twenty-something: the last $10

It occurred to me two days ago that there may be something seriously wrong with me... I am currently unemployed and looking for any work to get me by and to get me out of my parents place. So I should be very cautious of my money, and mostly I am, yet on this particular Tuesday an evil and somewhat moronic event unfolded which left me eying my piggy bank for its loose change goodness that lies within its bright red and yellow flowered belly ...I may or may not have spent the last $10 in my wallet on the latest issue of 'InStyle' Magazine. But before you judge let us back this story up for a moment so I can indulge you all in the tale of why myself, a 26 year old woman, is back at home with the parents AND jobless.

Once upon a time I worked very hard; I juggled three jobs at a time, I sacrificed my social life and I saved a whole lot of dough. Yet I had no idea what I was saving for? A house I guess, because that's what your 'suppose to do', but really all this money just sat there with no real purpose, and it was my hard earned, social hiatus, reward - just sitting there?! And then came along my brother with a plan to travel for 6 months, and mine being tired of my usual routine jumped onboard the adventure.

As a lot of you may know backpacking is consuming. Once you catch that 'travel bug' you're pretty much screwed! It's all you'll want to do, and it can be done on the cheap to allow you to carry on trekking for long periods of time. Yet inevitably comes a time when you'll need to earn money again, and see your family & friends. So you go home, throw yourself into work for however long is needed until you go crazy and book another flight and the so the story goes. UNTIL comes a day you feel ready to settle down for a while but you're in quiet the predicament because you haven't had a steady job for a couple years, and this my friends hinders you some as a potential employee.

-Thankfully my parents are wonderful, supportive and loving folk, and they take me back every single time; as a result I become a personal cleaner and cook because that is what I can offer them in the meantime (along with some board) for having kept me safe and sound with a roof over my head.-

This brings me back to the last $10, and InStyle magazine in its glossy perfection. The March edition with 'The wonderful women of OZ' on the cover, and what is that I see? A free Oroton linen notebook and pencil? I love writing, I write everyday, so ultimately buying this magazine with my last $10 wouldn't be so moronic, no no no my friends it would be a practical and dare I say a wise investment, because ultimately I know deep down inside that one day I am gonna write the crap out of those unlined pages! And I'll probably be writing and doodling upon the pages whilst I'm gallivanting about New York City... It's important to dream big, but more so to live bigger – one step at a time.

Step 1: Enjoy reading InStyle magazine.
Step 2: Get a job you bum!!
Step 3: Butter parents up for extended stay by buying them gifts with the money from your new job.
Step 4: Goodbye social life, save, save, save...
Step 5: Hello NYC.

&.the.bohemian.girl.xx.

Post Script: Never let anyone tell you how to spend your last $10, it is after all yours to play with. Enjoy it.