The Mental Journey Around The World Begins With A Ride To Rosemont

Today is the day that I set aside as a second New Year's Eve.  It's pretty much the last day that I said I don't even have to think about a job search.  Come tomorrow, February 1, I will be at least tentatively going on job search sites.  It only feels right as tomorrow is the day that I call IDES to certify for the first time.

Thankfully, my worry that this would be a call (and a direct deposit that followed) that saved me from starvation turned out to be unfounded as my severance pay was direct deposited on Friday.

Looking at my balance, which was smaller than I thought it was going to be due to a larger taxing than I anticipated but still bigger than it had been since my college graduation, I tried not to immediately do something rash like buy a car (well, put down a nice down payment at least) with it.  I want a lot of it to just sit there for the uncertain future, but I definitely have a little of it to play around with.

The timing seemed impeccable, therefore, that yesterday was the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show (http://www.adventureexpo.com/Default.aspx?id=a8383584-b8b3-4a9d-8be5-223cd2db9ab2) out at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.  Were I still employed, and having to save up money to go on a trip, I probably still would have gone to hear Rick Steves speak (yes, I'm one of those obsessed fans).  But with digits in my bank account, it became a different sort of playground.

I picked up brochures for all of the possible destinations that I would possibly want to go to.  Peru (which was supposed to happen two years ago), Nicaragua (which I was told at the booth was actually the safest country in Central America for now, even for a solo traveller), New Zealand (surprisingly, only around $1500 for two weeks), Honduras, and Panama.

Anyhow, thankfully I got through all of the booths quickly enough and sat down to listen to the speakers before Rick Steves.  The Lost Girls (http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/).  They focus on solo female travel, but they did remind me of a lot of work abroad options I hadn't even thought of as that's how they paid for a lot of what they did.

I know this is technically cheating on my no looking for work pledge, but I bookmarked a link that was sent to me as spam on Twitter: Jobs Abroad (http://jobs.goabroad.com/).  I don't want to do the teaching thing.  I don't have the patience for that.  But I would love to do something like administrative work for archeologists or anthropologists or that sort of thing (which according to the presentation is available).

Oh, but back to the fun stuff.  As I woke up this "morning" listening to the radio, the oldies station I listen to here in Chicago was playing a commercial for one a day deals deeply discounted on Funjet Vacations (http://www.funjet.com/).  Half asleep, I checked it out and today's was amazing.  Today's was three days in Cancun for $449 (about $1,000 including taxes and fees).  That doesn't appeal to me, but they've previewed the others (http://www.funjet.com/specials/dailydeal.asp?xmlfile=daily-deal&OAC=&plCode=) and some of them are really exciting.

Maybe I'll reward myself with one once I've actually started the job search.  After the snowstorm we're supposed to get here in Chicago tomorrow, I'm probably going to need it.

How I Spent The Third Week of the Rest of My Life

Sick days are not as much fun when you're unemployed.  I'm learning that today.  Far from feeling like a vacation, I feel like I want to get out of bed and play on a nice, warmer Chicago day (or at least go watch Fulham v. Liverpool at Small Bar - Fullerton) but completely lack the energy.

At least I stocked up on supplies a couple of days ago.

But the more I stay inside, the further it seems that I want to go.  Yesterday I found myself enthralled by a travel commercial for a trip to the Caribbean.  The cheap airfare, of course, would be offset by the fact that the hotel is probably not as forgiving price-wise.  But it seems as though a lot of other people I know took vacations while unemployed, so I figure I might as well during the same situation.  Of course, this involves me getting my mysterious severance check.  I don't want to call about it, but I think I'll inquire with the person who was laid off the same day about it.

Even without a vacation, this last week was pretty expensive.  Though most of it was medical.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18 ($137.07)

• 11:09 a.m. U.S. Post Office - Clemente Branch - Free.  I went to pick up what I thought was one box of person effects from my old work.  It turned out to be four boxes.  Without a car, I had no way of getting them home so I just got information on how to get it redelivered.
• 11:46 a.m. Chicago Public Library - Bucktown/Wicker Park Branch - $0.30.  My uncle gave me a printer for the holidays but I still haven't set it up yet as it will just be one more thing to pack if I move.  So I went to the Logan Square Library to print up my insurance cards before I went to the post office.  I discovered it doesn't open until noon on Tuesdays so I took the bus to the Bucktown Library.  The express computers are hidden there but I got out by noon which was when I wanted to finish my errands.
• 12:36 p.m. Walgreens - Free.  I was worried since this was the first time I tried to use my insurance card.  I wasn't even sure if it was real or a scam.  When the pharmacy assistant couldn't find it on system, I got more worried.  Eventually the pharmacist did and, thankfully, told me it only saved $10.00.  I didn't bother filling the prescription.
• 1:20 p.m. Target - Free.  When I first got to Target (which felt almost as bad as filling my prescription at Walgreen's), the pharmacy assistant told me I needed a new prescription from my doctor to get my meds.  I managed to convince him to call over to Walgreens and he did, asking for help the entire time.  I had the thought, "this incompetent guy has a job and I don't," but I quickly dismissed it from my mind.
• 1:46 p.m. Chipotle Mexican Grill - $6.38.  Knowing I wanted to take my Effexor as soon as I got it from Target (I was told it would be a 45 minute wait), I went across to Chipotle.  Had I not, I felt like I might pass out or go off on the Target staff.
• 2:39 p.m. Target - $130.39.  Even though I came back over an hour after the first visit, I was told that the pills still were not ready.  The same incompetent employee came out to show me the price.  It was still only $10.00 cheaper at Target - but $14.00 cheaper than it would have been at Walgreens.  So that was something.
• 7:03 p.m. AMC Loews 600 North Michigan 9 - Free.  My friend Tony won free tickets to the premier of No Strings Attached.  I wasn't going to pass up on a free movie.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19 (Free)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20 ($24.00)

• 2:37 p.m. Logan Theater - $4.00.  Even though the choices were slim, I went to see Megamind to get out of my apartment.
• 7:03 p.m. Whole Foods Market - $20.00.  I had signed up for a Food and Beer Pairing class a week or so prior and I'm glad that I did.  The vegetarian options tasted so amazing that I wondered when the next chance I was going to get to have food this good would be.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 (Free)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 ($20.00)

• 1:45 p.m. Blue Line Club Car - Free.  I had made plans to go to The Southern whether anyone else wanted to go or not.  It turned out a couple of people wanted to go and I met up with them a Blue Line.  They were both having Bloody Mary's.  But since I hadn't eaten yet (and wanted to save money), I just got a water.
• 2:18 p.m. The Southern - $20.00.  I almost felt guilty at how little money I had spent here in relation to the amount of free food that I had been given.  But I really went there to satisfy my macaroni and cheese craving because there was a silly boycott of cheese products by certain Bears fans to spite Green Bay.  And whenever there's a silly boycott, I make it a point to break it.  And I got the side of grits, which blew my mind.  I actually only spent $17.00, but I forget to get my change as I was still a bit out of it.  Hence, $20.00.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 ($20.00)

• 1:04 p.m. Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern - $20.00.  After what I spent on football the last week there, I was a bit scared to be among the people who were Green Bay and Pittsburgh fans.  But I couldn't handle being around Bears fans so I went anyway.  Thankfully, we split the bill by tables so I got some of their delicious pizza, part of four pitchers or beer, and an order of nachos for $20.00.  It felt like a bargain and I was still there for 8 hours.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24 ($23.28)

• 1:15 p.m. Northwestern Arkes Medical Pavilion - Free.  While I liked not paying a co-pay to see my doctor to get my meds changed to a cheaper option, the bill that will eventually arrive scares me a bit.  At least when it arrives, I'll have money to pay it.
• 2:06 p.m. Soupbox - $7.03.  It was warmer in Chicago than it had been, but a wind gust as I walked up the Magnificent Mile made me want to duck in for some warm soup.  The soup was a bit disappointing and more expensive than I thought it would be.  But it did warm me up.
• 3:07 p.m. Walgreens - $16.25.  I was pretty much out of everything made of paper in my apartment.  I bought in bulk this time so I won't have to go back.

So that's $224.35.  Not exactly what I would want to spend in a week, but minus the meds, it was only $94.35.  So that's not too bad at all.  My total money spent since I've been unemployed is $481.69.

Hey Doc, I'm Really Living Like The Other Half Now

One negative side effect of actually chillin' out in my apartment and not rushing around all over the city is that it seems I don't have that much (on the unemployment front at least) to write about.  It wasn't so much that my funds were low, but more that the temperature in Chicago was approaching overdraft fee levels a lot (and once when it did hit -3) so I didn't want to leave my apartment regardless.

Today, however, as it was the start of a new week, I went to see the doctor.  I made the appointment last week on the day of the horrible pill charges.  But, my doctor wanted to consult with my in his office before switching me off of the expensive Effexor XR to regular Effexor.

Now I've been going to my doctor for years, but we don't have what you'd call a great doctor/patient relationship.  While he never dismisses anything I say, he doesn't seem to understand poverty and how much things cost.  On occasion, he's given out free samples of things (just to get me addicted to the wonderful stomach cooling power of certain prescription antacids, I think), but he doesn't get how expensive some of his              suggestions are.

And now, with pretty crappy prescription coverage (I'm hoping this discount card proves its worth eventually), he doesn't even begin to grasp my financial situation.  He did the nice thing and wrote out all of the possible pills that I could take so I could look them up online this time.  But, for example, when it came to my Flonase, he couldn't believe it was $65.00 without much insurance help.

I just thought to myself, um, yeah, don't you read the news.  Medical shit's expensive out here!

And it's going to cost me more than the $40.00 that you prescribing meds with generics used to cost me.

Anyhow, my bigger worry was actually that I had never used my new insurance before and I had no idea if I paid upfront (which I couldn't afford) or on the back end.  It turned out it's going to be billed to me once they run it through my insurance.  If what was explained to me back when I first got it is correct, it should be no more than a $50 deductable.  I'm not holding my breath based on what's happened so far on the medical cost front.

Though I did get something in the mail today that should help.  IDES seems to have their stuff together so far (despite reports I've heard to the contrary).  I got my debit card in the mail (it won't have money on it on February 1) today after getting my letter of finding on Friday.

Now if only I could get my severance check so I could actually pay my rent without having to wait for three direct deposits of unemployment all would be right.  Still, it's good to know that I'll have money to swipe when I need it starting this weekend because my bank account's getting pretty low from my last paycheck three weeks ago.

Though nothing that not going out into this cold for a couple more days won't cure.

How I Spent The Second Week of the Rest of My Life

As of this morning, I am officially unemployed.  I mean, obviously, I was two weeks ago or this blog would have been a pretty silly way to spend my work time.  But, I finally got around to filing a jobless claim with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) (http://www.ides.state.il.us/) so the next time the numbers come out, I am one of the statistics.

Why did I wait so long?  I guess it's my personality.  Not just to be lazy, but also to not lie about this fact.  I didn't do a thing to look for a job in the past two weeks.  But, now that I've applied (since it's the rules to receive the payments), I guess I've reached the next phase of joblessness, a tentative job search.  IDES actually requires as part of their application process to fill out a job placement form on the Illinois Skills Match system (http://www.illinoisskillsmatch.com/).

The funny thing is, when I left college I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life so I've never taken a test like this.  It could be fun.  Tomorrow.  I feel as though applying was a good task for the day.  That and doing a lot of reading.  Barring something crazy happening, I will not leave my apartment today.

Though I did a lot last week and here's the wrap-up (a day late, since I'm lazy).

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 ($3.00)

• 5:37 p.m. The Southern - $3.00.  I had planned on going out to the suburbs to a Yelp event but, thankfully, a friend of mine reminded me that there was a Tweetup/apprecial party much closer to home.  Vodka drinks were free as was a macaroni and cheese buffet (the party was to build up hype for their forthcoming macaroni and cheese truck).  I had four drinks, but forgot to tip on one.  Oops.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 ($7.00)

• 5:02 p.m. McCormick Tribune YMCA - Free.  I was hungover all day.  I had planned to run errands but the gym was as close as I got.
• 6:50 p.m. Margie's Candy - $7.00.  Someone on the internet, and I'm not naming names kept saying they craved ice cream. This made me crave ice cream (a three scoop, old school banana split sundae to be exact).  So much that I got it before dinner.  It seems like I have to stop letting the internet give me cravings.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13 ($19.00)

• 2:42 p.m. Logan Theater - $4.00.  Part of me wants to pick up and go on a road trip (combined with job hunting, of course) to Washington D.C.  I figured that wasn't practical so instead I went to see Due Date to satisfy the urge.  It didn't work.  I now want to take a road trip more.
• 7:21 p.m. Small Bar Division - $15.00.  They were celebrating winning the Best Soccer Bar in the U.S. award.  I had to go to help them celebrate.  And to get some veggie chili for dinner.
• 9:26 p.m. The Whistler - Free.  My friend Kyle was playing a jazz gig here and since it's yards from my apartment I made it my free concert of choice for that evening.  I ended up only getting water since the Lion Stout that I had at Small Bar was habving me feeling a bit ill (even though this place specializes in fancy cocktails).

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 ($55.00)

• 10:58 a.m. El Charro - $5.00.  I used to go to this place so much that I was the Mayor on Foursquare.  This was the first visit this year.  I had breakfast at home, but I wanted to make a quick start to get to the museum.
• 12:55 p.m. Museum of Science and Industry - $2.00.  I finished seeing the exhibits I had missed the week before - only paying for coat check and for a donation.
• 7:37 p.m. Lincoln Hall - $30.00.  This is where the wheels kind of came off my spending habits for the week. Their sister venue, Schuba's, has really good macaroni and cheese.  And I was with some people who like to drink late into the night.  I was supposed to leave for a dive bar after dinner, but the company was too good.
• 1:42 a.m. Clarke's - $18.00.  $8.00 of this was the cab home since the 74 bus doesn't run that late.  But most of it was the fact that I was really hungry and their North Shore Potatoes taste really good.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 ($40.00)

• 3:32 p.m. Michael's Original Pizzaria & Tavern - $40.00.  I was there to watch the Pittsburgh and Green Bay NFL games with fans of the two teams.  How I spent $40.00 is kind of a blur, but I know it involved a lot of pitchers of Miller Lite.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16 ($15.00)

• 11:30 a.m. Small Bar Fullerton - $15.00.  Going back to the bar for the Bears and Jets games was probably not a great idea but, besides getting brunch, I only had one beer the entire Bears game.  We left before I could get a second and watching the Jets fuck up Tom Brady.

MONDAY, JANUARY 17 ($31.35)

• 11:31 a.m. Hot Doug's - $8.25.  Since it was a holiday, a bunch of people got a trip together to go to Chicago's #1 tourist restaurant outside of downtown (though that may be Kuma's Corner) and, even though I could go any day with less lines, I went.  I learned they'll make a veggie dog with the toppings of any of their special dogs for the regular price.
• 5:17 p.m. Walgreens - $6.15.  Even though I didn't fill my prescriptions, I did get other necessities.
• 5:58 p.m. Aldi - Milwaukee - $16.95.  It was a fitting way to begin my third week of unemployment to get cheap groceries again after all the unnecessary spending of the weekend.

So that's $170.35.  That's not going to work at all.  In a week that barely included any groceries (and didn't include my precription (this week's total will be higher, but contains necessities).  If anyone ever sees me dropping $40.00 on Miller Lite again, please smack me in the face.  I'll write it off this time as a celebration of unemployment.  My total money spent since I've been unmeployed is $257.34.

This Medicine Is Supposed To Make Me Happy, Not Upset Me

Today was a testimony in frustration.  I figured on the second anniversary of getting laid off, I would pretend like I still had a job and get up nice and early to run the errands I had to run.

First of all, I should have known better than to think that I would want to go outside once the reports of ice and my friends slipping on it started to come in on Facebook and Twitter.  And, secondly, I should have known that I would not want to go to sleep at a decent hour to accomplish this if I didn't have to.  When I finally did go outside at 10:30 a.m., I should have realized this wasn't going to be my day.

I did discover that the Logan Square Library isn't open until noon.  I figured I'd pass the time picking up my personal effects which were being held at the post office.  When I got there I discovered that I had four boxes waiting.  Four.  I guess things build up in 11 years.  I finally just printed off my insurance cards at the Bucktown branch.

The most soul sucking errand, however, was getting my prescriptions filled.  I went to Walgreens first, only to be told that they only gave $10 off with my prescription discount card.  I checked the card's site and it looked like Target had it for much cheaper.  After dealing with the less competent employees and long waits there, I was really hoping that was how they kept cost down (like Wal-Mart).

However, it turned out to be the same $10 discount.  I had accidentaly looked up Effexor as opposed to Effexor XR.  But that did bring up a bit of advice...

If anyone reading this is on a prescription, check with you insurance to see if a similar prescription (in this case, a high dose as opposed a gradual dose) is available and check with your doctor to see if they'll switch it.


Here's my example:

• Effexor 75 MG XR: $154.86
• Venlafaxine 75 MG XR: $127.52
• Effexor 75 MG: $42.75
• Venlafaxine 75 MG: $34.26

I mean, I had that extra $100.00 now, but it would probably come in handy in the future.  I left a voice message with my doctor to change the script, but I haven't heard back yet.

One of the lovely side effects of suddenly stopping Effexor (besides crying spells) is head rushes.  I was getting those pretty bad, so I couldn't wait to get the prescription filled this time.  Next time I know to check in advance.  Or I should have just gone on the internet where I just discovered that Pfizer has a $4 co-pay deal (http://www.effexorxr.com/) that takes $50 off the higher price one.

Live and learn and cry a little, I guess.  At least I'm happy now.

When The Flood Gates Open, The Green Paper Flows Out

When I was employed, I had a problem.  Well, I had lots of problems, but that's neither here, nor there.  Anyway, my problem as it relates to this blog is that I could go days without spending any money.  And then once I began to spend (usually on a weekend), the floodgates just opened.  That's what happened this weekend.

Technically the spending isn't over yet since there's a trip to Hot Doug's with a group of people from Yelp who (mostly) took the day off.  But since I only get the veggie dog, that should be under $10.  But, probably won't.

I consider it to be my, slightly delayed, celebration of unemployment, however.  That and the fact that Pittsburgh and Green Bay both won while I was in a crowd of Steelers and Packers fans on Saturday.  Still, the $40 that I spent on Miller Lite at a pizza joint hit home a bit harder since I don't know when the next time I'll have a steady income is.  I mean, for $40 I should have been drinking beer and not flavored water.

Anyhow, there's not much excuse for spending money since I discovered something pretty amazing through a friend of a friend on Facebook.  Most shows that don't feature national acts at Empty Bottle are free if you RSVP on their website (http://www.emptybottle.com/home.php) 24 hours in advance!

Now, I did this for Del Rey last week and pulled a no show since I didn't feel well.  I hope I'm not blacklisted since it's one of the best deals going in Chicago for live music.  I guess the broke hipsters (not to be confused with the amazing site) who frequent that place really have a lot of pull.

This week coming up (through Friday) is also a free week for the Shedd Aquarium.  So if I wanted to appreciate the beauty of slightly off-color water (and I probably will), I was better off just doing it there.

But there are more playoff games this week, so after chilling at home as much as possible, I'm sure it will be off to the bar again on Sunday to drop a ton of money.  And maybe win some if the Bears get "upset" (a tough feat to do as underdogs) against the Packers.

My Time As An Insurance Have Not In The United States Is Over

"Just make sure to wrap yourself in bubble wrap for the next 12 hours or so."

And with those words, the final process for me being insured again was set into motion.  That wasn't necessarily a scary one week or so among the 65 million uninsured in the United States (or is that number less now, I'm not sure), but I do feel more comfortable have a security blanket between me and really intense medical bills.

In the end, I didn't need to call around to anyone.  The insurance broker called me.  At first I worried it was just a scam.  But, if it is, it's the most elaborate scam I've ever been caught up in (not that I've been caught up in many).  Everything seems legit.  PJP Health Agency (http://pjphealthagency.com/) contacted me after I filled out some forms on the internet.

They recommended that I purchase insurance from Heatlh Insurance Innovations (https://www.hiiquote.com/index.php) based on my information.

I was a bit worried since I have what some would call a pre-existing condition, but based on facts like I'm not overweight and I don't have AIDS, I met the criteria and wasn't turned down.  I guess I probably have the Health Care Bill to thank for that one.

The policy's particulars are as follows:

• $2,500 deductable for hospital care.
• $50 deductable for up to three doctor's visits per six months (including specialists).
• ~54% reduction in generic drugs.
• ~15% reduction in name brand drugs.
• $124.48 per month, month-to-month, for up to six months.

I'm a bit annoyed about the lack of a true prescription benefit that ended up being confirmed since I thought I heard on the phone that it was a co-pay.  But, hey it beats paying full price I guess.  I'll have to see when I go to the pharmacy tomorrow what kind of deal I'm really getting.

But, hey, it's not a bad price overall.  And if I don't like it, I can cancel after a month and look again.  And I will write horrible things about them in this blog.  Which, apparently now has a reader in Singapore.  Thanks for reading, whoever you are.  I'm not sure how a blog about unemployment in the United States will help you, but I appreciate seeing you pop up on my analytics.

The only other price under $200.00 was Blue Cross/Blue Shield for $165.00 a month or so.

The big thing is, as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, I'm insured again.

I'd write more, but I'm off to the Museum of Science and Industry for another free day today and on the bus as I type this (actually passing near my old work at the present moment).  And I'm not even wrapped in bubble wrap.

I Got The Mail Today, Oh Boy

So, for those who have been following me through the first few entries of this blog (especially since most of you know me in real life), you'll note that I have been trying to avoid making decisions.  I have barely even thought about whether I'm going to stay in Chicago or move to Washington D.C.  Let alone if I want to get out of bed in the morning (hint: the answer is usually no).

But some decisions can't be put off much longer.  Like health insurance.  My most refill prescription for generic Effexor XR (huzzay for happy pills) is almost out.  And my Flonase prescription is running on fumes.

So, when I got home from the gym, I was geeked to see that my COBRA packet arrived in the mail.  Until I opened it.  Now I want to set it on fire.  But then I'll probably have to get a stronger prescription than Effexor so I think I'll refrain.  Here's the quote:

Health PPO with HRA: $466.56
Dental: $36.76
HRA with Health: $1.02
Total: $504.34

Yeah, that's a month.  While it gave me a new love for my old employer and the benefits they provided, I am not going to pay that.  So I did a quick Google search for individual health insurance.  And the Aetna site came up.  Ironically, this was the company that my former employers had health benefit under before switching to Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  They had a plan for $123.00 a month that seemed to fit my needs.

Now I'm surfing the internet looking for a medium deductable plan (using mainly this site: http://www.healthinsuranceweb.com/).  I mean, if the co-pay on the generic prescriptions I have is the $15 that it seems to be, the plan pretty much pays for itself.

These seem to be my options: https://www.getinsured.com/show-plans.php?affid=88

I think tomorrow during the day, I'm going to go to Walgreens and check how much my two prescriptions are  and decide then.

Then again, I also got a link from a friend back home on getting reduced priced prescriptions through the mail (thanks Jenny): http://www.needymeds.org/

I also need to check that out.  Ugh, another decision.

One piece of mail today didn't send me into a decision spiral.  I got a condolence card from one of the senior editors at my old place.  Her sentiment was great (though much what I've been getting on Facebook).  The recommendation she offered was, however, something I might take her up on.

At least once I decide to look for a new job.  After I decide which city I want to live in.  So, maybe in a week.  I'm going to put that off for a bit more.

How I Spent The First Week of the Rest of My Life

At 4:30 p.m. or so, it's been officially a week since I was laid off.  I think I've kept myself entertained.  A little too entertained since I've only watched two Netflix and read about 10 pages of Everything Is Illuminated (full disclosure, I'm the world slowest reader that is able to walk upright).

As I mentioned a couple of entries ago, it was free museum week so I wasn't around my apartment a lot.  Next week, I keep telling myself, is the week that I'll catch up on life like I wanted to from the start.  Today, since it's snowing in Chicago like seemingly everywhere else east of the Mississippi, I'm staying indoors.  I'm going to a UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event) in La Grange tonight, but I am not going out there before then.

This gives me a chance to catch up on the receipts portion of this blog.  The boring part, to be sure.  But the actual spending part of how I'm "spending" my unemployment.

With the help of Foursquare, here's how I spent my first week.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4 ($18.26)

• 7:07 p.m. Aldi - $18.26.  I bought about five microwave dinners and 20 of the .29 cent burritos that I actually like (and I'm not telling myself that just because I can afford them).  I still have the burritos, so I think I can actually survive on a food budget of about $20.00 per week.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 ($16.20)

• 1:56 p.m. Small Bar Fullerton - $11.00.  This was certainly an unnecessary expenditure given that I had been unemployed for less than 24 hours.  But it was Manchester City v. Arsenal.  And I never got to watch (or even hear, once they took streaming audio away) weekday matches at work.  So, it was kind of nice.
• 4:34 p.m. Chicago Public Library - Logan Square Branch - $1.20.  I had an overdue book (six days at .20 cents a day).  Hopefully, with more time to read this won't happen much.
• 8:37 p.m. Lincoln Hall - $4.00.  There was a free showing of Naked Gun and Airplane.  I arrived late so as to minimize drinking (and because I'm not a huge fan of the first).  And I got a cheap beer.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 ($4.00)

• 4:26 p.m. Logan Theater - $4.00.  I went to see Burlesque.  If that's not full disclosure, I don't know what is.  It was terrible.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7 ($20.28)

• 12:25 p.m. North Community Bank - Free.  Deposited my final paycheck which included my personal days.
• 1:28 p.m. Museum of Science and Industry - $12.28.  The museum itself was free admission.  However, the Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit was $5.  A panini in the museum's cafe was $7.28 after tax.  In the future, I'm going to make sure to eat lunch pre-museum.
• 7:53 p.m. Regal City North 14 - $12.00.  Had plans in advance to see True Grit.  It was good, but I think I could have waited and seen it for $4.00.
• 10:32 p.m. Quencher's - $6.00.  Could have gone home but I decided to have an Okocim Beer instead.  It was to celebrate my first "weekend" of unemployment, right?

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 ($13.25)

• 11:17 a.m. U.S. Post Office - Clemente Branch - $13.25 - Express mailing in my severance agreement.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 ($0.00)

• 3:22 p.m. Eckhart Park - Free - Trying out the equipment during the Chicago Park District's Free Fitness Week.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10 ($15.00)

• 3:36 p.m. U.S. Post Office - Clemente Branch - Free - Returning the final Netflix that they sent in 2010.
• 4:08 p.m. McCormick Tribune YMCA - Free - But the steam room was priceless.
• 6:29 p.m. Olive Garden - $15.00 - Yeah, this was totally unnecessary, but I was really craving Capellini Pomodoro after a lot of discussion of the restaurant on Yelp's message boards.  And I needed to get out of the city.  I was supposed to go to Milwaukee and I realized that I hadn't left the city since slightly after Thanksgiving.

So that's $86.99.  Kind of more than I'd want to spend in an average week, but not breaking the bank by any means.  And it was less than I was spending while I was working.  I think I'm going to take out $200.00 at a time and just make it last as long as possible.  I'll go from there.

Liabilities and Assets

Some people have to change their lifestyles when they become unemployed. They have to do things like give up their cable or their expensive gym membership.  I didn't have that problem.  I haven't had cable since I told Comcast to go fuck themselves in August of 2009.  I don't belong to an expensive gym, either.  I'm a member of the McCormick Tribune YMCA in the southwestern part of my neighborhood.

One of the reasons that I joined this gym was its sliding scale for income.  The base is $45 for an income of $50,000.  I was paying $42.  If you want to do the math, go ahead.  Though I'm not sure of the fee schedule.  What I do know is that it's January and my contract for last year is up.  I don't know what my new income (that being $0) makes the Y per month, but I'm sure it will be less.

Still, I'm not above searching for a new gym during the free trial period that is January.

In the mail, for example, I got a flyer for the X-Sport to the northeast of me with a free week to try it out.  It looks nice, and it's 24 hours (and my sister is already a member).  It's $50 according to the newest issue of Time Out Chicago (which lists the prices of gyms all over the city).

And today, I tried out the workout room in Eckhart Park as part of the last day of the Free Fitness Week for the Chicago Park District.  The room is tiny.  Half of the machines were ones I would never use.  But they do have a pool (it smelled nice) and an interesting pricing structure.  Basically you pay by season.  To use the facility through April 1, for example (no pool included) is $85.00.  To purchase a pool pass for the same is $40.00.  So it's about the same.  But they do have free, albeit short, open swim sessions.

How did I know about this freebie?  Twitter.  I've already found it indispensable.  A huge asset, if you will.

There's a great scene in The Princess Bride where Wesley is going over the liabilities and assets they have in storming the castle.  Well, here are the assets and liabilities I have in storming unemployment.

Assets:

• Twitter accounts

1. @BrokeHipster: drink specials and other freebies
2. @ExploreChicago: free days at museums and other cultural institutions
3. @SpecialsAgent: daily drink and food specials (added: 1/10)

• Websites

1. Mint.com: a way to track all of my expenses so I can avoid fees and the like.  I wish I had started using this while I was still employed.
2. freemuseumstoday.com: a listing of all the free museums on a given day in Chicago.

• Nearby coffee shops: I'm not getting rid of my internet, but I've been told they are good ways to kill time.  I live by three or four (one with very high speed internet for streaming).

• Nearby bargain movie theater: I live two blocks from a second run theater where all movies are $4.  I also live by a theater where matinee showings are $8.

Liabilities:

• No car.  While this could be considered savings by not having to pay for gas or potential parking tickets, it does mean that I have to pay almost $5 each time I want to travel somewhere by train or bus.  Chicago does offer a monthly pass that my former employer paid for.  I am eligible for that (and I'm still running on the last few days of that through the end of January).

• Medication.  I am on two medications to improve quality of life.  I could skip them if I wanted to be upset and stuffed up all the time, but I'd prefer not to be.  Given these are required, I do have to purchase COBRA insurance.

I'm sure I'll discover a lot more as I go along, but that's what I've thought of so far.

Today did mark a momentus day.  I managed to spend not a single penny for the first time since I was laid off.  I was tempted to go to the coffee shop across from the Eckhart Park Fieldhouse but I didn't.  I consider this a small victory.

The First Week of the Rest of My Life (Introduction)

Life is a "game" of numbers to me.  The first important one to this blog is 25.  $13.25 was the amount I just paid to send the severance agreement back to my former employer via traceable mail.  And $725 was the amount I just paid my landlady to continue living inside for the rest of the month of January (and through the first week or two of February since I've never been a deadbeat).

I mention these two numbers since they're the largest sums of money I've spent since I was laid off on Tuesday of last week.  But more on that in another post.  I want to use this one just to introduce why I'm blogging.

January 4, 2011 was, my last day at a job I held for 11 years.  I won't say that I particularly liked the job, but the benefits were good.  One of these benefits was money with my severance package.  This makes the layoff not so bad, but, in the end, I'm still unemployed.

"Big deal," someone reading this might say.  "9.6% of the population of the United States is currently unemployed.  What makes you so special?  I mean it sucks, but they're not making blogs about it."

Well, here's why I'm different than most of the population and why reading this blog might be interesting:

1) I'm in the "We Live In Public" (great movie, by the way) school of thought.  That means, besides anything that might violate my severance agreement, I'm an open book.  I think we're all being data mined constantly anyway, so I will put anything out there.  Where I am, what I'm spending, pretty much everything.  It's not like this is a secret if I don't.

2) I'm an experienced blogger and reviewer dating back to high school (which was about 20 years ago).  I've been on the internet since BBSes.  And, I'm a social media junkie.  Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare (my personal favorite), I'm on all of them.  And, again, I'm an open book.  I'm not going to hide some activity for fear of its consequences.  You'll be able to see the money I spend and if it's worthwhile.

I've had lots of friends go through the same things.  And I wondered what they did all day.  How did they stay sane knowing there wasn't much money coming in?  Well, for all those who might be unemployed in the future, here's your possible answer.

On the day that I lost my job, a lot of people used the old adage, "this is the first day of the rest of your life."  Well, I'm up in the air on what that means.  But more on that later.  For now, I'm going to enjoy a bit of weekend.  This is still considered the weekend for me, right?