There is one trapping of adulthood that I have been looking forward to for years: home ownership. And, it's finally happening. I have been ready to buy a home (well, emotionally ready - not financially ready) for years. So why do I feel like I am going to throw up?
I am sure my nausea is due in no small part to the two pounds of paperwork sent to us by the bank. When my husband saw the overwhelmingly large packet he asked, "Is there a rectal examine in there too?" While there is no literal rectal examine, there is most definitely a figurative one. To buy a home, one must bend over and spread the one's financial cheeks wide open while the bank roots around in there to make sure you are worthy of paying them interest for the next 30 years.
In order to prepare for the momentous occasion that is closing on the home, we are currently in what I like to refer to as "budget lockdown." This means, no shopping, no meals out, no happy hours, and no trips to Whole Foods without a plan and a list. Basically, this means no fun at all. I feel like a junkie who is trying to get clean (for the record, I don't actually know how a junkie feels as I have never even smoked pot - I am extrapolating what it must be like based on my extensive television watching). The first couple weeks of budget lockdown were fine - no big deal. But this week, week three, I started to get the proverbial shakes. I have been insanely grumpy and bitchy, because spending money makes me happy. I am an amazing consumer and a tremendous supporter of the economy. In short, I have a spending problem. It's not to say that I can't be frugal (and am being frugal and will continue to be frugal). I am just saying that it sucks most of the joy from my life when I am frugal.
Stopping for coffee, going out for lunch, or picking up something shiny and new helps me deal with the drudgery of normal life. I know what you're thinking (probably). You might be thinking, "why can't you do those things once in a while?" Well, because for me self control is like a muscle - the harder I work it, the stronger it becomes. If I treat myself, it can become a slippery slope. So, until this new regime is an ingrained habit, I am living under self-imposed austerity measures.
We close some time in December or January (yay for new construction). So, there is an end in sight, and I am keeping focused on the goal. I'm going to own a home of my very own, and maybe that will be the first step toward not just being an adult - but feeling like one too.
I am sure my nausea is due in no small part to the two pounds of paperwork sent to us by the bank. When my husband saw the overwhelmingly large packet he asked, "Is there a rectal examine in there too?" While there is no literal rectal examine, there is most definitely a figurative one. To buy a home, one must bend over and spread the one's financial cheeks wide open while the bank roots around in there to make sure you are worthy of paying them interest for the next 30 years.
In order to prepare for the momentous occasion that is closing on the home, we are currently in what I like to refer to as "budget lockdown." This means, no shopping, no meals out, no happy hours, and no trips to Whole Foods without a plan and a list. Basically, this means no fun at all. I feel like a junkie who is trying to get clean (for the record, I don't actually know how a junkie feels as I have never even smoked pot - I am extrapolating what it must be like based on my extensive television watching). The first couple weeks of budget lockdown were fine - no big deal. But this week, week three, I started to get the proverbial shakes. I have been insanely grumpy and bitchy, because spending money makes me happy. I am an amazing consumer and a tremendous supporter of the economy. In short, I have a spending problem. It's not to say that I can't be frugal (and am being frugal and will continue to be frugal). I am just saying that it sucks most of the joy from my life when I am frugal.
Stopping for coffee, going out for lunch, or picking up something shiny and new helps me deal with the drudgery of normal life. I know what you're thinking (probably). You might be thinking, "why can't you do those things once in a while?" Well, because for me self control is like a muscle - the harder I work it, the stronger it becomes. If I treat myself, it can become a slippery slope. So, until this new regime is an ingrained habit, I am living under self-imposed austerity measures.
We close some time in December or January (yay for new construction). So, there is an end in sight, and I am keeping focused on the goal. I'm going to own a home of my very own, and maybe that will be the first step toward not just being an adult - but feeling like one too.
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