in which we attempt to tighten the purse-strings

the goal, from now on, is to live frugally. it is a new thing and an essential life skill, which like cooking, i came to learn atrociously late in life, mustered little interest in, and ended up being very, very bad at. but! all that shall change! i shall slay this beast! i shall pay attention to where my money goes! so here's agenda for saving:

1. no ~$25 meals thrice a week. no eating out except on campus when it's absolutely necessary on thursdays maybe. no that's too harsh. no eating out more than once a week. or thrice a month, whichever applies first. certainly no more starving of self to have one lavish meal at a restaurant. meals at ihop may be allowed once a month because of united miles. meals at the lost dog to be discontinued because of their declining standards (horrendous coq au vin) and unappealing menu. meals at the beef to be discontinued just because it is so very close and going there seriously hinders plans to cook at home.
2. groceries must be bought come blizzard, floods, hail or storm. then they must be cooked at home.
3. lots of lentils must be consumed. 
4. i already hacked down my internet bill and my phone bill as much as i could. yay!
5. i already buy used books.
6. no movie theatre expenses.
7. not one item of clothing is to be bought until extra weight is shed. the mall must be avoided and sale fliers in the mail unsubscribed.  

any successes and failures incurred in this new project of living frugally will be documented in this blog.