Back In December I ordered some stuff from a clothing company I like, from their catalog. It was one of those things where they were having a sale, so I looked at the whole catalog and most of the stuff I wanted wasn't on sale. I knew I shouldn't fall for that, but most of it was stuff I'd been thinking of getting, like new brown shoes. So I went ahead and ordered it.

One of the items was a full-length raincoat, which I've really been wanting because when it rains heavily, the rain drips from the bottom of my rain parka (mid-thigh) onto my pants and gets them wet. It was expensive, but a beautiful color and a style that looked nicer than the usual parkas I have. Also, their stuff is good quality so it'll last for probably five years at least. In that sense the cost is amortized. I ordered a size M because I'm usually size M.

The raincoat turned out to be too big (and I didn't like the style quite as much in person) and I sent it back for exchange with a size S. I recently learned that the smaller size is backordered until April. By April it probably won't be raining much anymore, and over the summer and fall I can keep an eye out for better deals elsewhere to see if I can get a good raincoat for cheaper. So I asked them to cancel the order and credit me the money back.

Coincidentally, I recently did my budget outline for this year, which involved looking at last year to see what I spent then. Over last year since May, I saved less than $1000. Last year was expensive due to restocking a lot of stuff that I hadn't been able to do while I was overseas, buying stuff for my apartment, and two large medical bills (chiropractor from before I discovered Sarno and got rid of my RSI, and cut-up chin from the accident), so I hope/expect that this year will be a bit better and accordingly I plan to save more. But it gave me pause when I realized that not buying the raincoat after all would increase my savings total for the year by a double-digit percentage.

I've generally been a conservative spender (my dad, who is quite the careful saver himself, sometimes tells me I am too conservative) but I am not good at keeping track of the details that can make a big difference in the amount of money that gets spent without necessarily changing what gets bought that much. I'm also not good about looking at exactly how much money I've spent recently and pacing my spending. This particular event has made that really clear to me, and will hopefully change my buying habits for the better as far as looking more carefully at how best to obtain something I need or want without spending too much, and keeping track of where I am exactly with money at any given point.

Actually, keeping track of tiny tasks, spending, details -- showing my work, so to speak -- is something I've only ever been good at in a limited context. I actually discussed this with my boss at work yesterday, so it's very topical. Our department is implementing some new systems to ensure everyone stays informed and all necessary information about projects is recorded. We've already tried a few more basic systems since I've been there, and I have found that I have trouble remembering to update them. I'm more apt to go and do the work without bothering with the system. I keep decent records on my own, but not in sufficient detail.

It's also become relevant in my personal life since I read Getting Things Done and started working on implementing the system. Reading the book was sort of like studying for an exam I thought I didn't really need to take, and discovering that actually I had a lot to learn about the subject. The book is really sharp on both concepts of organization and a system for, as it says, Getting Things Done.

The problem for me is that I already have a system that mostly works. I'm organized, tidy, I pay bills on time, don't usually double-book myself or forget appointments, etc. So since it works most of the time, I'm not very motivated to keep on top of all the little detailed things that I would have to do with GTD. I mostly use it when I'm thinking I need to do something and want to consult my list to see what's on it that I haven't done. That's not at all how the system is supposed to work, although even that bit is helpful. It's supposed to be a complete repository to hold everything you need, and thus calm your mind down from always wondering what you aren't doing that you should be, always looking for the loose end.

I'm still looking for all those loose ends, money-wise, work-wise, and life-wise. One of my goals for this year, now, is to corral them so that they're part of the system and not loose anymore. My original goal in this area (of three goals I have for this year overall) was to implement the essential elements of GTD. I've done that and found that while it's really helped (plus, I love my new labelmaker) it's not doing enough. Time for the next level.