Ramblings From Justin Penney

Whatever it is. I'm working on it.

I've traditionally been a "spend what you got" kind of person. Now, albeit a little late, I'm actually learning to save. I'm not eating out all the time. I'm conscious of the things I do and the costs associated with them. I even save regularly! I've NEVER done that. Sure I have to force it with direct deposit and accounts that are hard to spend from... but I'm doing it.

I'm hoping for balance here though. I'm drinking a pricey microbrew right now and I had a bottle of Jameson over the last couple weeks, I'm not depriving but I'm also not spending $10 a day on lunch, or eating out at night more than once or twice a week. I'm turning off the lights that I'm not using. I'm shutting some of my computers off. Checking tire pressure and driving a little more gently. Little things that aren't obtrusive at all.

This started when I left my debit card at Eden Alley one night. I canceled the card and had to wait a week for the new one to arrive. During that time I had to rely on cash. I've really lost that finite feel of cash since I've been using a debit card. That card is so nice, it never says, "No!" It never looks broke. It's just green shiny and happy. "Use me. I buy you things. You love me."

Jacey always makes me enter my receipts into Quicken. I hate that. I never do it. Jacey never knows how much money we have. I hate entering all that crap with a passion. So now I don't. When I go to the store I grab $20 or $40 bucks and that's all I use except for the store and for gas. So far it seems like I am using a LOT less. I'm definitely eating out less and buying less random crap. I don't like when I open my wallet and there's not a good bit of money in there. Happy, green, money.

# posted by Justin @ 8:30 PM