Life Tips Daily

Many magazines (especially those geared towards women) encourage women everywhere to indulge themselves and splurge, on services such as manicures, pedicures, spa treatments, including facials, body wraps and massages, on a dinner (or night) out with girlfriends or a spouse, on a fabulous pair of shoes.

It’s hard to deny that pampering or treating yourself does wonders for you: you’re recognizing that you’re worthy and deserving of something nice, something pretty, something extra, something that you don’t need. It’s that latter point that makes indulgences so great: you don’t need to need it. You want it and that is enough.

I’ve noticed that younger people today tend to live a life focused on indulging oneself, and if you look at the generation ahead of you and behind you, you will likely find that you are more self-indulgent than the generation before, you, and less self-indulgent than the generation behind you. My own family is a perfect example of this.

My parents
After moving from Nigeria to the USA, popping out two delightful daughters of which I am one, my parents moved back to Nigeria and from there immigrated to Canada 20 years ago (and popped out two less delightful sons). Fairly typical immigrants, my parents are hardworking individuals and the word “want� does not register in their vocabulary very often, when considering reasons to make a purchase. You purchase things first and foremost because you need them: warm clothing in the winter, gas for your car, food for your belly. Vacations are a lovely idea but forget cruises or weeks spent lying on beaches: vacations can and should have some educational component, and are often to locations close to home, and do not usually happen every year, like clockwork.

The only acceptable types of debt are a mortgage and car payments, and my parents have perfected the art of stretching a dollar as far as possible (they could write the money saving tips section of this site). My mom packs her lunch and goes months without buying her lunch; my dad has similar habits. They are a frugal pair, and they’ve converted my sister to the dark side.

Me
I guess growing up with parents like mine, I could either replicate them or settle into some happy middle ground (it really wasn’t an option to be completely frivolous with money because as the next generation, I’m just old enough that I remember the tough times when money wasn’t plentiful and toys had to be chosen on the basis of educational value and durability rather than how cool it was). Far from making me bitter or resentful towards my parents, it made me appreciate their hard work and sacrifice for their kids, and even today, although I still wish I had gotten that Keypers Toy, I think the Whiz kid impacted my educational choices and future decisions far more than the other toy would have.

So, like my parents, I abhor debt, I live within my means but I am by no means a hoarder of money: I buy lunches out nearly every day, I (used to) buy new clothing every two weeks (just one piece or two, justified by my fabulous clothing discount, courtesy of my part time job), if I want something and it’s less than a certain amount, I’ll buy it with minimal thought. I buy things simply because they are on sale. But this is alright because I’m not in debt (or so my rationale goes). Any potential expenditures over a certain amount involve (too) much hand wringing and deliberation on my part, and I find it difficult to spend large sums of money so I don’t unless it’s absolutely necessary (a computer and digital camera qualify as necessities in my life, hopefully a car and house will in the coming years too).

My brothers
These men are truly the next generation: all that is required before making a purchase is the desire. “If you want it, get it� is their mantra and they live by this. One has a credit card and enjoys spending his money on $30 wallets, $60 ties, $70 dress shirts, a $300 ipod. He is a full time student with a part time job and carrying a credit card balance does not faze him one bit. His older brother is similar: an empty bank account doesn’t bother him, and money is meant to be spent. In its entirety. Despite living at home and having access to the kitchen, both prefer to order dinners out several nights a week, in addition to eating most every other meal out. Neither of my brothers would recognize a savings account if it slapped them on the face for being so frivolous.

To them, life is meant to be enjoyed and cannot be enjoyed unless it’s a life of indulgence. No wish or whim should go untried (or “unbuyed�).

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There is a happy medium, as we strive to live lives that are enjoyable and satisfying. A life without the occasional “just because� purchase just won’t do, so I encourage you to be like me, except without the “buying things simply because they’re on sale� part, only because it’ll leave you more money to spend on your next satisfying splurge!

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