Who Said I'm A Grown-up?

I mean, really? It's not fair. Why do I have to act like one when I don't even feel like one yet?

When I think of the word "grown-up", I think of a lot of things like parenting, buying a responsible car, writing checks, junk mail, flossing, terry cloth bathrobes, and enjoying the taste of beets. Did I just describe myself? Um, don't tell anyone I'm not cool anymore.

But what I REALLY think of when I think "grown-up" is financial responsibility. Uggh, the dreaded term! Makes me want to run screaming to Nordstrom to blow my whole paycheck! What IS financial responsibility? I'll tell you what it means to me. It means saving and investing and retirement and insurance and college funds. Blech! What about new shoes, going out to dinner, and a new couch? No, those are not on the "financial responsiblity" list.

It's been nagging me forever that I can't be considered grown-up in this category yet because I'm just silly with money. I never learned how to manage it responsibly and the same goes for The Marshmallow. His idea of saving is to go out to have Sushi and not spend $250, just $200. Yeah, I know. How do you think the poor homeless guys that are holed up in the shelter across the street from the sushi joint feel?

So, I'm doing something about it. I started several months ago and I'm really making progress! Bills are getting paid off! The savings account has more in it than it has since we sold our last home and we're going to actually take a vacation this year and pay cash folks. Real. Live. Cash. It's a miracle. I even, get this, opened a retirement account and have, for the past 6 months, diligently been depositing rather large sums of money into it and so far.....have not withdrawn even a penny back out for an emergency. I'm committed to the cash system. I haven't used my credit card in 4 months! You guys, that's serious stuff! I may even convince myself to cut up the credit card...but I'm just not ready yet. It would be like cutting off my pinky at this point. Still just too painful.

We have that independent health insurance where our maternity deductible is $5,000. Whew! It's been a killer for both kids! But I'm happy to say that we will have Tink completely paid off in 2 weeks. She will actually entirely belong to us, at long last, lol!

Well anyway, this grown-up stuff is boring even if it does make me sleep better at night.