Budget Talk Strategy

I’m preparing myself for the budget talk with my fella. He recently told me we had to have one.  I’m putting together exhibits to show how thrifty I really am. I need to do this because I know my fella’s putting together spreadsheets to show how thrifty I really am not.

 

 Exhibit A: The new bookshelf.

Cost? Free.

Because I found it in the alley. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and all that.

Savings? $800.

 

Exhibit B: My Christmas present to myself, from my fella.

 Cost? Not so much.

Because though it looks like a fabulous, original work I actually got it at “Z Gallerie”. AND I saved all shipping and handling fees by buying it at the mall and walking it home myself. I did this because it was too big to fit in the car.

Okay, full disclosure: I walked the painting almost all the way home. That baby was heavy, so I actually walked it several blocks before the wind picked up, and I became fearful that my painting would act like a sailboat and sail us both right into traffic. That’s when I called my dad to come pick me and the painting up.

 

Which he did. Literally. I drove the car while my dad sat on the tailgate and held onto the painting for dear life. I don’t have a picture of this because my dad was yelling the whole time that I’d better not put this in my blog. The painting doesn’t look any worse because of its adventure home, and my wallet looks a whole lot better. My relationship with my dad? I’ll let you know after he reads this post.

Savings? $50.

 

Exhibit C: Dog Pictured Above.

Stanley is a rescue dog from a shelter. I believe supporting charities of this nature is actually a tax write-off so we probably made money on the dog purchase.

Savings? A lot. Unless you count losses in the form of the people food Stanley regularly eats, like steak we’ve just grilled and the beef jerky favored by the 7 year old.

 

Exhibit D: Gas Bill From Yesterday. 68 dollars! This is simply wrong, and I do not believe should be counted against me as it’s not my fault gas costs as much as a pair of Manolo Blahniks these days.

 

I am ready for the trial, guru girls & guys. All I need is a little “Good Wife” viewing and lawyer lingo, and I’m all set.