$pent Millennial

In a world of Instagram filters and TikTok trends, it is easy to feel like everyone is having more fun (with more money) than you. I hate this. While I am not one to feel the typical jealousy of social media or the dreaded “Fear of Missing Out” ( I actually always joked about my own Joy of Missing Out- which I hear is now also a trend…), I have fallen into traps of comparison. I would thinking things like: 

“How can everyone afford all of this while I am crossing my fingers to not get declined on a $2 frozen meal?!?”

“They have parents/ family to float their lifestyle- must be nice.” 

Or my favorite: 

“It’s so unfair how much more they make from their soul-less, capitalism-worshipping corporate career than I do teaching children and doing good! This world sucks!” 

I could compare myself all I wanted, thinking things like: 

“Sure I stop for my daily coffee to get through the work day, but it’s not like I am going out to fancy brunch every weekend. How extravagant!” 

“I spent $15 on mugs. You spent $1,500 on a vacation. We are not the same.” 

I know. I sound judgy. I was. (Sometimes I still am…🫠) 

Yet, none of my comparing or rationalizing changed the fact that I was overspending, living above my means, and I wasn’t even happy. Once I woke up to this, I began crawling out of it. It was life-changing.

As I got myself stabilized (financially, emotionally, spiritually), I began to feel lighter, happier and more at peace in my own self and my own life. But something was nagging at me. I kept thinking how I must not have beeen the only one feeling the way I had felt. In fact, from talking to friends and family members, I knew I wasn’t.

I wanted to  to share my personal experiences to let people know that it isn’t them, they are not alone. And, I wanted to share my journey of finding how I could live more while spending less to encourage people that they don’t need to wait until they make six figures or buy a home to begin living.

In fact, I think if you are waiting to reach some imaginary platform to celebrate and enjoy life, you’ll be waiting a long time. The bar will likely keep moving, and you might find you will never make it.

For me, the imaginary bar had been $40,000. I thought landing a salary of a modest $40,000 a year would be it. I would have enough to cover everything I needed, pay off debts and save for the future. It would be a decent, grown-up income. Then, I got it. I made it.! I hit that goal, and then inflation skyrocketed cost of living. Man plans…  

So, after a bit of crying, some screaming and cursing how it was SO unfair… I decided to make the most of what I have, to steward the resources I am given, and to find meaning, joy and peace in the simple life they provide. Now, I can honestly say that I am spending less and living more. In doing so, I am happier than I have ever been.

I’m happy to share this journey with anyone who wants to share in it with me. The following story is just one small example of how I have been putting it into practice. 

This past week my boyfriend and I used our modest $40 treat budget for two dates. 

Each month we allocate $40 for treats. Typically, some of the money is used for a coffee date on a walk downtown or exploring a new cafe in a small nearby town. We often drop the majority of the budget on a take-in pizza night when groceries, time, patience and/ or energy are low. 

This past month we skipped the pizza. As the last weekend of the month rolled around, we still had a decent amount of food in the fridge and a few dollars in the grocery budget to get us through. Feeling a little squirrely with the unseasonabley nice weather, I suggested we opt for a smoothie date instead of the typical pizza in, so we did. We went to Smoothie King- an old favorite that is now a much less frequent treat- and picked a nearby hiking spot. We brushed away our Sunday Scaries with a beautiful hike in nature while sipping on delicious, sugar-filled smoothies. 

I had been unaware of how much exactly was left in the treat budget, and had been content with the idea that this would be our treat for the month, but it turned out we still had $19 left after the smoothies- and free hike. My boyfriend, Jesse, mentioned we could probably still do a pizza. I told him we didn’t need to do pizza, and that I would think of something – or we could roll it over for the next moth or add it to Savings for the month. I had an idea, but I wanted to surprise him. 

On Thursday (Feb. 29th – happy Leap Day!) before work I let Jesse know I was going to pick something up using the treat budget. 

Jesse loves sushi, but we don’t eat it much because it doesn’t fit into our grocery budget, and we typically do other things (as previously mentioned) with our treat budget. I wanted to surprise him, so I picked up a few things of sushi from the grocery store – very trustworthy, don’t worry. I made some fried rice to eat with the sushi. When he got home, he was surprised with dinner. We cozied up and ate it while watching 90 Day Fiance (Hey, I need someone to judge now that I am happy and not jealously cursing ppl on social media for their privilege, lucrative careers and fancy lifestyles. 🙃). We even had leftovers! 

So, there it is. Two relatively affordable dates on $40. Sushi over 90 Day Fiance might not be your idea of an ideal date. It doesn’t have to be. The point is that there are small, inexpensive ways to bring your joys (and your partner’s joys) to life in the pursuit of spending less while living more. Below is a list of other free/ cheap date ideas. They can be dates with a partner, a friend, a sibling or by yourself. 

Free/Cheap Dates: 

• Hikes 
• Walks 
• Coffee Out 
• Smoothies Out 
• Picnic in the Park 
• Movie Date In 
• DIY Spa Day 
• Cook Off Challenge
• Board Game Night 
• Bike Ride 

Share how you live more while spending less and comment your own date ideas to add to the list!