What Are You Going to Do With Your $600?

What Are You Going to Do With Your $600?

Mine came in yesterday. I live 60 miles from town and I had waited until it came in to do my monthly shopping. Since the price of gas went sky-high and rising, that's what I do now, monthly shopping.

I had a lot of plans for Mr. Bush's windfall. I was going to save it. Or maybe I would spend it on a partial plate. Because of badteeth, I have had to stop smiling, and sometimes I forget. It's making a difference in my going out and seeing people. Also I need to spend some money on my dog, Smokey Joe, for shots and a renewed license. Of course that would be after I got a new prescription for glasses and to buy a second pair so that if I mislay one, I can find the other. Oh, and I needed to get the tires checked on my pickup.

Decisions, decisions!

Well, Smokey Joe and the pickup won. The vet gave Smokey the shots he needed and I also paid for his renewed license. He might be the only licensed dog on this whole Indian reservation. (That law isn't enforced here because this Indian reservation is part of their sovereign nation.) I also had a microchip implanted on Smokey's neck in case he gets lost or stolen. He is too friendly and would go away with anyone, especially if there were children involved. The big calf-roping contest is coming up on Memorial Day and it has always brought a couple of hundred of horse campers for that weekend. There will most likely be fewer campers this year of worsening economy and soaring prices. I don't think anyone would steal a 119.7 pound furry garbage disposal, but I feel better with him having permanent identification on him. I love that dog!

I also got some good advice from the vet on how to get Smokey's weight down. I must measure his food and give him a period of time to eat it. Then I take the rest away and don't feed him again until the next day. If he begs for food, I'm supposed to give him a baby carrot. I know coyotes eat vegetable matter, but I've never noticed that Smokey does. Won't he be surprised! My other old dog, Sherpa, will get the same treatment. I acquired her from some homeless people last Christmas. They thought she was near death, but she is in much better condition now. 

Then I went to Discount Tires Storeand a man measured wear. He said the two front tires were bald and the back tires not much better. He gave me a good price for four, and I took him up on it before the price of tires goes up.

So far the cost of Smokey Joe's maintenance and the tires cost about $450 of my $600, and I spent more on extra supplies that were not on my list. I have to refigure what I spent yesterday and what stiIl must be spent to get a better idea of what is left. I will still get the glasses I need. I know I'm going to have to change plans about saving much of my windfall, or getting any dental work done any time soon, but I think I played my priorities right.

What are going to do with your windfall?