Back in the saddle and other stuff

[susandennis]

Both my sewing projects (making shirts fit) were a huge success. I still need to cut out the new swimsuit but it's early yet.

Here's the Aquasox t-shirt which I now just love. On the left is what it looked like when I bought it. I should have taken a picture of it on me. Way too long. Shoulder seams hit me just above the elbow. geesh. Much better now.



Next time I want to scold myself for having too much fabric on hand, I'm going to remember how very perfect this random print turned out to be. I bought 3 yards of it a while back with no idea what I would use it for. I didn't even use much but it's perfect.

I ran into the guy from down the hall who bought my old air conditioner. He's perfectly delighted with it. He said it was the only reason he's been able to sleep. So YEAH!

For a while now, I've been trying to figure out cash. Yes, money, cash. Most of the people I know rarely have any. They walk around with zero cash - they never need any. They survive on credit and debit cards alone. I do not know how to do this. But, I'm going to learn. First of all cash is dangerous. You can lose it easily and it's not traceable. And I have to go out of my way to get it. Plus it so easily slips from my fingers. Credit and debit cards are safer and come with built in purchase tracking.

I cannot figure out why I need cash but apparently I do. Starting today, I'm going to keep track of how and when I spend any cash and see if the data can train me. That's my next project.

Comments

[siglinde99.livejournal.com]

If it’s any consolation, living on a credit card can also be dangerous if you aren’t disciplined about the purchase tracking. At least with cash, once it’s gone, it’s gone so it’s hard to over-spend if you have taken out only a certain amount and limit yourself to that.

Tracking turned out to be an amazing tool. I was inspired by your tracking effort a couple of years ago. I have been doing it every day since March (though I’m being a bit more sack while I’m on vacation).

[susandennis]

I pay my credit cards to $0 every Friday. My intent is not to 'live' on them but just use them instead of cash.

Kudos on your own tracking! Glad I could be of assistance :)

[howeird]

Good call on switching to cards. As long as you continue to use online tools to download your transactions, there's no danger. I only use cash at the nails and massage places, and only because they charge a fee for cards and also I want to tip in cash so there is a better chance the person deserving the tip gets it.

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

Funny. I’m often card-only but recently started carrying more cash, and am finding it helpful. With the new chip card readers everywhere, card transactions take just enough longer that it actually makes checkout experiences easier with cash, so I’m finding that small purchases are nicer when paying with cash again. Also, it’s easier to tip or help someone out (change for the trolley for a friend without a pass card, for example.) I’m newly infatuated with cash as payment method.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

About the only thing I use cash for is admission to Contra Dances and English Country Dances which I do a bit more than once a week; they don't take credit/debit cards.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Some (most?) farmers' market vendors don't take credit cards. Also, my voice teacher prefers to be paid in cash. (I used to pay her by check, which meant that I had to remember to carry a check, which might have been more of a pain than cash.) I generally pay for haircuts in cash, too.

[ctgstr8.livejournal.com]

I've started going each week to a farmers' market near my home. The vendors require cash, so I'm re-learning to use small bills and coins. It's a huge pain! I much prefer to use a debit card; it's much quicker and it hurts less than handing over real money.

[lifeinroseland.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah and the farmers’ market. It is a pain!

What do you meann?

[ctgstr8.livejournal.com]

I do not understand your comment. I love the market and I hate to hold up a long line of shoppers while I fumble with coins and bills. This market is in a very small town in AB, the produce is grown nearby; early fruit is trucked in from a B.C. grower; the local Hutterite ladies sell excellent home baking. There's also a lot of miscellaneous home-made products offered for sale. This rural market makes shopping enjoyable for me.

[lifeinroseland.livejournal.com]

I only need cash for the laundry, quick snacks, and local cabbies, I guess, so I do tend to have it. But yeah it just up and disappears if I carry more than what/when I need for that. And if I’ve carried it for too long and feel guilty about a purchase I use it as if it didn’t count lol. Weird stuff. Should be fun to track.