Share Email Print RSS

The Richmond.com Top Five

Karri Peifer, co-editor

 

Never clean again

Or at least not for six months. As I understand it, $600 can buy six months of house cleaning. I wouldn't have to mop my kitchen floor again in 2008 … though I don't think I've mopped it yet this year.

 

Highlights

I have a sneaking suspicion that I would look fabulous with a few light brown streaks for summer. But, as all women know, that's a $150 a month investment minimum … if only George Bush had stimulated me before my bank account went into the red.

 

Buy produce

We've all heard the deal with rising grocery prices, but when it comes to fresh produce, those numbers are completely out of control. Thank god for Richmond's farmer's markets.

 

Take a wine tour

I've been dying to get to Virginia's wine country (read: Charlottesville and beyond), but the price of gas turns a "one tank trip" into a $150 investment. Then, of course, there are the necessary souvenirs one must pick up.

 

Spend, spend, spend

Over-indulgent trips to Target, pricey dinners, pedicures, theater tickets, lunches out and weekend trips, just for starters. For the record, though, every penny of my combined household's stimulus package went toward a credit card that's holding the balance of replacement windows.  

 

Ginger Warder, restaurant reviewer

 

Hire a Cat Psychologist

I just brought my cat up from Florida a few weeks ago, and she's still hiding under the bed. She sneaks out at night to eat and explore, but is back under the bed by daybreak.



Donate for China and Myanmar

I always feel so helpless when I see these huge natural disasters on the other side of the world. There's a great organization called Tents4Peace (www.tents4peaceinternational.com) that delivers aid to disaster sites. A $100 donation buys a tent or a survival package with a waterproof tarp and water purification tablets.



Paris Shopping Spree

Save it for my next trip to the city of fabulous shoes and lingerie.



Hire a Painter

The walls and 12-foot ceilings of my new house are insane-asylum white.



Treasure Hunt

I've been itching to explore the city's antique shops and secondhand stores.

 

Dionne Waugh, news writer

 

Buy a new Vera Bradley purse

Note the use of the singular. Do you know how much those darling things cost?!

 

Moshi Moshi

I have been dying to try that new Japanese place in Carytown.

 

A new set of lungs

No, not for me. For my co-editor Kent Brockwell who, apparently, will never shake that wicked, rib-rattling cough he has.

 

A pretty young man

Again, not for me, but for my coworker Stephanie who deserves a nice, smart and pretty man to date. Any takers? $600 should at least get her a solid bevy of hotties to choose from right?

 

Mickey D's breakfast for a week

Cause everyone in this office loves their sausage biscuits and hashbrowns.

 

Stephanie Brummell, staff writer

 

Real groceries

Because living off of ramen noodles is something I thought I was done with after leaving college. But with grocery prices these days – what's a girl to do?

 

Time

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. There really are never enough hours in the day to cram in work, phone calls with friends, dates, the gym, laundry and a glass of wine all before you pass out from exhaustion. How much can the full $600 get me? 15 minutes? I'll take it.

 

New heels

Because boy do I need 'em. Ask anyone –they're raunchy.

 

A private concert with Carbon Leaf

I love them, I do. And I don't want to share them with thousands of other Richmonders on Browns Island tonight. But I will, because I'm loyal.

 

Over indulge on a dinner at Millie's

Because I haven't been back since my friend turned 21 two years ago and that's just unacceptable. And when I do return, very soon, I'm going to get exactly what I want, without feeling like I just raped my bank account. Thanks G.W.

 

Kent Jennings Brockwell, co-editor

 

Buy Lots of Booze and Morally Questionable Women

Uh, just kidding, sweetie. I won't buy booze.

 

Buy $600 Worth of Gasoline

At the rate things are going, it's a good investment. I'll store it in my garage in old milk jugs. In three months when it hits $19 per gallon, I'll start the bidding at $10 per gallon. Cash only.

 

Hire A Dancing Midget

The Man Show had one and I have always wanted one.

 

Buy More Guns

Jehovah's Witnesses, mailmen and Girl Scouts -- beware. The porch and everything within 100 yards of the porch are off limits.

 

Buy a used Vespa

I don't care how stupid I will look. I can afford gas anymore and I am too lazy to walk.

 

Christie Newman, office manager

 

Go on vacation

Why not? Half the check will go for gas anyway.

 

Pay it forward

Oprah did it and you would be amazed at what can be accomplished with as little as $600.

 

Bar tabs

Hit your favorite watering hole for $2 drafts and your tab will be paid for at least five months, unless you drink more than $30 a week.

 

Hit the Casinos

You weren't expecting the money anyway so try to win more! You can play the dollar progressive slots 200 times!!!

 

Send Flowers

Guys always complain how expensive they are especially around Valentine's Day, but now they are cheap and it's nice to show "someone" that you care, even it's only a little bit....tulips will work!

 

LAST TIME: F avorite TV moms