Day 11: April 22, 2017
Challenge: Buy Something Frivolous
For much of my life, I have lived under the presumption that I don't deserve things that I want just because I want them. If I want something, I have to justify getting it: Is it cost effective? Do I need it? Will I get a lot of use out of it? Can I eat it? and so on. I have denied myself a lot of things because of this presumption. Then, after much denial, I splurge and buy something ridiculous - usually food - that puts me in debt or makes me ill and makes me feel guilty for spending money that I shouldn't have spent. Then I start denying myself again, even to the point of not allowing myself things that I probably need (new clothes, household items, etc.). This cycle has consumed most of my adult life, and it needs to stop.
The first step was to convince myself that I could have something I wanted just because I wanted it, I don't have to justify what I want to anyone, not even myself, I just have to check that I'm not going into debt and keeping my budget balanced. So this challenge was to find something that I wanted for no other reason that I wanted it. I went to the store, and started looking around. On the shelf I saw a Spirograph. I remember when I was in 6th grade several of the students in my class had one of these things, and I thought they were dead cool. I wanted one so badly, but mom said I didn't need it so I couldn't have it. Well, now I have one. It was fun and frivolous. I've used it all of one time since I bought it, so I definitely didn't get my money's worth, but it was still worth it. It was something that I wanted for no other reason than I wanted it.
One frivolous purchase is not going to change a lifetime of bad spending habits and self-loathing. And I've still had some spending splurges (can anyone say "new car"?), but I've learned that I am worthy of fun things, I deserve to have things I want. With that in mind, it's been a lot easier to create and stick to a budget, and I don't binge on food, music, or movies nearly as often as I used to because I'm not denying myself as much any more.
So, go get yourself something fun!
Challenge: Buy Something Frivolous
For much of my life, I have lived under the presumption that I don't deserve things that I want just because I want them. If I want something, I have to justify getting it: Is it cost effective? Do I need it? Will I get a lot of use out of it? Can I eat it? and so on. I have denied myself a lot of things because of this presumption. Then, after much denial, I splurge and buy something ridiculous - usually food - that puts me in debt or makes me ill and makes me feel guilty for spending money that I shouldn't have spent. Then I start denying myself again, even to the point of not allowing myself things that I probably need (new clothes, household items, etc.). This cycle has consumed most of my adult life, and it needs to stop.
The first step was to convince myself that I could have something I wanted just because I wanted it, I don't have to justify what I want to anyone, not even myself, I just have to check that I'm not going into debt and keeping my budget balanced. So this challenge was to find something that I wanted for no other reason that I wanted it. I went to the store, and started looking around. On the shelf I saw a Spirograph. I remember when I was in 6th grade several of the students in my class had one of these things, and I thought they were dead cool. I wanted one so badly, but mom said I didn't need it so I couldn't have it. Well, now I have one. It was fun and frivolous. I've used it all of one time since I bought it, so I definitely didn't get my money's worth, but it was still worth it. It was something that I wanted for no other reason than I wanted it.
One frivolous purchase is not going to change a lifetime of bad spending habits and self-loathing. And I've still had some spending splurges (can anyone say "new car"?), but I've learned that I am worthy of fun things, I deserve to have things I want. With that in mind, it's been a lot easier to create and stick to a budget, and I don't binge on food, music, or movies nearly as often as I used to because I'm not denying myself as much any more.
So, go get yourself something fun!
Buy something you've always secretly wanted but never got because it's frivolous! #40daysto40 #birthdaychallenge #funbutuseless pic.twitter.com/b0C70lYHu4— Stacy Snider (@StacyLeeSnider) April 22, 2017
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