After my plea for Miss Manners-type assistance yesterday, I got a great comment – anonymous, which is too bad because I can’t properly thank them – which helped change my perspective about the Marshall Fields gift cards.

Ever since I took the leap into buying my own home, I had to change my perspective and mindset about money. Money that in the past, I could spend freely on clothing, entertainment, whatever. Now, that my housing costs will be doubling – not to mention being completely on my own again – I’ve put the clamp down on frivolous purchasing and have fine-tuned my focus on buying only the things I need and not the things I want.

For instance, I need a microwave for my new house. In my apartment, I have a built-in microwave – obviously I can’t take that with me. A new coffee maker would be nice, but I have one already that works just fine. I would like to get a new toaster, but the one I have works just fine. Getting a Kitchen Aid mixer would be awesome – but I barely use the cheap hand mixer I already have. The only thing I could see myself buying are some new Wüsthof knives – but again, it’s not a necessity, but a luxury.

I guess I have to get over it and just enjoy the freedom to buy some nice things for my new place and a few things for myself too.

I still need a microwave, though.