I'm not a spender!

I’m not a spender! I kidded a friend who is the landlord of the family farm (i.e. she is maybe 80+ and widowed) that with all the money the farmers are making here locally, she will have to raise the rent to her daughter and son-in-law. She said—no, ya gotta treat family right! I don’t need much money, I’m not a spender!

MissPerfect says--The things that I can't have I want. And what I have seems second-rate. The things I want to do I can't. And what I have to do I hate. MissPerfect, you sound rather pessimistic to me. Joesixpack says--I don’t thing I would like to live with you. Are you ever satisfied? I don’t think I could afford you; you would be toooooooo high maintenance for me. You would drive me crazy with your attitude. MissPerfect says—I’m really not a spender (i.e. sounds like she needs a big spender). Ya right! You and I probably would never get along. Such is life.

I wouldn’t consider myself a spender (i.e. it all depends on who you compare me to I guess). I like value for my dollar is my thinking. ANYWAY I love much about small town. I met a friend for breakfast recently and was ten minutes late. My watch was slow—needed a new battery I guessed. So after breakfast I went to the True Value and they put a new one in for me for $4.06. Now that is small town folks. I just plain love that. So I started talking with the owners who, of course I have known for years. I don’t remember exactly how we got talking about this but—They met at Arlyns’ Department Store maybe about 44 years ago. It was her college job doing security for a company that Arlyns’ contracted with and Bob was the assistant manager. She said to him that his tie and shirt didn’t match one day. He took off his sport coat and he had a large coffee stain on his shirt. She gave him a hard time about that—he said he didn’t have any clean shirts. She said she would do his laundry for him. She said—he paid me once!!!! He’s not a big spender folks! He said—so I started dating her—it was cheaper to date her than to pay for her doing my laundry!!!!! He also told her he was studying to be a priest—you fell for that—ya, I must have been naive. They have been married for 42 years. Such is life.  PS  His dress still looks about the same!!!!

I said to Arlene—Man you have it hot in the house! I’m cold and I don’t like to be cold; don’t you turn it down. I just came from someone’s house and I about froze. We can afford it; I don’t want to be cold; you just take off some of your cloths if you’re hot! Maybe she thinks I’m not a spender; you think?

Woman’s Boutiques attract SusieQ (i.e. she thinks she’s a major celebrity) like road kill attracts buzzards! MissPerfect says—that is why they advertise—‘cause she is just a sucker for buying stuff. She a spender and her husband is not a spender. Ouchy ouchy! Do you think there seems to be a spender and a non-spender in most marriages? Are there ever two spenders? How about two non-spenders? Saturday question—Are you a spender or a non-spender? Is a spending habit learned or is it genetic? SusieQ, was your mother a spender? My mentor says—You can’t tell how much money a guy has by how he dresses but you can by how his wife dresses!

Last Saturday morning, my friend Aaron age 11, and I went and had breakfast at Penny Penguin down town A’town. I gave Aaron some money to go to the counter and pay. We each had 2 eggs, toast, he had orange and I had coffee. The bill was $6 and something. Aaron said to me—Man that’s not much! Then he and I went over to my MyFreindJean’s place and we played Mexican train dominoes. We all had a good time (i.e. Aaron and I had never played that before). Ya don’t have to be a big spender to have a good time. Here is another example—Sunday night I went into the sun porch and watched the most beautiful, magnificent fall sunset for about 45 minutes. It was out of this world (i.e. my opinion). And it didn’t cost me anything. Such is life in my head!

Last Saturday night I took Arlene on a cheap date (i.e. I’m not a spender). We went to a metro church and then to HyVee for Chinese. The kid at the cash register asked—do you have a 2for1 coupon—no—do you have one for us—yes I do. So it was really a cheap date. We bought a few grocers while we were there. Nate, the checkout, reminded me about a song sung by the Brothers Four that I use to listen to during my college days. I purchased some herring fillets in wine sauce (i.e. one of my favorites @ $2.89/lb—mabye I’m a spender). Nate was checking us out and checked my pickled herring and said—I really like pickle herring too. Then he said—but if I eat them all the time I don’t care for them as much; Ya have to eat them like an occasional treat. ANYWAY the song goes like this, "After You've been Eating Steak a Long Time, Beans Taste Fine": Now a friend of mine, way back in Chicago You know, he finally made his pile. Well he got himself a mansion on Butler and Sheff An' h He was livin' in the latest style; But I run into him, he was eatin' in a greasy spoon While parked in front was his big limousine. I said, "Buddy, you've got so much money How come you're in here, eatin' beans?" An' he said After you've been havin' steak for a long time Beans, beans taste fine. An' after you've been drinkin' champagne and brandy You gonna settle for wine. He said "The world is funny, and people are strange And man is a creature of constant change, and After you've been havin' steak for a long time Beans, beans taste fine." Hey, I did put something in the collection plastic pail at the church!!!!!!!

The Rebublicans’ battle cry was—we are not spenders! We’ll see now won’t we. Seems to me that we have heard all this before. Talk is cheap but who likes to tell someone that your payment will no longer be in the mail and we are going to have to increase your taxes! Ya can’t spend more than you make; it just ain’t going to work very long. But then you can print more money (i.e. have infation—usually the way governments get out of debt). And the cycle continues. You ever notice how folks are always suckers when they think they can get something for nutten (i.e. it works every time). ANYWAY GerogeTheCrook says--the easiest way to get rich is still to inherit it or marry it.

Recently some friends and I were talking about the aesthetic look of the church we attend.  One of the friends said--I'm not interested in the aesthetic look; I didn't even notice the situation that you guys are talking about.  I'm more interested in the economical side of  situations (i.e. he's a money guy--saver&giver I think).  When we were departing, I asked him what's really important to him--He said--relationships.  So I would guess he spends most of his time thinking about relationships (i.e. and he probably does).  This friend is an ascetic.   

LuckieEddie says--There are savers and there are spenders. The spenders might say—how come they have some money for retirement? Da! Have you ever noticed that it’s a lot easier to spend someone else's money than your own (e.g. any government organization). There is an old saying that goes something like this—One generation makes it (i.e. saves it) and the next generation spends it. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~Thomas A. Edison~ ~ Ya it takes work to change your spending habits. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits (i.e. that’s from the Book folks)…You will never change your life until you change something you do daily (i.e. this isn’t). Haven’t heard anything from the Ol’Viking for a while but I would guess he would say something like this—The best time to start saving is right now. Suggestion (i.e. not advice)--If you are struggling with your spending, find a mentor and get some advice.  Why do you want to continue to hit your head against the wall.  But don't be surprised if it's hard to change your spending habits 'cause it is.  Do you really think you can give 10% to God, save 10% and live on the rest?  I had an friend say to me recently--I never believed that when I would give 10% to God that things would be soooooo good for me; I didn't do it for that reason but WOW was I surprised!

I'm not a spender BUT I have an idea for you to spend. I took Arlene's car for the day this week and I really had a good experience.  She had the "Heart of Thanksgiving" CD in the player.  It is one of the best CD I think I every heard (i.e. it really affected me).  ANYWAY I asked her about it and she said we got it from Family Live (i.e. Weekend to Remember).  Free!  It's by Spring Hill Music Group, Inc.  I went on line to try to find it on Family Life but couldn't find it so I called them--no longer have it.  Sooooooo I looked on Amazon and yep you can get it there.  Used for $4.75 plus $3.99 shipping.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Heart+of+Thnaksgiving&x=16&y=16  I suggest you spend some of moldy money and get it.  I think it's a great investment (i.e. it's only money).  We spend millions trying to improve other parts of our life (e.g. golf lessons, makeup, self-help books, financial planning etc) so $8.74 is small in comparison.  That's my opinion.  I mean this CD really affected me. 

I bet some of you think I'm giving you hell when I talk about saving.  Well, I really am not.  ~ Former U.S. President, Harry S Truman commenting on the famous "Give 'em hell Harry" slogan shouted at his speeches.~I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans.  (-:

erv

KR's thought of the day--Don't pray for rain unless you're willing to put up with the mud.  MyFiendJean says--There is no scale or chart on earth to measure what a true friend is worth.