The Miserly Stages of Grief

Ugh.

I had to buy tires today.

I'm such a tightwad that I go through all the stages of grief when I spend large sums of money.

Stage 1: Denial

There is no way the tires are bad enough that they can't pass inspection! They're fine! I drove here on them, didn't I?? I can't spend all that money! I don't have all that money to spend


Stage 2: Anger

I have to go WHERE and pay HOW MUCH to get new tires? FOUR new tires?? Are you out of your mind??? Why are tires even so expensive? Are they handcrafted from Hafnium isomers by a forgotten race of tire elves ?? DUBYA TEE EFF, MAN!


Stage 3: Bargaining

Ok, forget the inspection. How much for just the sticker? Come on, the old sticker is already expired. Can you write me a note for when I get pulled over to say that I TRIED to get it renewed?


Stage 4: Depression

My poor money! Taken too soon. Oh, WHY did it have to be taken so soon??


Stage 5: Acceptance

Ok, ok… *inhaaaaaale*


...ok. I have some groceries… and I get paid in two weeks. As long as I'm careful and don't spend ANYthing until then, I might be ok. Phew. Ok. And to get to work to get paid, I have to have a car, and the car won't get there without tires. I NEED tires. Tires are a legitimate purchase. It's ok. We're ok. *exhaaaaale*


And in my case, there's a sixth stage: Possessiveness


I can only drive on marshmallows and velvet now! Do you know what I PAID for those tires??? They have to last FOREVER! They are PRECIOUS! I have traded three months of rent for those tires! Hey, you kids! Keep away from my tires! Keep that dog away too! Rarrrgh!





And then I got home and turned on the tv and realized things could be much, much worse.