All About the Benjamins and Monica from Friends

A week away from Thanksgiving, and I'm proud to say I've already started Christmas shopping. Back in October, I sat down at the table and make a carefully budgeted list of who to shop for, how much to spend per person, and on which pay periods I would allow myself to make the purchases; oddly enough, these strict limitations have put me more at-ease with the whole gift-giving process than simply buying to my heart's content like I did last year, when I was carelessly tossing out comments like "To hell with budgeting" and "How can you put a price on family?" and proceeded to fund hundreds of dollars of holiday cheer courtesy of Mr. Visa, back when I could make such decisions with the knowledge there'd be a three-thousand-dollar tuition refund check waiting in the wings next semester. Now I'm having nightmares about the student loans I'll start paying next month and scouting out which interstate junctions to frequent with my little tin cup and cardboard box. Now I'm thinking, "I can TOTALLY put a price on family."

In the short time we've been living together, Luke and I have managed our money pretty well. We've followed Suze's advice and made it a point to pay our bills together each month, and I even sent in the paperwork for a rebate from my contact lens provider, who shall not be named here because I hate rebates and lose respect for any manufacturer that issues them. If you REALLY wanted to give me a break, Contact Lens Provider, you wouldn't make me pay for the damn lenses in full and then demand I mail in not only my original sales receipt but also the UPC codes from each lens box, just in case I'm a thief with the deplorable habit of stealing NON-CASH PIECES OF PAPER THAT ARE NOT DOLLAR BILLS from my fellow man. Then, once I've proved my worth as a customer and a human being, I have to wait six to eight weeks before you'll reluctantly hand over forty freakin' bucks. For cripe's sake, get over yourselves.

Anyway. During our Christmas shopping on Tuesday, somehow the second season of Scrubs and the tenth (final!) season of Friends found their way onto our conveyor belt, two purchases that were not Christmas purchases at all but in fact superficial material additions to our apartment, because they were each on sale and even though I thought the last season of Friends was sort of *eh* I was suddenly dying to complete my collection that. very. minute because the cover was such a breathtaking shade of magenta and Courteney Cox's hair looked really pretty. Plus, Luke loves Scrubs and I hadn't seen the second season and really, people, we don't even have cable, aren't we allowed ANY earthly pleasures?

Obviously, there's room for improvement.

I think it will be easier to save money when there's a lot less of it going around. Once the loan checks start going out, suddenly a smart celebrity hairstyle won't be sufficient grounds to blow thirty dollars, especially when we could use that dough to upgrade to a better brand of toilet paper or perhaps stock up on Ramen noodle soup.

Note to self: Begin construction of cardboard box. Also, purchase tin cup.

Comments

[Luke]

Still, we have yet to watch any shows on those DVD sets that we had to have so badly a few days ago.

[Molly]

Another way to look at family is that we are "priceless" (meaning with no price); hence, we really do NOT need all the lovely and thoughtful presents that Luke and Frema always buy. Although the Panini-maker is one of the best presents ever, your families are happy with your company at the holidays.

However, if things get too difficult, we can always send grilled sandwiches to the cardboard box address.

[Mark]

I have many boxed sets that I just had. to. have. that I have yet. to. watch. as well. TV on DVD is the devil.

[Sambo V.]

Oh you can borrow my 1st season of Roseanne and that could help you deal with no Cable! ;)

[Number Twelve]

Hey! Now that you've got InDesign on your computer you get do some layout work on the side. I know of a company that will keep you busy. :-)

[Daddy D.]

I will for "Work for Food" makes a good sign; then, people stop by and give you money because they do not actually want to give you work.

[Kayte Marie]

I love that you posted & understand exactly where I'm coming from! Also, If you don't mind I would love to do 100 fun facts about myself much like you did on your blog -- let me know if that's okay!
Love
Kayte

[Liz]

The only TV show we own on DVD is Freaks and Geeks, a wonderful but wrongfully short-lived show...