Peter commented that he was excited to see our credit card balance change only minimally this week due to my not shopping. But it appears that even when I don't shop, I spend money. A charge came through for one of those Entertainment Weekly subscriptions that you "trial" through Best Buy. Whoops.
In other news, I would really like to go shopping just to get out of the fucking house today. I am, it appears, a gigantic bitch for being tired of being around sick people and I can't think of anything to do with or without the kids besides watch TV, read, go to the gym or clean that won't cost money. And I don't want to do those things. I want to go see a movie, or go to Target, or anything else.
Stupid effing Target. What a great place to hang out, but dang if I don't end up wanting to buy the whole store.
ReplyDeleteI know this summer when I wasn't spending any money except on food & rent, there was a psychological weight to it. All those little transactions add up to something psychological for us. Some combination of the freedom and pleasure to choose things we like + interacting with the merchants in our neighborhood fills a need, and when I'm cut off from it I feel deprived even though I have enough books and shower gel and t-shirts and cute wrap dresses and the ingredients for a perfectly good latte at home.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a strained feeling, not being able to spend money. Even things that don't require money to do, exactly, often require money to really enjoy. I remember as a kid being really excited to get movie passes, but it would dissipate when I realized I still didn't have money for popcorn or candy. It made it more of an experience, I guess. And shopping for anything is a stimulating experience, one that I missed when I couldn't do it.
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