December 15, 2009
It's the week before Christmas and my commitment to budgeting is beginning to slip away. I've been online shopping for presents for five-year-olds. I've been to Amazon.com and Powells.com to find books that some of my favorite people might enjoy. Now I'm putting together a holiday schedule of dinners at home and dinners out. There also are the holiday bouquets I'd like to send to some of my out-of-town friends and family. All this stuff is ending up on a credit card that could hit me like a ton of bricks in January. So how do I hold on to my resolve not to over spend? Breaking out of the norm doesn't have to mean breaking the bank. I just need to have a little talk with myself that the good old days of financial security were actually an illusion. How about, it's the thought that counts. Budgeting means getting to retirement in one piece...able to financially take care of myself. So short-term versus long-term. Hummmm....drop the credit card, NOW! It's cash or debit. I hate surprises in January.
