Ca-ching!

by Steve

Monday was a big day for me. Monday I received my first paycheck in about 9 years. To be clear, it was a check… for money… with my name on it. Not mine, and my wife’s. Just mine.

Jury Duty= $25
My Wife= Wise-ass sarcasm... funny though.

There were so many sarcastic bombs thrown around the kitchen that night that I can’t exactly recall any of them. But I do give her credit for what she probably said. I’m sure she covered the basics:
“Boy, that takes the pressure off.”
“Does this mean I can quit my job?”
“This isn’t going to push us into a higher tax bracket is it?”
"Don’t let all of this money go to your head, now.”

Don’t let it go to my head? What the hell? Are you trying to tell me that I didn’t work for this? I was out there, in the world, doing my part with everyone else that couldn’t get out of it. Did you know that our criminal justice system can’t function properly if not for citizens like me? It’s true! The judge said it like 5 times. I had to sit in a room for like an hour. Answering questions like, “Are there any law enforcement officers in your immediate family?” and, “Can you tell us in which county you currently reside?” I mean real cut to the bone kind of stuff.

Don’t let it go to my head? I had a man’s fate resting in my hands! Or, I would have… you know, if I’d been picked.

That’s MY $25! And don’t try to minimize it either. In the 90’s I only got $11.

I’m a money earner now. You’re not kicking me out of this club.
I mean of course I’m not going to act like I’m better than any of the other NIPS (Non-Income Producing Spouse) that I know.
I’m going to pretend that I’m still no better that any of them. Even though they all have to ask their wives for their money.

I haven’t decided yet how I’m going to allocate it. I want to be responsible, so a portion has to go into the emergency fund. Definitely a little for retirement. The kids education. But, I think I’m just going to have fun with the rest.