This month we are talking about “Having“ vs “Experiencing“ when it comes to our spending.
In which of these two categories do you fall? Do you prefer to buy “things“ that you can use over and over again or that you can look at whenever you feel like it because it brings you joy? Or, do you prefer to spend your money on “experiences“ that will make you happy and you create memories that you can cherish forever?
If you are anything like me… you kinda fall in both categories! I know that back in the day when I suffered from FOMO, I wanted to buy all the things (which I did) and have all the experiences (which I had) and voilà, that’s how we got to know each other, you and I!!! But getting back to our little conundrum, it can be hard to decide which one of these two you identify most with. For starters, when you have little to no money, you have no choice but to buy things, like first necessity items! And when you do have money you can have both.
So why even have the discussion, you ask? Well, because when you are in the middle of it all, I mean when you start on your journey from no money to a lot of money (yes, I believe you can get there, because, Mindset, just go back to February and go through the materials, you can also get help here!) there will be a moment where you can (and you should!) spend some money on things that give you pleasure, that make you happy. I remember for me, before I knew myself as well as I know now… I wanted to buy things and go out and funds were very, very limited, so sometimes I ended up buying something and regretting it! Because I would much rather go and have a nice glass of wine (couldn’t afford the bottle or the dinner!) at a really nice bar by the beach. That’s why I think it's important for you to find out in which category you are in.
Also, just because you can doesn’t mean you should, spend all your money on stuff and/or experiences if they are not bringing you joy or if you regret having done it later. Just because I can afford to go on a cruise, it doesn’t mean I’m going to do it (I get sea sick!), seriously, I’m not in a financial place where I consider it’s ok to spend $10.000 on a vacation, yet. Before you go check out the prices for a cruise, this is how much the one I would love to go on costs, there’s plane fares and 5* hotels in there as well!
Now, I am an experiences kind of person but it hasn’t always been this way. Back in the day, it was really important for me to “have“ a house, “have“ really nice things and especially “have“ a lot of things in my house. Family is very important to me, dinner parties were a constant at our house (almost every weekend) and I’d rather have that than go on vacation. Again, we both know I did both and here we are today!
My family values are still the same, however, I now appreciate much more some quality time in a nice restaurant with my family once a month and going out to have a nice glass of wine with my husband...
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