I really should have known you all would go crazy over the $500 bet. You want details, here they are....fair warning though, it's not that interesting.
First, I gotta give background info for those folk who may not "know" us. Luke and I will have been married 6 years this December. When we got married, Luke had been living on his own for about a year and a half and I was fresh out of college. Neither of us were exactly "seasoned" in the ways of the world. Still, we knew enough about money from what we had been taught by our parents and Luke majored in accounting and economics (I know, snoozefest huh?) in college.
My mom always told me never to put more on a credit card than I could pay off at the end of the month. Luke's mom taught him to use them only in emergencies. We were going to be responsible, we both knew that.
However, I was spoiled. Because my parents loved me so much (right mom?) they wanted me to have and experience the best things. I appreciate it so much still today. I loved the family trips we went on, the nice things I got to have and I know, now, that they made huge sacrifices for me to have and do those things. When we got married, I was a classic case of a spoiled brat. I wanted everything my parents already had and I didn't take into consideration that they had 26 plus years experience and hard work on me.
Luke has always been conservative. He rarely splurges and when he does....well, you'd better enjoy every lick of the $0.75 worth of candy....okay, he's not that bad....but almost.
Anyway, I tell you all of that so that I can tell you that it took me being pregnant with Elizabeth before I changed my concept and views of money. For more about how and why I changed, click here.
Now, on with the "bet" story. Luke and I rarely fight. When we do, like most married couples, it's about money. Generally, this is how it plays out:
I want something. It costs more than just a $100 or so and we have not budgeted or saved for it. However, I WANT IT NOW!!!
I have found 17 places that the item of my obsession is on sale/discounted/etc. and have rationalized why we can't afford NOT to buy it, because of the great price. Yes, as I type this I realize how ridiculous it sounds.
Luke and I talk about it (usually, I drive it into the ground every chance I get) and finally, I am so frustrated that I tell Luke to just make a decision so we can be done with it.
Luke says "No" to the overpriced, unbudgeted for item, and I get ticked. A day goes by and I see why he was right and I'm over it.
Pretty much, every time that's how it goes.
So, bet you're still wondering where the bet plays in aren't you? I'm getting there, I promise.
Well, Luke works for Wachovia. If you've read the paper or even turned on the TV you know that Wachovia's viability has been transferred to another banking institution. We were discussing how that would effect Luke's job and, as always, my husband says,
"Well, we shouldn't really do anything extra, just in case." (By the way, Luke's job IS NOT in jeopardy. He's just supremely cautious.)
I, off handedly and a little harshly say,
"Of course, that would be your first response. Because I've been begging to spend lots of money lately."
Yes, it was mean. Yes, it was disrespectful. Yes, I have apologized.
Anyway, (Stay with me. I promise I'm getting there.) the next day is envelope day. We do Dave Ramsey's envelope system. Each pay period we fill our envelopes, October 1st was no exception.
As we are sitting in bed, Luke diligently filling them up, he fans them all out in front of me. He looks me square in the eye and says,
"If you pick the grocery envelope, I'll double it and give you the other half."
Yeah right. Still, he holds them up. I spit in my hand and tell him to shake on it, still not believing that he could be serious. He's never serious about stuff like that.
Still he says, "Choose! I will give you $500 if you can pick which one is the grocery envelope."
In my mind I'm thinking, "He's hiding the grocery envelope so I can't pick it."
I search the bed around him, but he insists he's holding it. I touch each one to make sure that he hasn't hidden the grocery one behind another one.
Can you tell that this has NEVER happened it the 8 years we've been together?
So, trying to play it cool, I reach up and pick one of the envelopes. I'm sure you've guessed which one I chose.
Yep, that's right, GROCERY!
I think Luke had a small moment of disbelief. I stacked all the envelopes on my side of the bed and didn't give it another thought.
The next day, Luke produces another, much thicker, envelope. He looks at me and says,
"Here. I owe you from our bet."
Still, in my mind, I'm thinking he's shoved a wad of paper into an envelope to trick me. I open it up and find $500 worth of $20 bills inside.
I'm still in disbelief and still trying to figure out if he's just testing me. He swears it's not, but I'm still holding out on my shopping spree, just in case. I could see the look on his face when I show up with $500 worth of shopping bags, stuffed full. I'm pretty sure there'd be a wet spot on the floor.
See, I told you it was boring.