‘Tis the season, right? I confess to having a serious, quasi-serious, problem here. I blame my grandmother and my mother-in-law for my sticky fingers when it comes to deals. and this time of year, when deals are flashing at me from every techie corner? I’ve got some issues.
Particularly as I’ve had to use my credit card again for the car AND for the ceiling.
i don’t know how you feel about credit cards (obviously, i mean, i don’t even know how you feel about shoes, or writing, or politics!, for goodness sakes)… but i haven’t used mine for over 3 years. I’ve got an amount on it, from when i was a landlord with my ex, and all the house expenses went on it… but i’ve been paying it down, more than the monthly, every month. no worries.
but now?
the seal is broken.
or, that’s how it feels… like some portal in one of my many sci-fi books, movies, shows… some swirling portal of LURK exists now. the DOOM LURK…
and of course, coincidentally, my eyes are swelling to monumental SIZE… the DEALS.. the DEALS… all anyone has to do is hint at discounts and i’m literally salivating. add to this, i’m still on the quit-smoking wagon, have (evidently) gained a tremendous amount of weight and need all sorts of new things to make myself feel better. because.
SO FAR, i have maintained. the kids have gotten clothing, not gadgets. the birthday that comes 10 days before the blessed Child’s birth is covered… and has been covered since the summer, because that kid has obsessions, so its easy. this time around? manatees.
easy.
Its hard, when i want to buy presents for everyone, and am trying to space out expenditures, and don’t like to be conscripted by a ‘budget’… (you smart people who handle money well are freaking laughing and rolling on the floor, i know) …I recognize how gross the season is, gluttony wise… I’m not sure how to move forward, really, except to resist.
resist with all that my little heart can muster.
i’ve unsubscribed to some store’s emails, so that i no longer see the deals. i have been limiting some of my social media time because there are surprising numbers of attractive ads in there, and i love to explore new colors! fabrics! oooooh! squirrel!
but i spent a whole lot of time resisting in my marriage, because things were so out of control. and i resent the resistance. so my only real strategy is just not to be scrolling so often. just eyes on the ground, that kind of thing. AND , i give myself permission to go to Salvation Army any time I want. because. recycling. its good for the planet.
thats all i’m saying. i’m a force for good in the world. because.
sigh.
Manatees. Awesome.
I hear you about the resisting. Mark said he had no money during college and well into his late 20s that he will never penny pinch again. I, on the other hand, have never met a penny that I couldn’t squeeze a nickel out of so you can imagine some of our financial disagreements.
The grotesque marketing of Christmas really turns my stomach but it didn’t stop me from scoring a $10 Target sweater ($9.50 with my red cardand cheaper than Savers!)