Money not Enough

It is interesting how lifestyle easily matches up to income. When Daddy Lim and I got hitched 6 years ago, our pay was much lower and we spent most of it. Savings only exist during bonus time. Now, 6 years later and with 2 kids in the picture, we are still at Square 1!!! Our lifestyle has somehow quietly crept alongside with the increase in pay cheque and we still end with almost nothing in our pockets at the end of each month. Hmmm… where did all the $$ go?

I do not think that we are spendthrift. Thinking back, I do not even see a significant change in lifestyle. We still visit food courts, there aren’t many branded stuff at home, we are still driving a decently humble car… Should we then be putting the blame on inflation? But I do realize that we do give lesser thoughts now when it comes to purchases, big and small alike. The kids at also at the receiving ends; we have subconsciously tried to soothe our feeling of guilt of not spending enough time with them via purchases. You will understand if you see the amount of toys at home or the amount of useless and unnecessary stuff that we buy for the kids bcos Lil Shauna says “pleasssseeeeee”. And it is not fair to didi if we only buy for jiejie.

We have some financial plan in the pipeline and have decided to tighten our belts. Unexpectedly, it is difficult. In comparison, I am the thriftier one at home and I already found the attempt tough. So it is probably worse for Daddy Lim. The urge to want to spend $$ is huge, amazingly tempting. Like yday, we were walking around JP after dinner while waiting for the kids. Daddy Lim was dying to spend $$ and I had to constantly stop him. Myself? I ended up buying a pair of shoes for my mum (hers spoilt liao), a cheap singlet for Lil Isaac, a swimming float for Lil Shauna and a swimming cap for Felicia (I promised her). I was actually glad to spend $$ even when they are necessities. Still, it doesn’t come with that instant gratification that comes with spending $$ on “wants”. I was surprised when I realized the different emotions tagged to spending $$. No wonder retail therapy works wonder.

So did I feel good after spending $$? This morning, while looking through the receipts, I was appalled at the amount that I had spent last evening over that small number of items and I am knocked back to reality. Well, that is until the next time that I am overtaken by the illogical urge to spend $$. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim