From the time I was tall enough to pay over the counter, I’ve had tremendous difficulty spending money. My mother would often comment on it, with a mixture of wonder and concern.
I think the problem was basically an inability to control the flow of common sense, in the presence of tagged merchandise.
My first salaried position was in retail, which exacerbated the problem. I became dulled to merchandise and even more sensitive to the value of a dollar, once I began actually earning dollars.
However, with caring and supportive family, I am finally overcoming this terrible affliction. Last week I bought my first set of glass shower doors. Seen my last plastic shower curtain liner.
Got my eye on a $700 desktop pc this week — better for recording music — but I should probably buy a better piano first, and I’m not quite ready for that.
I have to remember that I’m not a recovering penny pincher, I’m a natural born one.
I will always struggle.
Same here. For me, it may be that my parents went through the Great Depression, and I learned from them. Even after 21 years at a good-paying job, with pension and 401K, and now in a comfortable retirement, I still buy my jeans at Bi-Mart, buy store brands for nearly everything, and haven’t bought steak in over a year. I could afford better, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.