Frugality

Some may have a problem with this label, but I do not.  I will happily label myself as frugal.  I don't take frugality to the extreme, but I try my best to not overspend on things we do not need.  I see it as a good thing, because at the end of the day, who really need more STUFF to clutter up their lives?  (I already have enough.)

I am sure psychologists have studied the whole "money personality" issue and have ideas about when in your formative years your attitudes towards money are formed.  I thank my parents for both being "savers" rather than "spenders" and obviously for instilling this trait in me, whether purposely or not.  I would much rather see that money in the bank (or investment) than in my hand at the check out aisle. 

I really don't like spending money.  I can get caught up in spending once I get started (like at Christmas time) but I often come home, look at my receipts and my purchases and feel some remorse.  My husband jokes that I am good at spending but equally good at "returning"!  There is almost always a shopping bag near the door with something I bought and have since decided I am going to return, if I can keep track of the receipt.  Psychologists probably have a label for this type of behaviour too but we won't go there right now!

There is one problem with this frugality trait - I also have trouble spending my own GIFT money.  This is money, free and clear, intended for my purposes only, given freely and lovingly by my father-in-law and my parents almost without fail for my birthday and Christmas every year.  I currently have $400 of gift money, sitting around, waiting for me to decide what to spend it on.  How silly is that?! 

Now sometimes I like to save up a couple rounds of gift money to buy something more substantial, like when I purchased a good pair of binoculars a year ago.  I was glad I had not spent the $100 the minute I got it and saved it up to be able to buy something I have and will continue to make great use of for years.

So now what to do with $400?  I just recently finally pulled the trigger and purchased an iPod, taking care of almost $300 of gift money (yes, I had $700 saved up!).  I have considered buying a sewing machine, something I currently do not know how to use but would like to learn and be able to make a few pieces of clothing for my kids.  Or I have considered waiting to receive another round of gift money and put it all toward a digital SLR camera or a spotting scope. 

I guess there is no harm in having this money under my mattress but I think maybe I need to learn how to spend and enjoy some of it...soon.