Paralysis by Analysis

I can't decide!   Should I choose This, That or The Other?  If I get This, I'll get That, but for the wrong price.  If I choose The Other, I get a bit less and The Husband won't like it.

Decisions. Decisions.  Big ones and little ones alike, sometimes it takes forever to make the 'right' choice.  Whatever that is.  I always do a 'cost' analysis.  Will it cost more money or time?  Will it give me emotional, physical, or mental satisfaction?   Do we have space?  If I choose This will my stakeholders be happy.  The stakeholders, usually The Family, are always hard to please.  Reality is, you cannot please everyone.  So, make sure YOU are happy with what you decide.

I didn't realize I did this until my lunch work-buddies pointed it out.  We go to a food court (there are several in the financial district) and then we break-out to get food and meet somewhere.  I say I'm going to get XYZ food, but almost always get 123 food.  I walk around to a minimum of 3-4, if not all, of the different choices, and then buy.   Which one will satisfy the beast, Hunger?  Which one is the best bang for my buck?  Which one has the shortest line?  Which one has the best nutritional value?  Even if we all choose the same place, the combos are messing with my mind.  haha

Be it gym memberships, phone plans, car, furniture, appliances, toys, clothes, EVERYTHING.  It's best when your heart wants something, no matter what logic dictates.  Yeah, it costs too much, I don't have space, and it's not practical.  I WANT it.  Otherwise, I'm checking out several stores, online, talk to other people to get their opinion, then forget about it, and finally not buy/do it.

It takes me forever to decide what to order at a restaurant. And even if I have figured out what I want, it may be swayed depending what other people order.  Why do we have to choose only one dish?  That's why I love dim sum.  I wish other restaurants would adopt the same concept.   Dim sum is a Cantonese term for a type of Chinese dish that involves small individual portions of food.   A couple of ribs, a few wings, two loaded potato skins, small bowl of french onion soup,  one cup of pasta, ribs, lobster, steak, slider burger, a sliver of pie, cake, ice cream, soup, garlic bread bits, french fries, garlic mashed fingers, etc

If dim sum style is just not feasible for some cuisines, then I wish there were more family style restaurants.  Share!

I could go on and on about how long it took to buy my car, house, choose a phone plan, etc  But, with this 'diet', the only thing on my mind is food.

LUNCH!

Luxury, decadence, or just nasty?

I wouldn't say I'm a total slouch in all things luxurious.  But, now with children my limited funds are ear marked for different things.

1. RESPs - one of the best things I can give is an Education to provide for their own future and without starting their careers in student loan debt.


2. RRSPs - I want to retire at 55.   I'll probably still work, but because I want to not because I have to.


3. Mortgage - Of course we want to upgrade at some point.  Bigger house, double/triple garage, wrap around veranda, bigger closet (I have the walk-in in the master bedroom & 2 other closets in the house.  I need a whole room like on Cribs)


4. Family vacations - paying for multiple people instead of just yourself has now tripled my once-upon-a-time single life budget.  Add to that the additional cost of doing dialysis while abroad.  It was an additional $1600 for our 7-day Caribbean vacation last year.


5. Jewelery - Because who doesn't love their bling.


6. Clothes - Dress for success.  When you're training in front a room full of people, looking sharp builds my confidence, but also I think builds my credibility.  People judge your looks to validate what you're saying.  Sad, but true.


7. Kid Stuff - Probably the biggest one.  Clothes, toys, safety stuff, healthy food, classes (i.e. martial arts, swim, gymnastics, art, etc)

Some things that are considered luxurious and decadent seem just nasty.

1. Fur - I'm not a PETA supporter nor vegetarian, but I just don't get why this is so chi-chi.  We're not back in the viking days where you had to slay a bear to keep warm.  With the newest textiles out there you could have a stylish and warm coat without having to wear dead animals.  Also, there's the cost of keeping it in storage in the summer.  Meh.


2. Snails - Ewww.  Dude, it's a slug that leaves a trail of snot as it moves.  Yet, a 'fancy' name on it like Escargot and it's exceptional. No, thanks.


3. Lobster - Love it, but sometimes I wonder why.  It's the cockroach of the sea.   They crawl along the bottom of the sea slurping up crap.  I guess when you smother the sea's cockroach in garlic butter, you can charge an additional $20.


4. Baths - Another love of mine, but again the deeper thought behind it is kinda gross.  You are sitting in a tub of your own filth.  I like to add bubbles, so no need to see if the water gets murky.  They have a whole industry designed to sell you bath stuff.  haha...murky....gross


5. Bidet - Is a low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia, inner buttocks, and anus.  This was the height of decadence back in the day.   Who else has enough room in their bathroom for an additional piece besides their double-sink, stand-up shower, jet-tub, toilet, heated towel rack, and make-up area

There has to be a happy medium.  Save money for your future, but don't forget to spoil yourself once in a while.  You deserve it.  We work to live, not live to work.

Now go have a $10 latte!

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