I have a hyper-aware on how I spend my money these past two days.
I was at a coffee place (Paris Baguette, H-Mart, to be exact) on Sunday. The financial fast has not started yet. It would begin the next day. A financial fast is a commitment to refrain from non-essential and non-emergency spending. This means giving up restaurants, desserts, coffee. Another criteria of the financial fast, crafted by , is to use CASH only. Research has shown that if one uses card, we tend to spend 12-18% more.
I didn't want to buy anything. My normal, typical behaviour. But because the financial fast would start on Monday, I thought I should spend first. I bought myself bubble tea. And that cost US$5.30. OUCH.
I realise that my non-essential spending includes spending when I go out with friends. I do not value the coffee/tea/dessert that I eat, but the relationships that come with the typical 'going out to have a coffee' talks. I realise that I am fine not spending the money and just catching up with friends.
On the other hand...I was craving frozen yogurt today. I told myself that I will go to Yogurtland to sample some yogurt to satisfy my craving. On my way there, I was thinking to myself: this is a non-essential spending. How many people can categorise having fro-yo as essential to living? I spend my money on satisfying my cravings, the food I like. The things I like to eat. I spend my money treating myself to something I like. I spend my money treating myself to the occasional restaurant meal just because I have the means to.
I realise now that having a meal at a restaurant is such a treat for those who don't get it regularly. It can be a form of blessing to them. I used to think that rich donors who treat children to a good restaurant meal per year are just wasting their money. Why don't they use the money to feed more people. But this can be a form of blessing. It is nice to be pampered. It is a moment these children will remember and hold closely to their hearts. It's showing the children that they are worth more than the simple meal that they eat everyday.
I was at a coffee place (Paris Baguette, H-Mart, to be exact) on Sunday. The financial fast has not started yet. It would begin the next day. A financial fast is a commitment to refrain from non-essential and non-emergency spending. This means giving up restaurants, desserts, coffee. Another criteria of the financial fast, crafted by , is to use CASH only. Research has shown that if one uses card, we tend to spend 12-18% more.
I didn't want to buy anything. My normal, typical behaviour. But because the financial fast would start on Monday, I thought I should spend first. I bought myself bubble tea. And that cost US$5.30. OUCH.
I realise that my non-essential spending includes spending when I go out with friends. I do not value the coffee/tea/dessert that I eat, but the relationships that come with the typical 'going out to have a coffee' talks. I realise that I am fine not spending the money and just catching up with friends.
On the other hand...I was craving frozen yogurt today. I told myself that I will go to Yogurtland to sample some yogurt to satisfy my craving. On my way there, I was thinking to myself: this is a non-essential spending. How many people can categorise having fro-yo as essential to living? I spend my money on satisfying my cravings, the food I like. The things I like to eat. I spend my money treating myself to something I like. I spend my money treating myself to the occasional restaurant meal just because I have the means to.
I realise now that having a meal at a restaurant is such a treat for those who don't get it regularly. It can be a form of blessing to them. I used to think that rich donors who treat children to a good restaurant meal per year are just wasting their money. Why don't they use the money to feed more people. But this can be a form of blessing. It is nice to be pampered. It is a moment these children will remember and hold closely to their hearts. It's showing the children that they are worth more than the simple meal that they eat everyday.
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