Un-common cents

With everything costing me an arm and a leg these days, my brain seems to be in financial overdrive – constantly adding up dollars and cents and drawing up comparative analyses to explain why cooking a potato subji for dinner is more financially sound than going out to get that roasted eggplant Panini with cheese. Also, I wouldn't want a ticket for driving back with just one arm and one leg.

I get a 'bargain-high' when I buy $200 worth of groceries to get a $5 Old Navy gift card or drive an extra 12 miles for gas that's 2 cents cheaper . And, I ogle at the points adding up on my frequent buyer programs. A little voice inside my head applauds me and I do a happy dance. The feeling takes me back to the days of haggling at Mumbai's Fashion Street where the thrill of getting the bargain transcended the disappointment of the clothes being a few sizes too big or the shoes whittling away at my ankles. It reminds me of the dizzy feeling of getting through the school inspection with long fingernails. (Yes, I am documenting this in case I need therapy)

I do digress, this story is about financial awareness. To meet this end , I had set up an elaborate Excel spreadsheet to document, categorize and grade my expenses and I had set up a much more elaborate presentation on why my seemingly improvident significant other should be doing the same. After several hundred sarcastic & pointed remarks, I got him to cave - only to find out that he has already reached financial moksha. His devilish indulgement in Saravana Bhavans and beer turned out to be completely harmless against my sporadic splurges at shoe sales and cosmetic counters.

On having realized this and being forced to eat crow (probably all I can afford right now... as he shops for a new car!), my poor penny-pincher brain has taken quite a blow. Could be another reason for therapy. Hence, my blog.

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