I lead an unusual life. The place I live is unusual. My work uniform is unusual. The way I think and behave can often be called, ‘unusual,’ for a variety of reasons too numerous to list here.
To stay true to this unusual pattern, I self-experiment with things ranging from physical training programs to computer science. My 12-months of various consecutive challenges is another experiment.
February’s challenge was to spend no money, except on food. As my lovely co-worker mentioned, “smart girl, choosing the shortest month of the year!” Truthfully, I hadn’t realized. This particular challenge was inspired by a quote from the Moral Letters to Lucilius by Seneca the Younger, a prominent stoic philosopher. I wasn’t able to find the actual quote I was looking for, which included something like, “go for awhile with only the scantest of fare, yada yada.” My interpretation was: by stripping your life down to only the necessities, you can see through the fog to what really matters, whatever that may be.
Letter 17: On Philosophy and Riches
“Riches have shut off many a man from the attainment of wisdom”
I wanna be wise! I want to be rich, too, but a month seemed like an easy sacrifice to take a step closer to whatever we’re all searching for. Here’s a few things that happened:
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It was almost 1am when I left the restaurant, all of us going our separate ways. The pitter-patter of rain danced on the sidewalk as I headed towards the road to hail a cab.
Crap.
The challenge was still active. The last train of the night had long passed the station. I pulled out google maps on my phone and started the 45 minute walk home.
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A friend’s birthday.
I rifled through my things, trying to find something new, gift-worthy. Last month I had gotten rid of one thing a day, so there wasn’t much left.
What do I have that they would want?
Ah, tickets to the show. (This one would’ve been harder if I had a different profession)
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Invited to go bowling.
Have to deny.
Sad.
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Walk into a bar.
Alcohol doesn’t exactly count as food.
Turn on the charm, all good.
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I reach my hand out.
Splash.
Coffee all over my sweater. I swear a bit, then get up to clean up the mess. I’ll just pick up a shirt from the store across the stree—,
I put my jacket on and walk home, change my clothes, and go meet my friends for dinner. One less sweater to carry around.
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In this month, I’ve learned to be extra grateful for the situation I am in. To have a job and lifestyle that allows me the luxury to get away with spending little money. Housing is taken care of, necessary transportation is covered, and most of my meals are eaten at work. I have no spouse, children, or family that requires my financial support.
Frugality has it’s merits, but by taking this to the extreme you risk becoming a miser, a person who hoards wealth, spending as little money as possible. I missed out on a couple social events. A night out that had a cover charge, an afternoon of bowling, an invitation to the movies.
It’s clear to me what IS worth spending money on, at least to me.
- Social events with people I like.
- Things that will improve my quality of life: ex. A split taxi home, instead of walking through the rain on a night that i’m already tired, and cold.
- Yes, and a few dollars here and there for a coffee simply feeds my soul. However technically, ‘unnecessary’ it may be.
Etc.
‘They,’ say that at a certain income, there’s a point of diminishing returns when it comes to happiness. Various sources claim various amounts (CNBC says $161,000, Time (based on researchers at Princeton University) says $75,000). I think it comes down to each individual’s priorities and goals.
At this point in my life, as a 20-year-old who travels and has a lot of freedom, my current income is plenty to keep me happy and fulfilled. But 30-year-old Maika might want a Porsche, an apartment in downtown San Francisco, and a vacation home in Venice. My current income cringes at the idea.
I don’t know what I was hoping to learn with this challenge. If I were to do it again, I would take it one step further and say: no money on anything other than necessary food. That means, no Starbucks, no desserts, and no ‘order the most expensive thing on the menu for fun.’
Regardless, it was a reminder to be thankful for what I have. Cliche, I know.
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What about you? What do you spend money on? What are necessities vs extravagances? Let me know below. Or tweet me @maikaisogawa
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