Chapter 2 Part 1 What's so hard about it? -2

correct.I'm now a little overdrawn again.But only because I'm taking the long view these days and investing a lot of money in my professional future.My boyfriend, Luke, is an entrepreneur with his own financial PR firm and is doing very well.What he said a few weeks ago sounded very reasonable to me: "He who wants to make a million must first borrow a million." Honestly, I must have been born with an entrepreneurial mind, because as soon as he said that, I felt it fit my heart.I even found myself muttering and repeating his words aloud.He was right.How can you expect to make any money if you can't bear to spend it first? So I spent a lot of money on a couple of suits to wear on TV—and some money on hairdos, and Some money was spent on manicures and facials too.And massage.Everyone knows that if you're stressed out and tired all day, you can't be on camera, right?

I also paid for a new computer which cost £2000 - but the computer is something I can't live without, guess why? I'm writing a book teaching people how to help themselves! After officially attending Good Morning Coffee Finally, I met some really nice publishers who took me out to dinner and said my show was inspiring for a financially stressed audience.Wouldn’t that be awesome? They paid me £1,000 before I wrote a single word – and much more when it was published.The title of the book is "Becky Bloomwood's Financial Guide".Or "Financing the Becky Bloomwood Way."

I haven't been able to get my head around it yet, but I do think it's crucial to get the title right, and then things will be easier.So it cannot be said that I did nothing.I've written down a lot of suggestions for what to wear when shooting photos for the book. So it's not a big deal to say that I'm currently a little overdrawn on my bank account.The important thing is that all this money spent is making money for me later.Fortunately, my bank manager, Mr. Derek Smeez, was a compassionate man.He's actually a really sweet and sweet guy.We didn't get along well for a while - I think it was more of a lack of communication than anything else.Now, I do feel that he understands my situation.Of course, I'm actually paying more attention now than before.

For example, my attitude towards shopping is completely different now.My new motto is "only buy what you need".I know, this sounds too simple - but it works.Before every purchase, I ask myself one question: "Do I need this item?" If the answer is "Yes," I shell out for it.It's an entirely self-disciplined act. So, when I walk into the LK Bennet shoe store, I can be described as highly focused and purposeful.As soon as I entered the mall, a pair of high-heeled red leather shoes jumped into my eye—but I looked away and walked directly to the counter where the sandals were displayed.This is how I shop at the mall these days: without pausing, without looking at anything else, not even those pretty moccasins with glitter on the display rack.I ran right up to the sandal I wanted to buy, took it off the shelf, and called out to the salesperson.

"I bought a pair of these sandals in a size six." straightforward.Only buy what you think you need, and don't look at anything else.This is the magic weapon to control shopping.I didn't even look at those cool pink stilettos, even though they matched my new Cardigan collarless cardigan I got at the Jigsaw store. Forget those slingbacks with alluring heels. Of course these shoes are adorable, right? I really want to know what they look like on my feet. Oh my gosh.It's so hard. What about shoes? I mean, I love a lot of clothes, but I just can't resist a pair of sparkly shoes.Sometimes, when there is no one else in the house, I open the closet door and admire my precious shoes in the closet like an obsessed collector.Once I took them out one by one, displayed them on my bed, and took a picture.This seems a bit weird - but I thought, I have a lot of pictures of people I don't really like, so why not take a picture of something I like?

"Here are the shoes you want!" Thank goodness the salesman brought my shoes, a pair of lilac-embellished sandals in a shoe box - and I took them out of the box with a thumping heart.Oh, it is so beautiful.beautiful.The sandals are delicate, with a striped upper and a tiny blackberry sewn on the toe.As soon as I saw this shoe, I couldn't put it down.These shoes are a bit expensive—but everyone knows that spending on shoes is not cheap, and shoes that don't fit well can sprain your feet. I slipped my foot into the shoe and felt a rush of excitement - oh my gosh, these shoes are amazing.My feet suddenly look elegant, and my legs look more slender... well, yes, walking is a bit difficult, but maybe the floor in this store is too slippery.

"I bought it," I said, smiling and nodding to the salesman. You see, there are real benefits to taking this restrained approach to shopping at the store.When you decide to buy something, you really feel that you have earned this beloved thing. Together we headed to the checkout counter, I kept my eyes off the trinket shelf.In fact, I didn't even bother to look at the handbag with the little jet-black beads on it.As I reached into my bag for my wallet, thanking myself for being determined, the salesperson seemed to say in passing, "Look, we also have a pair of these sandals with citrus flowers."

"Oh...really." I said hesitantly. I won't be tempted.I've already bought what I want - and that's enough.Lilac-embellished sandals, no citrus florals. "We've just got them," she added, standing motionless beside me. "I think they'll be more popular than the lilac ones." "Really?" I said, trying to keep my tone as flat as possible, "Well, I'm going to buy these, I think..." "That's it!" the salesman exclaimed excitedly, "I know there's this style around here." I froze as I watched the salesperson put those extremely delicate and beautiful sandals on the counter.I have never seen such a beautiful shoe, it is a light cream yellow, the same striped upper-only the toe is not the blackberry, but a small citrus flower.

I fell in love with it the moment I saw it, and couldn't take my eyes off it. "Would you like to try it on?" said the saleswoman.I felt an urge to try, an irresistible desire. Check out these shoes.They are absolutely beautiful, probably the most lovable shoes I have ever seen.Oh my gosh. But I don't need a pair of citrus floral sandals, do I? I don't. All right, Becky.Determined.say no. "Actually..." I stammered, trying to keep my voice under control, "Actually..." God, it's so hard for me to get the words out. "I'll buy a pair today," I finally managed to say, "Thank you."

"Okay..." The saleswoman pressed a code key on the cash register. "89 pounds. How will you pay?" "Hmm... VISA card." I said.I signed the receipt, grabbed the bag with my shoes, and walked out of the store feeling a little sad. I did it! I did it! I got my cravings under control.All I need is one pair of shoes - and I just bought one pair.Walking in and out of the store, all by plan.You see, as long as you make up your mind, even the most difficult things can be done.This is Becky Bloomwood with a new look. Really deserved a little reward for doing so well.I walked into a coffee shop, sat outside in the sun, and ordered a cappuccino.

I want those shoes with the citrus flower trim, the idea popped into my head just after I took a sip of my coffee. Don't think about it, don't think about it anymore.Think about... something else.Think about Luke.Think about going on vacation.That will be the first time we will go on vacation together.OMG can't wait. Ever since I've been dating Luke, I've been wanting him to go on vacation together, but he's so busy with work that it's a bit like asking the Prime Minister to step aside running the country for a while. (But then again, the Prime Minister has an event going on vacation every summer, right? So why shouldn't Luke be able to?) Luke is really busy with work, so far I haven't had time to see my parents, which makes me feel a little uneasy.A few weeks ago, my parents invited him to their house for Sunday lunch.Mum also went out of her way to prepare - at least apricot-stuffed tenderloin from Sainsbury's and a stunning pudding cake with chocolate frosting.But at the last juncture of his visit to my house, he was forced to temporarily cancel his plans to go to my parents' house because of the troubles of a client who had been featured in the Sunday paper.It turned out to be just me going - to be honest, it was pretty boring at the time.You can imagine my mother's disappointment, but she kept her spirits together and kept saying, "Well, it's just a casual thing to have him this time" - when in fact it wasn't.Luke sent my mother a large bouquet of flowers the next day as an apology (at least according to his assistant, Mel, who brought the flowers for him), but it never quite made up for his no-show sorry, no? Worst of all, our next door neighbours, Janice and Martin, occasionally barge in for a glass of sherry, "to meet the famous Luke," as they say, only to find out he's not home From time to time, they would show me a look of regret and comfort, but it was also mixed with a look of secret pleasure, because their son Tom was going to marry his girlfriend next week.I was particularly suspicious that they would think I was wishing Tom.In fact it is not so at all, quite the contrary.But once people have an idea, it's very hard to convince them to change.Oh my God, how scary. When Luke and I get angry, he'll also say I haven't seen his parents yet.But that wasn't quite true, I had a conversation with his father and stepmother once in a restaurant, even though I wasn't dressed up enough to look glamorous.Anyway, they lived in Denver, and Luke's biological mother lived in New York.I mean, they don't live close enough to see each other whenever they want, do they? Still, we made plans for this little vacation, at least for him it was an effort.Actually, it was Mel who came up with the idea of ​​this weekend getaway.She told me that Luke hadn't officially taken a vacation in three years and that he might have to gradually get him used to the idea of ​​a vacation.So, instead of talking about vacations, I told him to take advantage of the weekend to get away—and it worked! All of a sudden, Luke told me to take the weekend off and not do anything else.He booked the hotel himself and made other arrangements.I couldn't be happier and looking forward to this weekend coming soon.When we go on vacation, we do nothing but relax—just the two of us together, a change from the usual monotony.It's so cute. I want those shoes with the citrus flower trim. Stop thinking, stop thinking about those shoes. I took another sip of coffee, leaned back on the chair, and watched the bustling street scene comfortably.People are coming and going, carrying shopping bags in their hands, chatting leisurely, a girl is crossing the road, she is wearing very elegant trousers, I guess she may have bought them at Nicde Farhi store... oh my god where. A middle-aged man in dark clothing was walking towards me down the street, and I recognized him.He is Mr. Derek Smeez, my bank account manager. Oh, I think he saw me. Well, don't panic.I firmly ordered myself not to panic.There's no need to panic.Probably at some point in the past I would have panicked after bumping into him and managed to bury my head behind the menu or even run away.But that was in the past.For some time now the relations between the amiable Smeez and myself have been harmonious and friendly. But I still couldn't help but quietly moved the chair away from the shopping bag with the words LK Bennet store printed on it, as if to show that the shopping bag was not mine and had nothing to do with me. "Hi, Mr. Smeez!" I greeted him briskly as he came up to me. "How are you?" "I'm fine, thanks," replied Derek Smeez, smiling. "And you?" "Oh, I'm fine too, thank you. Would you... Would you like a cup of coffee too?" I said politely, pointing to the empty seat opposite me.I didn't really expect him to sit down for a drink, but to my surprise, he did and picked up the menu from the table. Is that democratic enough? I'm having coffee with my bank account manager at a street cafe! See, I'll probably try to make this into my "Morning Coffee" show. “Personally, I prefer to deal with my personal finances in an informal way,” I would say to the camera with a smile on my face. “My own bank account manager and I sometimes While drinking an Italian cappucaino espresso, I was talking about my recent financial strategy in a friendly way..." "Rebecca, I wrote you a letter recently," said Mr. Derek Smeez, as the waitress brought a cup of espresso to his table.Suddenly, his tone became a little serious, and I was slightly taken aback.Oh my gosh, I haven't bought anything big lately. "Of course, to you and my other clients," he went on, "to tell you I'm leaving the bank." "What?" I put down the coffee cup in my hand, the cup was set a little hastily, and the coffee in the cup dangled. "What did you say? Leaving?" "I am leaving Endwich Bank. I have decided to retire early." "But……" I stared at him with what must have been a look of astonishment on my face.Mr. Derek Smeets cannot leave Endwich Bank.He can't just leave me alone, and it's all working perfectly fine for now.I mean, I know we don't see eye to eye on everything - but we've definitely developed a nice rapport lately.He understands me and understands my overdraft situation.What would I do without him? "You're still so young, isn't it too early to retire?" I said, aware of the dejection in my tone. "Are you tired of this job?" He leaned back in his chair and slowly sipped his coffee. "I'm not planning to stop working altogether. But I think there's more fun in life than looking after other people's bank accounts, don't you think? Although looking after other people's bank accounts can be fascinating at times." "Um... yes. Of course I am. I'm so happy for you, I mean it." I shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I will...will miss you." "Believe it or not," he said with a small smile, "I think I'll miss you too, Rebecca. Your account is indeed one of the most... interesting accounts I manage." He looked at me with his penetrating eyes, and I felt a slight blush.Why does he remind me of the past? You know, it's all in the past.I am a different person now than I was before.Isn't it about allowing people to turn over a new page in their lives and start over? "You seem to be doing well in TV, too?" he said. "Yes! It was easy and well paid," I added, a little smugly. "Your income has indeed been going up in recent months," he said, putting down his coffee cup.My heart couldn't help but sink slightly. "However……" I knew what he was going to say.Why is it always followed by a "however"? Why can't he be happy for me? "However," repeated Derek Smeez, "your payouts are also going up, quite a bit. In fact, you have more overdrafts now than you used to... let's say, more than Eliminates the overdraft peaks you used to have when you over-shopping.” Overshopping? That's a hard word to say. “You do have to work really hard to keep your overdrafts within your allowable limits,” he continued, “or, more gratifyingly, to flatten your debts.” "I see," I said vaguely, "I'm going to plan on doing it." I just spotted a girl across the street with a LK Bennet shopping bag.She was carrying an oversized shopping bag—two shoeboxes could fit in it. If she can buy two pairs of shoes, why can't I? Is there a rule that you can only buy one pair at a time? I mean, that's pretty bossy. "What about the rest of your finances?" asked Mr. Derek Smeez. "For example, do you have any store credit cards?" "No," I replied, with a little comfort in my voice, "I paid it all off many months ago." "Haven't bought anything since then?" "I only bought a few small things. It's not very valuable." Anyway, what about the ninety pounds? Is it a larger item? "I ask you," said Derek Smeets, "because I feel I should remind you that the bank is undergoing an internal overhaul and that my successor, Mr. John Gavin, may not be as lenient as I am. I treat your account with sympathy. I don't know if you know how leniently I treat you." "Really?" I replied, not really listening to him. I mean, if I were a smoker, I'd spend ninety pounds on cigarettes without a second thought, wouldn't I? In fact, come to think of it, how much money I saved by not smoking.This money is enough to buy a pair of small shoes. "He's a very capable guy," Derek Smeez said, "but ... rigid. Not much flexibility." "Yes." I said absently. "I do want to tell you, get rid of the overdraft on your account as soon as possible." He took another sip of coffee. "Tell me, do you have a pension insurance plan?" "Well...I went to see the independent financial advisor you recommended." "Have you filled out any forms?" Reluctantly, I turned my attention back to him. "Well, I'm thinking about what's right for me," I said, with that smart, money-expert look on my face. "You know, there's nothing worse than making a bad investment decision in a hurry. Especially Yes, especially when it comes to something as big as a pension." "True point," said Derek Smeez, "but don't keep procrastinating on making up your mind, okay? Money in your pocket doesn't save itself." "I know!" I said, sipping my coffee. Oh my God, I feel a little uneasy.Maybe he's right.Maybe I should have put the ninety pounds into my pension fund instead of buying another pair of shoes. But on the other hand, what's the point of putting ninety pounds into a pension fund? It won't support me when I'm old, will it? It's just ninety pounds, and when I'm old, the world will be a mess. It might have been blown up, or something catastrophic. But a pair of shoes is real, held in your hand... Oh damn.I'm going to buy those shoes. "Mr. Smeets, I've got to go," I said suddenly, putting the coffee cup on the table. "I've got something to...do." I've decided now that I have to get back to that store as soon as possible.I picked up my shopping bag, pulled £5 out of my wallet and put it on the table. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Good luck in your retirement." "Good luck to you too, Rebecca," said Mr. Derek Smeets, looking at me kindly with a smile. "Please mark my words. John Gavin will not indulge you as I do. So...you have to watch out for yourself, okay?" "I will!" I replied easily. I stepped up to the road and ran into the LK Bennet store without stopping. Well, technically, I probably don't need to buy a pair of shoes with citrus florals.They are not essential.But as I was trying it on, it occurred to me that I wasn't actually violating a rule I recently laid down.Because the point here is, I'm going to need them. Anyway, I'm going to need new shoes at some point, can that be wrong? Everyone needs shoes.In this way, it is much wiser to buy an extra pair of shoes that you like now and hide them than to wait until the shoes on your feet are worn out and rush to the mall to buy a pair.It's just a reasonable thing to do.Like... hedging in the shoe market. I walked out of the LK Bennet store, carrying two shiny new shopping bags in my hand, feeling very happy, feeling that the surroundings are brilliant and beautiful.I didn't feel like going home anytime soon, so I decided to take a stroll down the street and check out this "Gifts and Goodies" store.The gift shop also sells Suzie frames, and every time I walk by I go in to see if anyone is buying Suzie frames. I slammed the door open and smiled at the clerk who was looking up at me.It's a cute, cozy little shop with shelves full of cute accessories like chromed wire sideboards and glass-encrusted cushions.I walk past the rack of notebooks with pastel leather covers and look up—well, there are those frames! There are three of them, purple tweed framed photo frames, made by Suzie! Every time I see them I go A burst of excitement. Oh my! I feel a rush of excitement.There's a customer standing there - holding a frame in his hand.She actually holds a frame in her hand! To be honest, I've never actually seen anyone buy Suzie's frames.I mean, I know people are buying those frames, because the stores keep selling frames—but I've never actually seen anyone buy them.Omg this is so exciting! I walked up quietly, and the customer turned the frame over.She looked at the price tag, frowning slightly, and my heart was pounding. "It's a really nice picture frame," I said casually. "It's really chic." "Yes," she replied, but reached back to put the frame back on the shelf. No! I felt a pang of depression.Pick it up again! "It's really not easy to find a favorite frame these days," I said calmly, "Do you think so? Once you find a favorite, you should... buy it! Don't let others preempt you." "I think so," said the customer, picking up a piece of cardboard and frowning slightly again. At this point she was going to go away.what should i do "Well, I'm going to get one," I exclaimed, taking the frame in my hand, "this is a really good frame for a gift. Whether it's for a man or a woman...I mean, everyone Everyone needs a frame, right?" The customer didn't seem to be paying attention to what I had to say.Never mind, maybe she'll think again when she sees me shopping for frames. I hurried over to the checkout counter, and the clerk behind it smiled at me.I think she's the owner because I've seen her interview shop assistants and talk to suppliers.It's not that I come here often, it's just a coincidence. "Hello, you're back in our store," she said. "You seem to really like these frames, don't you?" "Yes," I exclaimed, "they're worth the money!" But the customer, who was inspecting a glass vase, didn't seem to be listening to our conversation. "How many frames have you bought in total? There must be...about twenty?" What, my attention was suddenly drawn back to the owner.what did she say? "Maybe there are thirty of them?" I stared at her blankly, with a look of astonishment on my face.Is she watching me all the time? Is she spying on me every time I come to the store? Isn't that illegal? "There's a whole lot of collectibles!" she happily added, wrapping the frames in wrapping paper. I had to say something, or she'd figure out that I alone bought all the Suzie-made frames she had for sale in the shop, and not many customers one after another.Such words are really absurd.Thirty, I ask you! I only bought about... four, maybe five. "I didn't buy that many!" I said hastily, "I think you're confusing me with someone else. I didn't come here to buy frames!" I laughed gleefully, trying to show how ridiculous it was for her to think so. "I want to buy some... those letters." I grabbed some wood chips and pressed letters from a basket nearby and handed them to her.Smiling, she began laying out the letters one by one on the wrapping paper on the counter. "P...T...R...R..." She stopped reading, looking at the spread letters with a puzzled look on her face. "Do you want to spell the word 'Peter'?" Oh my God.Do you have to explain why you buy something? "Well... yes," I said, "for... my godson. He's only three years old." "It's so cute! It's spelled like this. There are two E's, take out the R..." She looked at me kindly, as if I was an idiot.No wonder, I can't even spell "Peter", and that's my own godson's name. "It's ... forty-eight pounds," she said, as I reached for my wallet. "You see, if you spend fifty pounds or more, you get a scented candle for free." "Really?" I asked, looking up with interest.I would love to have a nice scented candle.For just two more pounds... "I'll see what I can buy..." I said, looking around blankly over my shoulder. "How do you spell your godson's last name?" the shopkeeper kindly reminded me. "What's his last name?" "Well, it's Wilson," I said casually. "Wilson." To my surprise, she began to pick wooden letters from the letter basket. "W...L...there's an O..." "Actually," I said quickly, "actually, don't choose. Because...because...his parents are divorcing, and he may change his surname in the future." "Really?" said the innkeeper, putting the letter back in the basket with a look of sympathy. "It's terrible. Is it a quarrel for a divorce?" "Yes," I said, and I looked around to see if there was something to put together. "This...his...his mother eloped with the gardener." "Really?" The shopkeeper looked at me with wide eyes, and I suddenly felt that some customers beside me were listening to me. "She will elope with the gardener?" "The gardener...was a very strong man," I said casually, picking up a jewel box at hand and seeing that it was labeled £75. "She couldn't resist his charm. The husband found them both in the tool shed. Anyway—" "My God!" exclaimed the shopkeeper, "this is incredible!" "It's completely true." There was such a sentence from the other side of the shop. what? I turned around - the woman who had been inspecting Suzie's frame came towards me. "I suppose you mean Jane and Tim?" she said. "It's a scandalous scandal, isn't it? But I think the boy's name is Toby." I stared at her blankly, speechless. "Maybe 'Peter' is his Christian name," the shopkeeper suggested, and she pointed to me. "This is his godmother." "Oh, you're his godmother!" cried the woman. "By the way, they talked about you." How could such a thing happen.How could such a thing hit me again. "So, tell me," the woman said, walking up to me, lowering her voice as if she didn't want others to hear, "does Tim agree to accept Maud's suggestion?" I looked around and saw that the store was quiet.Everyone else is waiting to hear my answer. "Yes, he took it," I said cautiously, "he did take it." "That problem solved?" she asked again, looking at me eagerly for an answer. "Um...no. He and Maude later...they got into a fight." "Really?" The woman raised a hand to her mouth. "A fight? Why?" "Oh, that's it," I said desperately, "this matter, and then... there was a commotion... Well, well, I think I'll pay in cash." I flipped through my wallet, took out a £50 note and put it on the counter superior. "No more change." "Would you like more scented candles?" said the owner. "You can choose plum orchid, or sandalwood..." "Forget it, forget it." I hurried towards the door. "Wait a minute!" the woman behind him shouted hastily, "Then what happened to Ivan?" "He... immigrated to Australia," I said, slamming the door behind me. God, finally got mixed up.I think I have to go home. When I reached the corner of the street, I stopped and tidied up the bag in my hand.That said, I put them all in the big LK Bennet bag and pressed down hard enough to keep them out of the mouth. Not that I'm going to hide them or anything.It's just... I think it's better to walk in the house with only one shopping bag in hand. I secretly wished I could sneak into my room without Suzy running into me.I opened the door and saw Suzie sitting on the floor in the living room, making a pile of something. "Hi!" she said. "Have you got your shoes?" "Got it," I said cheerfully. "It's fantastic. It's the perfect size, perfect fit and color." "let me see!" "Let me... take it out of the box first." I said casually, and walked quickly towards my room, showing a very relaxed look.But I know that I must look like I have done something bad, even walking as if I am doing something wrong. "Bex," she said suddenly, "what else is in your bag? More than a pair of shoes?" "Bao?" I turned around and asked in surprise. "Oh, this bag. Well...just bits and pieces. You know...the little bits and pieces..."