On Shopping
February 07, 2007
As part of Project: Stay Out of Debt, I rarely go shopping for clothes for myself. Or, let me rephrase: I occasionally go shopping for clothes for myself, I rarely actually buy any thing that I find.
Roger and I have "fun money" built into our monthly budget so that we can buy anything we want without having to first ask the other. Within reason, I mean. If Roger spent $5,000 on a new tv without first discussing it with me, that might be an issue. But if he calls me every time he wants to buy a book? Or a CD? Gah.
Sometimes when I go shopping, nothing fits. Other times, I have good shopping days. Nay, great shopping days. Everything fits! Everything is cute! And on those days, I hate telling Roger how much I spent over my fun money budget. Because then I feel like I'm confessing to a priest, and frankly? I feel a little guilty. (And oddly justified because: clothes that FIT me!)
Today was that day.
"Sweetie!!!!!!"
[When I talk to Roger, I usually begin the conversation with a high-pitched greeting, one that typically omits or alters certain consonants so that it ends up sounding like "Seeeeeeddddddddiiiieeeee!!!!!!" and it always has just that many exclamation points. Sometimes more.]
"I went shopping on my lunch break. I bought a skirt. It was $12.99." [This is my way of easing him into the news.]
"That's great, babe."
[Encouraged by his good nature, I continue.] "Ummmm…I also bought a pair of pants."
"Oh, gosh. I can see where this is going. Just give me the bottom line and tell me everything you bought."
[Giggling.] "Okay. I bought a skirt, and two pairs of pants, and a shirt. And a cookie cutter. But they're all neutral colors and will go great with so many things and will totally be great if I get that new job, or even if I stay in this one! I mean, I don't even own a navy skirt, and the pants are that kind of material that…"
"A cookie cutter!? Why do we need that?"
"Because one day we might have kids who want cookies at Easter-time, and it's shaped like a bunny. For Easter."
"Is that all?"
"I also bought two necklaces. They're soooooo cute! I can't wait for you to see them. One is black and has lots and lots of strands and buckles in the back with a little crocheted button. And the other has different shades of turquoise stones and is in three different layered lengths, and I really think it will look soooo cute with a black tank…"
"Well, I'm glad you have some things that you're excited about wearing and that you feel good about."
"Okay. Me too. Talk to you later!"
I think that went well, don't you?
Comments
Yeah! Im sure that went well. Wow! What a great husband you have there. I still have neglected to tell my husband that on Sunday when I went to have coffee with a friend I ended up buying $50 necklace from her collection :) I could justify it by telling him I got it at cost..hummm
Posted by: Judi | February 7, 2007 08:31 AM
You are officially my "call my husband for me because I spent too much money on new stuff" person. I'm VERY impressed!
I always start out by saying, "I got it on sale! It used to be $25.99, but I got it for $6.99! My husband ALWAYS asks me, "Well, how much would it have been if you didn't get it?" Nonsense.
Posted by: Melanie | February 7, 2007 09:24 AM
I have experienced the "Sweeeeettttiiiiieeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and you do a fine job of describing it.
Hahaha, I love your re-telling of your convos with Roger AND I can't wait to see all your fun new clothes, and the cookie cutter.
Posted by: Katie | February 7, 2007 10:04 AM
Wow. That was a lot of spending... I do the same thing, it's like I am on this Debt Diet and the very idea of not spending only makes me want to spend more!!! ERRRRR!
Posted by: eddo | February 7, 2007 10:36 AM
Why is it that when I have lotsa money for shopping, nothing fits, but when I'm broke EVERYTHING fits? And you just can't pass up clothes that fit!
I always start out telling my husband how much I SAVED. Like it was on sale for 10 dollars off...today I saved 10 dollars. He just doesn't understand my logic though and always wants to know how much I actually spent. Gah. Men.
Posted by: Karly | February 7, 2007 10:49 AM
I am the same way towards Kev and we're not even married!! Maybe I'm just practicing :)
I'm not one of those shoppers who can go in somewhere once or twice a week, mainly for pleasure, and just pick up one or 2 things...
When I shop, I usually go big. I figure if I'm in the mood I may as well take advantage of it...cause it doesn't happen often.
Posted by: rosie | February 7, 2007 11:26 AM
Ha! I am the one who gets those calls in my household. "I spent $100 more than I had in my personal account, but it was such a good deal!" Grrr. =)
I HATE that sometimes I cannot find one single item that fits, and other times I find 50 billion awesome things. I'm glad you found so many cool things!
Posted by: -R- | February 7, 2007 11:59 AM
I have fun money too! But i never stay within the limit.... and I'm afraid to up the fun money limit, because, i know that will just cost me more! grr! evil sales!!
Thats Awesome that you found so much stuff! Roger sounds so sweet! :)
Posted by: Aliza | February 7, 2007 12:24 PM
That's awesome. Your husband officially rocks.
Now you know I expect to see a picture of the cookies you make with your Easter cookie cutter.
And I'd also like to see pics of the necklaces! They sound cute! :)
Posted by: my life is brilliant | February 7, 2007 12:45 PM
I hate the shopping feast-or-famine phenomenon. Whenever I am in the mood to shop -- which is exceedingly rare -- I can't find a damn thing I like or they are out of my size. Grr! It certainly keeps my expenditures down, though.
I love the cookie cutter. That is so random.
Posted by: Lawyerish | February 7, 2007 02:51 PM
Hi, I just found you through Nothing But Bonfires. I love your site design!
Anyways, my hubby is similar. Except we don't have a Fun Money Fund. We just have the one single fund. So when I go shopping and actually buy stuff, he'll say "How much did you spend?" and I'll tell him, and then he'll be like *shrug* "that's fine as long as you think we can afford it and bills are paid" which of course they are otherwise I wouldn't have splurged. I think he just asks so he just has an idea of how much I spent. Which honestly only occurs like 4 times a year or less.
Posted by: Chiada | February 7, 2007 02:59 PM
Now, if this were my husband and he was that cool with me over spending it probably meant he already overspent on his fun money for the month as well!
Posted by: Julie | February 7, 2007 03:33 PM
Ah-ha! You're good! Yes! And that went very well. I try to more or less explain to him things I got but since we're financially partially seperate at the moment, it kind of works out.
Posted by: julianna | February 7, 2007 05:48 PM
Wow! that went great... but wait, when you'e married you have to confess your overspending sins to someone other than your credit card company??? Oh boy - maybe I'm not ready for this whole marriage thing...
Posted by: Courtney | February 7, 2007 06:09 PM
I always feel guilty if I spend over $20. $20 is like the magic number of guilt.
Posted by: AmStaff Mom | February 7, 2007 07:34 PM
And then you say, "However, I don't have the right black tank, so I'll need to buy one"
Posted by: Marmite Breath | February 8, 2007 08:43 AM
See! I knew it! You are the Chris of your relationship. Meaning, more sensically put, that you are just like my fiance. : ) He trekked to Target yesterday and tried to tell me (initially) that he only bought the shirt I saw him wearing. "Show me the receipt," I said, grinning. "Um..."
I love it.
Posted by: kerrianne | February 8, 2007 02:21 PM
What a sweetie he is! I'm glad that my hubby is pleased for me when I can find something that fits and looks nice, too!
:-)
Posted by: Jayleigh | February 8, 2007 08:14 PM
What a wonderful, understanding husband! Sounds like a keeper to me. :)
Posted by: Zandria | February 9, 2007 10:27 AM
That definately went as well as can be expected! I hate those conversations....I too ease into them and hate the feeling of confession and guilt.
Posted by: Mrs. M | February 13, 2007 01:58 PM