Another irresponsible moron weighing in…
I’m only “outing” myself because 1) it’s part of my self-imposed recovery and 2) to hopefully add a little credibility to the OP.
I’m a relatively intelligent person but have what sometimes I think is almost a phobia about dealing with money. As little as a few years ago, I did not have any credit cards and lived soley on cash (bank Visa card that was really a debit card). I never, ever, opened my bank statements. Ever. I made $50K and always had an “idea” of what I had in the bank, but still lived pretty much paycheck to paycheck. I wasn’t a shop-aholic but would buy $300 sunglasses or things like that sometimes. I also had a summer membership to a golf club that could require some jack.
I think the most I ever had saved over about three years was $3000. Oh, I forgot to mention that I lived rent-free and my only “bills” were an Audi, gas and a cell phone. The Audi was subsidized through the company I worked for, so even that was a deal.
There’s no real kicker to this story other than, in retrospect, given the fact that despite VERY favorable circumstances, I was never able to get ahead and I really wonder if I had ever opened the stupid banks statements, if maybe I would have discovered some money going out here and there to parties unknown.
It is difficult for me to explain WHY I didn’t watch my money more carefully. As I said, I always had a “general idea” that was backed up by my balance. I have come to realize, however, that it could have been off by $50, $100, or even $200 on a regular basis and I probably never would have known.