I did the math

I can live on $800 per month.  That includes fixed and variable expenses.  It even includes putting money away for "annual" expenses.

I can live on $800 a month.

Most of the time, I am actually very, very grateful that I was broke at a time when other people were buying McMansions and filling their brand-new-larger-then-my-entire-apartment-sized closets with new clothes and scores of shoes.   I am thankful, because now that "saving" and "reducing debt" have become en vogue, I am ahead of the curve.  I am out of debt.  I am saving.  I know how to live on $800 per month.

However, when I want to surf the Internet aimlessly, and all I can find are articles about shaving $5 off my budget here, or $3 off there, I get frustrated.  I know to turn down my furnace, turn off my computer, not to leave my car running for 20 minutes and to pay my bills annually.  I know that paying the minimum on credit cards is bad.

I wonder what there is out there for those like myself, who are ahead of the curve, or for all of those out there who were never "dumb" with their money, or who never were in an unfortunate situation that put them behind-the-8-ball financially.  People who have a little bit in savings, but not enough for a money market account.  People who have a little bit in retirement, but not enough to map their future.   People who still want to drink coffee or cola or beer and go to the movies on occasion and wear cute shoes. People who want to buy books for their home library, even if they can get the books at the library.

When I think about the future, I actually worry that everyone will become like me.  Everyone will put off buying everything. Everyone will buy used, will make due with what they have.   

Everyone who sells new things will go out of business.  Everyone who makes new things will go out of business.  Everyone who makes the things (shelves, lights) that go in the stores that sell the things, and in the factories that make the things, will go out of business. The company I work for, that sells the things to the people who make the things, that go in the factories that make the things people buy, will go out of business.  And I will be lucky to have the $800 per month that I need to live.

That worries me.

But then again, if, like, half the people become like I was, and live on $800 per month, then the stores will put everything on sale, and I will be able to move forward into my unbroke like and buy things at reduced prices.

And I like that.