People ask me how I don't spend a great amount of money. Now, I'm no Calvinist or anything, but I still work hard and I don't splash out (a great majority of the time) on things I don't need. New shoes? I have eight pairs of shoes. That's enough. I mean, if you can find pieces of clothing that don't look awful with other pieces of clothing, then it's a plus because you can use them over and over again. And there's no issue in that.
SELF CONTROL
Huge amounts of self control. I want cookies? I think for a long time about whether I should really get them or not. I mean, for one thing, it's money spent on something I could probably make at home. Secondly, I don't know what's in them- often they don't have ingredients written on the packaging. Thirdly, I know that cookies are not (unfortunately) a staple part of the human diet. So, they should be eaten in moderation. When I go to buy things in the supermarket I wonder whether they are necessary. Is that bag of cookies a necessity? Of course not. Put it back.
One of my mottos is that want is not the same thing as need. Some things you should need before you get them, like food. Eating because you want to eat is never clever. Other things... It's a situation of want. Boyfriends, for example. Nobody should NEED a boyfriend. It's very important to be able to be happy without someone there, obviously. Human beings are well-adapted and developed and on an evolutionary basis, they don't particularly need to be paired all the time. That being said, meeting someone who makes you happy is really, really important, if you're doing the dating thang. That's no typo, I do mean thang. It's got a nice twang to it.
Anyway, when you want something, it's akin to saying, I'd be okay without it, but for the sake of my own happiness, I'll obtain or attain it anyway. Like, I want three As in my A-Levels. I need two As and a B, but I want three As. Wanting things is just saying, the situation is adequate but I'd like to improve it beyond how pleasing it currently is. Do you "need" a new pair of shoes? Or do you want to buy a new pair because you feel like it? I never replace shoes until they're unwearable. The shoes I'm wearing today are three years old. They're still watertight, they're still warm, they still fit, and they're still comfy. And they don't look particularly shabby either, which brings me nicely to my next point.
STOP BUYING SHIT CLOTHES, ETC.!
My GOD it is infuriating when people complain they don't have enough space in their wardrobe or drawers. Take all the stuff out, sort through it. What you don't need or want goes to charity. What no longer fits, goes to charity. Is it broken? Yes? Can you repair it? No? Throw it out.
Adolescents the world over need to do something very very easy. Boycott Primark. For god's sake, why buy things that are not good quality? I'd rather save up for a nice warm hoodie than buy one now which is cold and uncomfortable. This looking to the future is called "deferred gratitude". It's a sociological way of saying, "wait for it and it'll be more enjoyable". And it's true, tried and tested. You want to watch a DVD but you need to get that coursework done? Want shouldn't come before need. I've always found that waiting for things I want makes me appreciate them more, anyway. Or I lose interest and don't want them any more, which is a win-win, because everything I want (clothes, lunch, snacks, sports, leisure activities etc., etc.) I pay for.
I've been working two jobs for four months and I've earnt a great deal more than I've spent, and I'm proud, because it means there's money here for when I really NEED something. I'm prepared.
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Ice Rink Rant
I'm currently in the habit of saving. I try not to spend money most of the time, unless I really need something. Spending money of stuff I just want leads to little feelings of guilt because I was brought up pretty anti-consumerist. Anyway, to get the money I have, I work. I work Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and sometimes Sundays. Saturdays are the worst days to work.
A little thing about working at an ice rink is that people believe you are being paid to skate. Therefore it's an easy job. Ha! You see very little of what we have to do! Now, this post isn't going to be complaining about the tasks I ahev to do at work. I like my work. I enjoy it. Even when it's a bit difficult and you're pushed for time, because then the feeling of elation at having managed something is just that little bit stronger. No, I'm complaining (sorry) about the customers. Here goes.
Dear customers,
The ice rink opens at ten on a Saturday morning. However, the site is open and up and running all the time. Please check our opening times. Please don't get angry at having dragged your kids down to get here at nine thirty. We're not letting you in. You can't browse and so we see no reason why you should be allowed on the premises before we open.
Secondly, no hats on the ice. This means you shouldn't have one on your head. By all means, bring one, but as soon as you're skating (or trying to) please take it off. Now, you ALWAYS ask me why. Always. Have you ever seen someone trip over a hat on the ice? No? Think of it as if you were running and you put your foot in something sticky. What happens? You pitch over straight onto your face. The other thing is, because one foot is stuck in this figurative sticky thing, your head is on the end of a pivot. The bad end. The fast end. In short, your hat, when it accidentally comes off your head while you're skating (or trying to), is a dangerous weapon. Have you ever seen how much a head wound bleeds?No? We have. We have also seen how nasty it is when we, the stewards, have to go out onto the ice and scrape off the frozen blood with our skates. N'ice. As in, not nice.
Don't give me your bullshit about your hat protecting your head. All a hat will do when you fall is soak up the blood. Have fun cleaning it out. It's a hat, not a helmet.
Thirdly, the reason we ask you not to wear long coats and scarves is so you can't take out a small child (or an adult). Or get strangled. Or strangle someone else. Your clothing should be warm but not pose a danger to other customers.
Fourthly, don't treat us as if we're stupid because we appear to work somewhere where qualifications aren't needed. I assure you, we can (and most likely will) argue back, but we choose not to because we like our jobs. Sunday morning a guy told me I get paid to piss people off because I told him to take his hat off. Then he fell on his ass really, really hard. The look of pain on his face made my self-control worth it. Don't be dicks. We're all pretty damn well educated, thanks.
Fifthly (it's a damn word), on a Saturday, there are about 600 of you using our facility. When we ask you to do something for your own safety, please do it. You outnumber us about 60-1. We can't help you unless you listen.
There are bins every seven metres on average. They are not for display. They are for you to put your unwanted stuff in. Especially socks. I loathe picking up socks. I also loathe picking up tissues off the ice. If you must vlow your nose, do it off ice. Stood next to a bin. And then, get in the bin.
Finally, in the cafe there is a bin right next to the sugar, milk and stirrers. DON'T LEAVE YOUR DAMNED STUFF ON THE SIDE SO WE HAVE TO WIPE IT EVERY FIVE MINUTES. Don't leave all your stuff on the tables either. It means we have twice as much cleaning to do as is really necessary.
Many thanks, workers at the ice rink.
A little thing about working at an ice rink is that people believe you are being paid to skate. Therefore it's an easy job. Ha! You see very little of what we have to do! Now, this post isn't going to be complaining about the tasks I ahev to do at work. I like my work. I enjoy it. Even when it's a bit difficult and you're pushed for time, because then the feeling of elation at having managed something is just that little bit stronger. No, I'm complaining (sorry) about the customers. Here goes.
Dear customers,
The ice rink opens at ten on a Saturday morning. However, the site is open and up and running all the time. Please check our opening times. Please don't get angry at having dragged your kids down to get here at nine thirty. We're not letting you in. You can't browse and so we see no reason why you should be allowed on the premises before we open.
Secondly, no hats on the ice. This means you shouldn't have one on your head. By all means, bring one, but as soon as you're skating (or trying to) please take it off. Now, you ALWAYS ask me why. Always. Have you ever seen someone trip over a hat on the ice? No? Think of it as if you were running and you put your foot in something sticky. What happens? You pitch over straight onto your face. The other thing is, because one foot is stuck in this figurative sticky thing, your head is on the end of a pivot. The bad end. The fast end. In short, your hat, when it accidentally comes off your head while you're skating (or trying to), is a dangerous weapon. Have you ever seen how much a head wound bleeds?No? We have. We have also seen how nasty it is when we, the stewards, have to go out onto the ice and scrape off the frozen blood with our skates. N'ice. As in, not nice.
Don't give me your bullshit about your hat protecting your head. All a hat will do when you fall is soak up the blood. Have fun cleaning it out. It's a hat, not a helmet.
Thirdly, the reason we ask you not to wear long coats and scarves is so you can't take out a small child (or an adult). Or get strangled. Or strangle someone else. Your clothing should be warm but not pose a danger to other customers.
Fourthly, don't treat us as if we're stupid because we appear to work somewhere where qualifications aren't needed. I assure you, we can (and most likely will) argue back, but we choose not to because we like our jobs. Sunday morning a guy told me I get paid to piss people off because I told him to take his hat off. Then he fell on his ass really, really hard. The look of pain on his face made my self-control worth it. Don't be dicks. We're all pretty damn well educated, thanks.
Fifthly (it's a damn word), on a Saturday, there are about 600 of you using our facility. When we ask you to do something for your own safety, please do it. You outnumber us about 60-1. We can't help you unless you listen.
There are bins every seven metres on average. They are not for display. They are for you to put your unwanted stuff in. Especially socks. I loathe picking up socks. I also loathe picking up tissues off the ice. If you must vlow your nose, do it off ice. Stood next to a bin. And then, get in the bin.
Finally, in the cafe there is a bin right next to the sugar, milk and stirrers. DON'T LEAVE YOUR DAMNED STUFF ON THE SIDE SO WE HAVE TO WIPE IT EVERY FIVE MINUTES. Don't leave all your stuff on the tables either. It means we have twice as much cleaning to do as is really necessary.
Many thanks, workers at the ice rink.
Thursday 9 February 2012
Next step
As I'm sure a lot of you know, I'm seventeen (ah, alas, she has no experience nor knowledge of the ways and wiles of life!) and that means a number of things. Firstly, I can drive. Secondly, my next birthday should be a cracking one (LANDMARK BIRTHDAY! WHOOP!). Most importantly, I can do magic outside of school. That's been the best one by far.
Quite honestly the best thing has been doing A-Levels, because the amount of care and attention you get from teachers is amazing. They will mark a hundred of the same essay and still put their all in, and that's something I greatly admire. All my teachers have pushed me so hard this year, and I'm really happy they have. I'm pretty complacent with my learning until someone yells at me to do stuff. They're (metaphorically) yelling every lesson. And I'm learning.
Which is why, dear readers, I have some news which I hope will serve to at least make you happy (if not for the general situation then for me, pretty please?)...
I got a place at my chosen University! A conditional offer! Based on ABB in my A-Levels. I reckon I'll go for the A in Sociology and then the B and B in German and Law. Those are all minimums, obviously. They are the pass mark. But seriously, I sent off my application two months ago! Three, in fact! And I have been obsessively checking my inbox every day, waiting for an email telling me of any change. And now I'm happy. Having not had any previous relatives go to university, I am the first in my family and I'm very proud to be offered a place. Now I have something to work for! The little ideas in my head are all coming together to form this big picture of stuff to do and opportunities.
It also means I now have to absolutely hit those targets, and so I'm apologising in advance for the probable break in blog posts. believe me, I'm trying to keep them to about once a week! But it's difficult! There's a lot to be done, and all of it is essential. I'm not naturally particularly bright. I have to work very hard to maintain my grades, and it makes me proud when I can live up to the task and complete the challenge, and so I must say that from now on I will be throwing myself into my work in order to achieve the best I can. That's all I can do, really.
Happy reading, folks!
Quite honestly the best thing has been doing A-Levels, because the amount of care and attention you get from teachers is amazing. They will mark a hundred of the same essay and still put their all in, and that's something I greatly admire. All my teachers have pushed me so hard this year, and I'm really happy they have. I'm pretty complacent with my learning until someone yells at me to do stuff. They're (metaphorically) yelling every lesson. And I'm learning.
Which is why, dear readers, I have some news which I hope will serve to at least make you happy (if not for the general situation then for me, pretty please?)...
I got a place at my chosen University! A conditional offer! Based on ABB in my A-Levels. I reckon I'll go for the A in Sociology and then the B and B in German and Law. Those are all minimums, obviously. They are the pass mark. But seriously, I sent off my application two months ago! Three, in fact! And I have been obsessively checking my inbox every day, waiting for an email telling me of any change. And now I'm happy. Having not had any previous relatives go to university, I am the first in my family and I'm very proud to be offered a place. Now I have something to work for! The little ideas in my head are all coming together to form this big picture of stuff to do and opportunities.
It also means I now have to absolutely hit those targets, and so I'm apologising in advance for the probable break in blog posts. believe me, I'm trying to keep them to about once a week! But it's difficult! There's a lot to be done, and all of it is essential. I'm not naturally particularly bright. I have to work very hard to maintain my grades, and it makes me proud when I can live up to the task and complete the challenge, and so I must say that from now on I will be throwing myself into my work in order to achieve the best I can. That's all I can do, really.
Happy reading, folks!
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