Spending Some, Spending Little

While I was in college, particularly near the end of my college career, I devised a philosophy about my spending habits. Being busy every day of the week and almost always away from home, I found myself in plenty of positions to spend money crazy. Sometimes I did spend money excessively. In five years, I spent money on lots of new gadgets: two cell phones, a PDA, a half dozen memory cards, three new digital cameras (more on that...), two netbooks, two MP3 players, four USB flash drives, a new TV, a Wii and lots of games/accessories, two Nintendo DSes (games as well!)... and plenty of little odds and ends in accessories for all these things.

In addition to these "big ticket" items that I've bought for myself, I also have had to spend money on plenty else: car loan, school supplies and books, daily spending (food, etc.), and whatever might come up.

Point in case, I feel like I've spent a ton of money in the last half-decade or so. While I've spent thousands of dollars on these gadgets and more over the years, I've also come to develop a theory of sorts on my spending habits.

As college came to a close, I realized that I would have to be prepared for a future in which all my spending is my own: no more living at home (eventually) to have parents to fall back on. With that in mind my beliefs on spending quickly shifted as I entered my final year in college. Saving money became just as important as spending it, although truth be told, I didn't want to always give up my spending on gadgets and other things that make being young fun.

So what am I to do?

What has worked the best for me isn't hording money at all... "smart" spending has helped me to strike a balance in my life between saving for the future and having a good time when I can. Even when I was working at Meijer for under $10/hour I did my best to spend money wisely. I still ate out three or four days a week, spent money on my car when I needed to, bought the occasional video game, and saved for a new gadget or two every few months. In addition to this, I kept three separate banking accounts that each dictated my spending: one for saving money every paycheck, one for moderate spending (bills, food, daily whatevers, etc.), and one for saving up to the next "big ticket" item on my list.

Keeping control of my money like, along with saying "no" plenty of times to dinner out or the occasional video game (still haven't played Boom Blox), has helped me stay in a relatively healthy financial state.

Now with a good-paying job, I'm finding my old principles tested, as I now easily have the money to buy what I want, when I want. Despite new financial freedoms, I've found myself still sticking to my old ideals on spending... and so far, so good.

At this point a new philosophy arises: why do I have to spend so much to live a certain kind of lifestyle? What's wrong with living frugally even when I'm making plenty of money? At this point in my life, I don't see a reason for anything to be wrong with this idea. And so it stands for me: I will continue to be a smart spender, a mostly frugal spender, and efficient enough with money that I'm never stressed about finances while never bored with myself either.

Sounds good to me.

B3 out.