Show Me the Money

Personal finance experts may disagree on whether you should save for retirement before you pay off your credit cards, and if you should pay off the credit card with the smallest balance to build momentum or if you should pay off the card with the highest interest rate first, but nearly all experts, down to the woman, say that if you want to see your savings grow, you should live your life in cash. 

I have long considered my finances to be my Achilles heel. On bad day, I would rather buy a new bottle of perfume than drown my sorrows in Ben and Jerrys. Good for my hips, bad for my wallet. Especially when a bad day turns into a bottle of perfume, and a new tube of mascara, and a new yoga mat and a handbag. While I no longer live beyond my means, I have allowed one too many bad days to prevent me from establishing a solid emergency savings. Hence, my cash only challenge. If it's more painful to hand over cash than to swipe my plastic, then come on, baby, make it hurt so good. 

Here are the rules: I can use my card or write a check for the following items only--bills, gas, medical appointments. All other items must be paid for in cash. If I make an online purchase, I can use my card (largely because the Internets may take American Express, but they don't take George Washingtons), but I must promptly deposit the cash I spent on the purchase into the nearest ATM. 

Here's how I did: Week 1 (and a half): I took out $300 for two weeks. I also bought gas. And paid a bill. Or two. Here's what I have left: $121. I did buy a hamsa necklace on Etsy for $68.50 (gotta ward off the evil eye and manifest good fortune for the year ahead, yo), and I contemplated transferring the money from my savings account into my checking account. I mean, no one would know, right? 

You're only cheating yourself, a little voice whispered. 

Shut the hell up, I responded. Okay. I slipped. It happened. I'm over it. Are you? Good. 

Week 1.5 Score: Ok. I did ok. Not a complete success. Not a total failure. 

Number of Yoga Classes Attended: 8.