See, I would've said it was a big ol' stick. But I guess I'm a glass-half-empty type.

It's big enough to do double duty.

You know, growing up, we were pretty broke. My parents could tell you to the penny how much they had, and would spend hours each month carefully resolving the checkbook. They managed, though it was always tight and the 70s saw my father RIFed on a regular basis. Somehow, I failed to inherit their financial sense (they are very good with money, no doubt from having to stretch it for so long). I'm like one of those kids who can't have sugar at home, and thus binges when at friends' parties.

I love pretty things, things that taste good, things that feel good against my skin. I don't know if it's a reaction to the years I went wearing decade-old hand-me-downs and eating cheap, lentil based meals or if luxury items really are that nice, but I love them. It pains me to give them up, because they felt like evidence of an escape from my years as a have-not.

When we were DINK, each working full time and me with a nasty commute, we fell out of the habit of even pretending to be thrifty. Cooking, when you're not even getting home until 8pm, and know damn well you'll be asleep before you can do the dishes, is unpleasant. We ate out a lot--when we were still tracking in quicken, it was our largest expense outside of housing and utilities.

The reality of my life now is occasionally frustrating, and as much as I love my child, depressing. I can't justify the gas to leave the house (there's no where to go within walking distance), so I'm home all day, trying my best to be frugal, which appears to mean washing a lot of diapers and cooking the best meals that I can with what I have on hand.

I also feel guilty, because I haven't managed to find a stable "real" job since the tech crash and layoffs. Lots of contracting, nothing on which we can count. So, as a partner, I'm not pulling my financial weight.

If it wasn't for the internets, I'd be a complete basket case by now.

t sits next to Plei on the money stress bench

Plei, your story is exactly mine, and the DH's family was even worse off. He's the first one in his family ever to go to college, and paid for it all himself. (I got $1000 from my family for school). So I totally get what you are saying.

Our financial situation is a lot worse now than it was last year, with me not working, but it's not bad. I suck with money management, but the DH is obsessive about it, so we are doing OK. The fact that I'm not working means we don't have to find and pay for daycare, or eat out, and while we can't afford retail therapy or travel, I've afforded some little luxuries, like having a housekeeper come in a couple times to help me.

So I will send you and Susan and others what need it the financial-ma.

On the way into work, gas was $2.79 in the U District. On the way home, it was $2.95.

By the house, though, it was still $2.79.

I figure we'll see $3.50 up here by the middle of September. Then, I will finally stop with the getting up late and driving in and start riding the bus every day.

You know what I think we should do? Start a Bitches wishlist. We all need a pick-me-up once in a while, and I don't know about the rest of you, but it makes me feel good when someone receives a gift unexpectedly. The gift-ers can remain anonymous.

Perhaps it could be an addition to the list that Deena maintains. Or not. I may very well be talking out of my ass.

Aaaaaaand I keeeeeeeled the thread ded. Sorry.

Aaaaaaand I keeeeeeeled the thread ded. Sorry.

That's okay. You already gave me a cheap thrill by revealing your deepest goth past and ongoing Skinny Puppy and Front 242 love.

Hee! Anything for you, my darling Hec. Though I never developed a deep and abiding love for The Smiths/Morrissey or The Cure. Music shouldn't make me want to slit my wrists.

I figure we'll see $3.50 up here by the middle of September. Then, I will finally stop with the getting up late and driving in and start riding the bus every day.

I wouldn't be at all shocked. The prices keep going up, and premium is over three bucks most places

Regular was $2.69 this evening at one of the CD AM/PMs. Naturally, we stopped and filled the tank.

Paul busses in each morning, which means he has to get up insanely early, but saves on parking and gas. I pick him up in Georgetown from the express stop, because it means he gets home an hour earlier, and it's only about 20 cents a trip. Most days, that's the only time I get out of the house. I'm going stir crazy, but I can't justify the gas cost just to go not spend money.

You know what I think we should do? Start a Bitches wishlist. We all need a pick-me-up once in a while, and I don't know about the rest of you, but it makes me feel good when someone receives a gift unexpectedly.

I think it's an excellent idea. Did you know Sephora offers a registry service now?

I've afforded some little luxuries, like having a housekeeper come in a couple times to help me.

On the bright side, I cleaned our washing machine today. For the first time in, oh, ever. The lint trap on it was broken before we moved in, so it was kind of disgusting. I used an old toothbrush for part of it, but mostly, I was digging slimy lint off the outer rim of the can with my bare hands.

And our kitchen is fairly clean, too. By the time I have to go back to full time, outside the house work, I should be adept at housework!

I need to stop looking at budgeting sites. They're all cult-like. While I'm cutting as many corners as I can, I'm still not down with cutting out everything that costs money, as I'd like to have some small pleasures in life. Like movie rentals, or the occasional book.

Did you know Sephora offers a registry service now?

Hoo boy, I'm in SOOOOO much trouble now. It's the end of the world as we know it....

t /evil