My name is Laurise McMillian, and I lead R29Unbothered’s social media team. Welcome to About My Business, our brand new career column. For years, I was getting tons of DMs like “How can I negotiate my salary?,” “I don’t know how to discuss mental health with my boss,” and “Why does this white woman insist on asking me everything just because I’m Black?” This is a safe space to answer your questions while spilling my guts, tips and tea. This installment of About My Business is dedicated to our good sis, Mother Earth. This April, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with the great outdoors. As a suburban Maryland girl, I spent a lot of time outside. I’m blessed to say my parents still live in the house I grew up in, and in the backyard there’s a great big oak tree that would tell a thousand stories if it could talk. It would speak about long afternoons of me reading underneath it with my mom. It would tell you about the countless nights my cousins and I spent hunting fireflies after spending the whole day swimming. After my sister and I moved out, my daddy carved our names into it. It brings my heart joy to go out there now, as a grown woman: light a CBD joint, pet a pup or two, and stare at the endless heaven of acorns and leaves above my head. Last year while inspo-scrolling I found @greengirlleah AKA Leah Thomas’s Instagram. At the time, she was working at a large (and very white, I might add!) sustainable fashion retailer, while also sharing her knowledge of intersectional environmentalism with her 10K followers. During the panorama last year, Thomas took a leap of faith and left her stable job with no BIPOC leaders (yeahhh… more on this to come) to found her own media and environmental resource hub, Intersectional Environmentalist or IE, that explores the intersections of social and environmental justice. Oh, and obviously this nonprofit is Black owned (support ‘em here!). Since the June 2020 launch, she’s grown the resource hub’s Instagram account to 318K followers and has even penned public letters to President Biden’s Administration. I hit her up for this piece because it’s been such a joy to watch her journey, as a peer and as another Black woman. Laurise McMillian: Leah, you’ve become such a bridge for millennials and the environment. How can Black millennials and Gen-Z reclaim a relationship with nature? Leah Thomas: Some of it just starts with [recognizing] what we’re already doing, and realiz[ing] that that is kind of an experience of being outdoors in nature. Whether you’re sitting out on your front porch, or just going for a walk, or just having a kick back in your backyard. Those are all experiences connecting with nature. Sometimes, we think we have to go out to these National Parks or Summit Mountains to be able to be an environmentalist, and you know I think the truth is that Blackness, in particular, is the blueprint for a lot of sustainability practices. Within our culture, we have a lot of reusing, and repurposing and reinventing and making do with what we have. So I think that’s a fun first step. Especially for BIPOC millennials or Gen-Z people, to just see what cultural traditions are already there that might be sustainable. And maybe it’s not been given that title, but I feel like it’s a great first step. LM: I read a piece on your site about how Black and Brown people were sustainable before it was cool. Let’s unpack that. LT: When you look at Indigenous cultures around the world, or more specifically indigenous cultures in the United States, as well as when you’re looking at historic and current farming practices all across Africa, it is more sustainable than what we see in our every day. And I think we can learn a lot from the ways Black and Brown have been able to coexist with the environment. A lot of people are like “Oh the climate crisis… and we’re all just contributing to this and that,” and it’s like, “Hold up, hold up. Who is actually contributing to this?” We have to be real about that so we can find solutions that are not exploitative. Not extracting these solutions from Black and Brown communities but really giving them a seat at the table and allowing them to show us how they’ve been able to coexist with the land. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leah Thomas (she/her) (@greengirlleah) I guess that’s more so specific to climate solutions and agricultural solutions, but in addition to that, just little things like when I look back at my Grandma and the way that she keeps her old cookie tin to hold all her sewing materials. She always reuses her plastic bags. Those are all sustainable traditions. And in addition to that, my family thrifted before it became gentrified. But it was kind of out of necessity. However, I think that if someone is shopping at a thrift store out of necessity, they should also be praised because it’s also a sustainable practice. For some reason, when I see thrifting on Instagram, I see white, eco-influencers who are kind of seen as this hip thing, and I remember being younger and being ashamed to even talk about thrift shopping. But, I think to make sure we’re empowering all people when these new things — not even new things — when things of necessity become gentrified. And I think that has a lot to do with environmental movement being largely white, or people with higher income, because they’re like “look, we have these beautiful, eccentric, like glass tupperware,” and it’s like, okay my grandma’s container is just as good and it’s also sustainable. It’s kind of a weird thing where you have to buy your way into sustainability, when that’s really not the case and kind of ironic in the first place. “[People] may not be ready to admit that the type of environmentalism that they’re practicing isn’t advancing disability justice or BIPOC justice, if it’s not intersectional in nature.” leah “green girl leah” thomas LM: IE prides itself on dismantling systems of oppression in the environmental movement. Can you talk about some of these barriers or the ways sustainability has been white washed from a business standpoint and how you deal with that in your workplaces? LT:I’m very thankful for the experiences I had really early in my career, so working as a National Park Service intern and dabbling in that world. Also working at Patagonia, which is a sustainable apparel community, and you know, being involved in the climate movement and going to Fridays For Future climate strikes, because in each of those spaces, there was a really severe lack of representation of BIPOC – in particular in positions of leadership –and I saw it in all these different sectors. Like at the top of all these different sustainability companies or the top environmental nonprofits, there were no Black people. [I asked myself] Where are they? and What’s going on? because I know we’re here, but we’re not actually being promoted and given positions of leadership. The biggest hurdle is really trying to talk to the [white] environmental community about why this is important. Because, you see, the thing is, there’s a lot of sensitivity specifically with environmentalists. They’re usually liberal people, they care about recycling, they care about the planet, and then if you have me coming in and I’m like “okay, recycling is great but we also need to advocate for Black lives because it doesn’t make sense to advocate for the smallest of endangered species, and then with your environmental philosophy, not care about Black and Indigenous lives.” There’s also this younger generation of people saying, “y’know that doesn’t hold up. You’re not actually caring about marginalized people, because what kind of environmentalism is that? Is it to advance climate solutions for white people in particular?” I think there’s been kind of a battle there, of defensiveness and fragility within environmental circles. They may not be comfortable or ready to admit that the type of environmentalism that they’re practicing isn’t actually advancing disability justice or BIPOC justice, if it’s not intersectional in nature. So I think it’s a big wake up call. Honestly, our [sustainability] community is our biggest hurdle because other groups seem to get it. When you go to BIPOC communities and you start presenting some of this data and you say, “Oh that makes sense, that’s why we have higher instances of asthma, or I live right next to a highway — that totally makes sense that that impacts our health and that’s a result of redlining.” It can be easier to convince people outside of the environmental movement than to confront white environmentalists who have largely avoided race for years, and sometimes decades. LM: I started this Career and Creatives Facebook Group for Unbothered, and there are hella girls in there with their own Black-owned businesses. Candle makers, fashion designers, jewelry makers. They are so talented! With initiatives like the 15% Pledge, we’re seeing white businesses, and mainstream consumers pay more attention to Black-owned brands (As they should). With this newfound spotlight, how can those creators be more mindful of their own footprint as their business scales? The truth is that Blackness is the blueprint for a lot of sustainability practices. Within our culture, we do a lot of reusing, repurposing, reinventing, and making do with what we have.LEAH “GREEN GIRL LEAH” THOMAS LT: I have a nuanced perspective. I worked at one of the most sustainable manufacturers that other companies look up to, and when I was in there, internally, there’s a lot of racially insensitive sentiment as well as no BIPOC in positions of leadership. And then we’ve also seen other brands like Reformation, a sustainable manufacturer, however, their founder was eating fried chicken to celebrate Black History Month and thought that was appropriate to post. So it’s kind of complicated, because there are sustainable brands yes, in terms of their supply chain, but then when it comes to the health and happiness of their own BIPOC employees, or even just whether or not they care about Black lives, oooooh it’s not always there. I also know that those price points are also inaccessible. Sometimes fast fashion is just what’s accessible to certain people. So I think there’s a couple things that need to happen. A lot of people just don’t know. If they see a $5 shirt from Forever21, they might just think it’s normal. They might not know that there might be things as extreme as slavery along the supply chain and environment degradation, so I feel like part of it has to be awareness campaigns about what’s exactly happening and the true cost of a $5 tee shirt and a $15 tee shirt. And in addition to that, I feel like some of these brands like Fashion Nova can move the needle. I know some people don’t really like sustainable collections, they think it’s like greenwashing. But, for me it’s a way in. People aren’t just going to stop buying from Fashion Nova, or some of these companies, but because they have such a large audience, at least try to release like one sustainable collection, because then their consumers will have an option.. I don’t know if I feel like there’s lots of different solutions, but there’s also accessibility that is at play. But people like Meg Thee Stallion who is a self-identified environmentalist. She did a beach clean up a couple years ago. I think that’s a way she can use her platform. So if she does more collabs with Fashion Nova, even if it is a brand notorious for fast fashion,kind of setting someboundaries of, “I dont want to work with you if you’re utilizing child labor or slave labor. How can we use recycled materials for this collection and make the price point somewhat accessible?” Because that is doable, a shirt might not be $5 if it’s made sustainably, but you can potentially get it to that 10-15-20 dollar price point. It doesn’t have to be a Patagonia shirt that’s somehow one hundred dollars. There’s room to grow and there’s flexibility. LM: How can young Black businesses be more socially responsible in their day-to-day? LT: One of the easiest things to do that will also help cut costs is repurposing materials as much as possible. Whether you’re a jewelry brand or a clothing brand — and the kids, the Gen-Z-ers, they like it! It makes for such cool unique styles. I would encourage Black owned businesses to upcycle. It’s really “in” right now. Also if you’re looking at consumer behavior, there’s this really great study by Sutra, a sustainable marketing agency, that said people want to buy from brands that stand for something. And that shouldn’t be the reason why you should want your business to be sustainable, but numbers don’t lie! Tying in some of these sustainability initiatives might actually help them get more followers for their business’ Instagram. Also repurpose found materials to cut costs, instead of continually having to make your own fabric and things like that. LM: You are coming with the gems. I called the right one! Which Black-owned brands do you think are getting it right and not leaving such a huge footprint? LT: It’s this really cool one from a company called Seed. They use packing peanuts that are made of cornstarch that just dissolve. They’re really firm, but as soon as you put it in water it dissolves. You can actually eat their packaging. I have, and it doesn’t taste bad! But there are really cool solutions and the price point is going down on some of these items. And the more people use them, the more the price point drops. And it’s just fun to receive in the mail. You just throw it into water! LM: Wow that’s really cool. I really love Jade Swim. They use No Issue packaging which is completely compostable. Not only are they Black-woman owned, but every product is made in the USA by workers who are paid a living wage, after a full life cycle assessment is conducted to ensure sustainability from production to use. I see a lot of beauty and fashion brands putting more thought into sustainable products and packaging and it gives me hope! R29Unbothered’s High Impact is rewriting the rules of wellness, wealth, and weed for Black women with real and dynamic conversations that put US at the center. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?What It Takes For Fashion Brands To Be SustainableHow Black Women Are Finding Healing in CannabisBlack Women: Fighting For Cannabis Industry Equity
A group of Democratic senators re-introduced a bill on Wednesday that would expand Medicare access across the country.
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.Today: a clinical psychologist who makes $345,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on iced coffee. Occupation: Clinical Psychologist Industry: Mental Health CareAge: 43Location: New York, NYSalary: $345,000Net Worth: ~$2.365 million (I own my apartment (valued at ~$1.8 M), $320,000 in a savings account, $245,000 in a SEP-IRA/retirement fund. Debt: ~$2,000. This is the balance I owe for my Peloton. I pay my credit cards in full every month, whenever possible. Regarding my annual salary noted above, $345,000 is what I grossed in 2020. I’m self-employed, so this fluctuates from year to year) Debt: $2,000, which is the balance on my Peloton bike. I financed it through Affirm. Paycheck Amount (I move earnings from my business to my personal bank accounts several times a month.): ~$28,500 gross per month (I’m self-employed so I don’t have a paycheck per se)Pronouns: She/herMonthly ExpensesHousing: $2,620 ($1,320 for common charges, $1,300 for property taxes). My mortgage was paid off several years ago.Electricity: $100-$300 Cell Phone/Internet: $130Health Insurance: $970 Disability Insurance: $770Zipcar Membership: $76/year Amazon Prime: $129/yearThrive Market Membership: $65/yearCostco Membership: $65/yearSpotify: $9.99Peloton Membership: $39Peleton Payments: $74Homeowners Insurance: $3,300/yearHousekeeper: $200 (every two weeks, $100 per visit)Monthly Self-Employment Business Expenses: ~$4,300 (this includes office rent, electricity, internet, insurances, cleaning, supplies, technology, continuing education, etc) Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?Yes, it was expected that I’d go to college but we never had any conversations about it. My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1970s. My parents were clueless about the U.S. education system, SATs, etc, and they had little time/interest/mental space to learn about it. I did my best to figure things out on my own. My father did not complete high school. After completing his military service, he worked in various labor roles. He was smart, but not formally educated. My mother was grad educated. When they got to the U.S., she immediately had me and my sibling. She simultaneously learned English and studied for her boards in the U.S. My father died when I was a teenager. He was no longer the main breadwinner by the time I became a preteen. I’ve never taken any student loans. My mother planned for and paid my tuition for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. She also paid my rent all of those years. I am well aware of my privilege, though it came at a price. Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?We did not really have conversations about money, or anything really. My parents were always working and stressed about money and a slew of other things. The list of things to worry about when you are immigrants is endless, made much more difficult when you try to navigate it all in your second language and a culture that is so different from your native one. I think my parents tried to keep financial stress from me and my sibling, but there really was no way that they could. My mother never sat me down to teach me anything really, I just picked things up and eventually built some sort of plan for my financial future that did not involve an inheritance or help from anyone at all. What was your first job and why did you get it?My first job was working for my mother’s business, which I’d do in the summers, mostly. I was about 14. I had short-term retail jobs here and there from my late teenage years through undergrad, but I wouldn’t last long in any of them. So I don’t even count these as jobs in my life narrative. My first long-term steady jobs were during graduate school, working in my intended field. Did you worry about money growing up?Yes and no. I worried more about the tension and instability in our home due to my parents’ troubled relationship, though finances were not that far behind. My parents were obsessive about saving every penny they could for a down payment for a house because that was part of their American dream. That meant that I had two outfits to wear every season. That was shameful because my school peers unrelentingly made fun of me for it. I experienced a great deal of shame for being poor and the child of immigrants. Even when things became much easier financially, I never felt like I belonged. Do you worry about money now?I do, occasionally. I’m a single woman and I earn a very good living, but you never know. I often worry that things could come crashing down at any moment. I’m certain that this is intergenerational trauma passed down through several generations. I try very hard to remember that I’ve got massive hustle in me and I will do whatever I have to do to take care of myself. No one can take away my education, intelligence, and talent. During COVID, I worked like crazy, around the clock, and it took a very big emotional toll on me. I’m very good at what I do but when you are the instrument and you feel like you’re slipping, it’s pretty scary. I check my accounts several times a week to remind myself that I’m okay and will be okay. At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?I became financially responsible for myself at 34, which is not that long ago. After graduate school and working as a psychologist in a hospital system, I decided to complete a four-year postgraduate program to become a psychoanalyst. My mother helped me during those years too. It would have been impossible to financially manage it all without her help. This is not spoken about much, at least in my experience, but becoming a psychologist and psychoanalyst takes many, many years (as it should) and it feels impossible for someone without privilege to do this. It needs to be said that the knowledge and experience I gained from that last psychoanalytic training program stepped my game up by many levels and allowed me to earn the kind of living I do today. Because I had financial help, I was able to start a small private practice. If I needed money today I know that I could ask my mother but I wouldn’t. I’d likely ask friends first. Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.I was financially supported throughout my education and early career. Though it was not income, I did not earn that money. My sibling and I stand to inherit a fair amount of assets between us, but I do not think about this much. I plan to give whatever my entire share will be to my sibling. That’s important to me. Day One 7 a.m. — I get up and walk my dogs. We stop at Starbucks to pick up my almost daily four shots of espresso over ice ($3.54, and $1 tip). I adore this particular Starbucks location. I’ve known the people who work there for years and they make my day. We walk until everyone’s done their personal business and I’ve finished my coffee. We get home around 7:45 and I make breakfast — a bowl of Greek yogurt with some peanut butter granola and a banana. I had that in the fridge. I do some basic grooming and get dressed and am in front of my computer to start work at 8:14. I go nonstop until 12:15. $4.54 12:20 p.m. — I order in tacos to be delivered around 1. I’ll have those for lunch and dinner ($37.34, includes tip, delivery fees, and whatever else UberEats charges for). I walk my dogs again and time it so that I pick the delivery up in my building lobby as the dogs and I are returning from our walk. I have two tacos for lunch and then scroll Twitter for a bit. $37.34 1:40 p.m. — I suddenly remembered to go on Amazon to order a pet vacuum that removes stains and deep cleans rugs and fabrics, as well as extra bottles of the cleaning solution ($156.74). I’ve been meaning to buy this for a while and today was that day. I’m going to steam clean my mattress and a small runner in my bedroom. I go back to work until 6:30. $156.74 7:30 p.m. — For dinner, I eat another taco and some leftover roasted veggies I have in my fridge. For dessert, I have Hu Kitchen chocolate gems that I buy at Costco whenever I take a trip there. I feed and walk my dogs and am in bed by 9. Scroll Twitter until I fell asleep. Daily Total: $198.62 Day Two 7 a.m. — Get dressed and walk my dogs. Do the usual Starbucks run to get my usual espresso drink ($3.54, and $1 tip) except I don’t get it on ice this morning because it’s freezing out. I make breakfast at home — a cheddar and veggie omelet on two small coconut flour tortillas. I eat that and do some basic grooming before work. I work from 9 to 1. Friday is my lightest day. $4.54 1:30 p.m. — After walking my dogs again, I’m hungry. I eat the two leftover tacos from yesterday for lunch. Then, I take a long shower, scrub myself from head to toe with a Japanese scrub towel, wash my hair twice, and feel so good. I do my full skin regimen. On my face, I splash some SK-II Pitera Essence toner followed by a generous layer of LaMer concentrate on my face and neck. Once that absorbs, I usually follow that with a layer of SK-II RNA Power face cream, but don’t do that today. On my body, I use LeLabo’s body lotion in The Noir. I also use that perfume but not today since the lotion is more than enough. I towel dry my hair, comb it, and scrunch a few dabs of Oribe Supershine cream into it. I neither wear makeup nor blow dry my hair, so that’s that. 5:15 p.m. — I head to a friend’s house for dinner and bring a bottle of wine that came from my personal stash. I rarely drink wine because I don’t really like it and it makes me feel hungover the next day in a way that I can’t stand. I prefer simple drinks like vodka and gin with soda. But I always have several bottles of wine at home to offer guests or to bring with me if I’m the guest. I take the subway to my friend’s house ($2.75) and get there around 5:45. We’re all vaccinated now. We eat indoors together and hug for the first time in a long time. We also pop some edibles so within an hour I have my vibe right. That and a double vodka soda is perfect. So much fun. I take the train back around 10:30 ($2.75). Walk my dogs and go to bed. $5.50 Daily Total: $10.04 Day Three 8 a.m. — Wake up, get dressed, and walk my dogs. We go to Starbucks for my usual espresso. Take a long walk around the nearby park and make some human friends who want to pet my dogs. They love the attention and are happy to make others happy. $4.54 9:45 a.m. — I get back in bed to start an Israeli show I’ve been meaning to watch called Valley of Tears. It’s on HBO Max. I then realize that I canceled my subscription many months ago because I wasn’t using it. So I resubscribe — $14.99 a month. I watch two episodes and it’s exceptional. I’ll probably cancel it before I get charged for another month because there’s nothing else I want to watch. I mostly watch Netflix and Amazon Prime. Netflix I don’t pay for because some years ago a friend gave me her username and password as one of the devices on her account. I’ll pay for dinner and/or Starbucks every now and then, so it all comes out in the wash. $14.99 2:15 p.m. — My sister-in-law calls and says she’s going to the park with her kids and invites me to join. I bring the more active of my dogs with me. We walk/hike for about two hours and it’s a lot of fun. I buy a bottle of water from a cart inside the park. $3 5:30 p.m. — The four of us go to Eataly for dinner afterward — we split the bill (my portion is $44.10 and a $10 tip). We share two small pizzas, one pasta dish, and I have a warm spiced cocktail they make there that is out of this world. I get an espresso to go and two hazelnut chocolate bars at Eataly’s espresso bar afterward ($9.60, and $1 tip). $64.70 8:30 p.m. — Good friends I travel with call me tonight to say they found an incredible deal to the Maldives. After some deliberation and research, we decided to do it. I put the hotel booking on my credit card — $10,798. This is so extra. The booking is for five nights in two over-the-water bungalows, each with its own private pool. Everything is included, except for airfare. Half of this amount is my portion so I’ll pay that off by the credit card due date. The other half I’ll pay down as quickly as I can and my friends will pay me back by the end of this year plus whatever interest accrued on the amount. We’ve done this before and it works fine. I also get the rewards points for these charges, plus the 5X points bonus because Amex Platinum offers that for travel charges. We are on the phone until almost 10:30 talking about the trip, catching up, and planning the rest of the trip, which will include a few days in Singapore. Excited for this trip! $10,798 Daily Total: $10,885.23 Day Four 11:30 a.m. — Very lazy this morning and eventually get out of the house. Even my dogs slept in for several extra hours. I must have been really tired. Take the dogs for a slow and leisurely walk for about an hour. We stop at our fave Starbucks for my usual espresso on ice before heading to a nearby park. I use Starbucks points to pay for my drink but leave a $1 tip. We walk the paths inside the park several times. We get home at 1 and I make breakfast. I warm up the remaining leftovers from a sliced steak and onions dish I forgot that I randomly made two days ago. I put that in a skillet and mix in three eggs. So good. $1 5:30 p.m. — Watch several more episodes of Valley of Tears. It’s incredible. I make myself dinner at home: chopped beets topped with herbed goat cheese and pan-toasted hazelnuts, then drizzled with some balsamic glaze and olive oil. So simple, so delicious, and filling. I have some leftover roasted shishito peppers too. I keep my fridge temperature pretty low so that leftovers last a few days. I feed and walk my dogs around 7:30 and watch another two episodes of the show before going to bed around 11:30. Daily Total: $1 Day Five 6:45 a.m. — Get up and walk dogs as usual. We go to Starbucks for my usual espresso over ice. We walk for about 30 minutes before returning home. I do a quick basic grooming and am ready to work at 8. I work nonstop until 1. $4.54 1:30 p.m. — Walk dogs then eat lunch at home. Last night I defrosted a chicken and veggie dish I had in the freezer so that I could have it for lunch today. I warm it up in the skillet. I work again from 3 to 6:30. 7 p.m. — Dinner is at home too. Warm up another defrosted chicken and veggie dish. Feed and walk the dogs and get to bed around 9. I’m physically and emotionally exhausted. Daily Total: $4.54 Day Six 645 a.m. — Walk dogs and get my usual Starbucks espresso. Very quick walk. Return home and do basic grooming and eat breakfast. I make a quick frittata with leftover herbed goat cheese and some chopped shallots I had in a container in the fridge. I start work today at 8:30 and go nonstop until 1. $4.54 1:30 p.m. — Walk the dogs again then have lunch at home. I defrost another dish I have in the freezer and warm it up on the skillet. Minced meat and veggies. I work again from 3 to 7 nonstop. 7:45 p.m. — Feed and walk dogs. Then come home and warm up the leftovers from lunch. I’m spent and get in bed by 9:30. Daily Total: $4.54 Day Seven 6:30 a.m. — Wake up and walk the dogs. Usual Starbucks run for my espresso on ice. I needed this one this morning so badly! I start work at 8 so I’ve gotta hurry so that I can quickly shower and have breakfast. I make two soft-boiled eggs and have a slice of cheddar cheese. I work from 8 to 2 with one half-hour break in there. $4.54 2:30 p.m. — Walk dogs. Come home and make lunch. Defrost another meal from the freezer and warm it up in the skillet. I’m having a turkey burger, veggies, and some pasta. I do a Peloton class before eating. I eat afterward then quickly wash up and change. Got work again from 4:30 to 7. 7:45 p.m. — Not that hungry after a late lunch so I snack on some almonds and chocolate chips. I find some dried plums on my counter too. Good enough. Also make a hot chocolate with unsweetened chocolate, cream, and hot water. Yum. So tired. I go to bed at 10. Daily Total: $4.54 Money Diaries are meant to reflect an individual’s experience and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.Do you have a Money Diary you’d like to share? Submit it with us here.Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? 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