My Name Here, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
For those of you who know this story, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. For those of you who don’t, enjoy my version….This story is based on the story written by Judith Viorst titled Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday.
It’s not fair that Sergey Brin is 32 and has eleven million dollars, four quarters, and three dimes in his bank account. It’s not fair that Reed Hastings has eight million dollars, four dollars, seven dimes, and eighteen pennies in his bank account. It’s not fair that all I have is…..fluff in my pockets. And that’s all I usually have is …… fluff in my pockets.
Last Sunday was pay day and I had a cool $800 left over after paying all the bills. I was rich. I decided I’m absolutely, positively saving my money for a down payment on a house. However, I decided to go window shopping at the mall. The cute espidrills and black mary jane loafers were calling my name. Since it was a buy-one-get-one day I thought I could afford to part with my money because I was saving money in the end. Good-bye $42.50.
The remaining $752.50 was definitely going in my savings account. But then I got hungry. I headed out to Chili’s to treat myself to an appetizer and a meal. Happy hour prices seem so affordable! The waitress was awfully kind and deserved a decent tip. Good-bye $25.00.
I’m sure by now Reed Hastings would tell me I won’t be able to afford a house until I’m 99. If I still lived with my parents, I bet I’d have to pay them for saying things no young lady is ever able to say. Thankfully I can keep those three dollars since I don’t live at home and personally don’t know Reed Hastings.
My $732.50 is certainly, most positively going into the savings account! Until I looked in my refrigerator and realized I was out of a few things. A quick trip to the grocery store and $65.75 later I now have a partially stocked fridge. As I was scanning my checkbook register later that day, I realized I could make another payment to my crummy line of credit to get that baby out of the way. Good-bye $200.
Four-hundred, sixty-six dollars and seventy-five cents is absolutely, positively going into my savings account. Crap! I washed my favorite capri’s that had a five dollar bill in the pocket. Good-bye five dollars. Good-bye flashlight.
If Sergey Brin were here to comment on my despicable progress I’m sure he’d say I won’t be able to buy a house until I’m 199. My parents would say there are just some things well-respected girls never kick, no matter how ratty or mean someone’s comments are. I’d owe them another dollar. Thankfully, I moved out of my parents’ house years ago.
I used to be rich last Sunday. Now all I have left is $461.75 and fluff in my pockets. After this long, holiday weekend I’m sure I’ll be waiting for payday to come around quite soon. Then I’ll definitely, positively put my money in my savings account.
Funny post, but not funny that you spent $340 of the $800 you had (at least, in your head) earmarked for your down payment fund.
I immediately would have transferred that $800 over to our savings account, which we do not touch unless it’s for a specific, major purchase or home renovation need. It’s all about self control! Which is easy for me to say when it comes to money, but not when it comes to yummy food!
.-= Rainy-Day Saver´s last blog ..The Importance of Health Insurance =-.
Pay yourself first – it sounds like *you* need a raise.
$200 a month into savings automatically, then buy all the ice cream you can eat with what’s left.
@Rainy Day Saver – Actually, I think that’s the problem. I didn’t have it set aside for my down payment fund. Instead I had budgeted some of it towards things like groceries, gas, etc. Luckily, I did set aside a portion of my income toward savings, and didn’t touch that pile!
@Monevator – I didn’t add that in my story since the point of the story was how quickly money can be spent, but I did set aside and deposit $200 into my down payment savings fund and another $400 into my overdraft/slush savings fund. But adding that information in wouldn’t have been as funny.
Ahh, nostalgia. I can picture my elementary school library now.
The money goes quick, doesn’t it? If any one ever asks me money advice, tracking a month’s expenses to see how fast the money goes is always my #1 suggestion.
Good stuff
Austin @ Foreigner’s Finances
.-= Austin´s last blog ..Dollar-Cost Averaging Takes the Stress Out of Investing =-.
@Austin – I agree. Tracking and budgeting income and expenses is very</em helpful. I'd be completely lost (and overdrawn!) without one!
Hmm. Where do you buy your groceries, Little House? That is awesome you got a partially stocked fridge for $65.75! Where I shop, that will barely cover two gallons of milk.
Thanks for the fun read!
Best,
Len
Len Penzo dot Com
.-= Len Penzo´s last blog ..Drive-By Movie Review: A Simple Plan (A Movie on the Ethics of Found Money) =-.