Oh, where, oh, where has my extra paycheck gone?
Oh, that's right. I rejected it for more freetime.
Some days, I seriously wonder what is wrong with me. This is one of those days because today, kids, is the first day of Lo as a single income earner rather than a dual income earner. (Additionally, I'm feeling the pinch because one part of my single income check didn't come through due to a mix up somewhere between the fax machine and payroll.) Granted, I needed some free time, but for real. I need some $, too. This is mostly because I want an IPod.
Why did I suddenly decide that I want--no, NEED (I'll say it)--an IPod in the midst of the great exodus of money from my accounts to Very Worthy Causes? I have no idea. But now that I really and truly won't be able to afford one for a very long time, now I suddenly want one. Badly. More than I have ever wanted to go to grad school. EVER.
I think the truth is that I was never really addicted to work. I was addicted to money. And it's not like I've ever actually had a lot of money to burn before this last semester. But I saved a ton of money since January, and I also picked up some bad spending habits... like buying lots of CDs and going out to dinner whenever I felt like it. When you can get unlimited amounts of two of the material things you truly enjoy (music and food. I said it, I meant it, and now I'm here to represent it) and still be able to save a large amount each month, that's a very nice feeling.
It is not a feeling I feel today.
I bought myself the soundtrack to A Prairie Home Companion because I really wanted it, and I still feel incredibly guilty. I wanted to buy a Tetris game for the road trip to Iowa this weekend. Instead, I left it in the store. I love Tetris. With a passion! "It's a rough ol' life up here on the wagon."
You see, whatever it is I have, I only want more. For example, why can't I have freetime AND money? Why does it have to be OR money?
I promised myself I would give it a month sans night job and see how it went, so I'm not doing anything rash yet. But, in all honesty, Capitalism has completely corrupted me, and I miss being able to buy frivolous things. And I'd really like to be able to feed my addiction rather than recover from it. Recovery is for quitters, and I don't think I've ever been called that.
Posted by LoWriter at July 7, 2006 10:12 AMSell things! It's like another income!
Posted by: schdav at July 7, 2006 03:37 PMHere's a two-word solution for you... Sugar Daddy. You would still have all of the free time and all of the cash. Oh and on top of that, you would have a make-out buddy.
Posted by: jeff at July 10, 2006 08:39 AMyes, but what in the world do you sell??!! i am poor, always have been, and everything i own that i dont want anymore has been used to bursting - ie, i would be too embarassed to sell it!
Posted by: dr gonzo at July 10, 2006 09:41 AMYeah I am not sure what I would sell either, one friend sold books online. So they would buy a book and then turn around and sell it, this works more when you are selling a hardback and that is the only thing available. I mean if you consider that perhaps you are only actually spending $6 to read the hardback it might be worth it...
I am poor too and I have learned to accept that I can't afford things or I need to buy cheaper of something that I would like... but it works out well for me and I like having my down time more than I like having a computer (even though that'd be awesome!!).
Posted by: 10lees at July 10, 2006 10:08 AM10lees--Yes, well, those of us going to grad school had to get something by way of a computer, as we are studying technical communication and there will be a lot of technology involved. To be fair, I did not get the computer that I idealy wanted with a notepad screen that you could flip around and write on with a special pen. I also did not get a lenovo thinkpad, which I really wanted. AND I don't want to learn to live with cheaper things. I want my savings account to stop draining and begin exponentially increasing again while I get things I want.
Jeff-- I like your sugar daddy solution. I need to get moving on that!
schdav-- I have a problem selling things. I mostly like to buy things. ;) Maybe I could sell my old school laptop from college for parts to someone, but i doubt it.
Posted by: Lo at July 10, 2006 10:38 AMPerhaps you could combine the two and just sell yourself with some help from your Sugar Daddy. Problem solved!!
Oh wait...that's prostitution, isn't it? That might be frowned upon.
creative solution tho mel! too bad it's illegal... and probably not too pleasant...
Ah, yes I want my account to exponetually increase while I buy things too, sadly this doesn't appear to happen to me... maybe you'll have better luck. Oh, maybe one of those 'get paid to shop' schemes... i need to join that...
Posted by: 10lees at July 10, 2006 01:22 PMMaybe I could just do phone sex. ;)
Posted by: Lo at July 10, 2006 02:21 PMThat would be the best idea yet. However you have Cingular. They drop the most calls EVER. You'd have some unsatisfied customers...if you know what i mean.
Posted by: mel at July 10, 2006 02:47 PMAH but I could use my home phone and watch TV on mute at the same time. :)
Posted by: Lo at July 10, 2006 03:27 PMWell then...problem solved. I say retire!! And enjoy your life of land-line phones, network TV, and dirty conversations.