I'm having a hard time spending my $260 birthday money.
And we're now a month and a half into it! Oops.....but at least it's a good problem to have for once, right? You would think I could burn through it on all those things I never allow myself to buy, but all this frugal-ness has me toned down and stuff.Where's my wild side? Where are those $40 bottles of bling water and $100 nights on the town? Am I getting too old, or has the PF Blogosphere finally corrupted me ;)
This time 1 year ago I would have been alllll over it! It would have lasted a good 24 hours until I went on a birthday binge w/ my family as I usually do every year - it falls on one of the best shopping days of the year (day after Xmas), when you really can't help yourself! And all other times I hadn't. I'd use the money to buy whatever I wished without a care in the world.
Now, the only thing that excites me is the "thought" of it! I have $260 dollars with endless possibilities :) I could buy books, art supplies, beer, bling, video games, whatever! So maybe it's not that I don't really *want* anything, but more that the excitement of having the *ability* to splurge is worth more to me than a single item.
So rather than burn through the money for the sake of it (or forgotten about in my bank), it's stored away at home until something that I REALLY, REALLY like catches my eye - and that I'd normally not spend my own money on. Or maybe not, I dunno - just something that's a helluva bargain so I won't have buyer's remorse and all. I gotta make make the money giver proud, right?
Here are two things I've been thinking about so far:
- An electric fireplace! After having one at a Bed & Breakfast a year or so ago, I am totally hooked. They *look* like a real fireplace, and *warm up* like a real fire place, but they're totally not! Ya just flip on a switch and you've got flames! haha...brilliant. Been searching Craigslist and Home Depot for some killer deals, but nothing great so far.
- Yard Sale season! The thought of having an unlimited supply of $1 bills at time like that is crazy sexy to me. Do you know how many goodies you can pick up with that kind of money?! The only problem here is that we're still a good 3-4 months away :(
Labels: free money, gifting
posted by J. Money at
11:19 AM
23 Comments:
Uh oh, they got to you too! I have a hard time spending money on myself, anyone else or the dogs and it's not a problem. I hope you find something to splurge on, waiting for the perfect thing will make it more special.
lol...I know what you mean!!! Although I think its *because* of this PF kick I'm on that I have a list of things I'd buy...simply because I haven't saved up to buy them yet! Here's what I'd do:
1) Spend a week or two plugging the $260 into my various spreadsheets....oh, the joy!
2) Eventually I'd get tired of pretending and either get two more sessions of dance classes, OR
3) Buy all those random things I've been wanting (like my pizza peel, or the creme brulee torch!)
4) Another excellent option would be cashing the money....in $1 bills!!! I'm totally with you on that one!
Have fun planning with your birthday money! I think the fantasizing of what you're going to do with the money is half the fun anyway!
I just finished spending my Christmas money on some things I wanted like inexpensive wines, lotions, and a museum membership. My birthday is ten days after Christmas and I still have the majority of my birthday money left. I don't really know what I want. I may use the money toward a season package for the While Sox or the Symphony.
Even when I was a child I liked to save birthday and Christmas money and spent it on something that was truly meaningful to me. I waited to buy special things that I wanted that weren't necessities rather than just blow all of the money.
When you wait to spend the money, you really know that you have bought something you want rather than just letting it blow in the wind.
Nope, I haven't spent my b-day money either - and I've got another one coming up soon!
We've got a big white board in my office with our "fun" money listed. It's fun to daydream what things we may buy one day. I'm holding on until the right price comes along for a few items. And when the right sale comes up, I can swoop in a buy stuff with no guilt! Aren't savings grand?
I must admit that I saved about half of my birthday money but the other half was spent the same evening on drinks. Is your birthday really boxing day (Dec 26)? If so that's crazy because we share the same birthday!
That is a great problem to have! I would have probably put some into savings and spent the other right away. But I also have a list of things I need - a new coat, sunglasses, some new work skirts...
LOL My brother gave me one of those $50 American Express cards for Christmas and I still haven't decided what to spend it on!
@Miss M said - Oh yeah, if i save it up any longer i'll explode with excitement! haha...maybe i need to just keep my eyes open better?
@QL Girl - Ooooh I like #4! Actually, I totally forgot that the Mrs. brought up buying 100 scratch off lottery tickets since I love those so much! now THAT would be hella fun!!! (and a great post too..humm....thx for the reminder!)
@Urban Frugal - True that my friend. And go Sox :)
@Anonymous - I like that! Maybe i'll throw some ideas up on our wipe board and see if that helps?
@Studenomics - Woah, really?!! Yup, Dec 26th my man! I guess Capricorns love to blog about finance! haha... Happy belated bday :)
@asgreen - crap, yeah i totally forgot i wanted new sunglasses! and a really bad a$$ pair too - like Dolce & Gabanna or something equally as fancy...hum...if i blow it all tonight, i'm blaming you ;)
@Anny - Your brother is awesome! Tell him I'm still waiting for my gift in the mail.
It must be a Capricorn thing - count me in that group!
I'm also having issues spending my birthday money. I spent a bit of it, but a lot of it is just sitting in my bank account. I try to remember that I get Christmas and birthday money all at once and I should save some for summer spending.
Whatever you do don't buy the Super Deluxe Edition of an album by your favorite band. Or if you do, don't blog about it because people will jump down your throat.
http://www.thehappyrock.com/2009/02/03/dds-monthly-expenses-january-2009/
:)
oh man, don't people understand how bad a$$ that is!!! haha...at least you know people are reading your stuff :)
@Megan - Yeah Capricorns!
Just send the money my way. You'll sleep well knowing it's gone to a worthy cause. A good nights sleep is priceless!
I bought a small black electric fireplace at BJ's wholesale club for $99 a few months back. It works great.
If not, put the $260 aside and go to another Bed and Breakfast in the spring. Travel is always worth the money. Experiences, not things, make one happiest.
Christine
Good problem to have, like you said. Perhaps you can put it towards your next vacation if you don't know what exactly to do with it now.
If I receive cash as a gift I always end up saving it because I can never figure out what to buy. I figure it'll somehow end up paying for something down the line. But if I receive a giftcard, then I usually have an idea of what I'm going to buy, but it still takes me several months, sometimes almost a year, before I decide what to buy.
J Money, you could always spend it on a boat ride!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/56632/saturday-night-live-digital-short-im-on-a-boat
Hilarious SNL digital short!
I can come help you spend that money if you want...I know just the perfect thing, too. DVDs! Oh, wait. That's me. Dammit!
There's nothing wrong with being a little frugal and wanting to save your money for something you really want...but, the electric fireplace? I really might have to give you a hard time about that one, lol. At any rate, if you're diggin' the idea of garage sale season, why not check out Craigslist for estate sales...same as garage sales except you can usually find way better stuff. Some of it's a little pricier, but you do have $260 to blow.
Have fun!
T-shirts! Fashionable, cheap, wash in water, line dry! Very frugal!
Happy belated birthday!
You have to be the FUNNIEST PF blogger. I laugh every single time I read your blog or comments left on other's blogs.
Now about that money. I don't have a clue as to what you should do with it but I could figure out something for me to do with it.
Spend wisely.
Hey, thank ya much Debtfree2009! Def. enjoy keeping things as interesting as possible, so it's good to know my lame attempts at humor work ;)
As for the money, It looks like I'll just have to split it up and give it to all of you, eh?! I want THAT BOAT more than anything though - my damn is that is hot! Thx for the shout Anonymous... now just gotta figure out how to pick me up one of those. Anyone ready to pay me $200k a year for BudgetsAreSexy yet?
I love that SNL short. OMG.
Hahaha. I love that fact and agree with you 100% that just the MERE IDEA of spending money gets me going. Put it in the ING until u figure out what you want.... buttt since u throw it in the ING might as well keep it there right?
my mom has an electric fire place and i love it. that sounds cozy :)
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