Guide to Spending All the Money

Ok. So recently I have decided, although unconsciously, to spend all of our hard earned money. Really, I wanted to rebuild our savings account as it was drained over a year ago in order to purchase my van and to put a down payment on my hubby's new vehicle. But since then it seems as though my goal is to spend money instead of saving it. Therefore, in order to hopefully break this terrible habit, I have decided to write a guide to spending all of the money that your hubby earns.

1. Go on a Disney Vacation during a recession. Although I planned the vacation in advance, I didn't not plan for a severe down turn in the economy. I did not plan for milk to cost $3.00 a gallon and gas to cost $4. I really should have foreseen this when I booked the airline tickets nearly 7 months before we went on our trip. Because of the rise in cost for the most basic of necessities, our savings account did not get replenished, it just got beaten down.

2. Buying fresh fruit, vegetables, soy milk and diapers. Unfortunately, I cannot live without diapers or the soy milk for Miss Chloe. Fresh fruits and vegetables somehow we can live without. It really stinks when purchasing these items can double your grocery bill to nearly double. This inflated grocery bill, once again put savings on hold.

3. Loose a bunch of weight. Yeah, you would think that weight loss would be a blessing. However, loosing weigh costs a lot of money as well. Not only is there the gym membership and healthier food, but you need new clothing. The possibility of saving shrank with both my hubby's and mine waistline. Did you realize that your feet can actually get smaller? I needed new shoes!

4. Give birth to Amazonian Children. My kids are tall and thin. (I have no idea really where this came from.) They are growing extremely fast, and therefore, are constantly in need of clothing and shoes. How is it fair that there is only a little lambs sale twice a year? I need clothes for them constantly! With their growth spurts also came spurts of spending money.

5. Go back to school. Now this is a given. School is expensive, however, there is no need for it to cost hundreds of dollars for a book or even thousands for a credit hour. I needed to go to Walsh. Why? Because they had an accelerated program that I thought might be better given my crazy schedule. Between books, supplies, and a laptop- savings had to take a hit.

6. Allow your children to go to preschool. I am not kidding. Is there a reason that public preschool is so far and in between? I pay a lot of money for my son to attend preschool. Chloe is very nearly potty-trained and my bill will go up by 40%. However, there is no foreseeable end to tuition for tots, our kindergarten charges $200 or more a month for your child to attend full-time. With our taxes, I am surprised at this. However, another way to spend money.....EDUCATION.

7. Get a job. Yea. This should be the opposite of spending money, earning it. However, for a housewife to get a job is a totally different matter. I had to buy clothing, get my haircut (really not optional, it had been 6 months.), get shoes, and any number of other necessities that normal people have. I couldn't take a traditional, 9 to 5 job with regular pay. No way, that may actually cause us to rebuild our savings. I took a job that pays somewhat based on commission with a fail safe pay, but really it's not much. It also calls for travel. So there goes gas money and there goes the point in getting a job.

8. Get into car accidents in your own driveway! Oh, yes, I did. I ran right into a truck in my own driveway. I took out the side view mirror on my 2006 Hyundai. Of course it had to be the nice car. Of course it had to be a truck belonging to a friend. I had to file a claim to be sure that our insurance would take care of our friends costs. I am not pleased with myself. However, there will now be even less in our savings account and a bigger insurance bill next year.

9. Have your appliances break. I know everyone is sick of hearing about my dishwasher. But I am spoiled and I NEED my dishwasher. There goes more money, right down the dishwasher drain. BTW my fridge is making a lot of noise and the lining of my microwave is chipping away! I can't wait for those to break!!!!

10. Get Cats. They are really expensive animals, I didn't realize. So much for avoiding $100+ vet bills.

11. Run the heat, turn on lights, wash anything. Wow utilities went up this year. I am truly considering thermal underwear, candles and a rock to beat our clothing on. I just had a 200+ electric bill. I have no idea why, all I know is that it was a lot of money.

12. Not knowing a plumber. We have a small leak that will end up costing us large amounts of money. I wish I knew a plumber, it really is just a small repair in a tight spot.

Well hopefully, savings will get better. However, I have a feeling that most of these money leeches will be around to stay. I am not bitching, I am just pointing out the best ways to spend all the money without wanting to. I am sure that everyone has their own money leeches and they are free to make a list too. This way, all the world can know how best to unconsciously spend.