- A car. As I was just discussing with Shauna, as long as I remain in suburbia, I think this has to be my next big purchase. It doesn't have to be big, or fast, or even all that pretty. Decent fuel efficiency would be nice. It cannot be red.
- A DSLR. I have a lot of fun with my little Canon PowerShot SD1300IS, and even with my iPhone in a pinch, but I know my photography will never reach its full potential until I have a better camera.
- A KitchenAid stand mixer. My mom has one, and it makes baking magical. Perhaps some day she'll upgrade to the larger model, and I will inherit her old cobalt blue one? If not, majestic yellow and boysenberry are happy colors.
- A kitty condo. The kittens quickly outgrew their 2-foot tall scratching post/hammock. I cannot wait to have the room for a 6-foot tall tower for them to climb (hopefully in lieu of my bookcases).
- An iMac and an iPad. These will be my next major technology purchases. I think I'd like to transition from a laptop to a desktop computer, because the big screen is so fantastic, and I don't need to lug a laptop all over the place now that I'm done with school. Plus, by supplementing it with an iPad, I would still have the option of mobility for basic computing needs.
Actually, now that I look at this list, I realize that I forgot to mention travel. Perhaps I'll do a different post about the places I want to visit. In addition, here are some smaller splurges that I would enjoy on occasion:
- Things I don't need from Etsy. Oh, there are so many things. Stationery, art, decorations, jewelry, cat collars, bags...
- Cultural enrichment. I miss D.C.'s free museums and $10 tickets to the National Symphony Orchestra a lot. Alas, the San Francisco Symphony is far more expensive. I'd also like to attend more plays, musicals, and museums.
- Random ingredients. I would love to have a fully stocked pantry of obscure spices. There are dozens of new recipes that I want to try.
- Throwing dinner parties. I really enjoy having friends over for a home-cooked meal, some good wine, and hilarious conversations.
- Books for my Kindle. There is so much reading that I want to do.
I also like to think about where my charitable contributions will go when I have an income. My heart always sinks when I am not able to give very much to:
- The Paulist Fathers. Newman Hall at Berkeley was a place of profound formation for me as a Catholic. I would love to do more to support their ministries.
- The Leadership Award. I received this scholarship from the Cal Alumni Association three times, and it was a huge help. I have donated time by grading application essays and interviewing applicants, but I want to help out financially as well.
- The Alzheimer's Association. My grandmother passed away last year after suffering from Alzheimer's for years. I intend to fight this disease by supporting the research and programs of the Alzheimer's Association.
- The Equal Justice Foundation. EJF funded all of my summer internships while at Georgetown Law. I want to support the next generation of public interest law students.
- All of the non-profits where I've worked/volunteered. It will be great to give back to HomeBase, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies.
What is on your wish list? Which charities do you like to support?
7 comments:
Wow, what a great list! I especially love (though am not at all surprised) that you included charities in your "wish list."
You probably already know this, but many libraries are starting to build their ebook collections - great for broke bibliophiles!
Excellent point. I renewed my local library card a few months ago specifically so that I would have access to the library's ebook collections! They're not that big yet, but I see huge potential.
I'm also thinking that I should take better advantage of all of the free classical literature available due to expired copy-write. Project Gutenberg is amazing.
Cars are awesome! Red can be a good color, as long as it is not cardinal.
Why would you get a stand mixer? It takes up space and is another thing you need to clean after use.
The biggest thing I want to buy/pay for is my own apartment. Everything else is on an as needed basis.
Half way through reading your lists, I started thinking of ways to make money.
I've never liked red, cardinal or otherwise.
Stand mixers can do a lot of cool things. For the multitasking baker, it's helpful to be able to step away while the mixer does its work. With the right attachments, you can knead dough,* make pasta, and grind fruits and veggies. Handheld mixers are fine for batters, but I have a lot of bread and cookie recipes that work better with a stand mixer.
Yes, an apartment is the top priority for me right now, too. Depending on the job I get, though, I can envision a scenario where I have enough money to get a car (and some of these other things), but the job isn't secure or long-term to the point that I can move out right away.
Did you come up with some good ideas for making money that you're going to pursue?
* I guess I "need dough" to buy a mixer to "knead dough." Thank goodness puns are free.
If you need advice on a DSLR purchase, let me know! You know how much I love to discuss photography.
I will definitely be picking your brain, and several others... I am so fortunate to have so many photographer friends!
What an awesome list! I think this kind of imagining is one of the best things we can do for ourselves:) Travel is very high on my list of things I would do if I had more money, but after that, probably more books, more obscure teas and coffees, and more plants for my garden! Also, fabric. Tons of fabric! Fun!
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