I totally have a fear of spending money! I blame it on my college/post college days where I pinched every penny and still seemed short a few. Now, we don't have that problem. Jon has a really great job and we're able to have extra money to spend and save. However I'm still in the HAVE-TO-SAVE-EVERY-CENT mindset.
If I really wanted to get analytical I could trace this back to childhood. I used to have a piggy bank that my parents and relatives gave me money to put in there to save. I was so obsessed with saving I hid a bunch in my little toy purse and hid that, just to make sure my money was safe! One time I got chocolate at Christmas and back then my mom was a super health freak so chocolate was a huge rare treat, so I saved mine for years! Two years later I decided to finally enjoy my treat and it had turned so stale! It was gross! I think one of the reasons I saved everything was my mom is the complete opposite. I remember being 8 and looking in her wallet and realizing we had no money! And worrying about how we would eat (We never went hungry, I'm sure she probably just went to the bank before shopping, back in the days before debit cards) so I started sneaking money from my saved stash into her wallet. A $10 bill here, $20 there. I didn't realize what that could and couldn't all buy, I just was grateful we wouldn't starve.
A bit extreme, I'll recognize that. Thankfully I'm not nearly that bad anymore! But I get bugged by my husband and most my family all the time about my cheapness. I've done a lot of thinking this past month about finances. I helped a family set a budget and financial goals who are worse off than I have ever been. I've seen one family reward themselves with a new vehicle after managing to save all their wedding budget three months before the ceremony.
We're somewhere in the middle. We haven't got the creditors after us and we don't have a huge savings (yet). We've just been... good with money. So what does that mean? I don't want to be one of those people (like my dad) who never enjoys the fruits of hard work. While I'm in no way advocating running out and spending every dime because "you earned it" I have decided to do some spending.
1. Starting with a desk. I tried to order the desk in that post I mentioned at the beginning of this one. Except it's back ordered till middle of July so I picked a different one, and it arrives in less than two weeks.
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2. We've planned a vacation. I've also previously mentioned this so I won't go into much detail today. We're heading to Vancouver at the end of the month!
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3. This is our most recent decision to purchase. A new laptop. This one is almost 4 years and every day tells me it's near to crapping out. Started when I spilled my beer on it two years ago... opps. We're heading into the city after Jon's off work today to purchase a new one. I'm nervous about the purchase but in good spending habits, we're using cash not credit so that's a plus!
So for a non-spender I think that's pretty good right? I can go back to my saving ways for a bit? What about you? Are you a spender or a saver? What's a recent purchase you're thrilled you bought? What's something you're saving for?
I loved this post!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've decided to give yourself some well-deserved rewards.
I am a spender. Big time. I have debt (student, car and a little credit, LITTLE!)... but I have finally started to get on the saving track, which is like a massive victory for me. I just didn't know how to save properly.
Like emotionally eating, I'm also an emotional spender. I will justify making myself feel better when I'm upset by buying myself nice things. I have slipped a bit in the past couple of weeks, but I'm ready to rein it in and be safe with my money especially since I'm living alone right now in a pricey apartment!
p.s. SO jealous that you're getting a Mac!! I had one and sold it because my job is so focused around Microsoft Word and Office for Mac is so behind!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the new computer!!!
I think I'm a bit of both - a saver & a spender. I do my very best to think before making any purchases, whether it's a need or a want. If it's a want, I try to save for it. It's not easy though. It's definitely a challenge. I actually call my husband most of the time before making my purchase. Some ppl think it's weird coz it's like asking for permission but I'm not. I just ask for his opinion & in the end it's my decision. Another reason why I call my husband is coz I hate making impulse decisions. Makes me feel so guilty for some reason. Weird, right?
ReplyDeleteDon't you love your Macbook! :)
I'm generally a saver, but then I decide to go overseas and spend all my money on international flights... I'm currently saving for a trip to the US in September for a friend's wedding with some travelling and the 20SB summit tacked on for good measure! I'm stupidly excited about it.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad! thanks! I love it already!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! I think that's totally a common issue for a number of people (not knowing how to save properly). I may have missed this class in high school but I think every day financial things would be so beneficial to learn in hs. Stuff like credit history, mortgages, savings, stocks. I know it would have helped me a lot in the long run!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, is that the one that's in chicago? I think I remember reading an email about it! So jealous! That will be such a great time!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's weird. We do the same thing! Not because the other person would demand and control what we spend but it's nice to have imput. Sometimes he has better plans for our money than I do, and vice versa! I totally hear ya on the guilt part! I think I could write a book on it! lol I totally love my Macbook! It's amazing!
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