I hate. Capitalize HATE budget talks. And it never fails, tax time…excessive clothes shopping…and a recession are ALL causes for the dreaded budget talk. And do you know why I hate it?
Because while my dear wonderful, math oriented husband says “I think we need to cut back on our spending” what I hear him say is “stop buying so much stuff, you’re single handedly putting us into the hole you selfish selfish woman, and you’re ugly.” That’s what I hear. Ok. I’m exaggerating slightly, but you get it.
I’m the spender, he’s the saver…every relationship has to have a balance or you’re in trouble. Unless you’re both savers in which case good for freaking you. In OUR case…that is not the case. Pat saves. I spend.
But I am not by any means extravagant in my spending. You know what I mean? I’m not gonna be on Oprah five years from now with a house filled with never been opened Christmas presents and what not.
And I’m not high maintenance. I do like to shop, per se, but I don’t spend hours getting myself ready everyday, I’m not rushing out to hair and nail appointments, and purchasing Louis Vuitton bags or anything like that. In fact, I think I’m pretty reasonable.
Confession: My break up with Target did not last. We started seeing each other again less than a week after our break up. We’re soul mates. Like a moth to a flame Target lures me into it’s clutches. And I am helpless.
When Pat approached me with the budget talk this last time I morphed into a whiney teenager.
“I’m not doing anything wroooonnnnggg. Huhuhhuhuhuhuh. This is sooooooo stupid. Gawwwwd…..” Complete with eye rolls…he’s lucky I didn’t just throw myself to the floor kicking and screaming. Really. He is lucky.
So I fight the budget talk. I think it’s pointless. I think we’re perfectly comfortable. I think he’s being extreme. This never works. And then I give in. FINE let’s HAVE the stupid talk.
And we did. We went over our income and expenses and talked about where we could cut back (does EVERYONE spend that much eating out??) and created a goal for what we’d like the bank account to look like at the end of next month and that was it. Simple. All that fighting and carrying on and acting like a juvenile for nothing. Don’t I feel sheepish.
The next day I told my Mom.
She made me apologize.
Reasons I Love My Husband
1.)He brings me warm bottles to give to the baby in the middle of the night when I am cussing him out in my head.
2.)He ignores my juvenile behavior and patiently waits for me to get over myself and discuss our finances like an adult.
Tania says
Yes Target is my weakness, too! I cannot go into that store without buying a cart full of things that I just “need”. It’s a one stop shop for everything what’s not to love?!
Tiffany says
This is so funny, thanks for sharing. You are helping my mood today.