I am annoyed lately at the UNvalue of a dollar.
Now, don't worry, I am not ready to jump on board and give you my personal dissertation on the American economic situation... we all hear enough endless talk about that these days. I certainly don't have the time (or probably the mind) to understand all the complex reasons why the American dollar is plummeting in worth -- however; I am starting to notice it on a day to day basis.
Here is how it all started: The other day I saw a crisp bill laying in the middle of the sidewalk in front of me as I strolled to my bus. "Yesssssssssssssss," I said out load as I approached the green paper, dreaming that it would be a loose hundred that dropped out of some rich woman's fur-lined pocket and would never be missed. [In case you are curious, here is the type of mental image I had when picturing this mystery woman...]
No such luck -- and, I didn't even feel like I had won anything when I go close enough to see good ol' Georgie-boy's face staring up at me. I actually considered leaving him on the ground so that I could keep my FREEZING hands in my then toasty coat pockets (p.s. Can someone PLEASE tell Winter that its time to move on?!). Sad. When did free money lose its excitement? It really doesn't feel like that long ago (I'm probably too young for this, but prepare for my "when I was a kid" reference) that a few pennies were thrilling cause I could run down to the local Frosty Freeze and stock up on some Swedish Fish (does penny candy even exist any more?). Then, before long, pennies were obsolete -- left, unloved, in sad little plastic trays where they would be deserted or traded. The weight of the penny, it seemed, outweighed its worth because NO one wanted them in pockets or purses any more.
No such luck -- and, I didn't even feel like I had won anything when I go close enough to see good ol' Georgie-boy's face staring up at me. I actually considered leaving him on the ground so that I could keep my FREEZING hands in my then toasty coat pockets (p.s. Can someone PLEASE tell Winter that its time to move on?!). Sad. When did free money lose its excitement? It really doesn't feel like that long ago (I'm probably too young for this, but prepare for my "when I was a kid" reference) that a few pennies were thrilling cause I could run down to the local Frosty Freeze and stock up on some Swedish Fish (does penny candy even exist any more?). Then, before long, pennies were obsolete -- left, unloved, in sad little plastic trays where they would be deserted or traded. The weight of the penny, it seemed, outweighed its worth because NO one wanted them in pockets or purses any more.
And, now I'm starting to wonder -- is the dollar doomed for the same fate?The crazy thing is, ever since I had this thought, confirmations of my suspicions have been coming to my attention. I passed a vending machine yesterday – CANS of soda for $1.25. I pay my bus fare and wonder if my fair share of gas, mileage, and maintenance for the OVER-PACKED ride where I stood with my face in someone’s armpit is really $2.00. A buy a pack of gum -- $2.35. I’ve even noticed it with parking meters – $1.00 only gets you about 30 minutes…
But the straw that broke this camel’s back was DEFINITELY lunch yesterday. Let me first say, that I really try to motivate myself to pack a lunch daily. Occasionally; however, I don’t mind splurging a little, but I always try to go for something cheap. So, I headed down to our building’s basement food court and ladled myself a CUP of chicken noodle soup – thinking to myself that although it wasn’t my first choice of lunches, it would due since I could buy it with the few $1 bills in my purse (which included ol' Georgie-boy from the sidewalk). As I was rung up, I had my limp bills already in my hand when I received my total… $5.35. Wait, what?! Over $5 for a CUP of soup? I thought surely this price had to be a mistake and pointed out to the cashier that I had the SMALL soup portion – only to be embarrassed when she responded “I see that. Ma’am, we can’t dump it back in the pot, so are you gonna pay?” I wanted to say, “no” and just walk away… but with the other busy lunchers behind me staring with growling stomachs that just wanted to get through the line, I angrily pulled out my debit card and let her swipe.
But the straw that broke this camel’s back was DEFINITELY lunch yesterday. Let me first say, that I really try to motivate myself to pack a lunch daily. Occasionally; however, I don’t mind splurging a little, but I always try to go for something cheap. So, I headed down to our building’s basement food court and ladled myself a CUP of chicken noodle soup – thinking to myself that although it wasn’t my first choice of lunches, it would due since I could buy it with the few $1 bills in my purse (which included ol' Georgie-boy from the sidewalk). As I was rung up, I had my limp bills already in my hand when I received my total… $5.35. Wait, what?! Over $5 for a CUP of soup? I thought surely this price had to be a mistake and pointed out to the cashier that I had the SMALL soup portion – only to be embarrassed when she responded “I see that. Ma’am, we can’t dump it back in the pot, so are you gonna pay?” I wanted to say, “no” and just walk away… but with the other busy lunchers behind me staring with growling stomachs that just wanted to get through the line, I angrily pulled out my debit card and let her swipe.
It could have been the most delicious chicken noodle soup in the world (which it wasn’t)… and I would have still felt totally ripped off. It could have been chicken noodle soup that was made so perfectly that it really was chicken soup for my SOUL, filling my day with hope and energy (which it DEF wasn’t)… and still I would have been dissatisfied as I spooned it up. But, since it wasn’t either, and I am pretty sure I could head to Walmart and buy an actual “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book for less than $5.35… I. Was. Pissed.
And, because I just realized I AM starting to sound like all those doom-and-gloom economists… here is a list of a few things you can still buy for a dollar…
<----The classic Apple is about 85¢
The Daily Paper comes
in under$1
(as long as it isn't Sunday) ---->
<----If you are lucky,
this could be a dollar well spent!
Apparently you can get some great animal figurines like this
for about 99¢ from the Dollar Store ---->
<---- A Suvenir Classic!
Throw in a penny and a few
quarters, and you've got
an intant keepsake!
This dorm favorite still
hovers around 3/$1 ---->
Dollar, come on! I need you to recover a little here, because I am scared about what is to come! Will lattes spring up to $8.75? Will email start costing us as much as a stamp? Will we have to change the lyrics to, “Seven... seven… seven dollar foot long” (which is NOT c-c-c-catchin’ on!)? Will my bus start charging by the mile? What will the world be like when we have “Give a Dollar, Take a Dollar” plastic trays at the cash register?
Ok, you SHOULD have told that cashier NOT to call you ma'am and you should have splashed that cup of soup in her face and done your shimmy dance over to Taco Bell!!! You could have eaten your 89cent burrito while reading chicken soup for the soul ;-)
ReplyDeletein the ben voice..."well actually Colleen, the value of the dollar is rising in these poor economic times as investors from other, less stable economies flock to the dollar as a respite from this economic depression. it is inflation that you are worried about, which will actually dissipate with the resurgence of a weak dollar. the fact remains that you can buy more with one dollar today in London than you could six years ago."
ReplyDeleteIt's weird. I used to think of any lunch over $5 as extravagantly expensive. Now, I hardly blink when I'm forced to pay $9 just for a decent sandwich.
ReplyDelete