My 16 year old son came home from the mall with a shocking announcement: he bought something. Justin doesn't buy things. He might take his girlfriend out to dinner and to a movie, but other than that, his money collects in his wallet like quarters in a slot machine. (My 12-year old came up with that similie. I'm so proud.)
The irresistable item that followed Justin home? A $70.00 pair of Notre Dame shoes. His first words after showing them to me were, "I didn't have to think twice, Mom."
I guess we all have our weaknesses. For me? A great fitting, comfy pair of jeans. I'll plunk down good money for jeans that make my short chunky legs look long and lean.
Kevin will pay good money for a meal at a nice restaurant. I try not to take that personally.
Chad likes shoes. Trevor likes, well, anything that has a dollar sign in front of it. I guess Justin got all the saving genes, but even he has his weak spot. I'm more the saver overall and I'd say Kevin is more of a spender. We balance each other nicely in that area and many others.
Which side of the scales do you fall on: saver or spender? If you have a spouse, does he balance you out?
I think I'm a little of both.
ReplyDeleteI have a great savings plan going at the moment, but I also spend money.
Most of my spending is on books.
I'm also a great bargain hunter. I wait for the specials, and I make sure I really want something before I buy it.
I save it and spend it. I spend it some of my spare money mainly on books. I discovered ebooks which helps me save a bit but nothing beats having a good book you can curl up and read.
ReplyDeleteI think we balance each other out. Sometimes, I get the urge to spend, spend, spend. Other times, all I want to do is save. He seems to do the same thing. Glad we always seem to be on the opposite "urge" so to speak. Keeps us in line. If we both wanted to spend, look out!
ReplyDeleteJust had to comment on Notre Dame. I live not too far from there. Is he influenced by ND's great start for football? My son would rather watch Purdue. Oh well!
I'm the girl who tries stuff on but never buys it. Or buys it and returns it out of guilt. LOL. I have issues I know. :)
ReplyDeleteMy hubby thinks, "If you want it, get it" So we probably balance each other out. I know I drive him crazy though.
I'm a bit of both - I save and I also splurge. My dh was never a saver and when I met him he spent 100% of what he took in. I educated him on saving. So now he saves too. But he is far worse than I am when shopping - whereas I'll see a $120 dress and think I'll buy one, he'll have us walk out of the the store with 5 or 6. After he did that once with me I limited his shopping opportunites. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love buying books, especially ones with beautiful covers. So tempting . . .
ReplyDeleteAndrea, Justin has been a huge ND fan since Kevin took him to a game when he was 5. We usually make it to a game each season and we've taken the campus tour etc. As far as this season goes, anything is better than last year!
I'm definitely the saver and the more thrifty spender when it comes to shopping. In fact, I hate to shop. Wanting to hold onto money likely comes from my childhood when we spent years without, living on chicken noodle soup, mac & cheese, PB&J sandwiches and anything else that was inexpensive or could be bought in bulk.
ReplyDeleteHubby, on the other hand, spends often without thinking. Going out to eat, ordering take-out, purchasing items for the house or the dog, buying clothes, etc. He never knew life "without" and I feel it makes a big difference.
Thankfully, we're working together on the finances now, and we talk often, making plans and discussing as a team. We help each other come closer toward the middle, and so far, it's working out well.
Definite balance, here. :)
I am a saver--as is my husband. My 14 year old daughter, though, is the spender. Whoo wee! How money can flow through her fingers!
ReplyDeleteI only have one weakness: books. I cannot walk into a bookstore--(with books in English, of course. Other languages don't tempt me much)--and NOT buy. When we go to the States, I try to only go ONCE to Borders or the Tattered Cover (Denver) or Barnes and Noble...and ONCE to the Christian bookstore. More than that and we'll have a luggage allowance problem.
It depends. LOL I love to buy stuff for other people. Buying clothes for myself is hard for me but sometimes I have to. I think I keep hoping I'll be able to buy a smaller size soon. LOL And technology stuff makes me pull out my wallet really fast.
ReplyDeleteDave is more into tools. He couldn't care less about shoes or clothes but show him a shiny new tool. . .
I can deny myself most anything. BUT when it comes to the grandkids, I can't save a dime. There are just too many cute things out there for little kids. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm a pathetic saver. Kristin will gasp but I just about died when I spent $30 on a canvas messenger bag that has no name brand on it and I almost took it back because it was ... well ... $30.
ReplyDeleteI usually am severely overwrought if I spend over $50 on any clothing item (including jeans).
My husband on the otherhand, can plunk a grand on a paper check without too much adue ... so outside of our frequent use of smelling salts to revive me when I see the checkbook balance after he's borrowed it for the day, I guess our habits balance us out. Somehow I'm thinking I'm getting the short end of the stick somewhere along the line .... hmmm ....
OH my gosh, where do I start on my weaknesses?
ReplyDeleteShoes
Handbags
Cars
Espresso
kid's clothes
Jeans
Books
I am a walking treatment center all by myself. LOL Good for Justin though for making the decision of what he wanted. My Trey is like that too. He's first.