With this story, the 20something Money Stories series has officially crossed the Great Gender Divide!
In other words, let me welcome the first story submitted by a male author, a quarterlifer Angeleno working in the communications/media industry.
Well. Hello there.
A few days ago, I was asked by Well-Heeled to write a guest entry for her blog.
“But what would I write about? Your blog discusses financial responsibility while mine is cluttered with emo postings of my ex girlfriend and guy jokes.”
“Just write whatever you’d like”
Alright then. But in doing so, I am doing my best to honor the themes of both of our blogs. How to manage money and the experience of starting life as a single guy at the age of 24. So here goes:
After the first couple of months moping around, chugging 12 packs of Natural Ice beer on my front porch listening to Ben Folds and wondering “why”; I had to embrace that my life was changing and I had to adjust to being a bachelor for my first time. I found that I was spending my hard earned coin in ways that I have never done before. Here are the top 3 money sucking variables I’ve experienced as a single guy:
1. Clothing. I have terrible, terrible fashion sense. When you’re dating a girl for 6 years, you get lazy when it comes to clothing. I can remember many, many times getting ready to go out for a night on the town, only to have my ex sigh, shoot me a look of disbelief, spin me around on my heels, and march me back into my closet. Alas, I no longer have that luxury. But I needed to be able to look attractive to members of the opposite sex and skate tees weren’t cutting it.
Now I send my cousin a couple hundred dollars every six months or so. She is perfect for finding new outfits for me with the best deals. She buys them and send them down to me. I never question what she buys! Every article of clothing I wear now are things she has picked out for me.
2. Room decor. My roommate (quite the ladies man with quite the record) walked into my room one afternoon during a cleaning day and said to me, “This needs to change if you ever hope to bring a girl home.”
“What do you mean?”
“It looks as if a child lives here.”
And we was right. I never bought proper furniture for my bedroom when I moved down to Los Angeles after college. I used empty milk crates and oranges boxes for my clothes. My comforter was one I had kept since… well… since I can remember. It was a car blanket and I can’t tell you how many times I’d get “Oh my God! I used to have that!” My ex never complained, but now were different times. I rolled up my beloved “blankie” and made a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond (sigh). I had no idea how much comforters / comforter covers cost! I swear there’s some undercover racket going on in the linens industry. Alas, it was necessary.
My oranges boxes were trashed and a real, “adult” dresser was acquired.
But I refuse to take down my Spider Man poster. God help me if I ever have to take down my Spider Man poster.
3. Bar money. Gotta go out and meet people. And the best way to do so at my age and in my part of the country, is bar hopping. I was going out on weekends more than I ever had before. That gets spendy, Lordy, does it keep spendy. I’m buying drinks for myself, rounds for my friends. For the record, I’ve never purchased a drink for a girl I’ve never known. That just seems cliche’d and honestly, does it really work? I have my doubts with that route. But to be social cuts deep into my paycheck. It hasn’t really paid off in the romantic arena yet, but… I have faith.
There you have it!
I want to thank our host Well-Heeled for having me on. -takes sip from coffee mug- And to all of you who endured reading the financial woes of a single 20-something living in sunny Los Angeles, California.
So, male readers out there – if you have a story, please do share. Someone else has already taken the first plunge! 
Check out So@24′s personal blog for more!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t really do the bar scene, but I assume that buying a girl a drink does work sometimes. I think I would like it as a way of saying to a girl (who doesn’t already have a drink), “Would you like to talk for a little while longer?” I doubt it works at all as an attempt to display status, a pickup line, or buy affection, but I suppose it must, unfortunately, work sometimes as an attempt to make a woman’s judgment poorer than normal.
Having your own fashion adviser must be nice.
And, yes, linens are a racket.
You could try joining a volunteer group. The benefits are threefold:
a. At every volunteer or charity event I’ve been to, the women have outnumbered the men (with the exception of the whiskey tasting event).
b. You’re not throwing away money at the bar… or at least as much money.
c. You look like a real great guy – showing that you’re the kind of guy who’s a giver is definitely going to attract those ladies. “Oh, I simply can’t go out tonight – I’m too exhausted from taking my Little Brother to the game last night.”
And now, for bonus item number 4: You would actually be helping people out!
Good luck out there…