However, our economy has forced us to do so :( Boyfriend and I aren't exactly in the poor house nor our we "The Joneses" every one is trying to live up to. Regardless, 2008 has proven to be an expensive year. We moved states (although Boyfriend's move was taken care of by his new company, mine was not as I stayed in Houston about two months longer), we bought a townhouse, and our cost of living went up to live in the state of Florida. Our biggest hit by far was the townhouse. Buying a home in a secured yacht club community by the water was a pretty penny. And, everyone knows there are ALWAYS additional expenses when you move. For instance, our corner unit computer desk didn't fit properly against the flat wall that we had to put the computer desk in the new house - so there went an additional $265 at Target for a new desk that matched and fit against the wall. The entertainment center we had didn't fit in the recessed entertainment knook in the living room - $400 on a new solid wood dark brown-finished entertainment center that can hold a 50 inch plasma screen tv. Custom-made drapes for the large sliding glass door to the balcony at the third-floor master bedroom because not one store carried drapes tall enough, 2 sets of drapes for the two sliding glass doors on the second floor that leads to the main balcony, plantation shutters for the rest of the windows in the house. I could go on...
So 2009 will be a "skinny" year for Rice Spice, Boyfriend, and Otis. We spent over an hour on setting up our 2009 budget on the MSN Money program last night. Boyfriend is an absolute bean counter when it comes to his personal finances. Always planning for the future. Always staring at his projected budget scale on his MSN Money chart. I pay my bills and the rest just kind of goes where it goes. Can you tell that opposites attract? Hehehe.
He has finally convinced me to sit down and do a budget with him to track our 2009 expenses as a couple. Even after 4 years together, knowing we're going to grow old together, and that what's mine is his and what's his is mine, it's still weird to formally put some big graph chart together to document our finances. I guess it's just that I find it funny that being single for so many years and independently doing these things myself has made it weird to "officially" do these things with another person. It's like learning to share you crayons at school all over again....lol. I don't mind though. I wouldn't share my crayons with anyone else... Hmmm.... is there an innuendo in that statement?
Anyway, our initial budget was just not going to have us saving much at all by the end of 2009. Since Otis adds to the expenses this upcoming year, we have to find something else to cut back on in equivalent to what we think all his food, vet visits (planned or unplanned), toys, etc would cost. That's definitely NOT coming out of my manicure and pedicure fund....lol. So we decided that we still need to trim more fat all the way around. We're shaving off more from the dining out and entertainment budget to keep our vacation budget - prioritize - but we've still got some tweaking to do before we feel it's a reasonable budget.
All the staring at numbers reminds me how much I hate math. Did I ever tell you my theory about Asian? There are two types of Asians in the world. Those who do math and science and those who do hair and nails. I am neither... BUT I do have fantastic hair and well-manicured nails :)
Ok, it's time for me to tuck the dog into bed so that he can nap away while I get ready for work. Have a great weekend!!
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