No Money, Mo Problems

 Biggie LIED! It's not Mo' Money, Mo' Problems. MY problem is I have NO money.

I have recently been baffled by something that I keep noticing. People, who clearly make less money than I do, but seem to be able to afford more luxury items than I can. I don’t knock them and I don’t want to take that away from them. I just want to understand how, so maybe I can live large too.

How is it that you work at the local coffee house with 2 kids, a house, and the lot yet can afford to keep your nails done and hair on point when I make significantly more, have a husband to split the bills with and have not had a haircut in months because I cannot fit it into the budget. How is that possible?

I remember being in college and my roommate and I shaking down the sofa cushions in the lobby for change so that we could order food. I also remember the pained look on the delivery man’s face when we paid in change. He knew that getting a tip from people who just paid in nickels was not likely. I think back and remember that the reason we did not have food money is because we had just spent all our money on our club outfit. Eating wasn’t important and besides the last thing you need to do is eat a full meal before trying to zip up tight leather pants and a halter top.  It did not matter if we were living off of Ramen and popcorn. Just because we weren’t living “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” didn’t mean we had to look like our “ginger ale reality and spam nightmare” Looking good was our priority.

I was a teenager then, so, I guess that attitude makes sense, but these are adults. How is it that they are making it happen with so little. I have a couple thoughts. My first thought is that maybe they save up and spend their money on investment pieces. Expensive things that they can use over and over again. For example, I have a friend who saved and saved to get the Louis V billfold wallet. She knew that she would get years of use out of it and therefore felt it was worth it. I have friends who have applied the same logic to Coach purses and expensive BCBG suits and Donna Karan work wear. These friends are also known to follow people into alleys in Chinatown to get a good deal if you know what I mean. They are not above merchandise that “fell” off the truck. (*On a side note that reminds me of another thought. I don’t know anyone who has worked at Macy’s that does not steal. What is that about? Is that why I can’t get a sales associate? Are they all in the back stealing? Is that why the price is so inflated? I am I paying for loss prevention?)

However, it is the other group that I find most intriguing. I think there are some people who are still living the teenage/college experience of fashion over food and bling over necessities. They are permanently stuck in the childish mindset of style over substance and have no concept of delayed gratification. I have had clients like this. They complain that they have no money and live off of disability, but have French tips, a fresh weave, a smart phone and a cigarette habit.  I know some of these people personally, as well. They have to get dressed before sunset because instead of paying the light bill they bought that new VerSACE (a la Showgirls) – “he’s my favorite”. You know the type – carrying food stamps in a Chanel bag!

Case in point, I recently volunteered at a free health clinic that had a small free clothing distribution station. I worked in that area because I am of little use to people in need of medical care. A woman came in with her family and demanded to know if we had any name brand clothes and then became agitated because we did not have any designer labels in her size. “You don’t have any name brand?” My response, “Yes, all these clothes have labels in them.”

I could not believe this woman was questioning us about labels at a FREE CLINIC.  Either you take it or you don’t, but to complain like you’re at Saks is ridiculous. Here I am on the brink of madness because I am trying to figure out what else I can cut out the budget so that I can send my kids to school. Excluding the 4 things I bought to get me through the maternity clothes to regular clothes transition, I have not bought myself an outfit in over a year and she is trippin’ over the lack of Baby Phat. “For REAL, lady?” Did I mention this is a free clinic