good intentions March 30, 2009
Posted by deepali in budget.trackback
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.
Enjoy yourself! Life is about living, too, right? As long as you’re within your comfort zone. I think that’s what a lot of people forget: deprivation leads to splurges and that guilty cycle. But what you’ve decided is very reasonable and well-thought out. Live it up!
i figure, if you’re going to splurge on one thing, it should be the space you live in. seriously. you live there. and at some point, the thrill of the student life in an infested apartment with a bunsen burner and a fridge from 1945 wears off. even if we are “students for life. ” what’s this about no drinking? bo-rinnnnng! (haha . kidding
) glad you’re making life livable.
It’s ok to give yourself more than the bare minimum. I remember a time where at a restaurant I couldn’t fathom ordering anything but the cheapest meal. Sad!
I agree that where you live is an important expense and you shouldn’t minimize that. Your apt. is your stage. You will be spending a lot of time there and it will make or break your experience and what you remember about your stay in any place. I like to collect ‘living’ spaces and name them…making them mine and the time I live in them part of the experience.
I found you through the cooking 101 blog. You wrote about tempeh and wondered if anyone else was making tempeh. I didn’t know if you were interested in making it yourself but I make my own and would love to share with you how.
Also I wonder if you might share with me any recipes of fermented food that you find over there!!! It is normal in asian countries to find more fermented foods. I think they are better for you and help you assimulate nutrients better than unfermented foods.
Happy adventures.