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I Only Need One
Keeping More Money In My Wallet
The past year has taught me a lot about finances.
Resigning from my job in March 2020 rocked and reworked my financial existence. Before the pandemic, I didn’t think about money. I had enough to pay my bills, enough to invest, enough for entertainment, enough to eat out for lunch every day, and enough to stop at CVS or Duane Reade before heading up to the office for work, in case I forgot a lipstick or felt like buying a magazine.
I look back on how much I spent on various items and wonder why I did so. I’m grateful that two weeks after I resigned, I was able to secure better employment in terms of reduced stress, but also with a reduced paycheck.
I don’t miss the stress and have grieved and overcome the loss of salary. Two things have helped me through the past year:
- I pay for most items in cash, reserving the use of credit cards for recurring expenses, such as my cable and cell phone bill. I then pay the credit card bill in full at the end of the month.
Paying cash for groceries and household items has curbed impulse spending. It has prevented me from buying things just because they are on the shelf and available. I ask myself if I need something, or if I want it.
- I tell myself, “I only need one.”
