A little bit a’ spending

Posted on November 7, 2005 6 Comments

What I know about my own budgeting temperament is this:

1) To me, budgeting is terribly boring. Saving my money basically involves me sitting around the house, fretting that I have no money and plotting ways to maximize each and every dollar, like some sort of psychotic microeconomist with much better hair. I used to be way more fun when I blew all my cash on clothes I only wore once so I could look good spending more money on $10 drinks.

2) Every now and then, I’m going to buy a few things impulsively. Old habits die hard. Last night I decided our apartment needed a desk and several other pieces of organizational material. Off we went to Ikea, where I bought $200 worth of furniture (we got A LOT for the money, at least) . Impulsive or pre-planned, however, I never spend more than my “disposable” income during a month – and that’s after I’ve put away for retirement and savings, and paid all my bills. That $200 Ikea purchase just means I have less to spend in some other categories this month, like clothes or entertainment).

My $200 shopping spree at Ikea bought me the following:
- 1 adjustable computer desk for our home office
- 1 set of drawers for the new desk (you buy them separate)
- 2 bedside nightstands
- 1 travel coffee mug (think this might save me money in the a.m. on the way to my office)
- 1 bulletin board
- 1 desk lamp for new desk
- 2 bedroom hampers for laundry

Not bad, huh? The nightstands were only $7 each, which I still can’t believe.

Unfortunately, I woke up Sunday and bought a $20 pair of new earrings at a craft show. The good news is they’re plain silver so I’ll wear them a few times each week to work. Still, I probably could have gone without them… But at that craft show, I was drawn to the shiny danglers as if they contained a homing device! It was bad.

On a positive note (um, I think), that little spree should provide enough guilt to prevent me from shopping (excluding groceries, of course) until December, when I really let loose on holiday gifts.

Until then, I’ll be at home, on my couch with season three of Sex and the City, marveling at Carrie’s expensive shoes and petting my shiny new earrings. Au Revoir!

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