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So Long, Money

(anyone want to guess how much is shown in the photo?)

Now that it's not sitting on my bed anymore, let's talk about money.

I am not used to handling large amounts of money. I don't particularly like handling large amounts of money. It is strange to walk home from the bank with almost half my yearly salary in my purse. It is strange to be responsible for the precise accounting of said money. Being in charge of the money was probably the most stressful part of my recent trip to the UK.

Three weeks later, with the leftover cash safely in the bank, the largest cheque I have ever written ready to return it to its proper owners, and a budget that is finally and happily balanced, I am relieved to wash my hands of it all.


I've realized that I don't really care about money. I mean, obviously, it matters. I need to live. I like to buy things - mostly clothes and music and experiences. But money is not something that excites me. So long as I am paying my bills, it's not something that makes me feel happy. The thought of having more than I do right now actually stresses me out. Because then I'd be accountable for using and saving and doing right by it.

More money = more responsibility. And while I don't agree with the extremes they take it to, I think MxPx was on to something...

Comments

  1. It was budget finishing day for project, huh? I hate cost accounting with the force of a thousand winds. Every time some expects me to balance a budget, we seem to end of disagreeing and in serious conflict. Blech.

    You're clearly a better human being than I am. And you know? I'm comfortable with that.

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