ok so the ramblings of sunday(?) Saturday(?) whatever, got me to thinking about how once it is payday we (i.e. myself included) run out and spend more of the money than we really *think* we should on things we've been putting off.

So i was walking the dog last night and it happened to be trash night. I realized that everyone on the next block from us had some major box in their trash -- from cereal case box to stereo, to you name it. Which kind of made me laugh to think that maybe no matter what your payday is like, you want to spend some of the $$ right away.

rambling still, i know, I'm kind of in a hurry (at work)

that led to, I wonder if when we're out of graduate school and have a real job that pays $$, rather than loans + a small living stipend, will it be any different. And my conclusion was no. That basically I am not going to become the next rockafeller, nor do i want to devote my entire existence to thinking about money. therefore there will always be something I don't have that I want. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. For instance I *want* to spend money on NPR. I want to spend money on new jeans for me. and I want a million things (material goods and other such things). And likely i will spend money on those kinds of things. I think the big thing will be finding a way to maintain some sort of cushion (like we've managed to scrape together now) and to spend responsibly regardless of income.

can i live on 12 grand a year? yep. i do right now. but do i want to forever? no. there are some things in life that i am willing to work hard for -- among them college educations and national public radio. Everyone has theirs - organic food, etc.

did that make sense to anyone?