Posted by Adam on November 18, 1999, at 3:01:27
In reply to Re: Finances, messy rooms & messy minds..oi vey, posted by Bob on November 17, 1999, at 13:15:37
Well, like I said, I've been _invited_ to do a lot of these things. I haven't done them all. I know I can't, but
if huge medical bills weren't an issue, I'd be so there most of the time. I just had another friend email me and
ask if I'd like to climb Mt. Ranier with him. He can get a package deal that would cost $700 plus a couple hundred
bucks for a plane ticket. I would LOVE to do that, and I can't. I don't mean to whine, it's just that I've
entered into a strange state of being somewhat antidepressed, am actually enjoying life a bit and simultaneously
saddled by the costs it took to get me here. Of course there are cheaper ways to have fun, but I've not been
entirely irresponsible, and could have budgeted these things except...it's just a bit frustrating, that's all.> > ... Success is great, of course ....
>
> So, you have had some fun ... christmas can be one last splurge ... but don't let your depression ruin you financially. If you've been running up the credit card debts, time to go on a diet. If you can't do it on your own, take the route a number of us have gone and deal with a credit counselor. You surrender a little freedom and a little control for the much greater satisfaction of having one bill at a fixed amount that you can stay on top of. Start paying cash or use Amex (geez, those bills hurt! ;^) for anything else. Does "success" include a benefits package with a flexible spending account? If so, schedule yourself to have the whole $2000 you can sock away for medical expenses to be taken out of your pretax paycheck next year. I was close to $2k behind to my therapist last January, and as soon as I get my next flex-spending refund check, I'll have that all eliminated since I kept up-to-date on my current charges.
>
> Three things -- credit counseling, my flex account, and consolidating my student loans -- have saved my tail financially this year, and next year (heck ... stores got their christmas stuff out already... might as well start talking about 2000 in other than y2k terms) I might actually be able to get ahead of the game. Imagine that.
>
> Bob
poster:Adam
thread:13714
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991108/msgs/15440.html