Conservation

Five months to go. At least, I hope so. Then I can choose which job to keep and which to toss. In my heart, the decision is an easy one.  In my wallet, not so simple.

I will have to learn to conserve our resources.

First, the water bill. Two of us taking showers daily is too much. I figure once a week is enough. My hair is short, hubby hasn't much. A washcloth every morning should suffice. I keep baby wipes on hand anyhow. Eating out will ensure that I don't need a lot of water for cooking. We can drink coffee at work, thus eliminating more dribbles onto our bill.

Second, gas and electric. I'll turn down the heat to sixty (also a very good year) and throw an extra blanket on the dog's bed. I have a battery lantern if we want to read after dark, and there's always candles.

And groceries. No, says Hubby, I will NOT give up Pepsi. OK, no more cookies. Really? he says. No more steak. He groans. OK, I say, smaller portions. He sighs. I'm going to starve, he says. The dog gets too many treats. I look down. It's a good thing Rocco can't talk. I hear a low growl and the beginnings of a snarl. I get it, fella.

Do we have to have car insurance? We haven't had an accident in years. Decades, even. The house is paid for. Do we still have to insure it? He rolls his eyes and I can see him start to twitch...

Cable TV costs too much, but not really, when you consider phone and Internet are rolled in. NOT THE CABLE, he says. OK, I agree on this. I like TV, love my computer, hate the phone.

Can't touch the budget for clothes. If I gain or lose more than twenty pounds, I'm sunk. You have enough clothes to last you the rest of your life, says Hubby.  But the color of the year is emerald green, I wail, and I haven't a single thing in green!  You always tell me you look like death in green, he says.  True, I can't argue there.

So far, I have edited out about ten dollars a month. Crap. At this rate I will be working till I am ninety. Or maybe we could just move in with our kids...I could buy our food, Hubby could pick up the cable bill....Rocco could share their dog's treats (I hear a whine).

I once asked my younger son if I could move in with him, should I ever feel it necessary.  He thought for a long moment (too long, I might add). Finally he said well, Mom, I'll help you pay for an apartment....