Savings

In a serious attempt to change my life, even though I don’t feel it’s a good idea, I've decided to ignore every overly-rational thought that comes to my head and tries to prevent me from making a change about my life in relation to the weekly focus of the post.


Welcome again! It’s a new week, and a new topic: Savings.


Last week's highlight was the weird invitation i got for Steffany's party. However, I'm not writing about it this week, since it's going to be next week's topic.
Back to your normal post…

Liquid Life

Savings.

Money. Dirty money.
Since my social life is below zero, I have a lot of free time. Therefore, summer vacations (winter vacations for you… or whatever long vacations happens in your area) means two month of watching paint dry for me. So I use them to work my ass off.
I have no specialty area, so I've work on a lot of different jobs. Auto tech, journalist, private teacher, warehouse man, stock boy, fruit seller, receptionist, wheat harvester and car parker (if that’s the correct translation). Oddly, I've only been hired under a contract when I worked as a wheat harvester…
Most of the time, I’m a good worker. Again, my social life is nonexistent. Because of that, I’m fully available to work on overtime, weekends and holidays, which means a lot of extra money. Unfortunately, I'm kind of lazy. I tend to rush things, only to take a break whenever I can.


Anyway, most of that hard-earned money went directly to a saving account, and never took a penny out of it.


Uh-oh! It's time for…!
You lay a finger on that money; I’ll kill you in your sleep. Not listening to my reasoning!


So, for this week I intend to spend my money. I’ll write a list with those things I wanted to buy but i didn't because I am a cheap man. Then, I’ll go and buy them. Period.
Let’s start.
Since I can’t think of anything, I’ll just list some aspects of my life, and I will buy something related to it. Let’s go.
1. Nothing, I’m good. Fun: I’m quite a lazy person. Very lazy person. I have a blog to prove it.
2. And that’s it. The look: I haven’t changed the way I look since… A lot of time. I guess it’s time…
3. Stop it! Creativity: The perfect excuse to be lazy (with all due respect, artists). I'm thinking on a painting easel, or a music instrument or something...
4. My beloved money! You monster! And finally, Society: Again with the social issue… But, seriously, I should invite someone to something. It’s my civilian duty.


There. All set.
Since I’ll never change, I’m sure I’ll try to look for bargains. I mean, I want to change, but there’s no need to kill my common sense.


––––


Fun:
First day of the week. Today's duty is to find something that its only purpose is to entertain me.
I woke up early and headed downtown for some window-shopping.
Whenever I window-shop, I don’t even spend more than five seconds on this. I’m not an spontaneous man. I always know exactly what I'm buying, so I just go in, ask and go away.
And so I did. I entered an electronic shop with some ideas about what could I buy. I had three items in mind: a DVD, a music player or a mini TV to place next to my computer. World cup championships are about to start, anyway…
– ¡Hello there! - A young woman behind the counter greets me… Oh…
– H-Hey – I answered, a little nervous. Why does a hot girl has to serve me in such a geek store?
– What can I do for you? - She asks with a nice smile.


I hesitated for a while, staring at a blank spot... Actually, I was really nervous, and I was trying to restrain myself from saying something stupid... I wasn't prepared for a chat with a hot girl... That's how methodic I am.
But, Andy, Haven't you decided to stop over thinking every step you make and try to be more spontaneous? Son of a…


Fine, fine.
– Err… I’m looking for something… To entertain myself… - Damn! What am I saying? I sounded like i was in a sex shop...
– Ok… But, what exactly? - She asks me back. C’mon, I’m not a shy guy, Why can’t I think of something smart?
– Yes, I’m sorry – DO NOT APOLOGIZE – I mean… A DVD… A player…
– A DVD player?
– Yes, yes. Exactly.
– Well, we have…


I’m embarrassing myself… Since when I’m such a shy person? Am I that out of shape? I feel like I’m blushing… I better not think of that, or I’ll blush for sure… I feel like a little girl… Impossible! You are, oh, so manly!
– So, which one do you like? - She looks me in the eyes.
– What? - What do I missed? - Well... That one?
– The one with digital zoom? - Just say yes and get the hell out of there, will you?
– Yes. That one.
She smiled and put everything back in its place.
I was relieved to finally being able to get the hell out of that situation… I didn’t even ask for other things; neither had I checked their prices…


Even worse, I forgot my change, and she told me so when I was opening the front door…


I guess this is a lesson. If I want to be a more spontaneous man, I can’t just say whatever comes to my head…
Reasoning 1 – Andy 0 shut the hell up…


–––––


Look:
Next day. Today, I’m changing my look. Woke up early again. It's the best way to be sure that every shop will be open.
The basic change of look is getting a haircut. However, I have no idea where to go...
So I decided leave it for my reasoning, and so I started thinking… Downtown is an expensive area for a business. So a hairdresser's located downtown has to be good to stay on business.
Let’s hit downtown.
Like my grandpa said, “never save money on food, and never save money on a haircut", or something like that. For that reason, no cheap male haircuts. Expensive (or reasonable) only!
Now, I’m a reserved man. Last thing I want is to be in that vulnerable position under a scissor and see a familiar face walking by the front window waving at me, so I’m going to go look for a discretely placed hairdresser’s. I entered a shopping mall, and went looking on higher floors. I found one and entered.


I was served by a man of dubious manhood. Before I knew it, the best freaking haircut I've ever had was done. Really, I love my hair now... In a manly way.


Next step, new clothes. I mean, I have only one pair of shoes. One. And all my clothes are of the same color… Anyone would think that I never change clothes...
So I bought some blue shirts and a pair of snickers. There, all set.


Changing your look is more than a physical change, it’s a spiritual lift. The change that buying new clothes or getting a haircut make in you (besides that you have your hair cut and new clothes) is giving you that extra confidence that everyone needs once in a while. Many times, it’s all you needed.


–––––


Creativity:
Another day. Now I didn’t wake up that early.
With the cool change of looks I went through, I was way more relaxed, so I walked to the town square to chill out a bit. I bought a pack of cigarettes (one of the reasons why I don't like to have money on) and I sat on a park bench, watching people walking by while smoking.


Have you ever felt that way? Feeling strange… Like if you are not part of this timeline. Crowds of people with plenty of things to do, plenty of them, minding their own business… And I’m here, sitting all alone thinking nothing. Worrying about nothing. I don’t know. Am I less or am I more? To feel like a witness, like just an observer. A simple stalker that only looks but never takes part…


Let’s focus, now. When I was done philosophically resting, I realized what I should buy to add even more creativity into my life: A musical instrument.


I walked into a music store. The first one I found.
– Morning. - I greet walking in. A young man gets up his chair with a kind smile.
– Hey.
– Err… - I hesitated… What the hell was I thinking walking into a music store without thinking what instrument to buy?
– What do you need?
– I need… - Ok, let’s avoid stupidity. I’ll just be honest - The truth is, I have no idea what to buy. I just want a music instrument to learn, but I have no idea which.
– Any instrument?
– Any. Can you recommend something?
– Well… - He seemed kind of uncomfortable. I understand, I asked him a weird question. I doubt he wants to impose me his personal tastes - Guitar is pretty popular and common.
– Guitar… - I look to the guitar rack... I don't know... They don't look so interesting... They look cool, but kind of boring…
– You like sting instruments? Maybe wind? Percussion?


Since I’m a big fan of Jazz, I had to try…
– Wind.
– Well, wind instruments are generally expensive… - He pointed at a corner of the store, a well organized and shiny section full of wind instruments.


While I was looking through a window shelf, I noticed a tiny instrument that reminded me about all that great cowboy movies. A harmonica. It was kind of big, considering it was a Harmonica.
– How much is that harmonica?
– It’s a Chromatic Harmonica. 113 dollars. (Price courtesy of Currency Converter)
– 113? - Is it made out of diamonds? - You have a more… Economical one?
– Well, there is Diatonic. - He showed me a tiny one. Now this is what I remember from those cliché prisoners in jail from the movies.
– I’ll take it.


Economic and full of pop culture. I love this tiny thing.
I took it home with a big smile. It sounded like a cat hit by a car. (Sounds like a song title)


Anyway, I’m very happy. I saw some videos online, and listened to some experts, and yes, it can be very harmonious. I guess I just need lots of practice.


–––––


Society:
And we are near the weekend. Thursday.


When I was heading out of the classroom that morning, a classmate stops me. He let me know that they are going to meet soon to coordinate the entire surprise party thing.
Naturally, I was there.
– So, I spoke to Steffany’s mother. – Steffany? The birthday girl, genius. Oh, Steffany! - We need to be there at ten o'clock.
– So what do we do with all the party stuff? Do we need to bring something specific? - Another classmate asks.
– That’s what we are going to discuss. We have the food. We just need the booze. - Ah! College parties… So simple…
– We and the girls are going to bring beer - Bah! Here we go... Drinking chat... I don't like to talk about booze, I can't help it but to understand it as a lame excuse to say "look at me, I'm a grown up!" You’re such a loving mother…
– And what about the stronger drinks? - Another classmate asks. I’m getting bored…
– I’ll bring some with Alex. I don’t know if we need any more. - Somebody answers.


From here, the discussion was about "the non-drunk reasons to buy a lot of booze". Damn, I hate parties... Are you done yet? I want to go play harmonica.
– Ok. – I said with a low voice. They look at me funny. This was the first time I’ve spoken in this meeting. Actually, I sounded a little angry… - I’ll buy some strong booze.
– With who? - One of the head organizers asked.
– Alone. Before I regret it. - I said angry as a joke.
– But just get together with someone… - He look at the rest of the group – Who else is sharing the expenses?
– I’ll do it! - Susan spoke from the other side of the group.
– There we go, then. Andrew, do you know how to get to Steffany’s? - Who? The birthday girl, genius. Oh, Steffany!
– No.
– I know.
– All set them, you get him there.


Susan approaches me and said hi. She hadn’t greeted me, that why she greeted me now. Really? (Sarcasm)
She told me that she got a great grad on her test, the one I helped her to study. I guess that’s why she’s so kind now. We agree to get together before we went to the party, and that was it.


I said goodbye, and got out of there, returning home.


–––––




The end?


No.


To sum up:
Savings. They are vital. You don't need to be a genius to understand the usefulness of having some bucks laying around in some saving account. They can make the difference between life and death. :O Now, from recognizing that they’re useful, to actually having them, is another story.
But, as a humble recommendation, just try to have some money hidden in a saving account. Find out what are the interest rates of different banks, and investigate how much will you pay for having the saving account. From what I know, most saving accounts let you withdraw money a number of times a year, before charging you for account maintenance.


Today is the party. I’m really nervous at home. I don’t know what to do… I feel like I'm going to make a fool of myself.
What should I do?


Just leave it to me, mortal. I have a plan.
See you next week! Do you have to cross out everything I say? Yes.


















So, participation time. I still have some money left to spend on anything. Any recommendation? Moderately expensive, I just want to see what comes out from my thousands of fans (I owe you a sarcasm).