How to be a Baddie on a Budget
This article started with a quote in Spanish. It reads “I’d rather die than be simple.” It is the writer’s mom speaking to her. She says it in a way that she is proud while she is applying her lipstick, adjusting her hair, and outfit. To the writer the words aren’t just a saying, they are a rule for living and a way to show your self worth.
The writer comes from a family of immigrants and despite their struggles she always made sure she walked out the front door looking like she owned the place because, for her, simplicity was never an option, She wanted to present herself with intention no matter what her financial situation was.
You can tell by reading this article how big of an inspiration the writer’s mother was to her. Growing up her mother never left the house without a full face of makeup and her hair to perfection, never letting her financial situation define her. Having less means didn’t mean that she had to treat herself less. Her mother forced her to talk to cashiers even with her language barrier because she was a paying customer just like everyone else.
Shopping was never about indulgence, it happened to be a declaration of self worth. Believe that you deserve nice things even when it is hard to pay for them. Now that the writer is older she sees herself picking up habits from her mother. She can’t help but remember those memories of waiting for lipstick to go on sale and laugh.
I loved the idea of this article, it was well written and I enjoyed obtaining the message out of it. If I were to change one thing about this piece it would be the title. The title of ‘How to be a Baddie on a Budget’ really has nothing to do with what the piece was truly trying to say.
