Paying bills sucks. No, really, it does. I’m guessing most of us feel this way. It’s not that I don’t like seeing the balances go down or having a roof over my head, I do. I don’t like seeing all the money going out. And in some cases, I have to ask myself, “for what?”
Well, in addition to those regular bills for living expenses such as room, board, electricity, and such, it’s probably gone to the credit cards to pay for all that stuff. I know in my case that’s what happens. I need or want new clothes or shoes and I might put it on the credit card instead of just pay for it, because, I want to keep the cash in case I need it. Given the price of credit these days I’m starting to think that might not be the right approach.
Alright. I’ve known all along that that wasn’t the right approach. Somewhere on the road to today I got sucked into the same trap so many people have. The trap of the ‘gotta have nows’. I could blame it on media, advertising, the experience with an ex-husband and so many other things and sure, they all contributed to the situation. Ultimately, it all comes down to me and the decisions I make.
I have a choice to go out and get that new gadget, guitar, pair of boots, or whatever, right now and put it on a credit card. Or, I can wait. I can wait until the price comes down, I can wait until I have more of it in cash, I can wait until I have all of it in cash, I can wait until the credit card is paid off. There are some things that aren’t always planned for and don’t allow for waiting, like emergency car repairs or a sudden illness, or an unexpected business trip. Then, there are those things that can be planned for, and, maybe it’s best to do just that.
This line of thought tends to throw a bit of a wrinkle in my plans though. After being on again off again I was all set to go down and get a new phone and a tablet. I had been hesitant about the tablet and I had managed to justify the purchase, of both the tablet and the phone, to myself. I could see how the tablet, that seemed a bit of a splurge, could really be useful. I was all set. Then I sat down to pay my bills.
My plan had been to put the equipment purchase on the credit card and then pay all the service fees as part of my regular bill. Of course, I was going to get a data plan with my tablet which would also increase my cellular bill. When I look at it, the phone, the tablet, and the recommended accessories are going to come out to about $1000. I really, really don’t want to put another $1000 on my credit card. Not right now and not for a couple of gadgets.
While I am not particularly happy with my current wireless service or my smart phone, the truth is, the phone works. And, just because my service contract is ending, it doesn’t mean I have to get a new phone or sign a new contract, or get a new provider right away. I’ll still have service and the same bill.
Yes, I would love the potential productivity boost and functionality of the tablet. And the cost of some ebooks is considerably less than the physical book, though not in all cases. However, I have a perfectly good laptop that, while not necessarily having all the convenience of the tablet, can do more, and I can get books on it too.
Part of the purpose of the purchase of the new phone and the tablet was to be their ability to aid in my simplification and consolidation project. Perhaps though the project will be best served if I wait. Oh, I won’t wait forever, after all I am in I.T. and I am a bit of a geek. I still want my gadgets. And I do need to change my wireless provider. However, not getting them right now simplifies my bills which is just as helpful because, as I said: “Paying bills sucks.”