The Hustle of Sistah Ant

Spending.  Spending.  Spending.

She’s a spending machiiiiiiiiine - watch her get down, watch her get down, as she do do do her thing… with a debit card.  To the tune of $234.26.  In one weekend.  That’s a lot for me.  What’d I spend it on? 

A housewarming card and wrapping paper, gas, eating out three times since I was out all day, an oil change, wiper blades, auto floor mats, a car wash, hair products, and the movies with Sistah Beginner.  I made it a priority to take care of my car.  The other stuff was incidental.  I actually did shop - I was looking for a good winter coat, since I gave last year’s coat, which I got second hand in college and had been wearing for the past ten years, away.  However, all the coats I found were more stylish than functional, so I didn’t wind up buying a coat.  (By the way, what’s up with that?  I mean, I want to be cute.  But shivering in a lightweight coat isn’t cute.)

Anyway, on an ordinary week, I would have sent this money directly to my savings account.  But since my income will be changing soon due to being laid off, I’m just trying to get what I need for the winter, like car maintenance and a coat.  Just like the Ant I named myself after.   I can’t imagine what it would be like to spend this much money every weekend, but I know some people do it.  I’ll say this, though - nobody was shopping.  I went to two malls today, and the crowd was so thin, it could hardly be called a crowd.  There were some empty stores that I didn’t even know had closed.  One store was going out of business - jewelry as far as the eye could see, all for 50% or more off!  I was tempted to go Christmas shopping then and there on the spot for our mothers… but then I remembered I need to spend conscientiously from now until my income is more predictable.  Anyway, those empty stores let me know that the news is right.  People are not spending like crazy anymore.  I hope they’re saving instead.  And in the banks, not the mattresses.  Because trust me, if I didn’t need to prepare for winter, I wouldn’t be spending either, I’d be beefing up my savings.

Anyway, next time you want to go to the movies, please go see the Secret Life of Bees.  I really liked it!  And take tissue. LOL!