Im glad I kept reading to page two... at first, I was thinking... Amateurs! These people are Amateurs! And then I found a kindred spirit in Laurie1041. Thank God.
One day was $950 in Clinique make-up which is really funny because the only make-up I wear is my permanent eyeliner. I have enough clothes that I literally would be able to wear a new outfit every day for about 18 months without ever doing my dry cleaning (yes, I bought dry clean only like the idiot I am) from Bloomingdales, Macy's, Coldwater Creek, Saks 5th. Everything in my kitchen is professional grade, Henkles (cant put in dishwasher), Calphalon (no dishwaher), Kitchen Aid, $900 espresso maker, bone china with platinum (that cant go in microwave or dishwasher) Waterford Crystal (again, no dishwasher), a Desktop, a Laptop and a Notebook computer (all just for my use). Oh, hair and facials... I would drop over $350 ever 6 weeks and that didn't include all the product I need to control my wicked thick hair. Why I thought that I really needed to spend $40 on shine drops alone is beyond reason. One dozen sets of sheets, 600 thread count or higher, 4 comforter sham and bedskirt sets (one for each season), and then lets count in all the little stuff like flat screen tvs (yes, multiple) 1st edition books and text books, new Scandanavian furniture throughout, dvds, bluerays, computer programs... it goes on and on and on...
I don't own stuff, my stuff owns me.
It was fine when I was used to making $80 K per year and had 3,000 square feet to play with. Now I am on disability at $13 K per year and share less that 900 square feet with a roommate (who keeps putting my china in the microwave)
I wouldn't shop until I was hypomanic or manic then look out. At one point, I had a $55,000 limit on one of my eight credit cards although I could only spend 10 k per day per card. When I realized I was out of control, rather than cutting up the cards, I put them in a pitcher of water and froze them. Next time I was manic, I thawed them in the microwave and off I went.
I too ended up making my mom my payee but in my case, for five years. I defaulted on all the credit cards and am so far in denial that I don't dare pull my credit report to find out how much I owe to whom because at 13 K per year, I don't have the ability to pay. Furthermore, in the state of Florida, you cannot file for bankruptcy if you have a psychiatric diagnosis. Finally, I have a ton of unpaid medical bills in the two year period between when I left my job and when Medicare kicked in including multiple trips to the ICU for life support on a ventilator after failed suicide attempts. Do you know how much they charge for one day in the ICU on a ventilator?
Today my motto is, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." I tear paper napkins in half. I use washable dishtowels rather than paper towels. I go to churches and missions for day old bread and food boxes (I am well under the poverty line, I qualify) and what I cant get there, I go to the dented can and wilted vegetable food stores. I have been SELLING off my designer clothes on EBay... five dollars here, five dollars there... it adds up. I have a list of free or very low cost hypomanic/manic activities. I have learned how to stretch one pound of meat for five days with all sorts of casserole recipes. Generic fat free yogurt is 4/$1.00 and make a great breakfast along with two scrambled eggs and donated coffee and the yogurt also doubles as dessert. One of my hypomanic activities is making a scarf of my own design that I sell on consignment at an exclusive boutique. I bring home $25 per scarf, I already have the yard from a previous shopping spree and it only takes 90 minutes to whip out the scarf. To keep my mind active, I take free online classes at MIT and buy my textbooks used from Abes Books (online) for about $4.00 each used and THEY pay the shipping. I downgraded on my car from my 2001 BMW convertible to a 1994 Camry that is paid for, therefore, I don't have a car payment or need to carry collision insurance (although I continue to carry liability). I am infamous for bumming a ride whenever I can and offering a few dollars for gas. Keeps the wear and tear off my car, keeps the gas bills down and I don't have to take quite as much anxiety meds, which aren't covered by insurance.
I am making an art of becoming frugal. I find coupon absolutely useless because I end up spending money on items I wouldn't have bought otherwise. I don't buy premade/convenience food. If I do have to stop at a fast food restaurant, I skip the drinks and fries, just order one sandwich from the dollar menu and stop at a grocery for whatever cold drink is on sale. I stay away from the dollar tree unless I need to buy greeting cards which are 2/$1.00 (how does hallmark get away with charging $4.95 for a card????) Oh, and I will close with the following. I have no business in walmart. I have everything I need. Even with undergarments, Hanes her way outlet online has cheaper socks, bras, underwear, slips and hosiery. No more sixty dollar bras at Victoria's Secret. No one sees them anyway!
ptk
Princess, having had sufficient experience with princes, seeks frog. I want the remote control!