Broke-Ass of the Week – Chris from The Skint
Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit'probably not.
Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week? Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.
This photo is awesome because there is so much Broke-Ass going on. Not only is Chris double fisting Rolling Rock in the background, but the girl in the green fairy get up is Katharine from NYC Recession Diary. PLUS it’s at the Fuck the Recession Party!!
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The Skint is a website after my own heart. You know what they do? They tell motherfuckers what to do for free and cheap in New York City. Everyday they have a long listing of all the happening around the city where you can show up and do your thing without having to sell you spleen. Ok, I just said that because it kinda rhymed.
Chris started The Skint with another underemployed buddy after they both kept trying to one-up each other with their knowledge of cheap events. Now they’ve got a kick ass website that deserves some of your devotion. Not your undying devotion though, that should be reserved for Neal Diamond….
Anyways, I’m gonna stop letting this hangover babble and let Chris do it.
Name: Chris
Age: Late 30’s and accused of being late 20’s by the uninformed and the drunk.
Occupation: One half of The Skint, musician (can you get me a song publishing deal?), retail/web consultant (can you get me a freelance gig? awesome!)
What neighborhood do you live in?: South Park Slope, Brooklyn. It’s best to point out that it’s South, otherwise the northerners get all uppity. Not really. Well, kinda.
Best money saving tip: Sell or trade the crap you don’t use. You know you’ve got some. I sold 2 synthesizers that I had for 15 years and hadn’t used for at least 10. I’ve been doing much better since the initial separation anxiety wore off.
What do you refuse to spend money on?: Cover charge to a trendy club. Expensive cocktails in said trendy club. I just avoid the club altogether. I think it’s a relationship that we’re both fine without.
Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: My bike. Rent. Oh, wait, I don’t actually OWN my apartment, so that would be the most expensive thing I keep throwing money at.
How’d that feel?: Awesome! I had money when I bought my bike and I ride the hell out of it. And I love my apartment, landlady and neighborhood, so I look at my rent as a form of happiness tax.
Favorite cheap eat: There’s a woman on my corner who sells empanadas for $1.25. When I first moved here 6 years ago, they were $1. I can accept that kind of markup. Also, the free samples at the farmers market and any wine store’s free tasting hours. Wheeee!
Favorite dive bar: It used to be 3 of Cups (like Kelli Rudick) but now I like my cheap booze within stumbling distance. High Dive, while not technically a dive, has a happy hour special with $2 pints. Granted, it’s Miller High Life, but it’s $2! Plus they have free popcorn and Old Bay. And a kick-ass jukebox.
Best deal you’ve ever gotten: I bought a cd for $1 at a stoop sale last summer and sold it for $80 on eBay. (That’s 40 $2 Miller High Lifes for those playing at home.)
Favorite free thing to do: Run my website, since it doesn’t seem to pay very much. Opera On Tap (watching, not singing).
If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: I’d buy my damn synths back and probably continue to not use them.
Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: Yup. I get to work at home and take mid-afternoon breaks through the neighborhood. And I don’t need to use an alarm clock anymore.
Do you own my book?: I did, but someone borrowed it and I don’t think I’m getting it back. Nicole knows what she did, and that’s all I’m going to say about it.
Best hangover cure: Drink a ton of water before you go to sleep, and for god’s sake don’t drink without eating dinner (reminder to self).
Are you a hipster?: Nope. I don’t understand why one would spend so much time and effort to look so bored.
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