Over the last two years we’ve been bombarded with news that contained numbers that were so big, that I couldn’t really relate to them. I’m talking about the dept crisis, the trillion dollar budget deficit and billion dollar buy outs by the governments.

When I look at my own savings I have a hard time relating to these numbers. I’ve found I can only get excited if I can emotionally relate to the money – one reason why I once went to the bank and had them give me all of my month’s earnings in cash – just to look at it and feel it.

My financial nerves dumbed down so much from the stock market roller coaster in 2009 that was reflected in our 401k retirement savings, that I  now have a very hard time to relate to any $-amount in a meaningful way. $1000, $10000, $100000, who cares? Is there still food in the fridge? – It’s almost that bad.

So I’ve started disciplining myself by using cash for monetary transactions as often as possible. The multiple digit numbers on my credit card statements don’t really mean much, if you just balance it with another number from another account. Yes, I’m lucky to be in that situation, but at the same time it’s scaring me and makes me sick how little I lately care about gaining or loosing or spending money – as long as the mortgage is paid and the fridge is full.

Moments like this (when I write this post) give me pause to appreciate the wealth we’re lucky to enjoy and live with. We easily forget the alternative of the less fortunate.

Need to go now and buy some more stuff for the fridge …