Money Spending

I think I've known this for a while, but I'm really going to try to do something about it this time, I swear. Ok, here it is. I spend money, I like to spend money and admittedly, I will sometimes spend more than I should on an item or while doing something, but I've also come to the realization that when money is tight I really, really want to spend even more. It's sick. I know that I shouldn't be buying something I really don't need or I definitely shouldn't be going out as much as I have been because things are tight and I have to use my stupid credit card more than I should, I just can't help it.

Why all this coming out now, you may ask. It's because I've been catching myself really looking at all the ad e-mails I get and the little nic-nak magazines and thinking hmmm what can I get and not even thinking what do I need. I'm even looking at items thinking, wow, I should by that for so-and-so, why? no reason, just because I think they'd like it. It's not their birthday or anniversary or any special occasion. Now, I know that this would be something nice to do for a person and they'd probably even feel really great when receiving it and I have done this on many different occassions. I just need to know that I cannot do that right now, when money is a little tight, but it's so hard. "Look at those adorable wine bottle stoppers." I was even wandering the aisles of the local hardware store trying to find stuff to buy, just because.

So, I'm really going to make an effort to watch it this time - no more debt will be my mantra. I will concentrate on thinking about buying the necessary things...
privacy fence
decking/pavers for back yard
new windows to replace the two original windows left in the house to help conserve energy
things for the housewarming party

I did breakdown and go to Costco over the weekend and get stuff, most of it I will say is stuff we needed, but did we really need so many of them? I don't know, but I loved spending the money - hehe - we now have plenty of sandwich bags at the house - I can go crazy with them and I won't run out.

Condo closing date set for April 4 - can't wait - need to go on shopping spree - haha - but it's good things I want to spend the money on - I want the perfect window for the house - more money than the basic looking one, but it will make the house look so much better and I'm going to fight for getting pavers/stone put in for our front walkway instead of getting in re-concreted. See I get to spend money, enjoy it and justify it - better resale value for whenever we move - like never...

Necessary or Unnecessary Purchase

I received (about two months ago) an advertisement for these planters called The Grow Box and I wanted to order some for our back yard so that I can grow vegetables in them. When I mentioned to Jason that I wanted to buy these he said no automatically and that we did not need them. He said "We have a yard now, you can grow things there - make a garden. Our neighbors have one in their yard." I pointed out to him that said neighbor has said that his garden is a bunch of work and that he has to work with the soil - adding composte and fertilizer, etc. to even obtain a proper soil for vegetable growing. Jason still nixed the idea. So, like a good wife I've put off buying them - until today.

I found the ad again recently and have decided I want to buy them. I like growing vegetables and prior to and through the first year of dating Jason I used to always grow tomato plants on my balcony at the condo and I enjoyed doing it and being able to eat the resulting tomatoes. I like vegetables a lot and I actually end up spending a bit of money of them during the summer months when they are fresher and for some reason I am more apt to buy them. So, I don't think this will be a waste of money. I just couldn't decide on what color to get them in - Terra Cotta or Green so I exchanged e-mails with Jason:

Me: Green or Terra Cotta
J: no
Me: Green or Terra Cotta
J: I said no
Me: Thanks for the input. Green it is.
J: We don't need it

That's where that ended and then came the phone call:
J: What are you buying?
Me: Something?
J: Well whatever it is we don't need it - especially if its something that comes in green or Terra Cotta.
Me: I want it. I'm getting it, I mean, it's already too late. I got it.
J: Well if that's the case then you should change it to Terra Cotta because if I would have picked Terra Cotta.
Me: Ok, I'll do that - it's those plant boxes by the way.
J: Didn't we discuss this already and I said it wasn't necessary
Me: Yes, but I want to grow vegetables
J: Fine, but I'm writing a letter about your unnecessary spending and I want you to post it on your blog.
Me: Fine

So, watch this space for the upcoming letter from Jason. I personally don't think that this is unnecessary spending. It'll save us money on vegetables which we can eat, I can give some to friends - who will adore me for it - and it will give me something to do that is outdoorsy :-) If I don't use them, then they'll be unnecessary. I'll let everyone know - if I'm still blogging by that time...