With my surprise tax bill of $700 I decided to look into my finances to see just how well I am doing. Turns out not as well as my recent spending sprees would lead me to believe.
People, why didn't you tell me money doesn't grow on trees?
I am a fiscally responsible person. Nay, I used to be a fiscally responsible person. Nay again, I used to be a fiscally anal-retentive person with serious non-spending issues. You've heard of buyer's remorse? I used to have it before I even got to the store. I went to college with $100 cash. I had leftover cash when I entered my second semester. That's right. I didn't even spend $100 my entire first 14 weeks of college. So, my recent, less anal-retentive, spending habits are actually a good thing in the grand scheme of things. And my spending sprees really aren't that bad as spending sprees go. Just a little more than should have been happening perhaps.
Interestingly enough I am not stressed. You know why? I think it's because I have 100% control in the situation. Not OF the situation, but IN it. I don't have to answer to anyone else about my money (or lack thereof). Some people might feel the opposite. "Shit! I have no one else to blame? It's all MY fault?" and commence fetal position. Me, I'm cool as a cucumber. I have no idea where I will be getting the $700 but I'm sure I can find it somewhere. I've got plenty of canned goods. I probably don't need to go grocery shopping again until the very end of the month.
Seriously though, I am going to have to stop eating out so much and really budget. How in the world did my X and I survive on $24,000 combined when we were in grad school? I make a lot more than that now and yet I'm strapped for cash? Hmm...
One thing I'm not going to do is lower the amount that I'm sending to my 403B and my savings account. Pay yourself first they say. Plus, one of my New Years resolutions was saving $5000. This is the only way I'm ever going to do it. May not pay off my car as fast even though it's also a resolution of mine. Aw hell, I haven't learned to juggle yet either and that was last year's. I can live with the disappointment.
People, why didn't you tell me money doesn't grow on trees?
I am a fiscally responsible person. Nay, I used to be a fiscally responsible person. Nay again, I used to be a fiscally anal-retentive person with serious non-spending issues. You've heard of buyer's remorse? I used to have it before I even got to the store. I went to college with $100 cash. I had leftover cash when I entered my second semester. That's right. I didn't even spend $100 my entire first 14 weeks of college. So, my recent, less anal-retentive, spending habits are actually a good thing in the grand scheme of things. And my spending sprees really aren't that bad as spending sprees go. Just a little more than should have been happening perhaps.
Interestingly enough I am not stressed. You know why? I think it's because I have 100% control in the situation. Not OF the situation, but IN it. I don't have to answer to anyone else about my money (or lack thereof). Some people might feel the opposite. "Shit! I have no one else to blame? It's all MY fault?" and commence fetal position. Me, I'm cool as a cucumber. I have no idea where I will be getting the $700 but I'm sure I can find it somewhere. I've got plenty of canned goods. I probably don't need to go grocery shopping again until the very end of the month.
Seriously though, I am going to have to stop eating out so much and really budget. How in the world did my X and I survive on $24,000 combined when we were in grad school? I make a lot more than that now and yet I'm strapped for cash? Hmm...
One thing I'm not going to do is lower the amount that I'm sending to my 403B and my savings account. Pay yourself first they say. Plus, one of my New Years resolutions was saving $5000. This is the only way I'm ever going to do it. May not pay off my car as fast even though it's also a resolution of mine. Aw hell, I haven't learned to juggle yet either and that was last year's. I can live with the disappointment.
Comments