Hey KT,
The more I read from you, the more I realize just how similar we are. When it comes to money, I almost feel like there's a cartoon angel and devil, one on each of my shoulders, guiding not my buying decisions, but the way I think about those buying decisions. I know about the whole law of attraction thing - and in fact, I believe in it whole heartily, if you strip away the consumerist and 'all the cool people are doing it' aspects of it - so I know these stresses I have about spending on certain things are counter productive. But it just shows you how deep our associations go. 

I grew up in a similarly 'poor side of middle class' family (unnecessarily, and courtesy of my father, but that's a different story) and breaking free of that way of thinking about money has been one of my biggest struggles. I talk a good game, pushing experiences over things always. But those long-held associations don't part without a fight. 

Ah well, never was one to turn the other cheek.