A Lesson In Accounting

Thomas wants a new patio set.  I told him we need to save up, but then this past weekend happened.  It was beautiful and we ate outside sitting on the steps of the deck holding the plates on our laps! 

We need a table.

While we were walking around Lowe’s we took a look at the tables.  There was really nothing that caught my eye or anything I wanted to spend money on right this instant.

When we were looking for a filter for the Shop-Vac, I saw some 6ft long craft tables for less than $50.  Perfect!!! 

“Dude, if we get one of those tables we save $300.  We can then set aside some money and get the one we really want for next year when it goes on sale.  I am brilliant!!!”

And then my brilliance shined through like a badass!!!!

When we were putting the table in the back of the van Thomas saw the softball helmets that needed to be returned.  I started clapping and yelling, “Yes!  Yes!!! Yes!!!  We return those and then we just paid for the table and we can spend the leftover toward a new bike for one of the girls.  WE SAVED MONEY!!!!!!”

He shook his head and responded, “That’s really not the way it works.

“Fine, enlighten me,” I rolled my eyes.

“All the money comes out of the same pot.  If you returned the helmets and didn’t spend the money you got back you would be better off because you had more money,” and then he went on for ten more minutes and I heard, “Blah, blah, blah”.

Finally I had enough of being bored, “T.W. I know that you teach accounting, but I really think you should consider a different career because obviously you don’t know how saving money works,” I told him.  “I didn’t even go to school for eighteen billion years and I know that when you do a return and you get money back that is FREE money.  Anything you buy with it is a bonus.  I’ve spent it once, spending it again doesn’t count as spending money. It’s like finding a $10 bill in your winter jacket.  “Hey where did that come from?  Yahoo, we’re going to Olive Garden for a free dinner.”  Seriously Thomas, did you fail that class?”

“Uuuuuuhhhhh, how about that $50 table we just bought?” he conceded.

Win for me and we got a table!!!!