Our Economy: An Epic Fail

I'm saving for... banks, Fred Flare, $10

No fancy lyric titles today, folks. Being in debt is a serious business. We (by we, we mean I, or are referring to ourselves in the third person) at Grab My Notebook (GMN as we fondly refer to it) are feeling the strain of our own budget. We do not have a job, and our pursuit of an internship or job for the summer is turning up fruitless and pointless, where we are met by constraints like our age (most internships you have to be AT LEAST a sophomore, if not a junior for) or our major ( we regret we are not scientifically minded enough to be an engineering major, and are in the college of arts and science). Thus we are already relegated to a job that will most likely be in retail... Which I have already been advised against by several sources. But it is my only option... And really, everything I see reminds me that I have no money and a lot of others don't either.

So my question, posed to all those faithful readers out there, is what strategies are you employing out there in these times of economic stress in order to save or stretch money? Eating out less? Renting movies from netflix instead of going to movie theaters? Recycling cans? Any or all of the above? For my part I have devised a plan: Every Sunday I will put all my change (coins) in this pink water bottle I have in my room, it will be my psuedo piggy bank. Hopefully, when that piggy bank is full, I will have a hundred dollars or more! I think saving, even in this small way, will help. And then I can put it towards next year's college money, or a trip to Ireland, or a car, or what have you.

I'll be reading the comments over this weekend, and come Monday, I will choose the winner and they will receive one of my newly crafted business cards, a very nice handwritten letter on SU stationary (because I want a pen pal), a personalized CD, and a surprise. I know, not the greatest, but I happen to be poor and on a budget.

See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end

So last week I went to an Etiquette and Business dinner (honestly, mostly because I had a free ticket). After all the networking I did, I felt better and a tad more grown up, but nevertheless unprepared because I had come with no business cards and no resumes. Silly me! And I wonder why I don't have a job... Well, anyway, I promptly went to career services and ordered a hundred business cards so the next time I network I'm ready!

Of course, what do I take this as an opportunity for? Shopping of course! Because any set of business cards should be carried in a snazzy case and I believe the case you carry it in says something about you and your personality.

I think this show is aptly named because I Love Lucy! I love her and her crazy antics and her sense of humor and Desi's singing abilities and tendency to break into Spanish when hes mad at Lucy. That quirky couple! This is quite a novelty idea of a business card case, but that's just it, it's a novelty and professional it does not speak. $9.99

I think the design behind this case is very sweet and almost sentimental. I like the simple shapes of the pictures on it, they remind me of a child's drawing. The flowers are sweet and I also like the stitching. It reminds me of a shirt I once designed. All in all I think this is my favorite of the bunch, but the fact that one of the words I used to describe it is childish, it might not be the right one. But it'd be a cute gift card holder! $11

This is by the same maker as the I Love Lucy card holder, but I like it all the better because it quotes one of my fave movies of all time, Gone with the Wind. The only problem, well two problems, I have with this are: 1) it talks about kissing and shows an embrace so professional looking it's not (the other Gone with the Wind one wasn't any better, it showed them embracing in front of a burning Atlanta and Scarlett's blouse is ripped open), and 2) it comes with a lighter inside because I think it's original purpose is a cigarette holder (even though you can take that out and use it for cards). $9.99

If I had to choose one? This one! It's sleek and professional but also has roses on it so it has a bit of flair to make it not as boring. The only downside? It's $31. But ya gotta spend money to make money, yeah?

Song: Rich Girl, Gwen Stefani