn’t mean you have to settle for something cheap. There are ways to still maintain your lifestyle without killing your budget. Here are some ways I’ve found:
1. Go vegetarian. I stopped eating meat for non-financial reasons, but I’ve found that it actually has had a great impact on my grocery bill. Meat is not cheap (unless you happen to like the really cheap stuff, and then you might want to consider the impact on your medical bills), but vegetables generally are.
2. Shop at the farmers’ market and frozen food aisles. The first guarantees fresh, yummy-tasting produce. And so does the second. Produce is frozen at the peak of freshness, so it still retains its nutritional value. You might not be able to make a tasty salad, but you’ll make some great sauteed dishes.
3. Get your hair cut at a training school. The cheapest place for me to get a haircut or color is the Aveda Institute. Sure, they’re students, but they’re supervised and have completed a good deal of their training before they get near your hair. Plus, I get the bonus of Aveda products. The downside is that they take a little longer, though I like to consider it as extra attention.
4. Buy in bulk. Whatever you are buying, buy more of it. You’ll have to be vigilant and organized to avoid being overwhelmed, but if you have a system in place for remembering what you bought, you’ll spend less money in the long run. The bonus for me is that I buy bulk at Whole Foods, so I get high-quality beans and rice on the cheap.
5. Take a walk. You don’t have to drive everywhere. In fact, as the weather gets warmer, consider walking to any location within a mile (or even 2). You’ll save money on gas and wear and tear on your car (both made worse by shorter trips). You’ll also get outside and enjoy some exercise.
6. Try the Couch to 5K. A lot of people think they can’t run. The problem usually is that they do too much too soon. Couch to 5K is a great program that teaches you the right way to ease into a running program. I’m planning on trying it out in April. The benefit is that, with a good running program in place, you can get rid of that gym membership you never use anyway.
7. Get a part-time job at a place you frequent. Whether it’s a clothing store, a yoga studio, or any other place that gets a decent portion of your monthly salary, consider asking them about part-time opportunities. A lot of places only require a few hours a week. I work at my yoga studio for a couple hours every Sunday and in exchange I get free yoga classes. I save over $100 a month, get to meet a lot of cool people, and get some exercise and stress reduction.
8. Volunteer at your CSA. A lot of CSAs need volunteers to help pick the produce. Most will let you work for a few hours once a week and in exchange you’ll receive a weekly share. One share is generally good for 2-4 people, so if you go twice a month, that could be your monthly produce. You’ll get exercise, save money on groceries, and learn a bit about where your food comes from. And don’t forget to stew and freeze the extras for the winter!
There are only a few ways I’ve learned to save money without making major sacrifices. I’ve also learned a lot about myself and the world around me through some of these activities. That’s never a bad thing!
hooked on stuff March 10, 2008
Posted by deepali in budget.1 comment so far
I was at dinner the other night, and I happened to glance up at the television set. The show playing was “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. The premise goes – the makeover team determines that a certain family’s home needs a radical change. Often, there has been some change in the family. But sometimes, the home itself is just not as livable as it could be.
The episode that was on showed a house that was barely bigger than a doublewide. The family had 3 or 4 children, and 3 of them shared a room (one of them slept on a pull out). They clearly needed more space. But the kicker? There was a 50 inch plasma TV in the living room.
This is just something I will never understand about people. We complain about how we “need” this and that, and we “can’t afford” these important “needs”. And then we turn around and buy something we clearly do NOT need. It reminded me of the time a friend of mine told me she was poor. This, of course, after sending me links to various couches she was thinking of buying. The price tag on these couches? 2K or so. To go in her $1900/month apartment.
When I told a friend of mine that I was selling my car, he said he never understood how people could live in this city without one. I was confused – I maybe drove my car 1-2 times a month.
I guess this is what happens when you live in the land of plenty. You get used to having all these things around you that they seem like necessities. I remember when we didn’t have cell phones or internet, but now I would certainly put both on my list of must-haves.
The sadly ironic thing about shows like “Extreme Makeover” is that the reason why the house is in bad shape is often due to financial difficulties, whether self-imposed or unexpected. Unfortunately, the nice new home (or newly redone home) also increases in property value, which causes a rise in taxes. And the pre-existing financial difficulties means the recipients are often unable to maintain payments on the home. Some have been sold. Some have been lost to foreclosure. I guess this is what happens when we get hooked on stuff.
