Yesterday I read a post by my friend Jessica (aka The Debt Princess) about learning to graciously accept gifts. Jessica discussed, in depth, how difficult it is to accept gifts from people but sometimes, we have to swallow our pride and accept that others do nice things for us (and our kids). I related to that post a lot because I massively struggle with accepting favors and gifts. I always feel that there’s an expectation attached to the nice gesture because I can’t believe that people want to do nice things for me. I mean, why? What do they want from me in return? And what if I can’t do what they need? Questions like this pepper my mind for days before I say yes or no. Then the anxiety shame spiral begins and I go to the dark place.

There’s a line in today’s Money Tune “I’ll accept with poise, with grace. When they draw my name from the lottery”. Although I’m not really sure how it relates to money, I think this is good advice. It’s definitely something I need to practice (graciously accepting gifts. And compliments. It’s not that I’m rude about it per se. It’s just that I don’t think I deserve them). Because even though I may not believe I deserve something, someone else might. And it’s kind of rude to throw it in their face.

While I know this song isn’t necessarily about money, I really like it. I’m including it because sometimes we need to take a break from all this money talk and focus on something else, even if it’s  only for a few minutes. So sit back and enjoy “Big Casino” by Jimmy Eat World (fun fact: I love this song so much it used to be my ringtone. Then I got a new phone. Now my ringtone is “Audience of One” by Rise Against. So I guess that’s two fun facts for you. Or one fact plus a bonus fact. Which still equals two. Okay. To the music!)

Most people don’t know this but Huey Lewis has been stalking me. I’m not kidding.

Every day for the last month, I have been somewhere (the car, my house, the supermarket) and a Huey Lewis and the News song has come on. Don’t be mistaken. I love me some Huey Lewis and the News but every day for 30 days straight is a bit crazy. I’m pretty sure he’s trying to tell me something. And that something is “share my music!!!”

So I am. For today’s money tune. Because I’m hoping that by hearing this, you’ll be inspired to listen to more. And I will have done right Huey Lewis.

It was hard to pick a Huey Lewis song because they’re all so good. I have a vivid memory attached to  a number of HLATN songs including “Heart and Soul” (the video is awesomely 80s and has Dracula), “Back In Time” and “Power of Love” (what’s up, Back to the Future?), “Hip To Be Square” (yup, I danced to that alone in my room)…the list goes on. But this is a financial site so I tried to find something that was personal finance related. And what do you know? Huey Lewis came through (’cause he’s awesome like that) with “Workin’ For A Livin'”.

So sit back, enjoy Huey Lewis and his rad harmonica, and please tell him to stop stalking me. It’s getting a little creepy.

Like most people, I was saddened last week to hear about the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch. I was around 8 or 9 years old the first time I heard the Beastie Boys on the radio and “Fight For Your Right” is one of the first videos I remember seeing on MTV (you know, in the 80s. When MTV played music). I was instantly hooked and they’ve been a big part of my musical landscape ever since (although I can’t understand half of what they say).

Seeing a Beastie Boys concert was always on my to-do list and sadly, I never got to cross that off. A few years ago, they were playing locally and we just could not afford to go. The closest I came was seeing a local, now defunct cover band doing a Beastie Boys medley during one of their sets (It. Was. Spectacular). So, let that be a lesson learned: If a band you adore and have grown up listening to is playing a rare concert in your area–GO! Figure out how to pay for it and go. You never know if you’ll get another opportunity.

I have so many vivid memories that relate to a Beastie’s song. Too many to count and I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested in most of them. But I’ll share one with you. During sorority rush, the different sororities were required to put on a skit, complete with a dance (well, my sorority opted for a dance incorporated into the skit). One year, we used “Intergalatic” and it kicked major ass. I can’t hear that song without thinking of that and, while I’m not a huge fan of my sorority, that definitely brings a smile to my face. So, in remembrance of MCA, a fellow New Yorker but one with way more talent than me, I’m sharing “Intergalactic” for today’s money tune.

Thanks for the music.

 

I’ll admit it. I’m not a huge fan of this song. I find it kind of annoying and listening to it more than once a week is not something I care to do. It’s actually a relief when then radio stations I listen to don’t play it. But the other day I was driving to pick my daughter up from school and it came on. For the first time, I actually listened to the words. And you know what? It’s a pretty interesting song.

For those unfamiliar with it (or for those who don’t care to listen), it’s about people who do bad things for money (prostitution, muggings, stealing) but underneath the undesirable acts is a greater purpose. As the song says “I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed, There ain’t nothing in this world for free”. I like that the song raises ethical dilemmas inside of a sort of catchy tune (sort of like Everlast’s    “What It’s Like”); makes for an interesting aural experience.

What do you think?

This is the second post in my Wedding Week series. Make sure you check out our engagement story, and come back on Wednesday and Friday for how we afforded rings, assorted gifts, and a honeymoon while living on my $27K salary and groom in grad school. 

It should come as no surprise that one of the most important parts of my wedding–you know besides the vows, my dress and the rings–was the music. I genuinely didn’t care about the flowers or chair covers but I did have some strong opinions about the music. For instance, under no circumstances was there to be a conga line (I loathe conga lines. They are the worst. Thing. Ever. Except for horses. Horses doing a conga line would make it so I never left my house ever again). Also, no electric slide or any form of organized dances (I hate them and I can’t follow along. Yup. I’m that uncoordinated). Because I’m Jewish, I allowed the drunken circle of madness that is the Hora and the torture that is being lifted in chair, supported only by groomsmen who, of course, are of varying heights so one side of your body is substantially higher than the other (For extra points, at my wedding, the groomsmen knocked my mom’s head into the chandelier. Nothing says a good time like the mother of the bride almost getting a concussion).

I also had very specific artists and songs that had to be played. Fortunately, our DJ was a college friend of ours (this was complete coincidental, actually. Our location gave us a list of preferred vendors and when I called this one particular company, I received a call back from a gentleman who identified himself as my across the hall neighbor from sophomore year of college who we remained friends with for the rest of college and lost touch with over the years. This was pre-Facebook. Yes, I’m old) and was more than happy to comply with my pretty specific but only slightly neurotic list of “must play and never under any circumstances play” songs.  Interesting side note to this story, because we knew the DJ, we got the ceremony music for free and about $100 knocked off the total price. Pretty sweet deal for us. It’s good to know people and have them randomly show up in your life and have them save you money.

Anyway, after some discussion, we picked the major songs: our first dance (Edwin McCain’s “I Could Not Ask for More), my dance with my dad (“You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins) and his dance with his mom (“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack) but the one song that was a huge bone of contention–the song we were going to walk in to. He wanted Nine Inch Nails’s “Closer” but I had huge issues with using a song that says “I want to fuck you like an animal” with my grandparents in the room. He saw nothing wrong with it but he’s not smart sometimes. Guess who won that battle?

We discussed (and by discussed I mean argued). Eventually we settled (and by settled I mean I made the ultimate decision since he showed poor taste with the NIN debacle) on the beginning instrumental part of Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam”.

What? You thought I’d pick something normal?