Not having a job or parents who simply load money into your bank account every month is a pretty big deal.  So, with a little over a hundred dollars and about a month of college left, I had a pretty big problem.  My solution?  A budget.  I have a little white board hanging on the wall of my dorm.  On it, I planned out my epic budget.  Food.  Metro cards.  Entertainment.  These three things were the epitome of my plan.  I gave 10 dollars to each except for entertainment, to which I gave 15 dollars.  I know what you’re thinking.  I am going to be skin and bones sitting in a Broadway show—that’s what my friends said, and they made fun of me for days.  Truth is, that’s what a movie costs these days and I figured if we didn’t see a movie one day I’d reallocate the money to food.  It was hard saying no to so many things, but I had to do it.

I love spending time with my friends, and I’m the type that will spend money on experiences rather than things.  It’s what I do with my life that matters to me, not what I have.  But, as a result of the unaccounted for laundry expenses and such I slowly amounted a mini-debt.  If one week I obtained a babysitting job, I was able to pay it off, but it would inevitably come back.  I came to one conclusion: I need to plant a money tree!  Just kidding:  I need a job.  Last summer I worked at a summer camp at the Community Church of Great Neck.  I was blessed by it, but it wasn’t really what I wanted, and I thought I could benefit from a more permanent job.  There started my job search.

I applied to about 20 retail stores at Roosevelt Field Mall.  I was up til 3am filling out all the applications once I got them and returned to the mall the next morning to hand them back.  Then it was time to wait….

…and wait…

I was getting impatient so I decided to walk Hillside Ave to see who was hiring.

When CVS told me I had to apply online and they only check every two weeks I grew impatient and gave up…

…and instead I got a delicious Ralph’s Italian ice!  Yummy!  I was satisfied… but jobless.

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Today, June 12, 2012, I was offered a job at Express!  YES!  I am excited and nervous.  I hope it goes well!