A Bunch of Stuff I Bought Lately—Because What's a Budget?
I don't know her. Plus, a silly new lil shopping-adjacent perk for paid subscribers.
Hi hi hi.
‘Tis back to school season + almost fall, which means I like to spend even more money than usual. I figured I’d share some of my recent hauls with you all and I look forward to hearing what you’ve been purchasing too—so I can continue to feed my manic tendencies.
Moderation has simply never been my thing, as anyone who has spent time with me or read, like, a singular paragraph of WHN understands. I also aggressively hate numbies1 and have tried to design a career in which spreadsheets are at a minimum2.
Will I ever be able to retire given that I believe that whatever Past Abby spent is, quite frankly, none of Now Abby’s business? Probably not. But I will look very cute (slash insane, depending on your personal taste) at a LOT of concerts along the way.
As all my good friends know, I am the person you text when you know you want to buy something, but need validation and reassurance. I am expert-level at coming up with myriad rationalizations and solid (lol) reasoning as to why a purchase should be made. Now, I will also tell someone if it’s just too ridiculously priced (even in my warped brain) to consider or if it will seriously fuck up their ability to pay for things they actually need. Clothing, fab boots, concert tickets, a vacation, random art prints, none of this is category specific.
To that end (and full credit to my dear friend Ashleigh for this idea!), all paid subscribers get three customized and thorough “why you absolutely must buy this” lists from me per subscription year. And if you’re a member of the Inner Circle, you’ve got unlimited asks. Within reason, but don’t ask me what reason is because that involves more numbies.
Is this absurd and maybe nobody will care? Of course! What is my entire ethos if not that??? But much like I love helping people find new things to watch or read or listen to or obsess over, I also love helping them buy what they love. Yes, OBVIOUSLY this includes concert tix.
Do you need advice navigating resale sites? I’ve got you there, too. Honestly, I need to set up a whole concierge business focused on helping my age demo deal with the shitshow that is concert-going in 2024 and beyond. But I’ve got enough jobs right now.
Anyway, you can DM me here on Substack or on IG, respond to a newsletter (which comes to me in an email!), or text if you’ve got my digits. Maybe if this actually becomes a thing, I'll set up a shopping hotline.
In the meantime, I’ve compiled a random list of what I’ve loved spending my hard-earned money on over the past few months. Please share what you’ve loved buying too so we can squeal together. Seriously.
And yes, of course, I recognize that this is extremely capitalist, first-world behavior and I know that I am very lucky and privileged. I also work my ass off and have had a lot of points in my life when I couldn’t treat myself the way I can now, so I don’t take it for granted. How could anyone who has tried to make their living in media over the past couple decades not feel that in their bones?!? I also love to give money to causes and candidates I believe in. I’ve always said I would be a very good mega-riche person, especially because I wasn’t born that way. At least, that’s what I tell myself and I don’t think that’s one of my delusions.
Anyway, here we go—in no particular order.
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