My generation was taught that you never asked anyone what they paid for
something/anything as that was a private matter. Today that has been completely
turned around as people will ask what you paid for your home, car, clothes, TV,
cell phone or whatever.
I am not asking you to say out loud or put down in writing what you spend on
various things but just to mentally see what you are spending on what you need
and/or what you want, what is important to you, what is bought to 'keep up with
the Jonses', the waste you create in everyday life.
Don't get me wrong--I would probably want/would get a lot of 'things' you
have, take for granted, but, bottom line is that I can't afford them and live
quite well without them.
I have only myself to be responsible for so whatever I do make is spent on me
which is an advantage over many people.

As most of you know I am poor financially, not only by the government's
standards but by most of society and yet because of that I live better than many
of you. The only money I have, and get monthly, is my social security check for
$975. Out of that I have to pay $275 in rent
for my large one bedroom apartment overlooking the intercostal and I pay $28.62 for cable TV consisting of
61 channels including HBO and Showtime. My telephone bill runs between $6-7 a
month. I don't make ANY long distance calls and get a $14 'lifeline' credit. I
have no other out of pocket need expenses--go ahead and ask about what you want--no, I don't pay electricity as
it is included in my rent. My HMO covers ALL my medical expenses except
occasionally a $6 prescription co-pay.

We all have different priorities and, as anyone who knows me, mine is dining
out, movies and theatre. I do not save for a rainy day, never have and won't
start now at the age of 73. Of course being retired in a way limits my income
but it also limits my outgo!!  :O)

Okay, now let's see what income you have monthly and what you spend it on and
what you consider 'necessities' and how much you have to spend on 'frivolous'
things.

How much do you pay monthly for
rent/mortgage/maintenance fees?
How much are your monthly car payments?

How much do you pay for house/rental insurance? Car insurance? License? Tag
fees? Registration fee? (Divide by 12 months.) Gas? Oil?

How much have you paid for home/car repairs this year? (Divide by 12 months.)


How much did your cell phone cost? How much does your phone plan cost? How
much is your land line bill every month? Water bill? Electricity bill?

How much do you pay for cable? High speed Internet?
Netflix? How much did you DVD player
cost?

How much have you paid for video games? Gym fees? Golf fees? Alcohol?
Cigarettes?
And what have I missed?? Haircuts? Beauty parlors? Spas?

The reason I am bringing this up is quite a few people have asked me how I
could afford to eat out so often and go to the movies every Friday, and once in
awhile on Tuesdays--it's all choice. I choose a dinner and have dial up. I don't
want/need a cell phone so I can go to a movie.
I don't have a car--let's not get into want/need here LOL--so I have money for dinners and theatre
and movies. Yes, I would like high speed Internet--in fact just checked it
out--but I find it too expensive and, besides, what's my rush?

I didn't worry about investments or losing money
when the recession started or now as I don't have money to lose. I don't worry
about identity theft because who wants to take a poor man's identity?

I have the necessities: shelter, clothes and food
but most important I have friends--who needs cell phones, high speed Internet,
etc.????