Money, Money, Money

Randy and I were raised totally opposite when it comes to money. We both come from 2 parent working families and we both started working at a young age. The difference lies in how we spend money. Randy will spend more money on something, say a pair of shoes, because he knows buying a nicer quality will mean the shoes will last longer. I tend to buy cheap shoes that wear out quickly and this process repeats itself until I’ve spent as much as Randy did with his 1st pair (that he’s still happy with). I have a hard time spending a lot of money on myself. If I have money to spend I see how many cheap products I can get. In some ways I’m okay with this because it keeps my wardrobe dynamic but in other ways it’s frustrating that I can’t get over the guilt of purchasing something nice. When I do buy something expensive it’s because Randy is there cheering me on, almost forcing me to buy it. For my last birthday I really wanted some new running shoes and I fell in love a pair of Nikes that were super cushy. If Randy wasn’t there I would have left the store empty handed and found a pair ½ the price (from past experience wishing I would have bought the ones I really wanted). For the longest time I wouldn’t let Randy toss his shoes on top on my new Nikes in the shoe closet. If I had a gold pillow I would have kept them there.

My financial tendencies have played a role in some home furnishings. About 1.5 years ago we purchased a slip cover for the sofa in our living room (the first thing people see when they come in the front door). To save a few bucks we purchased the loveseat fit instead of the sofa fit. It was like putting a fat man in a little coat. We tugged and pulled to stretch the material over the sofa when the elastic finally threw in the towel and ripped. Our new loveseat slip cover elastic was now ripped and we were stuck with it. Ever since that day 1.5 years ago we have been tugging and pulling to hide the very noticeable seams that scream a cheap ass bought the wrong size.

Every time I walk by that sofa (which is about 6 times a day) and cringe I thought I had learned my lesson. Apparently I didn’t as Randy pointed out last night. The dining room curtains. No laughing Staci (she was there when I brought the first set about 2 wks ago). If Randy was the buyer he would have found the ones he liked and bought them right then and there. No fuss. Not only do I buy the cheaper curtains but I buy many different cheaper curtains. I purchased not one, not two but three sets. Now I get to return the other two sets along with the wrong color sofa slip cover (cuz it was cheap) I purchased yesterday. I also get to return 3 different rugs cuz I couldn’t decide which one I liked best. Did I purchase all these items at the same store? NO. Returning items to 3 stores is now on my to-do list. Yay for me (as Randy laughs). But it’s all worth it because I finally purchased the antique color sofa slip cover we have been regretting not buying for 1.5 years. I’m on cloud 9. My next mission? The family room curtains. Oh boy…here we go!