Today I remembered an experiment I started doing when I first moved here. I wanted to put all the change I usually leave in the bottom of my bag or in my pockets aside and see how much I collected. I know I could save more money if I didn’t cast away change like it was some stale Cheetos in some stranger’s couch cushions.
There is one confounding variable in my experiment, though. When I’m at more leisurely places, like slow moving bodegas, I put all my change in the change pouch of my wallet.
That being said, here’s how much I have after about a week and a half of really trying to do this experiment: exactly $3. Strange that it’s an exact amount…
In NYC, $3 can get maybe two rides on the subway. Perhaps only a single ride with some special transfer. (Most people who regularly ride the subways use weekly or monthly metrocards that run $24 and $70 something, respectively, so I don’t know). For $3, you can go to my favorite neighborhood fruit stand and currently get five nectarines and five bananas. Woohoo! For $3, you can buy three cans of Coke at a newstand. For $3, you can get twelve New York Posts.
Alright. I should get my things together now. I’m going to go with Chen to Koronet Pizza and then head out to run some errands, which will cost more than $3 to do.
And yes, I have learned my lesson. Thank you.
