I don't like to buy things.

I don't think it's surprising that I'm fairly careful with my purchases.  I don't splurge on wants very often, although I can understand that it takes time to overcome emotional spending.  Instead, most of my every day purchases are food (good quality food, but still food from a grocery store such that I can make my own meals).  Frugality is a clear way of life for a number of people interested in personal finance.  However, sometimes things come up that can disagree with that frugal nature.  Right now I'm struggling to justify to myself that there are a couple of things that are really worth my time, money and attention.

1. A new prescription for my glasses.  It's been about two years since I last went to the eye doctor.  I HATE going to the eye doctor even more than I hate moving.  I know a lot of people avoid the dentist with a similar level of dislike, but for me, it's the eye doctor.  I have a fear of things near my eyes and have passed out on more than one occasion when they do the glaucoma test (the pressure test where they blow air into your eye...).  I need to suck it up and schedule an appointment.
2. A new bike. 

I wish I was a minimalist...

I spent most of the weekend moving boxes and some furniture and getting it organized and things put away.  Moving is probably about half done at this point... and I'm sore.

I tend not to buy a lot of things.  Clothing, shoes, accessories... I feel like I've more or less stopped shopping for the past few years unless I was replacing clothing that had worn out.  But after moving a chunk of my stuff over to the new apartment it certainly seems like I own way to much stuff.

Grad School Secrets: Delicious Food on a Budget

Food is a widely variable expense as it not only depends on what types of food you eat but also if you cook for yourself, warm up microwave meals or go out to eat frequently.  I think cutting down on food costs is often the quickest way to keeping more cash in your wallet.  Here are some things I do to keep food costs down.

Ditch the car to save money!

Many people think that they NEED to have a car.  I live in southern California, the place of carmageddon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmageddon_(freeway)#.27Carmageddon.27_2011  and I'm here to tell you, you can do just fine without a car.

Grad School Secrets: Furniture on a budget

As a perpetual student I've moved across the country and around the world several times.  This results in having to find the basics again and again and, as always, with practice you start to get pretty good at it.  Here are some of the thing's I've done to save money.