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Trimming Down
October 15th, 2008 | Dean Arrindell
(via Facebook, MySpace, Digg, email and more)
Self-examination is never fun. It forces someone to seek, recognize and analyze the good and bad about themselves.
When self-examination is about money, it doesn't make things any easier. That's why I procrastinated to go over my finances. With prices of everything going up, I didn't want to see how little I have at the end of every month. Even worse, I was afraid I would have to severely cut back on things I enjoy. I thought I wouldn't be able to have fun anymore. I'd be stuck at home, I feared, watching bad TV and surfing the web while NYC was out having fun all day and night.
An audit was necessary, though. The headlines of the last few months warranted a down-to-the-penny accounting of what's coming in and what's going out.
So, I did it. My first surprise was that I don't have too many expenses. My second surprise was that those expenses totaled to less than I thought. There is a nice little chunk of change left over at the end of the month. It's not tons, but it's enough where I know I can live comfortably, though frugally, in NYC. I don't have to live beyond my means.
Getting to that comfortable place, though, means I'll have to trim some expenses. I'll have to cut some fat. As I thought, most of that fat comes from going out. That consists of drinks, meals, more drinks and, if it's too late, cabs.
I don't want to trim too much financial fat. Fat is where the flavor is. I don't want to live a bland, flavorless life. So, that's going to be The Trick: Live a fulfilling life on a budget. I don't mean save the world on a budget. That's a great goal, but it's not what I'm talking about here. I mean having fun. I mean having those laugh-out-loud moments over pints (that you can afford) with your
friends. And retelling those moments while making new ones with your friends for the rest of your life.
A little fat has to be put in the budget. Life can't be too lean.
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Dean Arrindell | No Comments »
Trimming Down
(via Facebook, MySpace, Digg, email and more)