It’s My Birthday And I Can Shop If I Want To ;)

I probably won’t, but it’s okay if I do! Haha… actually, every year I look forward to walking around downtown where I grew up, and just spending time w/ the family :) We walk into about 10+ stores (mainly book and antique ones), but I rarely come away with anything particular on these trips. Except for happy tummies full of tea and croissants, and a nice workout from all the walking we do, haha…

BUT, and I say this more for my own sake than yours, I think it’s PERFECTLY FINE to spend all the money you get for Xmas or birthdays on yourself and splurge when others are giving it to you. They WANT you to go out and pick up something you normally wouldn’t – they just don’t know what it is, exactly! So they trust you do :)

I’m a huge fan of saving and not overindulging all the time, of course, but in these specific instances I think it’s perfectly acceptable (and fun!) to go on a mini splurge-fest for yourself. Especially if there really is something you’ve been dying to get your hands on, but you can’t justify taking it from your own budget. You can’t save your money all the time (or pay off debt 24/7), and this is a GREAT way to relax a bit and unwind. And it doesn’t cost you a thing!

So while you’re reading this today, I’m probably out there looking around just waiting for something awesome to jump out and get me! But it’ll only work if it’s TRULY awesome. Just because I have the money to splurge right now, doesn’t mean I have to find something TODAY, right? (Right) So if I don’t get lucky, all that money will just sit on the sideline for now waiting for its turn to play :) And I’m pretty sure it’ll survive…

I’m all about spending money on myself, but not just for the sake of doing it. And one of the best side affects to this is that before you spend it *anything* then becomes possible! Who knows what you can find out there for your $60 or $100, ya know? That in itself is a gift to me. The ability to have money ready to spend at any time, as soon as you find something worthy of it. Your world becomes a land of presents, and it’s up to you to find the one that deserves to go home with you! haha…

We’ll see if I get lucky today or not, but either way I’m dedicated to spending it on something good… You only get a birthday once a year, right? ;)

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(Photo by waferboard)

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25 Comments

  1. Lauryn Doll December 26, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    “The ability to have money to spend at any time, as soon as you find something worthy of it.” – Agree with you there.

    Happy Birthday!

    Does your family still sing to you? I’m in my mid-20s and mine still does!

    Reply
  2. Maria Nedeva December 26, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Happy Birthday, J$, and let all your dreams come true. I’ll drink for another productive year for you (and for all of us).

    Reply
  3. Rafiki December 26, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Happy Birthday J. Money. It’s been an awesome year.

    Reply
  4. Carrie Smith December 26, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Happy Birthday J Monee! :) I hope you find something truly awesome to spend your money on. Enjoy your special day.

    Reply
  5. SmartAssetTeam December 26, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Happy Birthday J Money! My family used to give me a day of shopping for my birthday when I was little, we called it “shop till you drop”

    Reply
  6. Devin December 26, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  7. LB December 26, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Happy birthday! Hope you have lots of fun today :)

    Reply
  8. sanjay December 26, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    Last year I got a $500 gift visa card from my company. I agonized over spending it on myself. My girlfriend was so annoyed that I couldn’t spend it on myself, she forced me to do be completely self-indulgent. I bought the geekiest gift foe myself I could. Happy birthday. Self-indulgence is sometimes the most awesome thing you can do for yourself.

    Reply
  9. Foxie December 26, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Happy birthday!! :D

    One Christmas my hubby gave me a $100 gift card and told me he’d take me shopping — it was one of the sweetest things ever! (Not so much the money, but the fact that he was willingly going shopping with me, haha.)

    Reply
  10. Jessica @ Faith Permeating Life December 26, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Happy birthday! And thanks for the reminder! I can be too frugal sometimes and not ever spend gift money on myself. I try to remind myself that there’s no prize for saving the most money and that the quality of my life is what matters in the end. Enjoy your shopping!

    Reply
  11. Jackie December 26, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Happy birthday! And I’m right there with you, except…it’s not my birthday ;)

    Reply
  12. Braden December 26, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Your birthday is the day after Christmas, too? Holy crap, I’ve been reading your blog for almost two years and I never knew! Enjoy the splurge, birthday buddy.

    Reply
  13. KJJ December 26, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Happy happy birthday!

    Reply
  14. CrystalH December 26, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Happy Birthday J to the Poppa Money!

    Reply
  15. Jeffrey Trull December 26, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    Happy bday, J$! Hope you’re having a blast!

    Reply
  16. Emmy December 27, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Is it seriously your birthday? Way to not give anyone a heads up. ;)

    Reply
  17. Dannielle @ Odd Cents December 27, 2011 at 5:31 AM

    Belated earthday wishes to you…. I think I’m going to follow your lead and buy myself something for my birthday. PS. Capricorns Rock!!!

    Reply
  18. J. Money December 27, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Thanks everyone! I had SUUUUUUCH a great time yesterday. Didn’t spend a dime, but the hanging out and exploring shops was exactly what I needed from the crazy last few weeks hustling :) Hope you all had a wonderful day/holiday weekend too! Much love!

    @Lauryn Doll – Haha yup! We actually didn’t have a cake this time though, so no singing was involved (we went to Dairy Queen together :)) but they usualy do!
    @Maria Nedeva – Awesome, thx!
    @SmartAssetTeam – I love it!
    @sanjay – YES! Agreed! We need to do that for ourselves every now and then – I like your girlfriend :)
    @Foxie – Haha, I bet!
    @Jessica @ Faith Permeating Life – YES! No prize at all, though It does help w/ feeling secure ;) I agree we have to be happy in life though and not go hardcore in any one direction even if we mean well.
    @Braden – Hah! Well happy birthday to you too then, my friend :) We are kindred spirits!
    @CrystalH – Hehe, very soon!
    @Emmy – What do you think this is? :)
    @Dannielle @ Odd Cents – Yeah we do! And go for it – you worked hard this year :)

    Reply
  19. Cordelia December 27, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Happy belated! Just getting back to the blogosphere after a short holiday hiatus.

    I struggle too over spending money on myself–or letting my husband buy me expensive presents, because really it’s all coming out of “our” money, and I’m so hyper-focused on saving and cutting back wherever I can.

    But financial stability isn’t about hoarding and being miserly. It’s about saving money wherever possible so that you can ENJOY your life–and if that means splurging on occasion on things that truly make you happy, then that’s your prerogative.

    Says the girl who just bought herself Les Miz 25th anniversary tickets for her birthday in April. :P

    Reply
  20. J. Money December 28, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Haha, we do our best! Thanks for stopping by my friend, have a blessed new year! :)

    Reply
  21. Kelli December 28, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    Happy belated Birthday, J.! I should’ve known you were a Capricorn. (I am too!) :-)

    Reply
  22. J. Money December 28, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Yeah Capricorns! Represent! :)

    Reply
  23. Crystal December 30, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    Happy belated birthday to yet another fellow Capricorn. :-) Glad to see you found yourself a great painting!

    My birthday is today actually now that it is past midnight – yay for 29!

    Reply
  24. J. Money December 30, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    WOO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY my Capricorn friend!! I’m gonna send you some e-beer :) Hope you have fun this weekend!

    Reply

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