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Going for broke without going broke
By Haley Goldberg
Name: Alexis Christie
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
School: LSA senior
Concentration: Anthropology
How would you describe your spending habits?
I think that I'm 21 years old and my spending habits tend to
reflect that of a 21-year-old, but I'm also independent of my
parents completely so I'm definitely not throwing down hun-
dreds of dollars at the bar every weekend either.
Do you think being 21has increased your spending?
Originally, yes. The first six months of being 21, definitely. I
could live just off a loaf of bread for groceries so I could have
the extra money going towards going out and now it's like, it's
not worth it. I'd rather eat more than oatmeal for every meal
and go out less. Not to mention just going out and the impact it
has on your schoolwork in general beyond finances.
Do you cook for yourself mostly, or do you find yourself
purchasing food?
Can you break down what you spent your last paycheck
on?
Rent, electric, groceries, I don't think I even went out at all
with my paycheck that time. Yeah, that's it. I work for Ameri-
Corps JumpStart reading program.
When you decide to splurge on going out, what would
you splurge on?
Going out to the bar, but even then most of my friends know
that I am independent and they aren't independent here, so
they are fairly understanding of my situation and (they'll say),
"Hey, I'll buy your drink for you because I know my parents
are paying for my drink and you're paying for your drink inde-
pendently." Even then it's not so hard to go out because the
friends that I do have that aren't independent are understand-
ing, so they're willingto give what they have.
Do you find that you prefer your independent situation?
No. I think it's cool, and it's nice that I'm mature and inde-
pendent and aware of my financial habits. But when it comes
down to it, it would be a whole lot easier if I just wasn't think-
ing about rent and bills and food everyday.
So you're a senior, do you have an idea of where you
want to live after you graduate?
Yeah, I want to live in Philadelphia ... I have siblings that
live in Philadelphia right now so it's a place to crash for free
for a little while. And there's a pretty good bar scene there
and I have a decent amount of bartending skills so I feel
like if anything I can employ that after if I can't find a job
once I graduate. If anything, I can put that to good use even
if I can't put my degree to good use.
Are you concerned about Philadelphia being a more
expensive city to live in?
It is a more expensive city to live in, and yes, it's concern-
ing, but you just get to the point where you think, you're
going to spend a lot of money regardless, so you might as
well live some place where you can be happy. I mean,.I'm
going to be broke no matter what, so I might as well be
broke in Philadelphia.
I definitely cook most of the time.
Like, all of the time. I mean,
throughout the week it's just easy
things like mac n' cheese and
oatmeal that are not necessar-
ily grand meals. Definitely on the
weekend I'll make a little bit of a
meal for myself, like black beans
and rice and quipoa. Something
kind of nutritious.
Do you feel that, compared to
friends that aren't independent,
you have a different percep-
tion when it comes to spending
money?
Definitely. I even discuss this
with my friends who aren't inde-
pendent from their families on a
regular basis because it is just two
different worlds. So for me, money
is constantly on my mind. I mean,
I have to have a job in order to pay.
rent, to get groceries, and there's
weeks when my income is differ-
ent than other weeks. It's always
on my mind and it's an added
stress. But when your parents are
paying for it, of course you have
the stress of thinking about what
you're going to do after college, but
it's not a current concern whereas
for me it definitely is.