When It's OK to Spend a Little

When I was growing up, the best thing my mom could say to me was, “Sometimes it’s OK to spend a little on yourself.” This was usually said during one of her marathon weekend shopping trips. As a mother of four young, rowdy kids, her weekends usually consisted of frenetic trips to the grocery store for carloads of food, and trips to JCPenney, Kohl’s and anywhere in the mall with a sale where she power-walked her way to pick up clothes for our family’s ever-heightening inseams (“Come on! You guys walk so slow! The store’s gonna close and we’ll miss the sale. RUN!).

You can imagine how tight her budget was. Though my dad always worked multiple jobs to support the family, his paychecks were always stretched to the max to support our needs. That’s why it was always such an indulgence when we were allowed a little something extra, like a Seventeen Magazine, during the course of the weekly shopping trips.

As I got older, mom and I continued shopping together on the weekends. As an intern, earning $10 an hour and living with my parents (and all my brothers) after I graduated, these shopping trips were downright depressing for me. Frazzled by long hours and demanding accounts, I went along for the escapism, but bought only necessities and stuck to my budget. This meant forgoing all the great deals on shoes, clothes and sparkly things I felt I was entitled to as a full-time worker in the “real world.” But every once in a while, as I looked wistfully at a new lipstick or fragrance, my mom would say, “Oh, go ahead. You have to spend a little on yourself every once in a while or you’ll go crazy.”

And despite my shtick about keeping to a budget and the importance of saving, it’s a philosophy I adhere to today.

I was thinking about this “spend a little on yourself” idea as I browsed my staycation spending post. In today’s economy, it seems strange – and almost selfish – to splurge on things like spa days and nights out. But walking home last night, it occurred to me that even in a recession, there are certain circumstances where it’s OK to spend and not feel bad. In fact, sometimes it’s even necessary. Here’s my list of top situations during this messed up, down economy holiday season when it’s OK to spend.

Prerequisite: You have a job, a savings cushion, your finances are in order and you’re not using credit to buy. All the other suggestions are based on this prerequisite. If you don’t maintain all of the above, sorry, you gotta hold off for a while on the spendiness.code>

1. Your look/grooming. Sure we’re all scared of the economy. But that does not make it OK to forgo personal grooming habits for those of us who deal with clients or customers on the job. If you’re holding onto your job, show your bosses you take it seriously by always putting your best foot forward. This means you may have to spend a bit on haircuts, makeup, nail polish and styling products. You may also have to keep your clothing current. I’m not saying you need to go overboard, but if clothing is faded, torn or you got it in the 90’s, it’s OK to update your wardrobe to be more sophisticated. You get paid a salary, and part of that salary, if you can swing it, should go into maintaining your appearance if you deal with clients or customers.
2. Your kids. Even if there’s doom and gloom everywhere in the papers this holiday season, give them just as special a holiday as any other, whether that means decking the halls and stringing popcorn or just enjoying the snow. It’s OK to spend a little on the little ones. Even if it’s just a Seventeen magazine, a little goes a long way.
3. Technology upgrades (within reason). Why is it OK to upgrade your technology? Because it keeps you current and connected. Let’s say your computer breaks down and you don’t fix it and then you lose your job. Where will you update your resume and job hunt? The library is a natural answer, but you’re limited to what software your library has and the library’s hours. And then when you do have a job interview, you’ll need to be able to research the company, the industry and important relevant news, all which can be challenging with no Internet.
4. Winter clothes. If you need a new coat, boots, under layers, hat, scarf, etc. this winter to stay warm, buy it. You’ll probably get a good deal, too.
5. Your health. Don’t scrimp on your health. This includes preventative measures, like a gym membership, as well as “health management” of problems. If you have a bad back, go see a doctor. If you need medicine, get it filled. Educate yourself on how to feel better and then do it. You’re not the only one counting on your health, after all.
6. Travel. If you’ve been saving up for a trip, don’t cancel it. You may end up going somewhere cheaper, but at least go somewhere. Not everyone will agree with this, but to me travel – exploring new cultures and destinations – is as important as any of the above. Travel helps broaden perspectives, it results in shared knowledge and sometimes even helps us to understand just how good we really have it. It’s nurturing for the soul and gives us an overall feeling of renewal (if done right). So keep your big trip. You may need to rely on those memories someday.

I’m sure I can think of more, but I’ve got to go visit my dad (he just got done with surgery) and then we’re off to B’s nieces’ birthday party. Let me know if you agree or disagree with the above, and have a warm and happy weekend.