The Art of Rationalization

I'm not much of an artist. I can't pick up a paint brush and create a masterpiece on canvas. I cannot act, sing, or dance. I'm artistically challenged in most ways.

But boyyyy I can shop.

Instead of being blessed with some crazy talent that is going to make me rich and famous, I was simply blessed with the ability to rationalize everything. Don't get me wrong, I will still be rich and famous (of course happiness comes first), but until I have unlimited funds, rationalization is important in order to make the best purchases, cook the best foods, and believe I'm doing what I should be doing. It's kind of like budgeting in a more fabulous way; the style I prefer.

Just to give you a little background on my above average skill, I'd like to describe a hypothetical situation in which I might need to use rationalization...

Step-by-step rationalizing:

1. Take a want and make it a need

2. Make it appear practical

3. Convince yourself it's a genius idea

4. Physically take action

I really want a new purse. First things first: I have to convince myself that my want is a need. I think back to my last purse purchase (which has obviously been a long enough amount of time to be "old" because I make the rules to this game and I said so). Based on my last purchase, I decide a different color would be the smart thing to do.. Way to be practical. Since I spend hours upon hours doing style research each week, I know the color handbag I should own this season. Next, I shop. As I explained earlier, I do not have unlimited funds. I am on a "budget." Therefore, it is impossible to purchase everything I want (oops, I mean need). This is where I really need to rationalize. If the bag is inexpensive (not likely) the decision basically makes itself. Cha-ching. If the bag is not expensive, but enough to make me check how much credit is left on my card, I have to use a technique I've explained in previous posts (see here) and decide how much I would be willing to pay each time I carried the bag. If it is reasonable and I have paid off my CC this month, golden. In the case where it isn't reasonable, or my CC is maxxed (surprise, surprise), I am a good girl and don't buy it. But overall, if I have to have it, I will. I love making the rules!

I like to think my rationalization skills have been passed down by my favorite relative: Mark Parrish. Around 8 years ago, my amazing father decided he needed someone to cook for him. Rather than running out and finding a wife (which he eventually did... leaving me jobless), he decided to start an "incentive" program for me: he tells me what he wants for dinner and I make it. The incentive? Fifty dollars a dinner (and he bought groceries, duh)...... So I taught myself how to cook.

So, not only did Mark teach me how to rationalize early on in life, but he also taught me how to have an astonishing closet, the thrilling ability to cook like a pro, and a glimpse into the wonderful world of making enough money to pay your offspring to do stuff you could probably do yourself: rationalization at its finest.