i scored a DVF dress on rue la la yesterday. even on discount, it's the first decent item of clothing that i've bought in a very long time. and by decent i mean something not off the clearance rack at the gap. this is saying a lot given that there once was a time when i spent way more money on clothing than on rent. but times have changed. last weekend, i contemplated a $24 mascara purchase at sephora for nearly a half hour.
i think my priorities have taken a major shift overall. i am much less materialistic than i used to be. probably partly due to becoming a parent. but the real eye-opener has been the horrific economy. it's not just something talked about in the media. i feel the stress of it in my life almost every single day. in the past several months i've watched our retirement and investments dwindle down to half their previous values. and even worse, i've seen many of my friends and colleagues lose their jobs. my company has laid off 20% to date. my old company laid off 200 people earler in the month. and today another retailer headquartered in columbus laid off 400 people. it literally makes me sick to my stomach.
chad's and my jobs are relatively secure. but "relatively secure" in this economy isn't totally comforting. which is probably why i have this intense unpatriotic urge to hoarde all of our money. judging by the consumer confidence index, i am obviously not alone. i know the economy will eventually bounce back. but i think my attitude towards money and "things" will be forever changed. this is not necessarily a bad thing. i've been watching suze orman lately, and as she says, "people first, then money, then things".
