On Accounting...An Emotional Topic

So, I just spent the last several hours going through my credit card statements of the last 6 months (since I've been in San Diego), matching them with my receipts, and inputting them into Quicken. Now, before I go on, I should say that my mother taught me better. It doesn't take several hours if you just do it every month. But I didn't. I don't know why - it's not like I've been busy with a job.

Oh, but I've been busy... and it's evident in my credit card statements. I remember once in my eighth grade English class, we got a printout of a fictitious person's checkbook ledger, and we had to write a short story about that person based on where they spent their money. I don't know if I'm just pointing out what a nerd I am because I remember assignments from eighth grade English, but I really liked doing it. We had to be creative, but we weren't just given free reign - we had to be creative within a set of rules, or boundaries, and I loved that. It was a challenge. Plus, I generally like to follow the rules...shocker, I know. But, I digress.

The point is, the places we spend our money really do tell a story about us. And the story of the last six months was staring up at me from my credit card statements. As I input each transaction, I felt like I was reliving the circumstances surrounding that transaction. Next to going through my old journals, I've never done anything which has quite so vividly brought up the emotions and memories of the past. The anticipation of moving to San Diego, the fear and the excitement; the homesickness and longings to be with people who know me; the depression; the joyful moments; the busyness of travel (I've got transactions from 6 States!); the vulnerability as I shared myself with my new roommate over Pad Thai; the delight that comes with having good friends to go to lunch with in San Diego; it really was a roller coaster of emotions. I know, I know, accounting isn't generally considered an emotional occupation. But I challenge you to look at your spending over the last six months (and actually think about what you were purchasing - "Target", "Safeway", and "Bed, Bath and Beyond" turn into "Lydia's birthday designer jeans", "All the fixings for a roommate Christmas feast", and "a wedding present for Dustin and Lori"), and NOT be affected emotionally.

And, on another note, I could save tons of money each month by getting drip coffee rather than a special drink when I go to any of myriad coffee shops. That may seem obvious, but I just didn't think about it until I entered "Starbucks" for the umpteenth time, right after entering "Cutter's Point" for the umpity-teenth time. It's worth at least trying...