financial zen

Whoops, I made a mistake. A big, big mistake. In my favor, in a way. I feel kind of goofy, but I know how I made this mistake.

I doubled a credit card payment (the one from HSBC that was going to knock out a huge chunk of debt). Thankfully, I had a large chunk in savings, so all my bills are paid, and it means this week is a “whoops I paid off more debt than I intended.”

So I’m a little richer!

This weekend, to combat costs, we’re spending the weekend with family and friends – two gatherings tomorrow.

I think one of the biggest problems (and complaints) I’ve noticed about being fiscally responsible is that it’s boring. You’re bored. Your friends are all having fun. At the bar. At the movies. At the mall (do people still hang out at the mall?).

Why don’t we take a look at that situation. College students (I mean *REAL* students, the ones that eke by on meager paychecks and have student loans) can’t afford to go out all the time. They buy Natty Light, not Heineken. They join groups with similar interests. And I think this is something people forget about as time goes on, and their paychecks increase. Nights in with friends become nights out at the bar/movies. A friend cooking dinner becomes a weekly Mad Mex trip. Natty Light becomes Imported beer.

See the key here? An increase of income causes an increase in spending. This increase also affects your level of fun – what used to be free (or cheap!) and fun becomes more about how much money you can spend.

I’ve mentioned this to friends before – movie nights, group trips to places, potlucks – and it’s slowly coming to fruition. The Radar Lovebug Transistor manages to do a double-feature every Friday night (albeit, in New York). He creates a flyer, that shows his intent for the evening.

Total cost? Time.

A couple friends of mine are having a group over this weekend – volleyball and beer, a celebration of the summer finally coming, and staying. You know, the crazy warm, snow, warm, snow we were having? We can celebrate it being gone.

These kind of events creates a social atmosphere – no membership fees, no door fees, no concession fees. Bring a few bucks for beer or bring a dish. You spend a lot less money, be social, and – did I mention – spend a lot less money?

So next month, how about we start trying to bring back those college days – social events at your house/apartment. Movie marathons. Trips to a volleyball court. Beers – at home – with friends. Buy a case of Natty Light and reminisce about your college parties, those all nighters, and remember how much fun you had when you had so much less income.

Anyone got any party planning ideas? Group fun?