$$$ Day

What's better than being given some $$$!?!?

Ya, there are many things that can happen that are better than being paid, but its pretty high up on the list, nonetheless.  Money doesn't buy me love, but it does buy me some other pretty darn good stuff though.  When that glorious day called 'pay day' comes around the corner, what do we do with the reward?  Do we go wild with the rush of new and highly spendable disposable income, or take the wise route of tucking it under the investment mattress? Let's take a look...

In 2009 the Consumer Expenditure Survey found that Americans, on average, spend their paycheck as follows:
35% Housing
16% Transportation
14% Food (Grocery/Out)
11% Insurance/Pensions
6% Health Care
5% Entertainment
3% Apparel
10% Other

http://www.creditloan.com/infographics/how-the-average-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/

This did NOT mention anything about credit card debt/payments though.  That other statistic is that most Americans have at least $7K in credit card debt that they are paying some amount of interest on as well.  If you have a revolving credit line with 15% APR, you are looking at spending at least $500 bucks a year for no return on investment, no value added benefit, but just 'wasted' money.  [Actually, its not entirely a waste, because hopefully its a lesson on how to be patient and wait to buy something when you don't have to charge it.] Anywho....

So we are looking at the majority of our paychecks going to a roof, some wheels, and a belly full of goodness.  These are fundamental requirements of living, but are we going too far in our spending within those areas?  FOOD...How many Americans are overweight? (1/3 of us.. 72 million, sadly) How do we get fat?  EAT!  Ok, so obviously we are either making the wrong choices when cruising through the grocery store or are too lazy and opting for McDonalds instead of a healthier meal at home.  How much food do you throw away also?  I bet at least a few items get tossed out each week, if not 1/3 of your fresh foods that you forgot you even had.

Transportation...Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.  We have to get to-n-fro in some way or another.  No time is left for walking anymore, as we value our extra sleep and last minute plans after a chaotic work day to go cruising the strip.  Our gasoline prices are no longer dictated by our local government any more either, but rather what someone decides to charge in the middle east.  How can we save in this area then?  I can't see no other alternative to reducing this budget besides going full on electric transportation or opting to be a 90% homebody and resorting to a good imagination.

There's no place like home.  Speaking of being a homebody, we have to pay most of our income on that roof (leaky or not) over our heads.  Plus the carpet, the air conditioning, the windows, the insulation, the furniture, the stove, the power, and lets not forget the lawn care! (sorry neighbors) That major chunk of our hard earned cash goes to protecting us from the heat and chill so we can maintain a comfortable 70* indoor garden at all times with the help of an air freshener scented with "Sparkle of Spring".

Do we need it all?  Nope.. we don't.  We need very few things, but WANT the majority of things. If you are of the intent to make the best of your paycheck, consider the following and choose wisely before emptying your wallet.

1) Income is for building your value.  If something won't add to the value of your health or worth, think twice about acquiring that item.
2) Distinguish between need and want.  If you will be caused physical pain with the absence of something, then you need it.  The rest is a want and thus the expense is debatable.
3) Use it until its falling apart before replacing.  So many times we buy something new when the old one functions just fine.  A change of decoration may be refreshing, but it may also be depleting your ability in the future to buy the things you will need.

To assure you that I am not "Ms. Stingy", I will tell you that just got my paycheck today and I will head straight to the grocery store with it (shopping list in hand), buy my needs and SOME wants, and might even spring for a shot at Starbucks.

"Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.  Without industry and frugality, nothing will do and with them everything." ~Benjamin Franklin