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August 27, 2008
Money
This may be the first month since I bought my car back in 2003 that I've spent more money than I took home.
In addition to all the regular expenses, I paid tuition for my database class ($350 or so), paid my share of our January airfare to Florida, renewed my lapsed memberships in the Society for Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters & Editors, and had a couple of meals out with friends and family. It was a nice month, and I had more than enough money in my savings account to cover the extra expenses.
Last time I spent more than I made I didn't have any savings. I churned through all my cash trying to fix my old car, then had to put a rental car on a credit card so I could keep going to work, and then but another $500 on a credit card to cover the down payment for the new car I had to buy to stay employed. That was stressful. It took me more than a year to dig out of that hole.
I prefer just to save a lot of money and spend less than I make, but if every five years I lapse I have to say it's much better to lapse with a savings account.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at August 27, 2008 09:00 PM