Broke-Ass of the Week – Tech Journalist Jolie O’Dell

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.

I have no idea how I first came across Jolie O’Dell.  Maybe it was because someone retweeted something she wrote or maybe it was just because I’m a sucker for girls with ridiculously bright colored hair.  Regardless we’ve been twitter buddies for awhile now and have commiserated over the fact that there’s no good dive bars in downtown Berkeley.

While she was once so broke she lived out of her car, Jolie seems to be on the up and up these days.  She’s writing for Mashable, has a shit ton of twitter followers, and can continue to dye her hair the afore mentioned ridiculously bright colors.  Read below to gain her insights on this life of brokeitude we all share.

Name: Jolie O’Dell

Age: 28

Occupation: Journalist

What neighborhood do you live in?: Burlingame, suburb of SF

What are you listening to these days?: Right now, Every Picture Tells a Story, Rod Stewart

Best money saving tip: Don’t spend it.

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Manicures, pedicures, having someone else do my hair, inessential girly shit.

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: My car from days of yore, a used 2003 Miata.

How’d that feel?: Driving it? Amazing. Paying for it? Brutal.

Favorite cheap eat: Canned tuna fish.

Favorite dive bar: Used to be the Colorado in Pasadena. The very stiff cocktails were $4, and the bartenders, “Uncle” Johnny and “Uncle” Nelson, usually knocked off a substantial chunk of my nightly tab. Also, it was one of a very few bars in L.A. that would still let you smoke inside.

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: Everytime I get something free for being a blogger, I thank my lucky stars.

Favorite free thing to do: Going to the park rocks. I also really love the library.

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: A house! At one point, I was so broke I had to live out of my car for 6 months. Not fun. I swore after that I’d always have a roof over my head.

Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: Definitely! I’ve had a lot less than I have now, and I’ve realized all money really gives you is relative stability. I’ve been poor and quite happy; I’ve made a ton of money and been miserable. You know how it goes.

Do you own my book?: Nope. Not yet. What is it about?

Best hangover cure: Not drinking. I have an off-again, on-again relationship with booze. Being on an off-again streak for the past two months has done wonders for my mood and overall health in the mornings

Are you a hipster?: Hipsters hate me, and I look fat in skinny jeans. I guess that means no.