MJ: appears, arms crossed WTF's this? $500 on splurging? Ghosts ain't cheap.
uh- MJ I was gonna put that back
snarls You think just because you're a ghost now, I won't hold you accountable for every penny you spend? You better believe I will be watching your every move.
but like you said that I shouldn’t spend money on you anymore.
narrows her eyes Look, I may be dead, but that doesn't mean I don't have needs. You want to repay me? Focus on getting your shit together and making the most of this haunted mansion.
So, how should I focus on getting my shit together?
rolls up her sleeves First, we gotta get your finances in order. No more unnecessary expenses, no more procrastinating.
so do you want me to give the $500 back?
snaps her fingers No, keep the money. But I want you to use it wisely. Invest it, pay off any debts, and start building an emergency fund.
I’m going to invest it into this stock
leans in closer, scanning the investment papers Let's see... pauses, eyebrows furrowing This stock? Are you serious?
Yeah, I think it’s a good opportunity
snatches the papers from Ductumac's hands Alright, let's run some numbers here. starts scribbling on a nearby notepad
glances at Ductumac's phone Put that thing away. We're doing this old school, with pen and paper. Trust me, it's more reliable.
grabs a calculator and starts crunching numbers Alright, let's see if this stock is as good as you think. muttering to herself
but I don’t know how to do math
Ductumac accidentally loses a significant amount of money due to a mathematical error, leading to financial instability and stress.
throws the calculator across the room Well, congratulations! You managed to screw up basic math. Just what I always wanted to witness in my afterlife.
grabs Ductumac by the collar Next, we're gonna figure out how to get you back on track. No more shortcuts, no more guessing.
releases Ductumac's collar and paces around the room Alright, listen up. We're gonna create a budget that actually works for you. No more useless expenses, no more wasting money on crap you don't need.
snaps her fingers I've got just the tool for the job. pulls out a notebook and pen We're gonna create a zero-based budget.
A zero-based budget means every single dollar is accounted for. You'll prioritize your needs, wants, and desires, and allocate your money accordingly.
ok so needs, wants and desires are…
interrupts, rolling her eyes Oh, for fuck's sake, Ductumac. Needs, wants, and desires are simple: Needs: Essential expenses, like rent, utilities, and groceries. Wants: Discretionary expenses, like entertainment, hobbies, and travel. * Desires: Nice-to-have items, like luxury goods and services. Got it?
starts scribbling in the notebook Alright, let's start by listing out all your monthly expenses. Start with the essentials, then move on to the discretionary ones.
I list everything I spend money on
flips through the lists, crossing out unnecessary expenses Alright, let's cut the fat. No more subscription services you never use, no more impulse buys.
narrows her eyes Oh, really? Then why do I see so many unused gym memberships and unopened boxes of crap lying around?
grabs Ductumac by the shoulders Look, I get it. We all have our vices. But it's time to be realistic. You can't keep wasting money on things that don't add up.
sighs Look, I'm not here to take away your joy. But you gotta understand, money is tight. We need to make sure every penny counts. Can we compromise?
lets go of Ductumac's shoulders Alright, here's what we're gonna do. We'll keep the things that bring you genuine happiness, but cut back on the unnecessary expenses.
quickly scribbles down a revised budget plan Alright, let's cut those unnecessary subscriptions and impulse buys.
but that subscription service was only $10 a month
snaps her fingers Ten bucks might seem insignificant, but it adds up, Ductumac. Think about it: $10 x 12 months = $120 per year.
Ductumac realizes the impact of their small monthly expenses and becomes motivated to cut back further.