I am a QUEEN of dualities.
I have already expressed that I consider myself a dude on a variety of levels YET I have hardcore lady-like vanity habits. I am super lazy and have a tendency to procrastinate to a dangerous point—YET, I love the hustle, I love the grind.
My favorite out of all of these polar opposites is my BALL SO HARD attitude when I'm cheap-AF. For example:
Thrifty-Kate
- I hate paying for cabs.
I'm perfectly capable of walking, even at 2 am. If I have already paid for a months worth of unlimited Muni or MTA rides, I don't want to spend the unnecessary money for transportation. I could be crazy drunk and try to convince you that we don't need a cab, which is idiotic on my behalf cause I should probably get home as soon as possible at that point, but whatever. I'm tellin' you—CHEAP.
- Pre-Game
I could be 35 years old and making six-figures and I will still want to drink before we go out to drink on an ordinary night. I'm sure a lot of people are with me on this. No? Then you're not cool with me. I'm just trying to save $18 on the first two drinks at the bar. I'm just trying to have all of us save some bread, shoot.
- Wi-Fi
I will never pay for Wi-Fi, as much as I love Social Media and Instagram is my crack cocaine, I will not. However, if you want to pay I will ask you if I can borrow your phone. I don't want to shell out my own cash, but I still gotta check my feed.
- DIY
If I can do it myself, I don't want to pay for someone else's markup. Last year I bought a friendship bracelet kit at Michael's and started making my own bracelets cause the ones I wanted online were running $50+. No thank you, I can make that shit myself. I also really wanted to make a terrarium at one point but the dialogue always went something like this: "How much is that? WHAT?! Pshhh, I'll make it myself." Although I never did make that terrarium…
- Restaurant Leftovers
Box, please. Almost ALL the time. The exception to this rule is if we are eating dinner before going out to a club. I'm cheap but I will not bring "baon" (Filipino word for leftovers that turns into lunch the next day, Fact—its my favorite Filipino word, everrr) into a bar/club, I have my limits folks. In that specific case I will only order what I can finish in that sitting alone, or I will split with a homie.
#BallSoHard-Kate
- Sunglasses
I have two pairs of Gucci sunglasses (I had three but I lost my favorite pair in Mexico, and I'm still pissed at myself for that one) and another pair around the same value. Expensive sunglasses are my vice. I always know which pair I want next and its a ridiculous accessory for me, considering I wear eyeglasses 75% of the time. Its the worst investment ever, but at least I'm stuntin' when the sun is out.
- Bottle Service
If we're going to a club and its your birthday, and you're in my inner circle—WE ARE DOING BOTTLE SERVICE. I will throw down two bills for you, there is no other option. If we're going to stay at one place the entire night, I want some place to sit and relax. Plus, its your birthday, we're doing shit right. Note: there are probably only 10 people I would do this for (like I said, inner circle-status).
- REAL Leather
I have a grown lady rule that I think women of a certain age should only be in possession of real leather, that goes for jackets, bags and shoes. This is my rule, personally. I like dead cow skin, I blame my mom. Not judging anyone else based on being decked out in vegan-leather, but if it really looks fake, then I just might…
- Quality
I like $14 cocktails where the bartenders wear suspenders and they slap an orange peel (literally) in your drink before they put it in. I like 4-star hotels in dope cities. I like $80 bottles of cab. I have a bucket-list for famous restaurants alone. Apparently this is the "Leo's need for luxury" astrological aspect of me.
Basically I have no problem dishing out the dough for items and services I value. A major point of this is being around people who know and appreciate the same things. I would hate to take you to a speak-easy-type-bar and have you spend $15 on a Manhattan when you really have no reference of how awesome it is. I usually have a good sense on which end of the spectrum my friends are on.
The driving force behind my cheap side is that no matter what—I am BROWN. I was raised by immigrant parents who didn't have a dime to their name when they arrived on U.S. soil. My sister and I shared everything growing up, down to McDonalds meals. We never had anything as soon as it hit the streets, and we were always on a budget. My pops always told me I could buy whatever I wanted as soon as I was making my own money, and my mom engrained in my head that I should always save for a rainy day. They will never understand why I need to spend $18 on MAC Blush, but they're always the reason why I only take what I need.