The Constant Struggler

Ha HA!

I'm back.

A few days ago I had a dream in which I was the lead researcher for the Harley Davidson Institute of Neurotrama Research.

This does not exist.

Except in my head and on my whiteboard.

Today marks one week of me doing absolutely nothing at work. This is an exaggeration of course, but it feels that way. Going from working an understaffed ER to reading computer manuals is a bit of a change of pace. Considering that I finished reading them all last wednesday and we still have about a week of scheduled "study time" I've been doing various other things.

I think today I'll make a presentation about Diffusion of Innovation as discussed by Rogers.

It's applicable to the instigation of computerized charting at the hospital.

Besides, I've run out of internet...

It happened again. I hit my responsibility spiral and crashed out of control.

This one was interesting. I tried introducing some "color" to my clothing palette. This was a bad idea. There's a reason I need to keep things remarkably simple. If not I make them incredibly complex and it rapidly gets out of control.

I'm reading Running and Philosophy: A Marathon for the Mind there's a bit where Kevin Kinghorn writes about "Single Decision Makers" He likens them to Anscombe's intentional actions. Where you can give an explanation as to why we do them. I found this describes me a bit too well.

For example.

I decide to go running every morning (this month it's every other day.) That's the decision. Every subequent action that follows are intentional actions. I put out my shirt and shorts, find my shoes, set my alarm, make sure my phone is charged, and fill my water bottle before going to bed.

In contrast, there's another sort known as the constant struggler. My roommate for example. She's decided to exercise everyday, but where I decide to do it and go into autopilot. She makes a decision every step. What time of day should I exercise? What clothing should I wear?Depending on what exercises I'm going to do. Should I cardio first or second? Which muscle group today? How long should I wait after eating? What will I refuel with?

I don't choose what shorts or shirt to wear. I don't (typically) change my time of day. I don't "mix up" my routine (except monthly.) I've decided on something and that's how it is until the review period is over and I can re-evaluate.

I do things like this for a month. Review the data collected and see what I need to alter.

Here's the unfortunate bit that seems to have taken a while to get to. I decided to add color to my closet. Once I did this I couldn't get up and put clothes on. I had to make multiple decisions every time I wanted to get dressed. Would this underwear show through? Was it too hot for this shirt? Are these pants clean? What socks do you wear with this? AURGH!

It was very difficult.

I gave up yesterday.

I'm wearing scrubs and a white t-shirt.

Business casual is so overrated.

Things are simpler when you don't have to think about it.

This is one of the main reasons I'm a vegetarian. There's usually about one good thing per menu when I go out to eat. I don't have to decide if I feel like chicken or steak. I can always have pasta!

Carbivore out.

Snip Snip

So, when I friend of mine made the post that she bought $66 worth of items for $0.94 I sort of sat up and took notice.

I was raised to be a good steward of money. Really more as a bragging point than anything. Oh yea, and so we could go on living our lifestyle.

My Dad once bought a suit at JC Penney's for around $3. I found a pair of puma trainers for $10. Paying full price seems like such a rip off. Every time a sale goes on, John comments, "So THAT's what the real price is."

On to the extreme couponing phase.

I don't have television access except at the gym so I stay relatively 3months to a year behind on trends and whatnot. Turns out there's now a show teaching people how to save money by using coupons. I feel I learned this is Home Economics (of course, being homeschooled cleaning the bathroom was considered home economics...) This sharp change in the economy is teaching people to be a little more careful in their planning. There are a few sacrifices to be made however.

Is this something I think I need to look into?

You must develop a strategic plan.

Turns out you can't really skim the grocery adds for what's cheapest anymore. I could never do that to begin with. I already set aside a portion of my weekend to flip through cookbooks with my roommate (Sarah) and decide on recipes for the week, who will cook what night and the overall health of the foods we are choosing (it's fun to live with scientists.) These decisions are all copied onto this What to Eat pad and checked against the pantry for what we need. The missing items are checked on this All Out of List and off we go with our "Green Bags" to Kroger, Sam's, or (if it's just me) WholeFoods and the Farmer's Market.

I am a terrible person at the grocery store. I hope you never have to see me. Not only do I have terrible control over the MONSTER-SIZED carts (just can't get leverage if you can barely see over) I also read the labels for EVERYTHING, bring my own bags, use coupons, self-checkout, purchase alcohol (while looking like a 12 year old), buy insane amounts of fresh produce, check unit prices on items located in different isles (or even different stores.) Sometimes, I even get on Amazon while in the store to see if it's cheaper to have it mailed to me within two days.

Do I really want to add the crazyness of getting weekly emails, printing, snipping, planning, etc. Just to save a few bucks?

Here's the sad kicker...

All this time I've been thinking about this (thinking includes creating a coupon email account and signing up for a bunch of online coupon sites, reading the ehow, and watching some tip videos on youtube.) I keep coming up with one repeating idea that I can't seem to shake and really reveals my personality.

Why?

What's the overall net gain?

A few extra bucks?

Is all this work worth it?

I already spend a great amount of time recording and analyzing my diet to keep kcal and sodium low while maintaining protein levels separate from animal proteins. (not as hard as people seem to think) Do I really want to add an additional level of crazy?

Then I think, what will I do with the money.

Anything I need I already have. I could probably live comfortably 2-3 months without buying another item (if I ration the food properly.) Things I want I either purchase or talk myself out of. School bills have been part of the planned budget since highschool and therefore are well foreseen. Emergency money is placed well out of reach.

Hmmm,

Here we go.

I'll find a charity/organization/or cause and donate the remainder of my planned grocery budget to them after 1 month of couponing.

Suggestions would be appreciated.