ONE OF THESE DAYS

Today is one of these typical days, when I have only 10 reais in my pocket (10 reais, brazilian money, that in colombian pesos would be around 8000 and in USD around 2,50 - 3,00) - and therefore a deep prioritization exercise took place. And it is monday ...

And if I have these 10 reais is because the night before I borrow them from Johanna, then practically I have been out of money the wole last week. This is such a typical situation by that time of the month:

- My salary is being still transferred
- The weekend, all your friends had money, so even if you were bankrupt, you can not even save money, and be sustainable staying home, cause your friends are there to remind you "cool plans to do" and you just cannot use "I have no money" as an excuse, cause of course they are there to borrow you money. Wonderful. Without a real in my pocket and with all the intentions of saving money, in the weekend I suddenly spent around 60.

So this morning started a deep thinking process, about how should I maximize them, until the day that I get paid (hopefully tomorrow???).

FACTS:

Fridge is EMPTY. Last two eggs, were eaten as breakfast. Well, at least my part of the fridge is empty, since (and this is also so typical) the night before my flat mate mom came as Santa Claus and filled the fridge with jummy, frozen food, that she should eat during the week (lasagnas, risottos, yakisoba, pastas, etc). You have no clue how jelous I feel!

I need from the 10 reais to keep at least 2,10 for the metro ticket, taht will bring me to the place where I will pick up my salary.

STRATEGY:

Go to the supermarket and try to buy 7,90 reais in food, in as much food to survive to the worst scenario, that would be that I do not get money tomorrow. Hungry, or better said, STARVING I went to the supermarket. That is of course the worst thing you can do, go shopping when you are hungry and HAVE no money for quality food. I spent 1 HOUR inside the supermarket, to buy:

• 1 liter milk - 1,37
• 1 tuna fish can - 2,35
• 1 tomato sauce can - 1,45
• 3 onions - 0,62
• 1/2 dozen eggs - 1,35
• 1 instant macarroni - 0,70
• 1 0,200 Kg pinaple cake fresh CAKE - 1,60

TOTAL - 9,44

I knew it ! I forgot to save the 2,10 for the metro.

It was more than funny. I changed the content of my car (that was the bets part, such a big car with 5 -6 products) like 10 times, just looking for bargains or looking for the best formula. The supermarket guys were looking at me in the "you random striker" way. Pinaple cake? Looks like a luxus article for such a poor budget, but I just could not help, looked too good. Am human.

I took some rice from my flat mate (I had too, sorry!) made a good tuna rice that should LAST FOR THE WHOLE DAY (in Colombia Tuna is the typical ingredient for low budget food), acompanied with cake and some hot chocolate at some point at night (yeah! I still had chocolate). Eggs shall be fine for a TORTILLA with the remainign onions, tomorrow and the macarroni for lunch. AT THAT POINT I hope to have more money.

As far for the piles of dirty clothes that is waiting to be washed - sorry, keep waiting, cannot prioritize to buy any soap. SO I will keep using also random clothes, yeah! those that are still clean, cause I never use. Hope I do not get any external appointment in the next days.

Dejavuuuuu ... I feel like being back in the times of Colombian MC. Slighty diference, is that salary here is on the way and secured, there, we just had hopes :) - Vivi, elected MCP told me recently things have drastically changed, and I AM SO GLAD to hear.

DISCLAIMER: MOM, GRADMOTHER - if someone translated this posting to you, NO I am not losing weight, I am not sick, and THIS IS JUST TEMPORARY, ok? I just felt like writing this posting to laugh about myself in the future, since this is certainly not the first time such a day happens :)