Broke-Ass of the Week

Broke-Ass of the Week – Amelia Johnson

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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.

As you probably guessed by the title, our Broke-Ass of the Week is Amelia Johnson.  When I asked her if she wanted me to mention anything in the intro, this is what she said:

Nothing too fancy. I’m a soprano voice major at SJSU but I’m not a princess, I just play one in an opera. I don’t even like performing that much. Yes, i know thats weird but i am what i is. I really want to organize events to fundraise for the arts but SJSU doesn’t have a music business dept. I have a tendency to get myself into awkward situations. Like being goosed by a massage chair while having what you might call a broke ass spa day 🙂 or singing in the backyard of my grandparents house in Minnesota and looking around to find that groundhogs and squirrels began to gather around me while practicing my arias (true story). Got a soft spot for charity. Junior year in HS i organized a charity ball for room to read and raised over $8,000. I may be broke but being broke in America is rich everywhere else.

I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I can add to that, so I’m just gonna tell you to read below:

Name: Amelia 'œMeeli' Johnson

Age: JUST turned 20!

Occupation: Music Student emphasis in Voice at SJSU so basically a future teacher or accountant

What neighborhood do you live in?: Physically I live in San Jose with the parental units but spiritually I’m a San Franciscan.

What are you listening to these days?: My tastes vary. I like to say that my iPod is bipolar because one minute I’m listening to The Beatles or Nine Inch Nails and the next song to come on will be something by Vivaldi or Mozart.

Best money saving tip: Lying to the school’s copy center about how many copies you printed. At 10 cents a copy they make a killing off us music students' outside of school my best money saving tip is shamelessly flirting 😉

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Cute exercise clothes'You’re exercising! You’re not supposed to look cute. I’ll keep my baggy shorts and school T shirt thank you very much.

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: My iPhone after high school

How’d that feel?: AH-MAZING! Well actually I felt like hyperventilating and balling up in the fetal position. The thing saves my life at least once a week so I guess it’s worth the money.

Favorite cheap eat: Musicians don’t eat. Every time I feel hungry, I go into a practice room and sing. 🙂

Favorite dive bar: Well technically I’m not supposed to have a favorite bar YET. But if I were to choose a bar that I have never ever been into (note the sarcasm) I would have to say The Buena Vista.

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: My leather biker jacket for $47 from $175. Hell yeah, baby! I’m a sale shopping goddess.

Favorite free thing to do: Sit outside in the park and read a good book. California has such great weather but no one takes advantage of it anymore

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: The Senate LOL just kidding. Depending on how many millions we’re talking here, I would buy a house in SF and then make a big donation to a charity that sponsors keeping the art and music programs in schools.

Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: Who wouldn’t love my life? I’m talented, have amazing friends, and people who care about me. Sure I still live with my parents but hey, I don’t pay rent, get free food and laundry and a deal that if they pay for undergrad, I pay for grad school. I’m incredibly lucky!!!!!

Do you own my book?: No. No wonder I felt a void in my life. I’ll have to run out and get it.

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Broke-Ass Stuart - Editor In Cheap

Broke-Ass Stuart - Editor In Cheap

Stuart Schuffman, aka Broke-Ass Stuart, is a travel writer, poet, TV host, activist, and general shit-stirrer. His website BrokeAssStuart.com is one of the most influential arts & culture sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and his freelance writing has been featured in Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveler, The Bold Italic, Geek.com and too many other outlets to remember. His weekly column, Broke-Ass City, appears every other Thursday in the San Francisco Examiner. Stuart’s writing has been translated into four languages. In 2011 Stuart created and hosted the travel show Young, Broke, and Beautiful on IFC and in 2015 he ran for Mayor of San Francisco and got nearly 20k votes.

He's been called "an Underground legend": SF Chronicle, "an SF cult hero":SF Bay Guardian, and "the chief of cheap": Time Out New York.