Only a Kind Of Premium Adult

Way back when Doug and I first got married- I paid the bills.  Then there was a situation with the mortgage check and . . . . I declared I was no longer into that responsibility and Doug would forever be the "Bill Payer" and I would live in ignorance of our financial day to day life.  

Don't go thinking I'm completely clueless.  I mean- to a degree I am.  But- I was the "Bill Filer." so I have rough ideas of how much our bills are and lived within a budget that was never fully discussed- but accepted.  (A total side story- about 3 years ago I was recommended to serve on the Volunteer Advisory Board for our bank.  Me.  ME?!?!  At that time, I didn't even know how to login to our accounts online because I forgot my password and had no idea how to proceed (I know now).  I didn't know how to pay a bill or do anything- and I was serving on this board. My family and I had a lot of good laughs about this.)

Another reason I am not the "Bill Payer" is because spending more than $150 stresses me out.  For many years- when we had to make big purchases- Doug had to handle them.  Buy a new refrigerator?  Doug did it.  Buy new washer and dryer?  Doug did it.  I hid at home.   I told him what features were important to me- and otherwise did not care.  I didn't want to know how much they cost.  Ignorance was a blissful luxury.  

Last May- I decided I couldn't bear the smell of our dog stinky couches. We half-heartedly looked at furniture through the summer- but I had something pretty specific in mind and the things we were seeing were not making me happy.  Finally, I decided I could stand it no more and decided it was time for real to shop. But Doug shocked me and was like, "You go.  I don't want to." 

WHAT?!?!?!?!?! 

I was torn between shock that he didn't care and indignation that he was making me get out of my comfort zone and be aware of how much money was being spent!  AND I had to talk/deal with salespeople.  All by myself!!!!  How dare he make me do these adult things!!!!  

A friend and my mom coached me up- and I went to my first store.  I was in the store 30 minutes.  Left with a date my furniture would be delivered.  It turns out- I can shop for furniture and deal with salespeople and spend money all by myself.  

Today I did another adult thing.  I set up the Autopay to pay the bill.  All BY MYSELF!!!!  (well- sort of.  I had to keep asking Doug, "Is this right?"  LOL) Now I am in charge of paying 3 bills: the trash, the furniture, and the propane.  I'm so good at paying bills- I paid the trash bill twice in one month because I forgot I set up Autopay for that one.  Whoops.  

Doug was paying the bills yesterday- and I said, "oh good thing. In case you have some kind of mishap while you're in Nashville later this week- I'll have at least a month before I have to call your sister and see if she'll help me learn how to pay all the other bills."  And there you have it- I'm a premium adult . . . almost.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm BACK!

 I had no idea I took a 3 year hiatus from blogging.   My last post was in 2022.  2022!!!!!!!!!!  OMG.  Since then one of my kids graduated high school AND college and got a real, grown up job.  The other kid moved up from middle school and is in high school, has a permit and I really want her to find a job so I can stop being her ATM.   Why did I take a break from blogging?  I'm not sure.  I guess I was feeling like I had nothing particularly amazing to share with the world.  And I was struggling with what I was putting out into the world.  Like- was I an over-sharer?  Was it self absorbed to think people cared?  Was I actually enhancing the world in a positive way? But lately I have been missing it.  I have had thoughts that I wanted to puzzle through.   See, I recently realized . . . I am a premium adult (as one of my kids says).  A little over a year ago- I realized I am the same age as my...
Read more

An Unexpected Boyfriend, I mean Accountability Partner

Image
Way back at the beginning of June- this past summer- I decided I needed to get back to consistent exercising.  I had gotten away from it- and I could tell.  I was having some trouble with plantar fasciitis- and decided swimming would be a good exercise for me to do because my feet wouldn't be bothered.   I hadn't really exercised in months, and I hadn't swum laps in a super long time.  I decided I would start slow.  I mean- I could probably swim 30 laps, right?  The great thing about committing to exercising in the summer is that I can get up and go at a reasonable morning time (that is a relative term. I like to be there around 7:30- 8am.  During the school year- I would have to be there at 5am . . . . which is why I haven't been going in the morning. LOL).  So, day 1 of swimming- I was in the pool by 7:30ish.  I was aiming for 30 laps.  Slow and steady was the name of my game.   I reached 30 laps- barely.  I stood a...
Read more

Coffee Troubles

 I have a very strict morning routine that I have been doing for years.  I do not veer from this routine hardly ever because sacred things should not be altered.  My coffee is on a timer, so that it is waiting for me on school mornings when I wake up at 5am, sit in the dark drinking a big glass of water, followed by my bigger cup of coffee.  I play "Pips," "Wordle," "Connections," and solve my crossword.  At 6am I am ready to get up from the couch, hit the shower and start the day.  This routine has made the biggest difference in my morning pleasantness.   Awhile back I realized I was unable to drink the ginormous cup of coffee that I was drinking.  It was making me too full, so I started using a smaller cup.  At first, I was thrilled!  That meant I went through my coffee grounds at a slower pace.  But then I was sad that I didn't have as much to drink. Then my coffee maker started . . . . being weird.  I used a percolator...
Read more