Daytrippin' to Atlantic City for free

What better way to spend a weekend than a spontaneous trip to the shore? Sure, New Jersey beaches don't hold a candle to the beaches I grew up with in Maine (I don't particularly enjoy the trash, the noise, or the jellyfish...), but at least it's water. Last year, I heard about the mysterious casino bus that takes people from the Greyhound terminal in Philly to Atlantic City for free. Apparently, when you purchase a $20 round-trip ticket in Philly, you can get reimbursed at the casinos because they expect you to gamble the money away. If you're not into gambling, and you just want to go to the beach, this translates into a free trip!

My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. Here's how we spent a recent summer day.

10am: Wake up late, make waffles, eat on the deck with the cats.

11am: Do some work (ok that part wasn't very fun, but it had to be done).

12:30pm: Get ready for the trip by gathering our towels, sunscreen, swimsuits, books, and Frisbee. Pack a cheap, vegan snack of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and water.

1pm: Take the El to the Greyhound station on 10th and Filbert Streets. The buses leave approximately every hour and stop at different casinos, but only some give you a cash voucher; others give you a card that you have to use at the slots. We made sure to get tickets for the bus going to Taj Mahal because they promised cash, but if you're planning on going, I'd recommend double checking the schedule.

1:15pm: Get in line and marvel at the folks who seem to be regulars on the bus. One guy has a stack of slot cards to all the different casinos and it's about three inches high. Another woman is listening to gospel music and praying that she win some money today. An enthusiastic man behind us gives instructions on where to go to get our cash, and kindly offers to lead us there when we get to the casino.

1:45pm: Get on the bus. Read and nap during the hour and a half trip.

3:15pm: The bus rolls up at Taj Mahal and a representative from the casino tells us where to get a $20 voucher, which we can exchange for cash at any of the tellers in the casino. We follow our newfound friend into "the Taj," as the regulars call it, and I'm immediately struck by the sensory overload. It's loud! And bright. And bustling. I'm afraid I'm going to get lost if I don't pay attention to where we're being led. People sit at the slot machines with glazed looks, pressing buttons and ripping receipts out of the machines while waitresses call out to no one in particular, "Cocktails? Drinks?"

3:30pm: At the window, the teller asks for our IDs and bus receipts. They only give vouchers to people 21 and over. We take our vouchers to a machine that looks like an ATM and it spits out $20 each. I can't believe it!

3:45pm: We find the nearest door and make our way to the beach. First, we have to cross over the boardwalk where we see a number of exciting things: a man riding a motorcycle inside a metal sphere, buggies pushed by people instead of horses, domestic fights, and about 14 cats lounging on the beach near a sign that says not to feed them because they are being taken care of by the Cat Action Team. Most of the cats have the tip of one ear cut, indicating that they've been spayed or neutered and then returned to their feral lifestyle. Apparently, over 300 cats live under the boardwalk!

4pm: Play Frisbee, while being careful not to step on any sharp shells... or glass.

5pm: Swim! The water is warm and the waves are high. I'm a little freaked out by all of the rocks and shells underwater, and sometimes it feels like I've stepped on a crab. Every so often, I hear a "crunch," and feel as if something is attached to my foot. To combat this, I try to go out deeper where there isn't as much debris on the ocean floor.

6pm: The lifeguards blow their whistles and wave everyone in. We get out, but see some people return to the water after the lifeguards go home for the evening.

6:30pm: Walk the boardwalk and find Philly Pretzel Factory where we get three soft pretzels for $1.50. We bring this back to the beach, along with our pre-packed snack, and sit on our towels and people-watch. There's a tiki bar to our right with a very loud sound system, and they sing Happy Birthday to someone named Nicole.

7:30pm: Head to Bally's casino to get in line for the 8:15 bus. Even though we got off at "the Taj," our tickets allow us to depart from any casino.

8:15pm: A bus pulls up, waits a few minutes, and then pulls away still empty. No one knows why, but we're told the next bus won't be coming until 9:15. When riding Greyhound, one should always be prepared for situations like this.

9:15pm: There's mass chaos as we file onto the bus because the 8:15 and the 9:15 people are both trying to squeeze on. Miraculously, my boyfriend and I fill the last two seats, but unfortunately, I have to sit in the three-seater at the back, right next to the bathroom and a couple that's arguing about the last time they had sex (it was over seven months ago, the woman said).

10:45pm: We make it back to Philly, but we're hungry. Since we're already in Chinatown, we decide to walk a few blocks to my favorite vegan Chinese restaurant in the city, New Harmony. I love that they are open late and the owner always gives us free food. We order Dim Sum because we know they're closing soon, and he also brings out free soup and smoothies.

11:45pm: Take the El back to my house. Feed the cats, who are a little peeved that we're home so late. Go to bed.

It was a great way to spend a summer day, and I recommend it to any Philadelphian who is car-less, cheap, and looking to get away to the beach!

Meet Lucy

Nicknames: Duece, Duecer, Goose, Gooser, Goosey, Sweet Pea, Lucifer.

Anniversary: July 28, 2005.

Best Feature: Elvis lip.

Favorite Foods: Broccoli, nutritional yeast, pasta.

Favorite Toy: String.

Talents: Balancing on narrow banisters, fitting into small spaces.

Favorite Spot: Sitting on top of the counter, where she’s not supposed to be with her dirty litter paws!

Best Known For: Adventurousness. Lucy will crawl in any box, drawer, or crevice she can fit into, including the small space between the cabinets and the stove that is a 3x3 inch tunnel. She tests her limits daily by seeing how high and far she can jump, even getting up to try again after falling off the banister in the stairway.

How She Says “Hello”: “Meep!”

How She Gets What She Wants: Cuteness.

Where to Find Her at Night: On my pillow.

Lucy’s Story: I found Lucy outside of the 46th Street El station in Philadelphia. She was a friendly, little runt and I stopped to pat her every day on my way home from work. Finally, a local guy near the station told me she didn’t belong to anyone and I should take her home, so I did. I scooped her up and carried her for five blocks in my arms. She didn’t squirm or try to run away, but just looked into my eyes lovingly, and has been by my side ever since. Nowadays, Lucy is always waiting for me to sit down so she can crawl into my lap, and she perks up whenever I say her name.

Go here to meet Zack.

Bee Gone Ye Wasps!

Just because I respect animals doesn't mean I like all species. This is particularly true for a variety of insects. Last year, we had some uninvited guests set up camp on our third-floor deck: paper wasps; supposedly harmless insects, but then why do they have stingers attached to their rumps?

Now, our deck is quite tiny, and with two cats and two humans, I told the little buggers, "There ain't room enough for the both of us." Of course, they didn't listen to me and just went on their merry way building a very impressive hideaway that looked like corrugated cardboard.

Looking for an alternative scare tactic, I did about two minutes of research on the internet and found a simple, cheap, humane way to get rid of wasps. The only materials required were a brown paper bag, crumpled up paper, and string. We already had these items in the apartment, so I figured, why not give it a try?

Apparently, wasps are very territorial, so when they see another nest (especially if it's bigger than theirs) they will abandon their efforts and build their home somewhere else. The online instructions told me to create a fake nest by stuffing the brown paper bag with crumpled up paper, and hanging it near the wasps nest with string. The bugs will eventually get the hint, and then you can knock down their nest and gloat at your deceptive powers.



I was skeptical (and actually still am) but it was either coincidental, or this method worked for me. When the paper wasps came back this summer, I did the same thing, and lo and behold, they buzzed off!

Cheapest Place to Eat Vegan in NYC (and Portland, Maine!)

I have two words for you: Little Lad’s. That’s the name of my hands-down most favorite place to eat—ever. In fact, this café and I were made for each other because Little Lad’s makes cheap, healthy, vegan food and I am One Cheap Vegan. Best of all, it is served buffet style, so there’s no waiting for your meal. If you’re hungry, grab a plate and eat!

With one location in the veg-mecca of the East Coast, New York City, and another in my old stomping grounds of Portland, Maine, it was fate that brought us together. I remember going to the Portland location in the mid-1990s when they served all-you-can-eat meals for $3. Nowadays, with inflation and the growing cost of food, Little Lad’s has had to raise its prices to (brace yourselves) $4 for one plate and one bowl, with $1 additional plates. I know, I know.

How’s the food, you ask? For starters, it’s all vegan except for the use of honey in some baked goods. Second, it’s home-style and prepared with your health in mind. I recall some kind of explanation about abstaining from onions and vinegar in Little Lad’s recipes. Something about these items is harsh on the body’s digestive system. Instead, Little Lad’s uses a plethora of vegetables, grains, and legumes and there is never a piece of tofu or seitan in sight. While visiting, patrons are invited learn about the benefits of what they’re eating, as Little Lad’s has a library of nutritional books, brochures, and sometimes even videos.



The foods you see pictured here are: delicately spiced lentils and chickpeas; carrot, raisin cous cous; succotash; herbed mashed potatoes; salad with creamy dressing; potato salad; hummus; and a fruit parfait with the most delicious sweet cream I’ve ever tasted. Also, I have to confess, I am not a huge fan of ice cream (vegan or dairy varieties), but I do dream about Little Lad’s homemade ice cream. I love its chunky, crunchy texture, though true ice cream connoisseurs may stick their noses up at it.

One of the things Little Lad’s is famous for is its popcorn. People come from all corners of the country to eat this stuff. It is covered in nutritional yeast and herbal goodness that I have failed to re-create at home. If you live in Maine, you’re lucky because this popcorn is sold in local grocery stores. Otherwise, you have to rely on a kindhearted soul to mail you some (thanks, Mom!).

Little Lad’s is owned by Seventh Day Adventists, a religious sect that often leans towards vegetarianism under the belief that pure foods leads to pure body, mind, and spirit. Unfortunately, for a heathen like me, this translates into one of the biggest disappointments I have with Little Lad’s: it is never open on the weekends. Now that I live in Philadelphia and the closest Little Lad’s is in New York City, the stars really have to be aligned for me to be there on a weekday. But when I am, it’s all the more reason to pile my plate high with food. After all, it has to last me until I can get my next Little Lad’s fix.

Look for the Leaping Bunny!

As a vegan, I try to live my life in such a way that does not harm animals, or any living beings for that matter. So, not only do I refrain from eating them, I also refrain from buying products that contain animal bits and pieces, or which were tested on animals themselves.

Every year, millions of animals are used to assess the safety of everyday products like lipstick, shampoo, laundry detergent, and household cleaners. The actual number of animals is unknown because U.S. research facilities don’t have to report their use of birds, rats, mice, fish, and other cold blooded animals. Interestingly, these are the most frequently used animals because they are small, cheap, and considered ‘lower on the totem pole’ than dogs, cats, and non-human primates. Compiling data from other countries that report ALL species used, and calculations from insiders who work in laboratory facilities, it is estimated that birds, rats, mice, and fish represent roughly 95 percent of the animals used in research. And they are not afforded even the minimum care as required by the Animal Welfare Act.

Animal studies are rooted in the ancient contradiction that because animals are like humans, they make biologically sound research subjects; but because animals are not like humans, they make ethically just research subjects. This just doesn’t make sense, and even if you think it does, the number of viable alternatives available today make it a moot point. We don’t need to test on animals. Why?

1. We are not small and furry, nor do we have fins or tails.
2. We will probably never be stuck inside a sealed container and forced to breathe chemicals for 28 days straight, or have our eyelids held open for 14 days while corrosive material is dropped into our eyes, or any of the other ridiculous tests that are preformed on animals. I hope someone would take us to the doctor instead of just letting us linger in pain.
3. Alternative testing methods are available that use computer databases, human cadavers, or real human skin cells, which are much more relevant to humans than data gleaned from guinea pigs.

The European Union recently banned animal testing for cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients, and a similar ban for household products is in the works. While we don’t have that going for us in the U.S., we do have a snazzy program called Leaping Bunny, which certifies cosmetic, personal care, and household product companies as “cruelty-free” if they don’t test their products or ingredients on animals. Companies that meet these requirements can put the Leaping Bunny Logo on their packages.

Although there are other cruelty-free shopping lists out there, this is the one that I truly trust, because companies are required to collect forms from their ingredient suppliers and contract manufacturers that no animal testing is occurring on their behalf; they also have to recommit annually to the program and open themselves up to independent audits to assure their compliance.

Unfortunately not all of the companies listed are vegan (i.e., some use animal derived ingredients in their products) but this information can be figured out easily enough by looking at ingredient lists and seeing if there’s anything fishy (or cow-y, bumble bee-y, goat-y, etc.).

One of my favorite cheap companies on the list is Nature's Gate. But there are over 250 others, so take a look and see for yourself! Or learn how to make your own household cleaners here.

A Bookworm's Feast

I rarely buy books (is that sacrilegious for a publishing student to say?). In fact, aside from the required texts I've had to purchase for class, I can't remember the last time I bought a book. But I do like to spend time at bookstores, and libraries, and yard sales, and... well, picking through trash. West Philadelphia seems to have a plethora of pages getting tossed in the rubbish. Last night, while walking home from a pleasant weekend, I stumbled upon three cratefuls of books right outside my driveway. As you could probably guess, I went to town. Here's the catch of the day.

(Mom and Dad, if you're reading this: Keys to Choosing Child Care is not for me, but for a pregnant friend. Don't get excited.)


This is a great segue into talking about my other tips for finding free literature:

First, I hope you all have a library card. If you don't, what are you waiting for? They're free! And, most of the time, if you have a card to one library, they can order books from other libraries for you.

Second, never underestimate the trash. If it looks interesting, take a second glance. Look what I found, and that's just in one day.

Third, trade books with friends. Seeing what books they're into is one way to get to know people on a deeper level, and it's a great conversation starter, too.

Fourth, request books as gifts (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, graduation, whatever the occasion). My grandparents give me a gift card to Barnes and Noble every year and it's one of the best presents I get!

Fifth, there are bloggers that review books and give them away for free. Enter their contests and maybe you'll win! If you do, I'll be jealous because I have yet to do so (fingers crossed).

Sixth, download free audiobooks here, if you're into that sort of thing.

And seventh, if you must spend money, I highly recommend library book sales. Prices range from one penny to five bucks, on average, and the money goes towards the library itself. That means they can buy you more books!

There's a great program in West Philly called Books Thru Bars, which provides free books to incarcerated people. I volunteer here when I can, reading letters from prisoners, picking books to meet their requests, and packing them up for shipment. I donate my books here when I'm done reading them because I know books want to be read, and the best way to do that is to keep them moving on.

How to Make Your Own Household Cleaners

You don't have to spend extra money on fancy cleaners to spiff up your house. All you need are three basic ingredients, which you probably already have.

• Baking soda (if you've ever made cookies, you probably have a box of this). Cleans, deodorizes, and scours.
• Vinegar (if you don't already have this, you can buy a gallon at your local grocery store for around $1). Cuts grease, disinfects, removes mildew, odors, and also some stains.
  
• Water (most people have this; it comes out of the faucet). Use to dilute your homemade concoctions.

All-purpose cleaner: mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Use on counters, mirrors, windows, etc.

Deodorizer: sprinkle some baking soda in a small container and place it in a stinky spot (i.e., bathroom, refrigerator, closets). Somehow, the soda sucks up the smell. You can also sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets and vacuum it up. This also works for shoes: sprinkle about one teaspoon of baking soda directly into shoes, let sit for about ten minutes, and then tap it out. You may have some left in there, but that's OK. You'll just have powdery feet for a day.

Drain cleaner: drop about one tablespoon of baking soda down the drain, and follow with a half-cup of vinegar. It will fizz as it works its magic. Chase it down with about two cups of boiling water. Repeat if necessary.

Toilet bowl cleaner: pour about 1/4 cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the toilet bowl, and let sit for a few minutes. Then, scrub as normal with your toilet brush.

Tub cleaner: put a layer of baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub away. For mildew-laden tubs, first spray directly with vinegar, and then scrub with baking soda.

These home-made household cleaners are good for everybody: the animals (no animal testing involved!), the environment (no harsh chemicals going down the drain!), and your wallet (cheap, cheap, cheap!).

Meet Zack

Nicknames: Zacky, Zachary, Mr. Boy, Gray Goose, Handsome.

Anniversary: August 6, 2004.

Best Feature: Faintly striped tail.

Favorite Foods: Chinese take-out, Tings.

Favorite Toy: Gray rattly mouse.

Talents: Catching toys midair with his paws.

Favorite Spot: Laying in the hallway by the door, where he can see everyone’s comings and goings.

Best Known For: Punctuality. Zack wakes me up every day an hour before my alarm goes off by meowing loudly. If I try to ignore him, he brushes his paw against my face and meows louder; or if I kick him out of the bedroom, he scratches on the door. In the evening, when I get home from work, he is always at the top of the stairs to greet me with a meow that says, “Feed me!”

How He Says “Hello”: “Raaarh!”

How He Gets What He Wants: Yowling.

Where to Find Him at Night: At the foot of my bed.

Zack’s Story: Zack was the first cat I had after graduating college. When I brought him home, he spent the first few hours hiding under my bed while I paced around worrying, “What have I done? I’m not ready to be a parent, yet!” He had been hanging outside of a friend’s house for a few weeks, and didn’t belong to any of their neighbors. He was skinny and had fleas, but he was friendly and neutered, so he was probably someone’s cat at some point. During a torrential downpour, when he took cover inside a cardboard box my friend put out for him, I broke down and took him to my apartment. He has wreaked havoc throughout my life, killing birds (he’s an indoor cat!), escaping, getting scary urinary tract infections, and stealing food from my guests. But he is also very loving and goofy, and has brought me a tremendous amount of joy.

Go here to meet Lucy.

Dollars and Sense

As a certified cheapskate, I (used to be) proud to say I've never owned a credit card. The thought of borrowing money that I don't have did not sit well with me, so I paid off my student loans within a year of graduating, and have lived within my means ever since. In fact, I naively thought I could go through life without a credit card until last month when I tried to apply for a mortgage with my boyfriend. The broker told me I have no credit history, so in the lender's eyes, it's as if I "don't even exist." Despite the fact that I clearly have enough money in the bank to co-sign a mortgage, despite the fact that I have a zero debt-to-income ratio, despite the fact that I've always paid my rent and utilities on time and in full, apparently, I "don't exist." And so, the process of building my credit history began.

I went straight to my bank and applied for a student card, which three different employees assured me was designed specifically for people such as myself who need to build their credit histories. Relieved I thought, "Good. At least I am not the only 27 year old on the planet without a credit card." But apparently, I am. The credit company denied me the card on the basis of having no history. "How," I asked, "am I supposed to build my history if I can't even get the card to start building my history because I have no history in the first place?" In vain, I applied for other cards and was denied left and right. Finally, my bank said I could get a card if I finangled a co-applicant. I did, and now the cards won't stop coming in the mail. Finally, "I exist!"

Now this cheap vegan has a dilemma. I've finally got a credit card and am ready to start building my history. Only problem is: I don't have anything to buy! I recently went grocery shopping, so I don't need any food. Even the cat food I ordered today is not payable until the day of pick up. Surely, I'll need a train pass next month, but they are not on sale until the 20th. What's a cheap vegan to do?

Well, I did something I rarely ever do. I bought myself a snack: a Pure Raw Food Brownie Bar from Trader Joe's. If I could juxtapose this post next to "$1.39 Dinner," I would have called it "$1.49 Snack," and you'd see why I don't usually buy snacks.

Now can I buy a house?

Dirty Little Secret

I don't think food should go in the trash. Instead of rotting in a landfill it could be fertilizing other plants and growing more food. But my landlord won't let us use the backyard for gardening or composting, thus the bottom shelf of our freezer is filled with food waste-- all dressed up and no place to go.

Every time I cook, I save the left-overs (garlic paper, potato eyes, grape vines, mushy tomatoes, limp celery, etc.) and place them in bags in the freezer. As you can see, they remain there for months until a little elf comes along and takes the bag to a vacant lot and sprinkles it around. This is what I call fertilizing, but it's probably also known as "illegal dumping," which is why I'm nervous about doing it and solicit the elf to do my dirty work for me.

$1.39 Dinner

My boss's husband is a plant photographer. He takes professional pictures of flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables. So today, I came into the office kitchen to find a basket full of fresh cucumbers and squash left over from a Burpee photo-shoot, with a note that said, "Help yourself." Of course, I stashed away my choices a.s.a.p. and went back to my desk to plan dinner. This is what happened: a totally random, spur-of-the-moment meal based around free squash. Thanks Burpee!


Ingredients:

1 yellow squash (free, from my boss)
1 green zucchini (free, from my boss)
1 can chickpeas (89-cents, from Trader Joe's)
fresh basil, chopped (free, from my roommate's plant)
dried rosemary (free, from my boyfriend's neighbor)
3 cloves garlic
olive oil
salt

cous cous (pennies, bought bulk at Whole Foods)
water

1/2 pound green beans (50-cents from produce truck on 44th and Sansom Streets)
slivered almonds (stolen from my roommate to make the picture pretty!)

9 Tips for Spending Less on Groceries

1) Prepare your own food. Like me, you may have time constraints throughout the week, but if you find a few quick dishes that you know how to make blindfolded, you can save precious dollars instead of buying prepared foods. For example, I try to keep the non-perishable ingredients for chili, tofu scramble, lentil soup, pasta, burritos, and waffles in my kitchen; then all I have to do is buy the fresh stuff.

2) Plan your meals weekly. It may take a while to get it down, but keep track of how much you eat and you'll soon be able to know how many portions you can get out of a batch of, say, sweet potato peanut butter stir fry. Once you know, you can plan your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at the begining of the week in a varied rotation so you don't get tired of eating the same thing again and again.

3) Eat brown rice with everything. It's cheap, healthy, and filling. 'Nuff said.

4) Eat left-overs. Some people I know swear they don't like left-overs. This is stupid. Eat your left-overs. It's the same food you ate the night before and some things like soup even taste better when the flavors have had time to marry.

5) Use your freezer. After making a big batch of chili or dahl, I set aside lunch-sized portions in plastic containers. Then, all I have to do is take it out of the freezer the night before, or even the day of, and bring it to work like a home-made microwave meal.

6) Shop around. Make a list of the items you buy frequently and compare the prices at different stores. In this shifting economy, you may have be like Santa Claus and check your list twice to see if prices change over time. People might look at you strangely as you're scribbling stuff down, but just pretend you are an investigative reporter.

7) Bulk up. A recent study discovered that bulk foods are 35% cheaper than packaged foods on average. And it's not always just grains and legumes; some stores have unique bulk products like cereal, chili mix, and maple syrup.

8) Treat treats as treats. I like sweets just as much as the next person, but I find that if I don't eat them constantly, I don't crave them. I buy them occasionally, but for the most part, I keep the ingredients to make carob chip cookies on-hand so if I really get a craving, I have to put in the effort to make my own. Or, if the devil really has a hold on me, I eat a spoonful of peanut butter with maple syrup drizzled on top.

9) Bring a reusable bag. Not only is this good for the environment, but (at most stores) it will save you five cents per bag. At Trader Joe's, I always enter the raffle for using my own bag, but so far have never won (sniff, sniff).

Finder's Keepers?

This is what every cheap vegan loves to find on her way home from work. Twenty dollars. Before picking it up, I quickly looked around to see if the "loser" was still in view. No one was there except me and a lonely twenty dollar bill. The only karmically justifiable thing to do is pass it on to someone less fortunate, right?

Hello. I'm Cheap. I'm Vegan.

I'm starting this blog not only to fulfill a requirement for class, but also to dispel the myth that it's expensive to maintain a healthy, vegan lifestyle (i.e., not consuming animal products). Honestly, the opposite is true. As Frente says, all you have to do is "Stop buying things."

Everyone eats vegan food, and they rarely even notice it. You can cut out meat and dairy, and see your grocery spending drop. Or make your own household cleaners for pennies instead of using harsh chemicals that have been tested on rabbits. You can observe free-living animals in the park while saving zoo admission. Or swap leather shoes with synthetics to have more money in your pocket (although buying organic, sweatshop-free clothes is another story).

For me, veganism is about compassion—for animals, the environment, and other people, too—and I try to live as consciously as possible. I do this by carefully discerning how I'm going to spend my money. Every dollar is a vote. But I'm not perfect, and sometimes I buy Coca Cola products, or leave the water running when I wash the dishes. Yet, I think together, we can give each other ideas on how to make the world a better place for everyone to live.