Have trouble spending? Maybe that's a good thing
Posted
Mar 10 2008, 12:26 PM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Frugal epiphanies don't always have the magnitude of a subprime mortgage crisis. Mine came last week through a package of naan at a neighborhood market.
At the time I was getting over a stomach bug, and suddenly flatbread sounded like a nice accompaniment for the chicken soup on which I'd been cautiously dining. The price was $2.19 for a bag of five.
My first instinct was, "No. You don't need to spend the money. You've got crackers at home." My second thought was, "Do I really want these? If so, then I'll buy them."
I'm now able to report that toasted naan is a nice change of pace from saltines.
The purchase made me think about how my knee-jerk "You can't afford this" has changed to "You can have it, but only if you think it through."
It still isn't easy for me to spend money. But maybe that's a good thing.
Spending for the long term
Things have greatly improved now that I have a part-time job. I've paid off my divorce debt, created an emergency fund and even started a Roth IRA. And while I still try to live frugally, I am learning that it's important to allow for the occasional indulgence.
Yet I'm glad that I'm still cautious about spending. A salary is a tool, not a toy. I'm thinking long-term security rather than short-term gratification.
Hesitating over a purchase, whether it's shoes or a soda, doesn't mean I'm stingy. It means I'm mindful.
It means I'm thinking about what I currently have and deciding whether it will suffice.
It means I'm not crowding my life with things that won't make any difference in it.
And often, it means I'm making the decision to appreciate what's already there.
Caveat emptor
Of course, this is only partly about wise use of resources. Underneath that mindful mode is simple wariness.
Probably the most useful thing I've learned in 50 years on the planet is that life holds no guarantees. Your job, your health, the economy -- any or all of it could go south with dismaying rapidity.
That's not the only reason I don't buy $2,500 purses. I'm appalled at our culture's emphasis on acquisition and on constant lifestyle upgrades that seldom match our actual ability to pay.
Buy now, pay for a long time? That just doesn't sound attractive unless you're talking homes. I can't live in a handbag.
So yes, I do think it's a good idea to make conscious decisions about what, when or if to purchase. You may find you can do without. And if you really need something, you may find ways to get it without spending a fortune.
The second most useful thing I've learned? If you decide to buy something, then, for heaven's sake, enjoy it. Even if it's only a piece of flatbread.
