Remember when “quarantine” was a word we only associated with global pandemics? Yeah, me too. But these days, it feels like I’m under self-imposed house arrest—and not because of any virus. It’s because stepping out of the front door costs an absurd amount of money.
Let me break it down for you.
First, there’s the outfit. Oh, you thought you could wear that dress from three years ago? Nope. Somehow, it shrunk in the closet (it’s definitely not because of those holiday cookies). So now, you’re buying a new dress. And don’t even think about skipping the manicure—your Instagram stories require it.
Next, transportation. Gas prices? They’ve become a luxury item. And if you’re Ubering? Might as well sign over your firstborn because those surge fees are not playing around.
But let’s say you made it out. You’re sitting in a cute little restaurant, sipping a $22 cocktail (that’s mostly ice), and eating food that looks prettier than it tastes. Then comes the bill—oh, and what’s that? A “service fee”? A “venue charge”? Did I also pay a “you-sat-at-our-table” tax?
And just when you think the night’s over and you can finally head home, the universe throws one last punch:
- You get mugged on the way to your car.
- Your car windows have been smashed in.
- Or worse, your car is just… gone.
Honestly, if someone stole my car right now, they wouldn’t get far. With these gas prices? Good luck making it to the next block.
So yeah, for more reasons than one, I decided to skip the overpriced chaos this New Year’s Eve. Instead, I logged into a Zoom service with my church, scheduled some emails for January 2nd, and called it a night. Was it glamorous? No. Did I avoid spending $200 just to exist outside of my home? Yes.
Turns out, I wasn’t alone. NBC Chicago reported that only two in ten people planned to go to a friend or family member’s house, and a measly 5% were headed to bars, restaurants, or organized events. Five percent! That’s barely enough people to fill one overpriced rooftop lounge.
Why? Because the #1 New Year’s resolution for 2025 is—drumroll, please—to save money. Shocking, right? The second is to eat healthier, and the third is to exercise more.
But let’s be real: Can you even have all three resolutions at once?
- Eating healthier? That organic kale isn’t cheap.
- Exercising more? Gym memberships, personal trainers, workout gear—it’s like signing up for a luxury vacation.
- And saving money? Yeah, good luck balancing that with the other two.
And then there’s that sneaky little thing called time. Because let’s face it—being healthy, wealthy, and fit requires a schedule that only exists in the multiverse.
So, what’s my resolution this year? Simple: To exercise while eating healthy and saving money.
Am I asking for too much? Probably. But hey, a girl can dream.
For now, I’ll keep my feet firmly planted inside my home, sipping my homemade green smoothie (that was surprisingly expensive to make, by the way), and doing squats in my living room. You can join me!
Here’s to 2025: the year of trying to do it all—without going broke.
