For A Rainy Day
by emily
Since the weather has been total garbage this week, I feel like it’s appropriate to write a blog post about money. Because “save it for a rainy day.” Right? That makes sense. Also, “make it rain.”
I read this article in Real Simple magazine (because I have been a middle-aged woman since I was about fifteen) about how studies show that women are categorically bad at long-term savings plans and investments and thinking about the future with money and stuff. And the article was SO BORING, you guys, but I read some of it (skimmed) and then I was like “wait a minute, this is pretty much describing me.” It said women in relationships with men are often in charge of paying bills and keeping the household budget, but when it comes to stuff like 401(k)s and crap like that they’re like “a doy”. Because it’s hard to get our tiny lady brains to fit around the concept of long-term investing, jk, the article was very even-handed and based in science and stuff, but like, what! And of course, it’s so accurate for me. I spend all this time chastising Billy for spending $2.30 at Dunkin Donuts but when it comes to retirement plans I get so sleepy. But now’s the time, right? And I hate being an example for some asshole to say that women are bad with money. So I’ve decided that I’m going to think about that boring crap more. We are increasing the percentage of Billy’s paycheck that goes into his 401(k) and I’m paying more attention to my Roth IRAs and maybe I’ll even contribute to them FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE. Also, jk, I’m not paying any attention to my Roth IRAs, BUT I WILL. Next week, for sure.
But it’s hard to save money for retirement when your roof needs fixing and you and your neighbor have elected to raise your condo fee so that if something comes up there will be money to pay for it. And it’s hard to save money when Ma Po Tofu is so delicious and so difficult to make oneself at home. And it’s hard to save money when I have an audition for a commercial tomorrow and they’re going to be showing my hands so I probably need a manicure, RIGHT? No, I don’t. And I also don’t need Ma Po Tofu and, well, we do need a roof, so fair enough on that one. It’s helpful to think of spending money on the condo as investing in its own way, though. So it’s okay to spend money on a roof but pumpkin spice lattes are NOT OKAY. I think I have this money thing pretty well figured out.
How do you guys save money without falling asleep because it’s so boring?
You have a Roth IRA, so I’m impressed right there.
I keep telling myself I’ll increase the amount I put into my 401(k), but I can barely survive on my paycheck as it is. I’m also lucky because I have a (tiny) pension through my company… they took that option away for new employees. But still, the concept of having a savings is basically foreign to me. Someday there will be money, and then I will have to learn what to do with it.
Not boring but thrilling :)
here’s what you should do: save the most money you have ever had in your life and then blow it all on a trip to peru.
I find myself avoiding paying attention because it depresses me when I realize that I’ll never save enough to live to be 100 wWhich I’m going to do because of my longevity genes. But I force myself to try to make the most of it. And I keep shopping for that wealthy sugar daddy with a great body and face and no heirs. And a political perspective that I can stand to be around.