Keeping up with the Jones'

**sidenote** I actually wrote this blog last Wednesday, September 17th on a piece of paper in class. Took a few days to actually post. As always, comments welcome.

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It's mid-September and I've thought about blogging a lot, but I've been too busy shopping. Well, more like spending money - there is a difference. I'm not going to list out everything that I've purchased, but take it from me, I haven't had a spending spree like this ... ever.

There have been useful things. I'm typing on one of them, but there have also been things that are materialistic in nature; things I don't usually consider. Part of me can excuse it by saying "I'm getting older, I should have nice things," but another part of me thinks I'm just spending to keep up with the Jones', and that's strange..

Do I care what people like the Jones' think?

Well of course to a degree. I live in the MD/DC/VA area, the US' other fashion center, and in some ways I feel "less than" here. Part of this could bee that my confidence is shaken from a recent experience that shall go unnamed, but most of it is probably me overdramatizing. In either case, I'm HAPPY with all of my expenditures, much to my mother's shock. On the other hand, I've lost my desire to spend just today because I know I will never be able to keep up with the Jones' and actually, I don't think I want to.

There are so many things I want to do with my time and money, like writing and painting and going to Paris. I'm excited about creating a new financial future for myself. The Jones' can have it there way. I'll have it mine.

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Closing Note: There was an article in DiversityInc today about Black Women and Spending. Very interesting read. http://www.diversityinc.com/public/4411.cfm