As I move away from being dependent on the consumer experience and my place as a good capitalist, I find myself more aware of my dependence on relationships, community, family, household, government, friends, neighbors, plants, animals, and the environment.
Case in point: I got a notification today that my amazing partner had taken care of the Ambercon Northwest membership. He has a fund that he uses for dates--we've both put some money into it--but he's put about ten times more in than I have. I don't have to think about the con, worry about details, or keep saving and managing money for it all year only to spend it last minute on clothes, books, teddy bears, fabric I may never use, and 40 vacuum sealing bags that I buy because vacuum-sealing bags are my new favorite thing. I admit it, frankly: I don't manage money well. Hello Wallet tells me I regularly spend 136% of what I deposit. This experiment is forcing me to take another long, hard look at all the little ways I fritter that money away. I am coming to see that having a low income is no excuse. For years I've used the argument that "there's no way to live in Seattle on what I get from disability without revolving debt." Buying nothing takes away that reasoning. Of course I can make it without spending more than what I make. I just have to give up expensive habits, and work on becoming less of an ideal target for any marketing scheme that appeals to a desire for instant escape.
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ArchivesAuthorVirginia Lore enjoys living life as an experiment and frequently steps out of her comfort zone -- when she's not hiding out in her room with the covers over her head that is. You may email her: [email protected] |