Money Math

Today was payday, and I woke up to a picture of my check in its usual spot on the desk. I got to work a little earlier than usual without even trying, so before discarding my backpack I picked up the glorious piece of paper with my name on it and walked to the credit union with a quickness. Shortly after finishing up there, I breathed a bit of thanks to Hestia for replenishing my ability to provide for myself without potentially starving and ordered some cannabis. I withdrew $200 in paper, sixty of which I shall save for the stupid rent.

As of right the heck now, I have $1,385 in my account.

Tomorrow I am going to withdraw another $400 for the stupid rent, which will bring me to a balance of $460, with $420 remaining (heh).

Tomorrow I am also going to have to make a few essential purchases:

- Up to $10 on beverages to get me through work. That's a lot for one day and I will be more frugal next week, but I am struggling right now and it's hot, so I shall treat myself.

- Approximately $60 on Amazon - hemp cream, anti-chafe balm, a very specific broom, and Barbie The Movie UNO (!).

- Not that much at the grocery store on the way home from work. I need paper towels, hydrogen peroxide, toilet paper, ???, what else?, and maybe some actual food.

Let's go ahead and say, approximately!, one hundred dollars for all three of those.

$1,385 minus $100 equals $1,285, obviously.

Next payday is Thursday the 22nd, so before then I need to plan on spending:

- Roughly $200 on groceries
- Netflix: $15.49
- Hulu: $15

$1,285 - $230 = $1,055

I'm also treating myself to a weekend of one or two movies in an actual theater and unhealthy food. Budget for that is up to $100.

So that's $955 left until next payday? Obviously this is possible, but is it probable? Should I finally spend up to $300 on a really good pair of boots so I can stop buying shitty boots over and over because they fall the fuck apart?!* Will I allow myself to purchase a desktop computer for slightly more than $100???? If I like the ludicrously expensive pair of socks that are on their way to me right now, will I spend that money again on a second pair? Can I indulge myself and buy up to ten Mixlings S2 two-packs? What about the storage bench to keep all my new Mixlings in, whenever I do or don't order them? Should I get the specific mop I want to team up with my specific broom now or wait until later? Will I withdraw a bit more annoying rent cash before next payday so that I can withdraw less of it on next payday?

I don't know yet.

But I am very proud of myself for making more of an effort to get into the habit of withdrawing cash to save for rent, because if it's cash it's not in my account anymore, and if it's not in my account anymore I CAN'T SPEND IT because it's not there. I often tell myself to do this, but rarely heed my own brilliant advice, and then the money might or might not get spent, innit? Gotta hack my own brain, yes, that is the way, that is the secret.



"I hate money."
"You'd like it a lot more if you didn't have any."



*Oh my holy fuck, of course I shouldn't. Go to Ross or something and see if you can find an absurdly good deal on boots, you goddamn idiot. As I was typing this, I remembered that there is a Goodwill across the street from the trolley station where I get off for work. Is that true? A Goodwill, right there right there? Must confirm in person! Buying new boots for full price should be, like, a last fucking resort.

Hex Yes, COMICS!!!

Words fail to convey the depth of my gratitude for two things right now: cannabis & comics!

Cannabis - Just purchased two one-gram Stiiizy CDT cartridges, Orange Slushie & Limoncello, both of which I have had before and loved, as well as a ten-pack of 10mg gummies from a brand whose goods mine tongue hath never sampled before that I got specifically for the movie(s) in the theater, holy hey now, I am so dang excited for Across the Spider-Verse and slash or, but ideally both, The Little Mermaid!

Comics - Oh hell yes, so very many currently checked out from the library! I am beyond thrilled to inhale some more of this Orange Slushie and read . . .

• Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass: Okay, I have had this sitting on my shelf for I don't even know how long (website says it's been renewed one time and that seems like less than i would have guessed) and I don't understand my delay, because it looks amazing?
• Birds of Prey: Whitewater: GAIL SIMONE! I've read at least half of her run, but none of these issues! I read the first one last night, seven to go, excellent writing as usual from Gail Simone, excellent art, fun characters. Love it.
• Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed: Words by LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON, are you for real??!! And it came out in 2020? And I just found out that it existed a few weeks ago? Stop!
• The Avengers (2018), Vol. 1: The Final Host: I've read half of this so far, mostly for Carol and Jen, but of course it's also always great to see Black Panther, and he even makes me like Doctor Strange when they team up, plus I'm never sad about getting to look at Thor, and Ghost Rider is a lot more interesting than I might have expected, and . . . well . . . Tony & Steve . . . are both also there. Bless them.
• Captain Marvel, Vol. 8: The Trials: Heck yeah, more Kelly Thompson!
• Godzilla vs. MMPR: "In all my wicked youth or childhood, I must have done something good."
• Invisible Woman: Partners in Crime: I read this a year or two ago on Marvel Unlimited and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am sadly not a huge Fantastic Four fan, but Sue is amazing and I adore her.
• Storm, Vol. 1: Make It Rain: Surely this will be at least my third or fourth time reading these stories, but hellur, Storm is my all-time favorite and I am still sad that this series didn't last longer. Dammit, Marvel. I cast aspersions in your general direction, forever.
• A-Force, Vol. 1: Hypertime: May or may not have read this before, possibly even in the form of individual paper issues, but either way it looks fun. She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, and NICO MINORU are just some of the badass women on the cover.
• The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: Yes please.
• Ever After High: The Class of Classics: How the literal goddamn fuck have I never read this before?

And those are just my favorites from the multiple piles of library stuffs on my shelf right now. I need to return a few things tomorrow so I can check out a few more, since I am only three away from the limit again and I must not upset the librarians.