Shaking the Piggy Bank

Every year I fall into the “goals” trap. I think it’s because the shiny new year stretches before me and makes me think anything is possible. This year I have goals in two primary areas – writing and getting out of debt.

The writing goals are important and I’ve talked about them before. But the “getting out of debt” goals might be even more urgent.

If I could go back to the Betsy of 30 years ago, I would tell her not to get into debt in the first place. I would tell her to do without rather than charging stuff. I would tell her that the stuff she charges isn’t going to be worth a flea’s sigh in a couple of years anyway. I would tell her to save money for things. I would tell her that debt is like a bad marriage that never ends. I would tell her that debt is a way of selling yourself into slavery, that it’s a huge rock you have to carry around, that it just gets heavier and heavier as time goes on.

I know sometimes you have to go into debt – there are all sorts of valid reasons why you would. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about unsecured debt. Credit card debt. I’m talking about “I need it NOW” debt. That’s the debt that’s killing me. I think you sell yourself down the river most of the time, not by having a massive emergency, but because you can’t control yourself when you’re at the Target. Or on Amazon. Or at the grocery store.

So, 2012 is the year I begin getting out of debt. Again. I’ve tried before, but I’m really determined this time. I’m not getting any younger, and I don’t like the fact that the massive amount of debt I’m carrying keeps me from having the freedom to do things I’d like to do. Instead I must slave for the bill payments. And then I get discouraged and go shopping and add to them.

No more.

And thus, my friends, I have developed a strange and frightening thing. It is called a “Bud-get”. Huh. A budget. A plan for my money for the month. Look at that. *pokes budget*

Do you hear that sound? That’s the sound of pennies squealing as they are pinched. Feel that moisture? That’s from juice being wringed out of dollar bills. Sense the uncertainty? That’s me saying – “Can I Do It? Well, CAN I?”

Yes, I can.

I just don’t want to.

Because the thing about budgeting is you realize how much money you really have. And it’s not nearly as much as what you THINK you have.

I like it better when I think I have more money, not less.

But I’m going to do it. I won’t be out of debt this year but I’m going to get a good start on it.

You might want to wish me just a wee bit of luck. ‘Cause baby, I’m going to need it.