Playing Hard To Get with Money

Tia and I were talking during a car ride on Monday and we agreed on an observation.  I've been giving it some thought and mentioned it again to PTE Rick today.  I'm sure there's a known psychological reason behind it but it doesn't matter.  All that matters is understanding that it exists.

Tia and I could buy things but we don't.  We say, "We could . . ." a lot.  We don't buy much though.  (I did buy this arch-thingy for one of my climbing roses on Monday.  I'll take a picture when the roses are blooming.)

I think a lot of it goes back to people wanting what they can't have.  Credit cards and store credit have solved the problem of not being able to have it but people still can't afford much of what they buy.

Once you can, items seem to lose their desirableness.  We just buy what we truly need or want.  It seems like a paradox.  We shop more when we can't afford it and shop less when we could actually buy things.

I still believe that part of it comes back to the idea of spending money.  Credit isn't money.  You aren't spending *your* money when you use a credit card.  The pain comes later.  When you are using your own money, your more picky.  At least that's how it works for us. 

Comments

[Tim]

Sounds like your in a good place in life then buying only want you need or truly want. There any many others out there who seem to be compelled to buy and waste so much just because they can.

Tim
TheMoneyKings.com

[Lynette]

I'm like you, I have money in the bank and I just don't spend it. But sometimes I worry I'm too tight. Maybe if I was a little more willing to let it flow out, it would flow back in easier too. That's one theory, but for now, I'll just keeping socking it away and holding back on the spending.

[CV Rick]

I'm also choosy with what I spend my money on. Today I went into an office supply store to pick up a waterproof box for transporting and holding all my business paperwork between my home office and my truck. I knew exactly what I wanted (in general, but I didn't know if anyone made such a thing) and I knew what the dimensions had to be, so I went in to two stores and walked out with nothing. I wasn't enticed by the special offers, the sales, the grand gimicks or the weekly flyer. Finally in the third place I found almost what I pictured. I bought it (cash) and left.

Back when I was a shop-n-spend addict, I'd have purchased $100 of crap in an office supply store because it looked cool or I *might* have a use for it someday. I'd put it on the credit card and that would be that. Not anymore. I have the money, so I'm more careful with the money.

[mark]

"arch-thingy"...a trellis?

or is there some enemy of a thingy I don't know about?

well today I pay off my last CC and will only have my mortgage as "credit" I will start to bank money as much as I can to build a safety net (single income now you know) and after I have my net, I start to hit the mortgage...right now I've got over $2k I "COULD" spend on "anything"....I'm not.

[Success Warrior]

Tim, it is a truly refreshing mindset. A lot of people live their lives trying to get that next toy and are willing to sacrifice so much to get it. To be able to say, "We could," and then move on has a sense of peace to it.

Lynette, what we call money is a form of energy and it's true that it needs to flow. Think of it as a resorvoir where you build up a reserve and control the release to suit your needs.

Ricky T, I was the same way. "That looks cool, I'll take it." It gets used maybe once and then it's stored for years because, "you paid good money for it," and eventually it's sold in the yard sale for a quarter.

Mark, how about an arched trellis? You're plan is the same as ours. We pay off the car in June and start building our safety net and then pay off the house. "Frreeeeeedommmmmmm!"