Black Friday

Well, today is "Black Friday." Are you scared? You should be. I've decided not to go out today. I'll spend a nice evening inside, read my book, or watch TV. I don't go much for shopping when everyone else in the city appears to be doing the same. There are enough rude people in stores on normal days, I think I can do without it. It's mostly impulse buying, too. Do you really need more shirts? Or shoes? Or hats? Or movies? Or CD's? Etc. etc. etc. I admit, I do have a shopping addiction, but I'm working on it. I've cut way back. I'm playing a game now to see how long I can keep money. The question in your mind when you pick up that item is: "Do I really need this?"

But, I look at the TV and the people running into stores and looking back over their shoulders to see how far ahead they are, and I wonder how many of these people are in debt? Many are. And, yet, it seems the spending continues. Credit cards, credit cards, credit cards (a.k.a. "evil, evil, evil"). I have no credit cards, and I have no debts. I'm lucky to be in the situation I'm in and I know it. But, I can just as easily be in the same position as the many, many, many other Americans who rely on the piece of plastic.

If you go into a store and see two items, which are basically the same (one is a name brand, the other is not), one is about 5 cents cheaper, you buy the more expensive one thinking "Oh, it's only five cents." This is a problem. I know this, because I have lived it (and continue to live it). Soon, the amounts of money get larger and larger. "Oh, it's only $1.24 more." And on and on. It distorts your view of money. I've gotten to where spending a $100 at a time is nothing.

Spending money is a bad habit. I rank it right up there with smoking, drugs, eating and (my personal addiction) caffeine. They all destroy you, but in different ways. I can speak from experience as I have spent way, way too much money in the past two years. I'd hate to see the number, as I know it'd be enough to live on for four or five years. I'm working on it, though. I don't want to be 30, 40, 50, 60+ and be worried about how I'll pay the bills. It's time to grow up and deal with the all important dollar.