Paradigm Shifted

I had good intentions. I was going to get a cheap apartment, shop in the market, and since I hate vodka, not drink too much. All in the name of staying on budget and maybe even saving.

Heck no.

I’m taking the fancy apartment.  Still shopping in the market, so maybe that’ll help.  And who knew you could get pretty decent wine in Mongolia.

I’m still within my budget, for the most part.  I don’t expect too much in the way of savings though. There was a recent article in the New York Times on “hyperopia”.

You know buyer’s remorse?  That guilt or disappointment you feel after you buy something frivolous or unecessary?  Well, there’s saver’s remorse too.   It’s also possible to not live enough.

You should save, of course.  But all work and no play leads to an early grave (to paraphrase).  And hyperopia leads to missed opportunities and regrets.  It’s as they say, no one on their deathbed wishes they’d spent that extra hour in the office.

So in the interest of sparing my future self the regret of not making things a little easier, I’m going to cut myself a break and live a nicer lifestyle than I had planned.  There’s time for saving later.

I am at a loss on how to budget right now. You never realize what you take for granted in your life!  What you like to eat, and knowing you can get it.  What you like to do, and knowing how to find it.   Even just knowing how much things cost can really help.

Right now, I have no place to live (so no idea on rent or transport), no good sense of what my research will involve (so no idea on technical costs), and no grasp of the language.  Heck, I’m not even sure where the nearest ATM is (though I do know the exchange rate!).

Times like this, it’s so good to have an e-fund or a nice little cushion.  I’m so glad I really saved up these past few months.   I don’t mind dipping into the savings for now, to tide me over for a few weeks.  I am hoping to settle in soon, though.  I like adventure, but the routine has its comforts too.