Steven Helmer Publications

 I am in the grocery store  Shopping for a family of four. It may just be my imagination,  But I felt poorer just walking through the door. My kids are texting me "what's for dinner?" They also have suggestions galore. I tell them we're having the same thing we have every night. Whatever I can afford. Image by Patrick Pascal Schauß from Pixabay Summer is around the corner And my vacation fund looks inadequate. I scrimped and saved every nickel I could, But with rising gas prices, it's always not enough yet. Maybe I'll have another staycation. Or settling for a day trip if the drive isn't too far. One thing is for certain, My vacation will be whatever I can afford. _______________________________________________________________________ If you liked this, you may like some of these: The Windows Are Open (A Poem) In the Way (A Poem) Where the F*ck is My Phone? (A Poem) Hard Road (A Poem)

  Why does food cost so much? Did they start making it out of gold? I have never been one to buy in excess But now I'm starting to feel a bit pigeonholed. Hey, I get it, times are tough And, if they have a reason to raise prices, I shouldn't judge it. I just wonder if these people know I am shopping on a budget.                                                             Image by  Steve Buissinne  from  Pixabay Believe me, I've checked, Money doesn't grow on trees. If it did, maybe the sight of my weekly grocery receipts Wouldn't bring me to my knees. Beef, pork, poultry or fish, Why should my stomach be forced to choose just one? When you're on a budget, Shopping just isn't that much fun. Keeping track of the higher prices Is making me consider bringing a calculator Just so I can avoid the...

Just 24 more hours until payday. One more day until I can live like a king. Tomorrow can't come soon enough So I can be reminded about how much happiness money can bring. No more pinching pennies No more trying to make a dollar last. Pretty soon, my money troubles will all be in the past. Image courtesy of Pixabay Just 24 more hours until payday. Wait, what do you mean I have bills to pay? Just this once, can't I keep it all for myself And have enough cash to go out and play? I worked hard for that money.  It should all be mine. If I have to give it to someone else Then payday is going to quickly lose its shine.

There's still one more week until payday And my funds are already running low. I hate to sound cliche But where did my money go? The mortgage company, the electric company and the rest Are draining my bank account dry. I swear, if I get one more bill in the mail, I'm going to break down and cry. Like mosquitoes, they keep poking at me Trying to make me bleed. Don't these people realize I have a family of four and two cats to feed? Image courtesy of Pixabay My savings account? That's empty. That money has already been spent. My tax return? Don't make me laugh. Let's just say the government found a way to keep each and every cent. The cavalry isn't coming. They must have gotten lost. I could ask for a pay raise. But, I've already gone down THAT road with my boss. So I guess the only thing that's left to do. Is stretch my budget and suck it up when it comes to my money woes. And be grateful There'...

If stress equaled money I would be a billionaire. I would have more than enough to pay my bills And have plenty left to spare. If stress equaled money I would enjoy getting out of bed each day. I would spend my mornings watching it pile up And spend my evenings giving a chunk of it away. Image courtesy of Pixabay If stress equaled money It would be worth the lack of sleep at night. Plus, there'd be plenty of people to keep me company Since I'm sure they share my plight. If stress equaled money I'd be sure to spend it rather than try to save. Because, even if it equaled money I'm sure it would still also equal an early grave.

Where is my ship? I keep watching the horizon for it, but it's just not there. So I stand here waiting Even though I think I have more than earned my fare. Image courtesy of Pixabay Other people have had their ships arrive And are sailing to some sort of exotic resort. Yet, here I still stand watching for it On the same old broken-down port. I'm not asking for it to be a giant yacht. Just about any ship would do. Heck, at this point, I'd probably settle for a canoe. Image courtesy of Pixabay Where is my ship? Was it hijacked by pirates? Was the captain drunk? Because, at this point, I'm starting to wonder if my ship has sunk.

There's a hole in my wallet. That's the way it must be. There's just no other way to explain The disappearance of my money. The dollars and cents Certainly must be falling out. It's the simplest explanation Without a doubt. Image courtesy of Pixabay I work hard I even go in when I'm sick and weak. So, unless there's a hole in my wallet I MUST have enough money to last me more than just a couple weeks. I know there's a hole there, Even though it must be invisible. The money must be falling out somewhere That much is undeniable. Image courtesy of Pixabay There's a hole in my wallet. Did any of you see where my money went? Payday was just last week You can't tell me it's already been spent. Or maybe I'm wrong And that's not what's giving my grief. Perhaps, instead of an invisible hole. I have an invisible thief.

Money has been tight for the past couple of days, But payday is finally here again. Unfortunately, most of my check is already spent And it's not even 8 a.m. The mortgage company, the electric company And plenty of others all want their share. By the time they are done, there isn't much left over. It just doesn't seem fair. I work hard for my money Shouldn't I be able to enjoy it? Instead, I watch most of it  Line someone else's pocket. I've accepted the fact I'll probably never be rich. In fact, I'm not even asking for a massive financial boom. I just want to stop living paycheck to paycheck And have a little bit of breathing room. Photo courtesy of Pixabay Here I am again, Stuck in this office. It's bright and sunny outside But I can't enjoy it. I don't have much of a choice. The bills, after all, won't pay themselves. However, compared to the great outdoors, This office feels a bit l...