Fiscal Responsibility

I'm sure you know the old adage, "Say a lie long enough and eventually even you will believe it."  Or, as we used to believe when we were kids, "Suggest a certain plan to your parents long enough and eventually even they will see the merit and allow us to do whatever we want."

The latter, is sadly untrue. The former, however, is true on many counts. I'm proof. Living, breathing, spending proof. "Lemme 'splain . . . no, there is too much . . . Lemme sum up."

As an accounting major, people expect and assume that I am undoubtedly good with all of my monetary possessions. For almost 3 years now, I've been hearing that as an wanna-be accountant, I'm good with money. And as every good little wanna-be accountant, I believed it. As I work hard at my three jobs and make money to pay off my school bill, I hear how good I am with money. Occasionally, I would think to myself, "Mareena, you're actually just like every other person on the planet. You get money and you spend money. Sometimes you spend it on things you need, sometimes on dumb things. Most times you give to your school bill, but every once in a while, you delude yourself into thinking a drink from Starbucks or a new pen from the store is a necessity." But then I remember that I'm an accounting major, so OF COURSE, I'm good with money and should never second guess that, thank you very much.

Then tonight, as I avoided studying for my philosophy final, I decided to look at my money matters. I looked back over the past month and I honestly reported to myself on my own finances . . . And now I'm writing this post about money management, which should give you a large hint as to my reaction to said report. *sigh* It wasn't good, I tell you. Not good at all. As I added columns and balanced transactions, it seemed as though "Irresponsibility" was written in huge red letters across the page. My belief in that lovely little lie was shattered.

Bottom line, my accounting classes do not teach me how to manage my money. That, my dear friends, is why God gave us common sense and Dave Ramsey. Therefore, I have decided to put my common sense to good use and immediately install a budget into my daily life. Seriously. A budget. I thought I would be 38 years of age before I had a budget. I'm budgeting beforehand, recording during, and evaluating after. It's going to be really really tough. But eventually, a truth will come out of what started as a lie.

No, not all accounting majors are good with money . . . but this one will be.

To budgeting, and beyond!

m(r)