Spending Issues
>> Monday, December 21, 2009
I realized over the past two days that I have an issue spending money.
I know that sounds weird, but it's true.
We've gone over budget on Christmas gifts. We bought one extra item for his sister, two extra gifts for his parents, etc. His parents also brought gifts from other family members who we were not planning on exchanging gifts with so we also purchased them gifts (and his parents will take them back for us). It's not a lot of money in all, the total comes to $100.44.
We received money from relatives as a Christmas gift, so going over on our gift budget has not impacted our ability to save our Emergency Fund by month end. Nothing has changed except we took some extra cash we received unexpectedly and spent it.
So how come I'm having such a hard time with it?
How come I feel so guilty for spending this money?
I'm naturally a saver. I would much rather save money than spend it. I have been beating myself up for what I thought was disappointment toward our impulsive behavior, but I've realized that's not the problem. It has nothing to do with "having the money" or "not having the money", "having it budgeted" or "not having it budgeted"... nor does it have anything to do with what we spent the money on. In fact, I love the fact that we were able to buy family members a little extra!
It's because I am one of the most indecisive people ever (seriously, ask my husband) and when I spend money, I think about the other things we could do with it. Even if it's something I "want", I think, "Am I sure I don't want X more?"
This coming year will be a challenge for me as we try to pay for all the things we've been putting off. I need to learn to balance "wants" with "needs" and "spending" versus "saving." Even harder, I have to learn to prioritize my "wants" and be more decisive about them. We're at a point where spending is an option but I have to feel right about it.
I'm probably in the minority in my preference to save rather than spend, but I wonder...
KelsaLynn
4 comments:
OMG say no more! I totally know what you mean!
My problem is that even if we save and save and save for a particular thing, when it comes time to spend the money on the thing we saved so long for - I don't want to part with the money!!!
What's more, if I'm not uber-responsible with every extra, unexpected penny we bring in - like say we treat ourself to our favorite restaurant instead of saving/debt snowballing - I feel so irresponsible about our choice.
I totally get buyers remorse! I feel awful even if I spend money given to me for a birthday or holiday for me specifically to spend on myself. How weird is that?!
On the other hand, though, I love getting things for other people. I'll justify spending a little more than I budgeted on a gift for someone else but put something for myself back on a shelf if its more than I expected.
p.s. Sorry for the novel. I didn't mean for it to be so long...
No worries, you're not alone in your tendancies to save vs. spend!
I'm the same too- I get buyers remorse SO bad. I actually sometimes think that something is wrong with me because I love shopping, but it STRESSES me out. I can't even tell you how many hours I spent thinking about what I wanted to get the girls for xmas-price comparing online, looking for sales etc to make the money go the furthest- and then as soon as I buy something I have second thoughts about whether I should have got them something else instead. I'm the same with myself- I agonize over how to spend money that we get as a gift.
I think it's just all part of my high strung personality- I get stressed out over everything- why would spending money be any different. And I have found absolutely no difference in the stress level now that we have more money and a looser budget because I want to buy more stuff- so honestly it probably makes me get stressed out more!
I have the same problem. I'm craving a new camera (my bro got a new one, very cool, and I WANT IT!!). I know that if I use Christmas money/inheritance, I'll still feel badly about it. Oh well.
Once you get into the habit of saving, it IS tough to change gears and allow yourself to spend.
However, there are things and experiences worth spending money on!
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