Bills, Bills, Bills

I guess bills just come with the territory of growing up.  In the past I have been fortunate enough to come from a family with 2 parents who work very hard to ensure that my sisters and I can live a comfortable life.  However, now is the time where I am about to venture into the world of my personal finances and I am not too sure how that works.

Tonight I sat at the kitchen table with my Dad, checkbook, and credit card applications.  I need to establish credit, which I have never done before.  So I applied for my first credit card and was approved!  Now, I don't know if this is something worth celebrating.  Yes I will now have my own personal piece of plastic, but now that means I have to pay that little monthly bill that comes in the mail every month.  Next, my Dad updates my checkbook by writing in the total amount of money I have to my name...not a lot.  Since I am living at home I don't have to pay for rent or food, so I have to pick some other bill besides my student loans today.  Slowly but surely my other personal bills will begin to be added until I can (fingers crossed) support myself.

I will be the first to admit that I have never been one to be financially savvy.  I work, I get paid, I buy what I can afford.  I have never really had to worry about...bills.  Well today is the day that that all changes.  Bills, what a scary word.  So many to think about: car payments, gas, student loans, credit card payments, insurance, and the list goes on and on.  Not to mention that once I do get a job and have to move I will have to worry about rent, food, clothes, and hopefully have room to have a little fun here and there.  This is why I hate money.  It is so much work to keep track of it all.  I still want to be able to buy myself nice things and go on fun trips with my friends without thinking, "Can I afford this?"

The only positive to this whole situation is that I have my Dad to help me along the way.  I do like that he is slowly weening me off of my parents supporting everything I do.  I mean I do need to learn how to operate financially on my own.  So I guess that for now the bills aren't so bad...I'm sure that this will be the only time in my life I say that from this point on.  I might as well enjoy the few bills I have while I can.