Following are amusing anecdotes from the almost daily fights discussions we’ve been having regarding the change in our financial status:
1. Ryan Romney’s Eyes
Jessica: “You don’t even give me credit for the things I have cut back on. You see this hair color? I hate it! But I cancelled my hair appointment for Saturday.”
Ryan: “And I told you thank you.”
Jessica: “Did you do it with your eyes looking like that? Because those are not very sincerely thanking eyes.”
2. Cutting off her Coupon to Spite Her Face
Jessica: “And of course now, I’m realizing that when you suggested dinner on Saturday, you were thinking Quiznos and I suggested Ding How (local sit-down establishment) and you were probably so irritated at my over-spending appetite.
Ryan: no answer
later…
Jessica, thinking to herself: “Forget it. I’m throwing away this 2 for 1 coupon for this restaurant I like downtown, because he’ll never want to do it. That’ll show him.”
later…
Ryan: “Hey Jess. Where is that coupon? I was thinking we could do that on Saturday for our date.”
Jessica, sheepishly: “Um. I threw it away. Because I was mad and tired of looking at it and thinking you would never go for it.”
Ryan: “Well, that was a little immature, don’t you think?”
later…
Jessica, digging through the trash: “Where is that stupid coupon!”
3. How much is that paint remover going to cost?
Jessica: “Here! Here’s the grocery list. Cross everything off you think we don’t need! And Here! Here’s the cash budget! I will just come to you and ask for every single expenditure and then I don’t have to wonder if it’s okay.”
later…
Ryan: “I don’t want to do the budget. I don’t like how we eat when I’m in charge of the budget. I’ve been sitting here, thinking how I’ve painted myself into a corner and I don’t want to make all those daily decisions.”
Jessica: “Too bad.”
4. Especially Elder Hales
Jessica, relating the situation to her sister in law: “And the thing is, cutting back is JUST SO RIGHTEOUS. Like, while we’re arguing, I can see the 12 Apostles lining up behind Ryan, nodding their heads: ‘Yes, Jessica, why don’t you cancel your California vacation. We definitely agree with Ryan, here.”
So. Who’s side are you on?
37 comments:
When you can publicly laugh at your marital spats, you are evidencing a strong relationship. We all see ourselves in the back and forth. I salute your marriage and am glad I have noe worries about it. I wonder, though, where do the apostles wives line up?
Oops... I forgot. Wasn't it Elder Hales wife that taught him the principle?
Umm can I line up on the Spokane Valley Romney's side? You 2 are so great. There's always jobs in Seatown. =)
dave ramsey dave ramsey dave ramsey dave ramsey... i swear the guy is LDS.
Speaking from someone who has spent the last year honing (sp?) in on her spendthrift abilities: I am saving a TON of money through couponing. The idea that you buy crap that you don't need or use is FALSE! You need to check out a couple of sites. There is a girl in YOUR neighborhood that is amazing at couponing. I will send you an e-mail! :)
I feel guilty for laughing. But it is such a REAL life post and it is appreciated. Hang in there. Blessings are coming. I am sure...
Yes, it was Elder Hale's wife who told him to stop trying to impress others by buying expensive stuff.
Anyway, Dan has tried to "help me" cut back on food we don't need on the grocery bill. Then when we have no goodies or chips or anything "good" to munch on, he looks all depressed but has to act like he is fine with it. I'm glad Ryan admitted that he doesn't like how you eat when he shops. :)
Dan and I both tend to be very frugal, and sometimes it's annoying and we don't end up doing fun things. I think it's good sometimes to have one spouse who is frugal and one spouse who likes to spend a little more - helps to equal each other out. I'm on both sides. :)
I'm ALWAYS on your side. And I believe it was President Hinckley who once admonished the brethren to make sure their wives always had a nice hairdo and nice clothes to wear. Take that Ryan! :) I totally understand canceling the hair appointments, but make that a priority when you can.
i second what dad said. finding the humor in the moment is nearly impossible, but being able to find it after means things are pretty great.
if you guys want me to referee any of these spats, just let me know. usually i call them in favor of whoever pays me more, but since funds are tight, you might actually get a fair call.
Your side. Always.
Ha ha! Just today I said something about wanting stuff and my girlfriend reminded me to go back and listen to Elder Hales' talk again. ;-)
I have done that food coupon thing too. It's not fair when the husband throws a curveball. 99% of the time he would have ignored the coupon, right?
My sister loathed Elder Hales' talk because she was getting engaged. Because her fiance was out of a job, he thought the talk told him that he didn't need to buy an engagement ring. Winnie hated that she wanted a ring and then felt unrighteous because she didn't really "need" it.
She did get a ring, though.
Hilarious! So typical, you are not alone when it comes to conversations like this. I'm sure you can guess which side I can relate more to. Hope things get easier soon.
Hilarious. With you, of course. Especially on the hair and coupon.
Totally your side.
um, get your hair done because feeling ugly every day will make you fight more. And I'm ALWAYS on your side.
Any progress on the job in AZ?
Completely loved this post! I am on your side, of course. But my husband would kiss Ryan on the lips...
I just telling Mark today why I love your blog. This blog is a perfect example. Because you are honest. You tell it like it is. I love it.
Well of course I'm on your side because I think I need a new pair of purple shoes.
I have a hard time distinguishing wants and needs.
Good luck.
I'm on the side that keeps you married.
Yikes!
:)
Totally on your side. This was funny!
Love what your Dad said!
This was a LOL post! Isn't it great how funny both sides are! Love how funny our challenges are from an outside perspective sometimes! Love how you wrote this post from an outside perspective. Good job finding something to giggle about! Keep laughing girlfriend!
I'm a fence sitter, I think you both are right. Money issues are the hardest -- I am in awe of the strength of you marriage in view of all the layoffs and moves for jobs y'all have weathered. Here's to a better opportunity just around the corner.
Your side.
Always your side. :)
do people not realize how often ryan reads this blog? that he is even an occasional contributor? i can't believe everyone is just taking your side like that!! no regard for his feelings or perspective!! shallow, shallow women.
(thanks for the fifty bucks, ryan. i'll be treating myself to a coupon-free meal at Ding How.)
Hey Jessica, I don't know if you remember me but I'm Kirk and Lynette Brower's youngest daughter. I came on your blog through Nate and Kelsie's who I got to know at BYUI - funny how many connections you make in the church!
I loved this post! I've only been married a year and a half and we've had plenty of these funny "disagreements" but I feel in the end they make us better as a couple so I'm glad to know that we have many more in our future:)
You have a beautiful family and I wish you luck in the job search!
in my 3+ years of marriage we have spent 11 months of it unemployed, almost 1/3 and our policy has always been feast and then famine. feast while you can because it is more fun and when you run out and have to famine you still have the comforting memories of your feast to see you through. Dave Ramsey and his gazelle intensity can eat my shorts.
Ah . . . I love you guys. I could never post what our discussions are like because they include words that are most likely inappropriate. (And I will be honest and admit that most of those inappropriate words come from me.)
I love what your Dad said. You do have a great relationship, indeed.
I have to side with Jessica, in that...I feel like a heel over finances more often than I don't and I just kept nodding my head knowingly as I read her take on things. (I often want Mike to realize how I give things up and I have handed him the grocery list, too.)
Oh, great...now I am gonna have visions of Elder Hales and the other apostles nodding their heads in agreement with Mike next time we *ahem* discuss finances.
This was so clever...I love each of the very clever titles.
Oh how I wish I was an amazing couponer! Provident Living is all the rage these days!
I have friends that get loads and loads of free groceries! Of course, they seem to eat a lot of velveeta cheese, caprisun and ragu... but hey, it's free right?
P.S. I have been considering getting into debt just so I can say I am following the Dave Ramsey plan to get out of it ;)
Good Luck to your family, I like your attitudes :)
I should have read this post BEFORE i went MAJOR grocery shopping yesterday. It had been WAY too long since we'd been and i told Kendon, "I don't even want you to look at the receipt cause I don't want one word!" Of course he'll see the big ole tab when he does bills but hey...
I love your honesty and humor.
Jess, I am copying and pasting this then emailing it to Chunk because I can't tell you HOW MANY TIMES I've said ALL THE EXACT SAME THINGS YOU HAVE!!! Sheesh! (This is Ane by the way. i'm too lazy to log in under my own account hee hee)But Elder Hales talk was a dagger through my heart I'm trying to slowly wedge out. Why is provident living so hard?
I got your hair done for you...I was your proxy. It looks fabulous!
Is there a love and logic book for husbands?
i remember a time (not too long ago) when we had $40 to get us through 11 days and all I could think about was how desperately I needed a pedicure. Then when the crisis passed and we had extra money I never did get the pedicure (but I did buy a jumbo sized bag of M&Ms).
hang in there!
Great titles... Greater marriage and just move to Hawaii and let the CA family come visit you there!!!
That's what I did and it's FUN being POOR and
un-employe-ed in the islands!!!
Aloha, A. J'net
Ok, I don't know the mormon details of the story....but I can say that cutting back a whole lot is difficult no matter how you slice it. To have haircolor you hate, and have to worry about each item on the shopping list makes me just cringe...its brutal. But its totally self-indulging and perhaps a tad shallow to worry about those things and really we are survivors and we can make it work, suck it up, have ramen noodles with some veggies thrown in, try to live each day for under $25, by haircolor from the box at Rite Aid and totally hide the whole struggle from your kids who can think life is grand no matter what may really be going on. So you are both great for dealing with the challenge. I am deathly AFRAID of situations like that, and personally I am most happy and content when I don't have to think about money at all. I don't even want a dollar sign to pop into my head, I want to enjoy life, think of my family and friends, enjoy nature, enjoy good food, think of how lovely life is....etc. Good for you to dealing with this well, and CHEERS to being able to loosen the straps again now that Ryan has a job! yay!
Ok, I don't know the mormon details of the story....but I can say that cutting back a whole lot is difficult no matter how you slice it. To have haircolor you hate, and have to worry about each item on the shopping list makes me just cringe...its brutal. But its totally self-indulging and perhaps a tad shallow to worry about those things and really we are survivors and we can make it work, suck it up, have ramen noodles with some veggies thrown in, try to live each day for under $25, by haircolor from the box at Rite Aid and totally hide the whole struggle from your kids who can think life is grand no matter what may really be going on. So you are both great for dealing with the challenge. I am deathly AFRAID of situations like that, and personally I am most happy and content when I don't have to think about money at all. I don't even want a dollar sign to pop into my head, I want to enjoy life, think of my family and friends, enjoy nature, enjoy good food, think of how lovely life is....etc. Good for you to dealing with this well, and CHEERS to being able to loosen the straps again now that Ryan has a job! yay!
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