Jezebel 
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New York, 10:19 PM
Mon Dec 21
55 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/22/09
11/22/09
I ride the bus, and anything "designer" I own is from the H&M designer or Target Go collections, but I sure as hell don't have $300k in debt, or an "interest-only" home mortgage. I'm getting some nasty debt from law school, but at least I'll have a law degree, and not a bat sanctuary from it. And I've yet to pawn any jewelry given to me by family members or close friends. She didn't last a week before trying to pawn jewelry her dad gave her! Unreal! I do feel bad for her, I cannot imagine having such insanely mixed-up priorities.
11/21/09
There are ways for people of means to live like a poor person for the sake of journalism. Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days did it very well. Barbara Ehrenreich did it in Nickel and Dimed. Liz Jones did not. She comes across like Marie Antoinette, pretending to live the simple life not because she really wanted to explore the reasons why poverty persists in our society, but because she was bored and just wanted to try it because she thought it would make her look virtuous and deep.
11/22/09
11/21/09
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11/21/09
Get a life. A real one. The kind that matters. Where you'd rather get a second job than hawk the pearls your Dad gave you. While the sentiment behind the gift should mean more than the gift, one day those fake pearls might be all that you have of your father (besides your memories of him--you do retain memories, don't you?).
Here are some suggestions for that second "career option". Fast food places offer flexible shifts and prefer to hire women because they work harder and will put up with more shit from people for longer because we need the money.
The bonus of working there is that nothing has you not spending money faster than working in a McDonald's or Tim Horton's (that's Canada's Dunkin Donuts). It's also very slimming too because after the first week with the scent of grease sticking to your skin and watching people eat a burger in two bites while drinking coffee at the same time you'll never look at food of any kind the same again. Trust me on this.
The harassment dished out to the little people masses is a real eye opener as well. People just don't care about you, or your problems, when you're working behind that counter. They just want their food and five seconds ago. Bitch! Oh, and another helpful hint, don't eat anything when you know it's your turn to clean the washrooms.
Glad we had this chat, Liz. Good luck. You're going to need it.
11/21/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
30 Days: Minimum Wage
11/22/09
11/22/09
Not everyone has a clue as to what "poor" really means or what a gap there is between "minimum wage" and a "living wage".
Maybe a viewer or two was educated.
11/21/09
When my grandpa was coming back from the Korean War, he stopped off in Okinawa and bought my grandma a double-strand pearl necklace. About twenty years ago, the pearls at the top of the strand started to flake. Turns out half of them are fake, to my grandpa's extreme dismay. My grandma didn't care.
My grandma gave it to me right before she passed away. I don't care that half of them are fake and my grandpa was ripped off--well, I do a little, because it really bothers him. If I was running out of a burning house, the first thing I'd grab beyond pets and important papers is that necklace.
Sincerely,
la.donna.pietra
11/21/09
11/22/09
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11/21/09
Of course she'll pawn the pearls... she won't need them next week when she's not doing her little social experiment. But that £1000 handbag... psh, it's only for a week. Let's not get crazy.
She really is repulsive.
11/22/09
#calendar
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11/21/09
I question either a) the truth of this story or b) Liz Jones's morals and values (or lack thereof).
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
Also, on a purely OTHER more nitpicky note, I think it's outside of the spirit of the "challenge" she set herself of living within a set amount to get rid of things she doesn't want so that she can get more things that she does.
11/21/09
So her week of poverty cost her $440. And that didn't count her housing. Or at least some of her transportation. But it did include several £9.50 glasses of champagne.
Why, oh, why wouldn't you tell your friend that you were doing a stupid social experiment and could she come over and you would make pasta or something. Why even bother if you're going to blow 15% of your weekly "budget" on one drink. No one in their right mind would do that. Oh, wait...
11/21/09
What housing benefit wouldn't pay for would be household bills (gas, heating, water, etc.)
11/21/09
Wait. She goes to the oral hygenist every month? That's crazy! I mean, ok, lots of people get their hair colored monthly, and if you're going to wax, it's about on that schedule, but seriously? The dentist? Every month? Buy a damn electric toothbrush.
11/21/09