A Free Meal, and a Job Interview

While I'm technically not "unemployed", I am a grad student and I share many of the issues and troubles of my unemployed friends. By far the largest issue, is appropriating money between food, bills, and fun. Food comes first on my list, as it is a necessity for life. But the need to eat doesn't imply a need to spend. Besides the occasional dinner with my family, there is another sure fire way to get some free meals during the week, all while learning something new and possibly even getting a job.

"How is that?" you say. Well it's all about Universities and student organizations. As an undergrad I was an officer in a few student orgs., and I know, as well as every other officer, that the best way to get people to your meetings is by offering free food (mostly pizza). In fact this is true so much, that it's not uncommon to see a flier on campus with the words "Free Food!" much bigger then the details, such as the speaker or organization. And only rarely do you have to be a member of these organizations. Quite often, they are glad to have a good turnout regardless of who it is coming.

Finding these events is not hard at all. Most colleges have a website with a list of student organizations on it. A few minutes browsing the web could pay dividends. Failing that, kiosks, or bulletin boards are another common place to announce meetings. And of course look around the student lounges on campus and in the buildings (particularly business, science, and engineering buildings).

Don't forget to bring a resume. All too often the speakers themselves are recruiters for the company they represent. A quick chat after the talk, and a well formatted resume, and you'll be going home with a full belly, full head, and job interview.

"We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those whose riches are differently dispersed. "

A few days ago, I was explaining to a family member that traveling is one of my vices. Some people drink beer, go shopping, smoke cigars, or eat greasy hamburgers when life gets them down. Immediate unemployment will direct you to one of your vices instantly. I was lucky enough to act on my greatest vice and travel to Washington D.C., New York City, and Texas to spend quality time with friends and family. While I wanted this to be a trip for me to relax and clear my head after the panic of unemployment was over, it also evolved in to a deeper experience for me.

During my stay in Lubbock, Texas, I had the opportunity to do a bit of volunteer work with my Uncle Tom. This is a true Texan man that is very dear to my heart, as we tend to share the same love for finding an adventure during family vacations. From the moment he picked me up from the airport, he had a volunteer job awaiting us the next day. Backyard Mission is a tiny Lubbock nonprofit that seeks to help those in need by restoring broken windows, doors, floors, etc. in older homes for those that are financially limited. I spent the day caulking windows, watching Uncle Tom and his friend install a busted door, and chatting with a woman whose story helped me gain a new appreciation for my life.

This lady, whose name I will keep private, owned a house that she paid about $15,000 for in 1994. The home was built in the 1940s, the windows were broken, the back door offered no protection to home invaders, the wood in the house was slowly rotting away, and there was no central heating and air in the house. She lived there with her 81 year old husband. Lubbock has extremely hot summers and cold winters that bring snow to the the ground a few times a year. When it snowed in her house, the snow would actually make its way through the cracks in her door and settle on the kitchen floor. If it was really cold out, her and her husband would spend the entire day in the car with the heat on to keep warm. Insects and mosquitos roamed the inside of her house, lingering in the hot air. A few months ago, a group of men broke in to her house after midnight, tied her and her husband to the bed, duct taped their mouths and proceed to take their only lucrative items: a television, a radio, and her son's laptop computer.

We are all aware that poverty exists in our country, but how often do we see it with own eyes? Often We know it exists, but we do not directly have to deal with it or realize that there are people out there living in far wore living conditions than we thought possible. Volunteering will put you face-to-face with the many social and economic problems this country has. It will give you a true appreciation for your cushy lifestyle. Single, young professionals losing jobs in this economic downturn suffer less consequences. We only have to provide for one person and we have education and adaptability to fall back on. For this lady and her husband, there is no education or skill to land a better job, or in this case, to rid her body of the cancer that keeps her out of work entirely.

So, your unemployment situation is a bummer, but be thankful that you are savvy enough to reinvent yourself, find a new career, and start your life over again. For some in this country, that is not physically or economically possible. Be grateful, be thankful, be helpful.

Just Desserts

It's happened a million times. A quick workout, a good sized meal, and then a craving for something sweet.  A craving that won't be sated by double portions of dinner. No... only a treat high in sugar will do. 

Being on a budget, however, I tend to spend my money on staples like grains, meats, and veggies. Money spent on ice cream and cookies is not typically money well spent. So what to do? How to kill these cravings?

Depending on the time of year, there may be many options. Now that summer is around the corner, fresh fruit is my sweet of choice. While you could graze on the grapes at the grocery store, I can't condone this. However there are better places where people will give away their fresh fruit. The Farmers Market is probably the best place for this. It not uncommon for the stands to give samples of their berries or fruits to try to get you hooked. Also check out their even schedule: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/promos.htm Dessert give aways are not unheard of on the right day. And even if the dessert is not free, it's hard to beat the price and quality of the farmers market. 

This is a little more rare, but don't forget about Ben & Jerry's or Baskin Robbins free scoop day. Nothing beats the free ice cream. If you've missed them, you can always get free samples at either one. 

But we can't expect our craving to coincide with limited time promotions, so what to do on those off days? We find the free cookie. Harris Teeter grocery stores have daily free sugar cookies in the bakery section. Watching your weight? Not to worry, they have sugar free cookies as well. Free cookies 24/7 means you'll never be slave to cravings again. 

So there are plenty of options for those sweet sweet cravings, either day or night. A little fore site and planning can pay dividends, but even dessert at unexpected times can be found. 

Food Tips: Part 1

I am the type of person that has sudden fluxes of serotonin (mood swings) on an empty stomach. Accordingly, I've modified my eating habits to accommodate the temper tantrums of an empty abdominal cavity. It is no surprise that as I lost my job during this deep recession I learned a few magic tricks in order to maintain the happiness that food brings to my life.

 

For example,  I've discovered the utility of a shopping list, the concept of buying supermarket brands, and the value of carrying a calculator to estimate the cost-per-unit of the items I am buying. I know this is like reinventing the wheel, but for a 27-year old single male these notions are novelty. For instance, I found out that buying one 24 oz. can of beer is cheaper than buying a six-pack of the same beer.

 

Also, before you go to the store it doesn't hurt to browse the internet for coupons and freebies. You can find everything from coupons for any imaginable item on the supermarket shelves, to pizza delivery, and discounts to local restaurants. On the freebie side, major brands have links on the website for free trials of their products. You just need to fill out a simple application with your name and address, and in some cases you'll need to pay shipping and handling fees in exchange for free toothpaste, toiletries, perfume, etc.

 

Finally, since the cash flow got meager on my side of the fence I've been making my own versions of my favorites. For 79 cents you can purchase a can of chick peas, throw in a bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper, put it in a blender, and voilá! You have hummus on your plate. Even easier than that, for a $1.50 you can purchase a can of crushed tomatoes with basil, put them in the blender, add salt and pepper, and then reduce the mixture to low heat and have home-made spaghetti sauce. You can do all sorts of home-made goodies: like cookies, bread, and even mustard.

 

As they say: necessity is the mother of invention. Get creative with the little income that you have and together with the pleasant company of your unemployed friends you can have a feast for less!

By Félix Araújo-Pérez

Edited by Jana Dunkley