you say "front-load", i say "bah"

It is the end of a fiscal year. I have paid my taxes and invested more than I feel comfortable with into my most effective and only real tax shelter—my SEP IRA. 4 months into 2007, I sit reviewing my finances for last year. (I could have thought about it then, but I was apparently too busy spending money.) To my saddest and most shocking realization, I did not save one single cent. I am now compelled to recall what it is that I got out of all of this spending. Off the top of the head, here it goes:

--a siamese kitten—the purchas e and spoiling of which is greater than $1000
(incidently I was not able at the time to admit to friends that I actually purchased the purebred object of my absolute adoration)
--more shoes than one woman could ever wear, equaling ???
--dresses that hang behind my bedroom door, some with the tag still on, ???
--medical bills for my cat, ending in his eventual death, totaling over $2500
--trip to Italy =????????????
(I bought everything I wanted there no matter what the cost, except that one dress)
--did I mention that I bought a lot of handbags last year, one in Italy costing over $600 and I have only carried it out of my apartment on 2 separate occasions
--I do not cook, so spend a lot of money eating out
--I tried to learn how to cook, so I spent money shopping for the best ingredients at Whole Foods
--I am constantly redecorating my apartment. I also bought some art in Italy. It is still not hanging on my freshly painted walls
--I have quite a nice collection of lipstick
--and underwear
--t-shirts
--a few new jackets
--more boots
--don’t forget to accessorize
--I buy house plants like freshly cut flowers
--I adopted another kitten, with “special needs”
--I like to buy gifts
--books and more stuff

It is clear and very safe to say that I do not need any more dresses, shoes, tubes of lipstick, or kittens.

Completely depressed by my financial statements, I have decided to quite consumerism. (well, at least for 3 months) And I refuse to become any more self-sufficient than any single professional woman can pretend to be, so I promise to buy the essentials, and only the essentials. To this I can only say, there is nothing better than a new toothbrush—teeth licking good!