You know how they say you should write down everything you spend so you can see how much money you really spend? Not the amount you think you spend. Well, I started that this month and oh my, for someone who doesn’t leave the house that much, I certainly manage to spend money EVERY TIME I DO.
It helps to see it all written out on paper. I’m pissing away our savings each month on stupid shit like French fries and salads. Seriously. I have got to stop going to Whole Foods and Target. I think I’ve gone mad. (I don’t think I can give up my nice hair cuts, though.)
We lived under one check for a long time. I spent next to nothing every month during that time. Now, I’ve dropped 400 bucks during the first two weeks of this month. Had I not decided to write it all out this afternoon, I’d probably spend another 400 before the month’s end. I’m so embarrassed.
To go easy on myself, I have to say that 100 bucks of that went toward medical bills for Bella and Max. And 76.00 bucks for my haircut. BUT STILL. Come on, Michelle. At least 100 dollars was spent on stupid shit I could have done without. I’m going to allot myself 100 bucks a month for the very few things I do need to buy at the health food store and the rest is going straight to my savings account.
I wish I didn’t have to think about money like this but my income (SSD) may not continue past this year. I want to prepare now for that possibility. I’m (most likely) not going back to work until Bella is old enough to go into preschool. Then it will be a part-time thing.
Well, truth-be-told, who knows what will happen. If I end up going back to work earlier than expected, so be it. However, Hal and I have had this conversation and both feel we’d rather sell our house and rent to avoid sending either one of our kids to a daycare – or his mom’s house for care. For us, renting would be about $500 a month cheaper than our mortgage. Plus we have a lot of equity in our house so we’d be able to turn a nice profit if needed, even with the market sucking as it does right now.
I’m happy he feels as strongly about me being the full-time parent as I do. If it was possible to switch it up so we could rotate a work schedule, we’re both down with that, too. Realistically, I couldn’t bring in an income substantial enough to warrant him going down in hours at his job. And his income would be higher than mine even if I found something full-time. Ah, the downfall of not having a formal education these days. And hating sales – which is a field a person can make a lot of money in IF they are good at it.
Anyway, I think we will be just fine. I don’t foresee needing to sell our home to stay afloat. Just thinking (writing) out loud, here. Processing money-stuff.
When Hal got home I told him to brace himself for the news I was about to share. Once I pitifully took claim of the $400 spent in the past two weeks, and told him on what I had spent it he said, “I really don’t think that is a lot. AT ALL.”
I do love him so.
