THIS ONE WAS WRITTEN IN JULY 2012. I AM NOT SURE WHY I DIDN’T CLEAN IT UP AND PUBLISH IT BEFORE.  I GUESS, MONEY IS SOMETIMES MORE TABOO THAN SEX. 

EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY OLD, I DECIDED TO PUBLISH IT, AS IT COULD BE A REMINDER TO EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THEIR FINANCES.

Last week I took 2 big financial hits! It blindsided me, but it shouldn’t have since I am used to paying those 2 large bills every year.  Buying an apartment, moving, and embarking on a personal growth path, and also starting this blog has kept me busy and too distracted to remember little details such as IRS and Brazil.

BUT, last week, all of a sudden I was forced to wake up and smell the Brazilian coffee.

When I took a look at my bank account and realized there were 2 large bills that needed to still come out,  I got this tight feeling in the pit of my stomach.  There was terror for a second, but then as with everything that goes wrong in my life, I snapped out of it, rolled up my sleeves and went to work on damage control.

I haven’t gotten a raise in over 5 years.  No, I cannot ask the boss for one. First I am a partner, so I am one of the bosses, and second, I am the one that handles the books so I know we cannot afford to give me a raise.  I am lucky to have a job and to be allowed to keep my assistant, and not have to do all myself.

Still, even with not getting a raise in 5 years, I have been enjoying a great life. With manageable debt I must add.  I don’t live paycheck to paycheck, and I was never in danger of losing my apartment.

These 2 bills, on top of all others, will not wipe me out but will give me less wiggle room. I believe that these 2 bills are warning signs that I should pay a closer look to my finances.

I am going to have to make hard choices.  Having money gives one plenty of choices.   Lack of money gives one less choices. but still we are the masters of our destiny.  I am going to have to choose where to spend my money.  I am going to have to look at Need versus Want.

I agree with Benjamin Frankly, a penny saved is a penny earned.  So, since I cannot make any more money, I will try spending less and saving more, no matter how little.

What a great chance to stop and take stock of life, financial and otherwise.  I have been going for personal growth, physically and spiritually.  I have been neglecting the financial part.

The good, or bad,  thing is that I am already a frugal person. So there is not a lot to save on, there is not a lot to trim.  I don’t like waste and excess.

I have decided to collect memories and not material stuff. Still, I do have more material stuff than I need.

So here we go, to trim bills and live light!

Update: Now in January 2024, I still get surprised by my IRS bills, but I am happy to report that I buy less and less. Material stuff never made me feel happy.  I spend on what brings me joy: vacations and treating my family.