CASH ONLY

i don't usually go to farmer's markets all that often. but, i found myself at one this morning and i was reminded of why i don't usually go (haha) but then i noticed something pretty amazing. it sorta threw me for a second and then put a big smile on my fiscally-conservative face. NO CREDIT CARDS. CASH ONLY transactions. holy shit. i mean it was like i was in vegas or nyc or hell back in college. see, i never had a credit card in college. hell, i didn't have a damn bank-atm card. i used to have to go to the bank, up to a tell, and give them my bank statement book. all transactions were there for the world or rather my parents to see. no hidden fees in those days. :)

why do i bring this up? well, it seems to me that we, the country are still obsessed with "easy or plastic money". the night before, i was out for something or another. a bill came, and then it was time to do the plastic dance. you know the one, put X on my card, and Y on that card, and this cash will go toward the grand total. holy f, i watched in a bourbon stupor, as one gal at the table decided to play enron with the bill to figure what goes on what card. i think that whole procession took like 30minutes or at least til i finished getting this little story formed in my head. does anyone even read this shit? :) well, i write it for me.

ok, so now we flash back to the farmer's market. it was nice to see ( at least i hope) people making purchases that they maybe had to take pause on before completing. maybe, they stopped and asked do i really need this? or, damn i bought this basket of peaches, now i can't buy a burrito. fyi, i usually buy the burrito then i am upset that i can buy something else. but, it really become very evident on how we need to fix our economy, or at least our own personal part of the solution. yes, you and me, each have a part that we play. and, it goes like this: DON'T BUY SHIT YOU REALLY DON'T NEED. UNDERSTAND THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS TO EVERY FINANCIAL TRANSACTION YOU MAKE. WAKE THE HELL UP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AND, THEN IF YOU DO FUCK UP WELL TAKE SOME DAMN ACCOUNTABILITY.

didn't mean to yell. so, that is a great little sermon, but talk without action is just hot air. so, i am going to start only doing cash transactions. i am going to carry cash to make my purchases; that would be lunch/dinner, my daily transit passes, and little purchases along the way. gonna try this and see how it goes. i know it will be painful, but i do believe that only thru pain do we truly make changes/improvements.

what are you gonna do?