Broke-Ass of the Week

Broke Ass of the Week – Laura Yasinitsky

The Bay's best newsletter for underground events & news

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.

Laura Yasinitsky, our Broke-Ass of the Week, has a self-proclaimed robot foot.  I’m inclined to just leave it at that, but it would be wrong not to mention her awesome, broke-ass friendly blog, Laura Goes Vegan, that details her vegan cooking adventures.  Check the photos of her blueberry lemon muffins…to die.  To top it off, the girl definitely knows how to finagle a free tire change!  Score.

Name: Laura Yasinitsky

Age: 28

Occupation: I’m a student at CCNY, and I’m currently I’m not working because I recently had foot reconstruction surgery. There is now a metal plate holding my foot together with screws. That’s right, robot foot. I also recently started writing a vegan cooking blog for fun. It’s mostly food porn and silliness.

What neighborhood do you live in?: Astoria, Queens, baby!

What are you listening to these days?: Today it’s Polysics. I like bands that have more than one keyboard and/or sound like a video game. Last Years Model was my favorite band but they broke up. The lead singer started a new band called ATTACK.WAV. I haven’t really heard them yet but I definitely already like them.

Best money saving tip: Sign up for anything that can be automatically deducted from your paycheck. I have had a gym membership, metro card account, and a savings account, all auto-deducted from my paycheck at one time or another. That way I’m forced to be good about putting that money aside because I never touch it. For some reason when I’m handed all the money directly it’s exponentially harder for me to save. This might be specific to my brand of crazy.

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Clothes. I’m so cheap about clothes, I try to bring everything back to life, get shoes re-soled, patch holes, I will wear something until it’s dead twice.

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: A dress. This is ironic. I was a guest at a rich person’s wedding. I charged it.

How’d that feel?: Please. I’ve worn it twice in five years. I’m probably still paying it off.

Favorite cheap eat: My cooking! Because of my new blog I have started doing my own cooking a lot more. It’s amazing how cheap it is to boil two potatoes, saute some veggies and then be crazy full. I will say my favorite cheap eat on the street is Chipotle. Bang for your buck man, those burritos are HUGE.

Favorite dive bar: This is hard for me to answer because I don’t go out to bars much except to see music. My boyfriend keeps raving about Pony Bar but I’ve never been there. Apparently they have “craft” beer. Whatever that means. I feel like that comes in a beer glass with stars cut out of construction paper glued on it.

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: This is from like 10 years ago but I had a flat tire and I drove to whatever the side of the road tire place was, and when I stepped out of the car I accidentally got drenched by a lawn sprinkler. I was wearing a white t-shirt. The change and the tire were free. You do the math. Am I a prostitute? Or do I just look good wet? Whenever it rains I go shopping.

Favorite free thing to do: Take a walk. Doing something nice for someone is usually free too.

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: I think I’d buy an apartment, but more importantly, inside that apartment would be the most amazing kitchen you’ve ever seen. I fantasize about expensive kitchen appliances.

Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: I absolutely love my life, every minute of it. You can’t buy happiness!! (yeesh, that’s cheerful)

Do you own my book?: Probably somewhere. I buy a lot of books. I wish I read more of them but for some reason I buy books and then I usually don’t read them. Are there any recipes in it? Lie to me and say there are and I will pick it up.

Best hangover cure: Get sober.

Are you a hipster?: Goodness, no. I watch Dancing with the Stars.

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Christy Jovanelly - Cheapskate Commentator

Christy Jovanelly - Cheapskate Commentator

When Christy announced she was leaving her family's Southern California home and moving to San Francisco, her mom said, "Have fun in that den of sin." This is the only (however sarcastic) advice Christy has ever taken from her mom, who also told her to join eharmony.com and cover her eyes during sex scenes in movies. Christy puts her creative writing degree to good use by locating the typos on Chinese food menus and spends most of her time challenging friends to all-you-can-eat contests and trying to get that one bartender at Zeitgeist to smile.