I celebrated a birthday last month and had saved up and created a budget of $345 that I could spend to spoil myself. After being a saver for so long it was really hard for me to find ways to spend the money because I kept feeling that I needed to save it instead.
I forced myself to spend and although it took me two weeks to get all that birthday money spent I finally did it. Here is the breakdown of where the money went.
- $17.41 on books and nail glue
- $27.00 on pedicure
- $256.76 on clothes
- $72.96 on dinner
Grand total of $325.43 spent on my birthday. I cannot believe that I did not even spend the full amount because I thought I was really doing ‘well’. I spent the $17.41 on TWO books and got the nail glue because I ripped a thumb nail down the center and there was no other way to repair it.
I paid $27 for the pedicure, including the tip and although it has been two weeks and my toes still look great, I think that is a lot to spend on one thing.
I ended up spending the $72.96 on two lobster and steak dinners at Red Lobster which I insisted on paying for myself because I was not sure if I would be able to spend the birthday money any other way.
I went clothes shopping on two separate days because I do not like shopping and quickly got bored or frustrated or overwhelmed with the stores the first time. Day one of shopping I spent $48.70 and got two pairs of pants and one shirt at one store and then I spent $14.39 and got one shirt. Then two weeks later I forced myself to go into a store and get some more clothes for work and spent $144.97 but I think I scored well. I managed to get 8 blouses and jackets for work and partying!!!!!
Happy Birthday! What books did you get?
I got two James Patterson books because he is currently my favorite author.
Wow! Considering how much clothes you got, I’d say that’s a pretty great deal!
It’s ironic that on a blog about saving money, you are forcing yourself to spend more. If you were really serious about saving money, you wouldn’t feel the need to splurge like that. It just seems to be going against everything else you preach.
I think you are misinterpreting this post. I have been saving ALL the time….I saved the birthday money for a long time so I could have that splurge on my birthday.
I do not go out shopping all the time and just spend money on clothes…read the first article and then read the beginning of this one which states why I used the word ‘forced’.
Also, just because I talk about ways to save money it does not mean that I cannot ever buy something nice does it?
No there is nothing wrong with buying something nice. It just seems against the blog’s theme to make a point of spending almost every last saved dollar. By skipping one of those steak and lobster dinners, you could’ve paid down your debts a bit further. Trying to make yourself happier with spending will just make the strict saving days less enjoyable. It’s your money though and your decision to splurge or pay down debts. I was just pointing out that it may not be the best financial move to spend like that.
The whole point of SAVING that birthday money was to SPEND it on my BIRTHDAY because I bring my lunch to work every day AND do not go shopping. I have been putting money into the Splurge Fund for months for a long time because I know if I do not force myself into spending it then I will never do anything.
My savings were not affected in a negative way and I am actually way ahead of paying my debts if you follow along with my bill updates. The $345 was EXTRA money that I got from various avenues and was specifically for splurging on my birthday.
I feel that you are attacking me and ignoring the point that being a saver does not mean that all you do is save. I could understand if I had left a bill unpaid to party on my birthday…but I did not and you are overlooking all of the other financial goals that have been overcome.
I agree that the whole point of saving is to spend it on something after all, right? And I am the same way. People get surprised when I buy something really expensive for myself because they know much I save, but I tell them that as long as I consider it money well spent, saving it was worth it. We all have to live it up occasionally.
Congrats. When you are used to saving and saving it is hard to spend money. You budgeted, which is smart, then had the money to spend on yourself. Good for you, Happy Belated Birthday!
It’s great to see you rewarding yourself like this on your birthday, sometimes you have to do that sort of thing after working so hard as you have!
Till then,
Jean
It’s really very nice to here from you that you spend lots of money on your Birthday specially on clothes. But its quiet strange that you always talk about saving money and you have spend these much just for your birthday…
Even small amount of cents really count to you. Amazing!
I am sure you celebrated your birthday wisely!
Yes I was quite pleased with my purchases in the end because I had been denying myself for so long that it was good to get things I really wanted then.
Happy late birthday. It is good that you were able to spoil yourself abit. I wasn’t able to that for myself this birthday being on unemployment. but hopefully soon.
I don’t think it’s ironic that this blog is about saving money and you spent some money to enjoy your birthday. I actually find it quite natural, as you managed to save that money in the first place, so, goal achieved. People should ask themselves, what’s the point of working and saving money if you don’t enjoy life from time to time ? The whole point of saving money is to make use of them in the future anyway.
Congrats. When you are used to saving and saving it is hard to spend money. 😉