Just Say No

My mind's been on money lately. Not in an obsessive sort of way. Just in an observation sort of way.

I work with money all day...hey, maybe that's why it's in my thoughts all the time!...and I see people making a variety of decisions that cause me to raise an eyebrow. It's not my money, so I try to keep opinions to myself, but here's something I've observed despite the economic downturn.

People don't know how to say no.

Last Saturday I really wanted to leave town and shop at the Gaither store. I haven't been there since February or March...and I wanted a couple of things...and they were having a sale...you know how it goes. I didn't have any plans for the day, so I was free to go.

But I stayed.

I stayed because I realized my gas tank was precariously close to empty and while I technically "had" money I could have used to refill it, that money was marked for something else. I did not need to "borrow" it to take a frivolous trip. I stayed because while I also "had" money for random shopping, I really didn't have undesignated money, and the chances of coming home without a purchase were...none. I stayed because there were better uses of 2-3 hours in my day than driving and spending.

Instead I took four bucks and went to Starbucks - to at least take advantage of the drink I would have purchased there.

And by the time the day was done, I was really glad I'd stayed. Glad I accomplished more at home. Glad I still had gas in my tank and money in my purse.

When I was first out of college, I lived on a ridiculously tight budget. I didn't make much and I lived on very few spare pennies. I didn't go to movies or eat out (at places that didn't have dollar menus) or shop often or take vacations. And while I'm able to live a little bit more "freely" now, and I'm thankful for that, it was good for me to be reminded of the days when I just said no. There were times people invited me to things and I had to say no because I couldn't afford to go. And it's a good reality check to remember those days.