Susan keeps a list of her recurring monthly expenses in order of their auto-withdrawal tacked in a secluded spot in her kitchen. She finds this list comforting, and isn't worried about anyone seeing it unless they like to poke around in non-descript areas of utilitarian rooms. Plus, who cares anyway? 

She's able to live within the confines of her salary as long as she doesn't spend more than she has in the bank. The other day Susan updated her refrigerator list and used that opportunity to investigate where the rest of her money goes each month. The holidays and a few unexpected domestic infrastructure emergencies skewed the results, but that notwithstanding, Susan learned she needs to spend less money. 

Susan's not in the habit of following a budget, she's got a natural thriftiness that keeps her largely in line. For instance she's outfitted much of her house from FB Marketplace & estate sales, but every once in a while she's got to spend $150 on a fancy electric kettle that she never really liked. 

A good portion of Susan's extraneous expenses involve food and gas, but she's also got a bit of a glittery disco ball habit. Anyway, Susan's considering a budget, or maybe a spending fast, she's not yet sure. She's very good at setting limits and sticking to them until she loses interest or revises them. 

One of the biggest reasons Susan moved to NC was to escape the financial stranglehold of her beloved NY, she makes less money where she is but things cost less, so it's kinda a draw. Only cheese and dry cleaning don't cost less. Recently Susan purchased a wool coat from the thrift store, she took a chance on the color but it didn't bother her to think she may end up re-donating it. Then she had it dry cleaned. 

Now she has to wear it.

The other day Susan was on her way into the shower when the phone rang. It was a lawyer that Susan's been speaking to about a car which was repossessed a few years back.

She & the husband had tried unsuccessfully to argue the court that the lease was swindle-y, but it didn't matter. Susan had signed the swindle-y lease and now was on the hook for more than $13,000. The husband had previously offered to settle for a sum under $6,000.
That offer was rejected in writing.

The lawyer was very pleasant but when he suggested that Susan might want to increase the monthly payment to a more onerous amount she sprang into action.

How much will you take to settle it right now? 

He came back with $11,000

That doesn't help me, Sean. She knew his name so she used it. How about we split it in half?

He couldn't accept half.

She reminded him that she had a recently deceased husband and sez Eight thousand. I'll give you eight thousand dollars right now to be done with this.

He agreed to $8150 and she authorized payment over the phone in her underwear then took her shower and got on with the rest of her day.

During Susan's BLAHgy Christmas blackout she left her folks' Christmas card on the table for at least two weeks and when she finally opened it a little piece of paper with some numbers and a signature fell out.

A few days later Acme Sweatshop held their fancy holiday party which involved a lot of top shelf liquor. By the end of the evening Susan had lost her eyeglasses.
They were gone.
As if they never existed.

Susan likes to live on the edge and not keep a back up pair. So, twelve hours later she had an eye exam and a $474.95 pair of eyeglasses ordered.

Susan's ability to see things clearly again has been made possible by a Christmas card grant from her mommy and daddy.