Adulthood: So Far, So Good
I haven’t been saying much about money lately, because, well, there hasn’t been much to say. I’ve stuck to my budget, and had enough money to buy the things I need to buy. There were two unexpected expenses last month: a very minor traffic accident and a doctor’s visit about an eye infection, each which cost me about $30, but I was able to cover them without resorting to my emergency fund. In November I paid a total of $550 towards my student loans, which isn’t even counting the amount earmarked for my mother’s PLUS loans. I have ~$3080 in savings right now, but it’ll be down to ~$2480 after I write a $600 check to mom to cover her loan payments over the past two months.
I’m feeling rather flush right now. After work, I need to remember to buy good cheese for this weekend’s spaghetti dinner. On Sunday evening, I’m inviting two of my friends over for dinner. I’m going to practice my cooking skills by making homemade spaghetti sauce and garlic bread (from a store-bought loaf–garlic, butter, and toastiness provided by me). I’m debating whether or not I should serve some kind of salad with it. I already have a nice-ish bottle of wine I got for $6 on clearance at Harding’s. Do I need another bottle for three people if none of us are big wine drinkers? I’m excited about their visit, because they haven’t been over to my place since I moved in, and I’ve been over to their apartment a few times.
Also, the office holiday party is on Saturday. It’s way out at some turkey farm out in Marshall. I’m carpooling with coworkers because I don’t trust myself to be able to drive on 94 if it snows. There’s going to be dinner and a holiday show, though whether it’s a play, a musical performance, or what, I don’t know.
Being an adult is rather like being a college student, except that when I’m around actual college students, I feel ancient, even if the students are actually older than I am, like my roommate and his grad school friends. I have an 8-to-5. I vote. I pay taxes. But otherwise, I’m remarkably similar to the person I was last year. Now I just have to make more of an effort to keep learning and growing, because no one else is going to make me do it anymore.
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Carol said,
Wrote on December 11, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
Good for you — staying on budget.
Yes, serve a salad. If you want a nice pre-packaged one, try a veggie lovers,or just add some fresh veggies to either regular or bagged lettuce.
Don’t start getting that “feeling flush” mind set. You need to be out of debt, have an emergency fund and a full 401, and a few ($10,000.00)bucks in the bank before you are truly “flush”. You’ll get there before you know it.
Have a fun party.
Sally said,
Wrote on December 11, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
You’re right–salad is needed. Not only does it balance the meal, but it’s December and the farmer’s market here is closed, so I haven’t been eating as many vegetables as I do in the more fruitful months.
Don’t worry, I don’t have the mindset… or at least, even when I do feel flush, my actions are unchanged. Usually I never let myself have enough money around to get the feeling. I’ve always practiced the “pay yourself first” model, leaving only enough behind for what I deem necessities. So, what this feeling really means is that it’s time to make an extra loan payment.