Monday, November 3 Consumer pain

Post 1304, Day 307 of 2014
- 1,403 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

The dark side of my decision to postpone expatriation manifested itself this weekend.

At the end of every month, I review my finances, adjusting my budget to make sure I'm living within my means, and ensuring that what few financial goals I have (and they are simple: vacations and savings) are being met.

For the first time in a long time, there was some substantial red ink in my budgets vs. actuals report. (I've been a Quicken user for more than 20 years).

The reason? My decision, made last August, to postpone my expatriation, for many years pinned to February, 2016. Realizing that I'm in a good place as far as spirit, health and finances right where I am, I pulled the pin out of that date. I still intend to expatriate, just not on that timetable.

When the music is over, I'll leave.

This, then, from the Dept of Unintended Consequences: Realizing I was going to be spending some more time here, in my apartment, for the next thirty months (or more), I made some purchase decisions. I had avoided buying anything when I thought I would be divesting myself of everything to move overseas.

In September, I bought a new flat-panel TV, wall-mounting equipment, and an apartment-size video sound system. Then, I bought some computer components to upgrade the computer I had planned on ditching when I left.

Then, in October, I took my annual LA vacation, and while there, bought an iPhone 6 Plus.

I had updated my budget to account for these items - none of them were impulse purchases - so I knew that I could afford them. But the concentration of these discretionary expenses, all purchased in the last forty-five days, near the end of the year, caused me my first cash-flow problem in quite a while.

Nothing unmanageable, but it made me a little uncomfortable. Which is when I began my appreciation of where I was, right then and there. My little meditation revealed how incredibly wealthy I am, temporary squeeze notwithstanding.

Historically (before this most recent shopping spree), I had reduced my consumer activities. I did it without feeling deprived. The reward has been the wealthy feeling of not having to worry that my expenses would exceed my income at any time, and enable me to ignore the plight of living paycheck-to-paycheck. That's luxury right there.

But for the next three or four paychecks. I will have to watch expenses carefully.

I'm not complaining. This is a self-imposed discipline, and the very large credit card bill (more than 50% larger than average) will be paid in full before Thanksgiving, but the price will be having to pay attention to my spending into December.

I don't mind paying attention.

In its own way, I find this reinforces my basic understanding of how I work in the framework of living in the material world. This inconvenience - and it is a minor, petty inconvenience, nothing more - is still some suffering I've brought on myself. I believe all such suffering in life is brought on by people's own selves.

I am not going to be one who puts his hands over his eyes, then complains about how dark things are.

I am extremely grateful for what I have, beginning, not with possessions, but with my very life: The fact that I woke up today gives me every reason to be grateful. I look for opportunities every day to express my gratitude. Gratitude seems natural if you look at what you have, rather than what you lack. It is a sure-fire remedy for anxiety and spiritual suffering.

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is not.

Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:          207.2 lbs

Previous* Weight:        208.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:       - 1.6 lbs
                          * Friday, Oct 31
Diet Comment

Rare weekend weight loss. I'm celebrating! 

Food Log 

Breakfast
A Quest bar.

Lunch

Tuna salad and baby kale, baby spinach, chard, black beans and cole slaw mix.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Dinner

Chili (organic beef, tomatoes, black beans, spices) and cole slaw. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  30 oz.   Water: 92+ oz.

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