What is it about having money that creates such a state of alternate reality? When I’m pinching pennies, it’s easy to stay in budget—I have to. I don’t have a choice. But when a little extra cash comes my way, suddenly those lines become blurred. It’s okay to grab pizza for dinner … we have a little extra money. It’s all right if I want to get that book … we have a little extra money. Before I know it, that money is gone, and I have absolutely no idea where it went. It vanished, gone in a vaporous mist, leaving behind only its memory.
We do have a tendency to budget our paychecks but to be more carefree with our unexpected income. I believe it’s because we feel that the extra money is our reward, and we should have fun with our reward. After all, it’s not exciting to break everything down to the penny and know where each payment is going—it doesn’t feel like a reward and a celebration to be that organized. And yet, think about it—does it feel like a reward and a celebration when that money is suddenly gone, and we aren’t sure where it went?
I’d like to encourage all of us to avoid the trap that is laid when we get extra money. Beware that false sense of security. Yes, we were blessed and we have a little more money than usual, but we should sit down and make plans for it, just like we do our regular income. This isn’t to say we can’t have fun with it, but let’s plan out that fun. Let’s say, “All right, with this fifty dollars, we’ll go out to eat and see a movie.” And then put the rest of the cash toward something else, maybe something that will mean a little more to us than a bag of tacos or a new shirt.
Whatever we choose to spend it on, let’s make sure we’re conscious of where it’s going, and that we don’t end up with buyer’s remorse the next day.
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