Portland Redux

Or...

Reckless Spending Abroad.




I spent this last weekend tooling around Portland for my 5 year wedding anniversary. Woot! 5 years! In years past, we have usually taken trips away to commemorate our nuptials.

And even though, I have my financial shiz together, generally speaking, I have a rather counterproductive 'habit' during these (and other) little times away. A habit I chalk up to decision fatigue or the result of having a bunch of disposable income. In any case, I tend to go on a bit of a money bender shall we say. This is not something I do often. Back in the days of plenty, it was maybe one major trip a year. Occasionally 2. But oh while Im away I have carte blanche license to buy pretty much whatever I want, and generally not pay attention to it until returning home. While it has never landed me in serious hot water, and does in fact serve as a 'vacation' from my day to day spending habits, its also leaves me with a bunch of crap. I spring for fancy hotels, and lattes. Museum admissions and room service, but mostly the focus is on a frenetic accumulation of crap. As much crap acquired as humanly possible in my allotted time.

Unfortunately, this crap usually pales in the light of 6 months post trip. It becomes stuff that begs the question of "Why did I buy that again?". Don't get me wrong, I have some really awesome souvenirs. Things that remind me of the time and the place. That lead to stories about husband lugging heavy boxes containing large ceramic foo dogs through San Francisco or stores you stumbled upon while lost in a rainstorm in NYC. But a lot of it turns out to be just crap. Ceramic Sun & Moon sets from Mexico. Really? Prints I've never bothered to have framed. Beautiful and completely useless artisan blown glass bobbles. Unique toys for my dogs, I am loathe to give them for fear they will be immediately shredded. These are the things I buy on vacation. These are the things that live in my drawers and cupboards, often migrating to the Goodwill bound shelf in record time.

This sort of spending may have psychological benefits, but I am clearly wasting money here. I always return home with a healthy dose buyers remorse, accompanied by a fat credit card bill.

A few years ago, I had a bit of an epiphany while on such a trip. This was my first post-layoff blue collar trip, which was actually a business trip for a tradeshow. The husband went with me, which was great. He explored Chicago, while I reveled in dog-stuff mecca. We had a day to explore the city together, which has historically meant SHOP. I certainly did some damage, but that was the first time I can recall exercising a little restraint. Because I had to. The thought of "I cant afford that" actually occurred to me. This really only saved me from some big purchases in the museum gift shop, but the thought was there.

Once we got home, the cleanup process was eye opening. For the first time, I couldnt cover what I'd bought. I had to take money out of my short term savings account to pay for all my expenditures. This shouldnt be a huge deal, right? But, it hurt. $1500 suddenly became a lot of money when I was saving it in $50 increments. It took me months to recover from that trip. At the time, it was a stark realization about the choices I had made, and what those cost me. Both now, and in the long term. So this is what if felt like to NOT have money just rolling in. We haven't done a whole lot of travel since then. Weekends away with parents or friends, but not trips.

Bringing us finally to Portland. Just a weekend away to our sister city. Things are back to 'normal'. We should be able to do this. I can once again rendezvous with my old friend 'reckless spending' in a city not my own. But somewhere along the line, there has been a shift. Maybe it started in Chicago, maybe its just everything we've been through in the last 3 years. Things are different now. Some of that frenzy was gone. Replaced with trepidation, and a little more thoughtfulness.

I spent about 1/2 of what Ive typically spent on a hotel room.
We bought used books, and looked specifically for them. I also marveled at how long its been since we've bought books. The library and I are such good friends now.
I thought long and hard about the 1 in 1 out rule, and what the item I was purchasing would replace. I was happy to replace the water bottle I lost some months ago.
I took great pleasure in free stickers and bookmarks from stores I enjoyed.
I bought things I had planned to buy anyway, because there is no sales tax in Oregon. This included very exotic items like running shoes and T-shirts for the husband.

These were not hardships. I did these things effortlessly. Just because. I didnt much have to restrain myself. I had a hard time spending money on crap.

In general, I came home with not very much new "stuff". Still somehow on my mini vacation - I slept in, drank some really good coffee, spent time with the husband, and wandered around. That was the most enjoyable part. Well, maybe that and the sushi.

Hello Again, Hello.

No, not from the Great American Songwriter. Just me I'm afraid, with some random manifesto-like catchup thoughts during my time away. Consider this the (re)introduction I didn't do in the first place.

I am not in the midst of a financial crisis. I was once. Sorta. I probably should have started a blog then. Instead, I started reading everybody elses'. That didn't turn out to be such a bad idea. I cleaned my act up years ago. The basics are covered. We have no non-mortgage debt. I use my credit card for most everyday purchases, pay off the balance in full every month, and reap the rewards usually to buy household items we'd normally have to shell out money for. I have a large emergency fund, which we continues to grow. Targeted savings account for specific unforeseen emergencies. You know, the usual stuff.

Somehow though, that doesn't mean my financial doings are uninteresting. Maybe its my over active analytical brain, but I am no where near auto pilot.
We've made decisions that still we still need to pay the piper for. A large mortgage, that leaves me with a lot more monthly overhead than I'm comfortable with. A day job (which I already tried once to quit) that is quite profitable, but mostly meh. An overwhelming desire to stay home and be able to spend my time as I see fit. An abhorrence for a non-self directed 40 hour work week.

So, this is not a blog about cutting coupons, paying off credit cards, eating processed foods, and getting crap you don't need for cheap.

This is the story of a (mostly) reformed consumer, a burgeoning urban homestead, an over the top dog lover, trying to be master of my own destiny, and revel in the experience of my life and the role money plays in it. A Corporate American, who'd like to do something different. A terrible goal maker. This is about constantly asking the question "What do I want to be when I grow up?" and, at the same time, realizing there is no finite answer.

Since last we spoke, I have quit an all encompassing, but mostly awesome job that I really liked, but probably shouldnt have stayed at forever, to return to my hum-drum better paid Corporate ways. Already, I am plotting my exit. Again. While also contemplating the benefits of staying put for as long as I can take it, without wasting my life away.

I've tried this blogging exercise once before. It didn't roll too terribly far. However, I'm leaving it out there for the world (and myself) to refer back to. Its a nice little point in time snapshot, of where I've been and the financial thoughts that stew around in head