How Much was That?

    As I have said before, I come from a rich family. Despite that, I am tight with money. I really don't like to spend too much of it if I don't need too. I'm hesitant to buy pricy fashion things. I always shop at cheaper stores for great deals. It drives my husband crazy.

    "We can afford," he says. I end up trembling and shelling out more money. I just can't break an old habit. It all started back in America. I was told that people there blew through money like it was the end of world. My father never liked that.

    "It's so foolish," he told all of my siblings and me. "You don't know what's going to happen the next day. Save money." It's been with all of us since. The way we acted at times, some wondered if we really were poor. It does seem kind of silly looking back now. Yet, it still stays with me.

    I want to tell you a little story.

    I had just gotten promoted to pipeline system manager three years ago. Tony took me out to this lavish restaurant as a way to celebrate. The moment we got out of the car, I literally gulped. My husband turned to me.

    "Baby, what's wrong?" he asked.

    "It... It... It's so big!" I whimpered.

    "It's fine," my husband said.

    "But can we even afford this place?" I asked.

    "It's fine," Tony insisted. "Now come on!" He had to pull out of the car to take me inside. The whole time I was a nervous wreck. Everything on the menu was in the high price range of Euros. I'm sure the food was good, but was too expensive. My husband looked up at me.

    "What's wrong?" he asked.

    "We can't afford any of this," I whispered.

    "Sure we can," he whispered back. "We have the money. Just pick something."

    "But..."

    "Just pick something!"

    In the end, I got soup, the seafood special, and a cake dessert. My husband got a salad, the seafood special, and a rum cake dessert. Total cost? 149.628 euros. ($200 in American.) I nervously laughed the whole time. Tony rubbed me on the shoulder as it came time to pay.

    "There, there," he insisted. "We can afford this. Don't worry." I forced myself to smile and nod at him. From then on, I had to ask him to find cheaper restaurants to save me the stress and worry. Still, I'm trying to get better. It's just so hard!