Nina B. (SLE) - about Money

I believe I’ve spent money carefully my entire life. I know that if an item costs four hundred rubles in a shop, it’s two hundred at a wholesale warehouse. I’m always looking for ways and means, shortcuts to buy things cheaper; I protect my money. I feel a constant need to save, and I actually enjoy it. I always know what an item is truly worth.

Take the time we bought a jacket for my daughter. There was this jacket, and the seller kept saying they were selling it at a bargain price, already discounted. But I could see it wasn't worth the money—no quality, no style, nothing. In my mind, it wasn't worth four thousand; it wasn't even worth two. I can just feel it instinctively. I don’t want to waste money. I need to have my "little funds" with me. I’m terrified of being left without money.

<...> I memorize all the prices. "Oh, it’s cheaper in that shop over there!" I’ll go to a first, second, third store and remember exactly what everything costs—it’s imprinted in my head—and I compare it all.

Wherever I go, I gather information. It comes easily to me. For instance, when I decided to replace my gas stove: whenever I visited someone, I’d ask what kind of stove they had. Electric or gas? What are the advantages? By the time I walked into the store, I already knew exactly what it should be like: auto-ignition, deep baking sheets (two of them), and so on.

I pick up a lot of information from people. When I’m buying something, I’ll trek through a million stores to choose exactly what I need. It has to have a "cool" look, quality, and functionality.