We've all had our parents buy us things... clothes, school supplies, textbooks, you name it. But after 2 years in college, I've come to realize that the value of money is different when it’s your own. What I mean is, $20.00 from my mom is easily spent while $20.00 of my own money is something I seriously think about before blowing it on something I don't need.
I've come to learn that money doesn't grow on trees (crazy, I know!!) and is actually somewhat hard to come by if you're not an avid saver like myself. I've learned that it takes effort and patience to make money last, when all you really want to do is get a burrito from Chipotle or buy that cute top from Forever 21. It's so easy to spend money when it’s not yours or when it’s a gift, and I think that's because its “temporary money”. I came up with that concept while writing this article, so don't quote me on it, but I have coined this term to describe money that “you didn't have in the first place so spending it doesn't really affect you.” On the other hand, money that you earned, money that you worked hard for, means a lot more and is a little bit harder to part with. I know I'm guilty of this. For example, my grandparents sent me $20.00 for groceries over winter break as a nice surprise, but I'm pretty sure it went toward a movie ticket and some workout pants I had been wanting for a while. Obviously, I gave little thought to the intended purpose of the money. But when it comes to my own paycheck, I'm the biggest budgeter you'll ever meet. “Okay, I average $200.00 a week. $25.00 for my gym membership due this month, $55.00 toward groceries for the week, $30.00 for savings, and the rest I really shouldn't spend” (but always end up doing it anyway). It's so easy for me to waste money on trivial things I don't need, and I always leave with a little bit of buyer's regret. “Did I really need to get Chipotle 3 times this week? Did I have to buy those shoes?”
Now, there are definitely exceptions to this rule. I’ve had times where I’ve gotten paid on a Thursday and spent it all by Saturday morning (my Friday was LIT). But, I’ve come to regret having to live off of $3.00 to my name for an entire week as well. Even though it’s easy to spend every cent I have to my name, it’s also just as hard to want to buy material things when I know how hard I worked for that paycheck. What I’ve come to realize and the point I’m trying to make is there’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with the hard work that allows you to earn a living, and you can’t put a price tag on that (pun intended).
