Dollars and Sense

Money...Like it, love it, hate it,
need it, need more of it.
Say what you will, it's a part of our lives.

Personally, I just like it, but don't get me wrong. I don't like it in a sick, miserly way, and I don't mean to imply in any way, shape or form that I sure as shootin' couldn't use more of it than I have. It's simply not the end-all, be-all of my life.

It's a like and not the love of my life, and certainly not my main motivation for getting out of bed every day.

I've often heard, but do not completely believe, that "money is the root of all evil."
Actually I think the "lack of money" fills that bill better, but don't take that sentiment to a will reading where you can see how battles over money can tear families apart.

I also know that there isn't enough money in the world to satisfy some people's overwhelming need to accumulate as much of it as they possibly can, and that they don't care what they have to do to make it happen.
To me, that's the real evil.

In the past, I was accused of being a poor money manager. Yeah, whatever. I'd like my accuser, just once, try to make the little bit of money I got stretch as far as I did, or to do so much with so little. I guess when you come down to it, it's all a matter of perspective, and that one was particularly skewed, but not in my favor!

I've been financially comfortable a few times in my life. It was terrific, and I'd love to regain that status. What I'm not willing to do, however; is to sell my soul to make it happen.

I like the things I can buy with money--
a comfortable place to live, good food to eat, and a reasonable amount of entertainment. There, too, I'm lucky. it doesn't take a huge pile of cash to keep me amused or to satisfy my wants and needs so I don't rule out the possibility of prosperity in my future.

In cold weather, I put together a lot of jigsaw puzzles, read, watch TV and play on the computer.

In hot weather, I solve crossword puzzles and Sudoku, read, watch TV and play on the computer.

No matter what the weather, I also like to go out to lunch or dinner, watch movies, sew, do crafts, and hang out with friends and family.

I'm careful, but not overly frugal with my money. I enjoy shopping and love bargains, but that's not all I look for when I'm out supporting the Economy.

I willing pay more for a great set of high count, 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, and opt for Crocs or Addis over bargain variety footwear.
I know I get more bang for my bucks when I don't buy junk, and I'd rather have a few of something comfortable than a lot of cheap stuff that wears out faster or just isn't all that great at doing what it's supposed to do.
More is not necessarily better.

I like good tools and toys. I have replaced my O'Cedar sponge mop with a Sharp steam mop. I'm going to miss those buckets of Pinesol, but my floors have never been cleaner. I've given away my Ace bargain bin screwdrivers and pared down to my Craftsman ones. I've long ago given up my Venture bookcases and replaced them with IKEA's. I have craft tool/toys to twist jewelry wire, mold and bake beads, locate constellations, make and cut paper, and on and on goes the list.

I like either side of the sales counter, as the customer or the clerk, and finding foreign coins among our everyday ones or the rare treasure of a wheat back, buffalo head, Liberty dime and Kennedy half that I can trade my pocket money for, but being the customer is usually a lot more fun.

I like paying with exact change and resisted getting a debit card for a long time. Now I don't know how I'd get along without one.

I like getting paid with exact change and the occasional opportunity to teach young customers how to figure it out for themselves.

I don't like sweat, floorboard, or foot money. That's too gross, even for me!

Last weekend some kids came into the store, and naturally I kept an eye on them. Sometimes they need help, and sometimes they help themselves, if you know what I mean and I know you do!

These turned out to be good guys, but after long deliberation about what they wanted, they came up front, put their selections on the counter, and one kid sat down in front of my register and proceeded to pull off his shoe. Out came a bunch of coins, rolling across the floor, and he started to pick them up.

I knew what was coming next so before he could present them to me, I told him, "You don't think you're going to put that foot money in my hand, do you? Take it over to the bathroom and wash it off. There's soap in there!"

Lo and behold, he did as I asked, but I can't tell you how many so-called adults have dragged nasty money out of their soggy pockets or bras, or from ashtrays and filthy floorboards and have been insulted when I put it in a paper towel with hand sanitizer before I put it in my drawer.
Come on, folks! Ewwww!

I like the sight, sound and feel of money, and although I know I should prefer currency to coins, I just don't.

Some of my fondest memories are about tying my Sunday school offering in the corner of one of my dad's handkerchiefs and dropping bus fare in a coin changer and hearing it ring. I remember the k-ching of an old cash register the same way I do the ding at the end of a line on an old Remington typewriter. Back then money and words had more value and a voice of their own.

I like money; I really do.
Maybe if I liked it more, it would like me enough to stick around a little longer.
Maybe not!