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I Wish I Could Tell That Story

Right after college, my best friend and I moved into an unfurnished apartment. I was able to get the dresser I had at my parents' house, but not my old bed. So, I went out and bought one, using my credit card. While I was at it, I also got a 19-inch TV and VCR. That's how I did things back then. I wanted something, thought I needed it, so I went out and got it, even if it meant charging.

Flash forward to sometime within the couple of years. As I was leafing through a newspaper one day, I ran across an article about people who never buy anything unless they can pay cash, be it a car or house. One woman said she slept on her floor for ages before she shelled out the money to buy a bed.

These days -- especially when I look at my charge accounts -- I wish I could tell that story about when I first moved out on my own, too. I wish I could say that I slept on the floor, bought all of my clothes secondhand (with the exception of underwear -- I don't want to tell that story), read books from the library for entertainment and never, ever dined at a restaurant. But it's not true. If I wanted something, I bought it, and I have to say, it's been a tough habit to break.
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