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magazine addiction

November 12th, 2007 at 01:56 am

Spending log (Saturday) - $13 brunch
Spending log (Sunday) - $3 coffee, bagel + $19 groceries

A routine weekend - DH and I walked to the library to read magazines and browse. Up until a free years ago, I used to have a serious magazine addiction at the news stand - I'd pick up at least 2-3 wk every week - easily $500/year! At least I read them! I think its because I enjoyed the experience of reading in coffeeshops: coffee, sweet dessert, and something to read while I ate it. It was a poor trifecta - read the magazine in 45 minutes as I was doing something sedentary while inhaling about 500 calories, probably blowing about $15 (1990 dollars, even) for the privilege, and then I had to think about keeping the mag for awhile, then tossing.

I still enjoy browsing but I pick up only one particular magazine/ month to keep (Saveur). The rest - read at the library which I walk to. Supposedly you can bring coffee into the library, but I haven't seen it recently and as long as you are breaking one habit, you might just as well break the rest too. So now the experience has changed, stripped down: a free walk, free reads, no calories consumed, no paper waste. Probably not as much total fun, but cheaper and more sustainable.

Sunday was a cardio day at the gym. My trainer was there in her civilian clothes - she and her DH were repotting some of the interior landscaping. Nice - not only did I show up, I was seen - after cardio, all red and sweaty - showing up.

6 Responses to “magazine addiction”

  1. PauletteGoddard Says:
    1194833574

    My budget wouldn't do well if I relocated to Capitol Hill: I'm just as prone to magazines, coffee and sweet caloric treats as anyone. The newsstand in my local mall has a wide selection, but the problem is that it's in the mall and next to Starbucks. I miss "City News" coffee on Roosevelt.

  2. baselle Says:
    1194841834

    Yeah, I really developed that bad habit in grad school at U Washington in the 80's - in the U district it was: Bulldog News, the Magus Bookstore, The Allegro.

  3. StressLess Says:
    1194876284

    Yay for using the library! Smile
    Although I work in a library, I also like having magazines at home. Reading an article or two at a time is a nice way to relax for just a few minutes. But I can't pay a lot for them either.

    I've had success with getting free subscriptions through FreeBizMag.com, and some really low prices using MagazinePriceSearch.com (the place RetireAt50 recommended awhile back). Right now we're getting Workbench, Dog Fancy, and Cat Fancy for free, and Weight Watchers and Kiplinger's very cheap. Free Better Homes and Gardens and US News should be starting soon.

    About FreeBizMag - when they ask about what you do for a living, answer Other or None for everything. Seems to qualify you for everything, whereas if you give a specific profession it can rule you out.

  4. fern Says:
    1194886190

    Subscribing to magazines is a LOT cheaper than buying them at news stand prices. I usually have subscriptiosn to a half dozen at any given time. I like Birds 'N Bloom, Better Homes & Gardens, Money, Cottage Living, More, Vegetarian Times.

  5. baselle Says:
    1194926431

    I used to have a subscription to Saveur, but its one of those weirdly administered ones where the subscribed copies showed up *after* it came out on the newsstand. Go figure.

  6. SMB Says:
    1195071491

    Where are you eating your Saturday brunch these days? Been back to the Library Cafe?

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