Should you really shy away from a big night or take financial hit for a good time? Most savvy spenders will say “you can have a great time and still be on a budget.” While this is true, I still think that splurging once in a while for a good night is definitely worth it. For New Years, I attended an all-inclusive party which had a pretty nice price tag before you were allowed in the hotel. The tickets were on pre-sale for $170.00 before December 15th and $205 after the 16th. Fortunately, I searched on Craigslist and found a ticket for $140. It never hurts to make sure you are getting the best price possible. But this was just one of many purchases I would make that day.
Because I traveled back up to Atlanta for the holidays, I didn’t have access to nice clothing. I had to purchase some black shoes, and pants for the party so I didn’t look like a scrub. I was also in a time crunch so I had to purchase the “nice” clothing at Wal-Mart. Yes, Wal-Mart. I was pleasantly surprised that they had some nice clothing for under fifty bucks. Now my price tag is almost two hundred dollars for one night of fun and I haven’t even showered yet. Was it worth all the hassle and money? Of course it was. I realize that I won’t be doing this every night, so I decided that it was a great opportunity and I shouldn’t be worried about the price tag.
A lot of people get so consumed with money that they forget that having fun sometimes comes at a price. Money doesn’t always buy happiness, but it sure does help. I could’ve found a house party which doesn’t really cost much at all, but I’ve done that so much in the past. This year I am trying out new things that I’ve never experienced before and I have to say that it’s going really well. This lifestyle is a little more lavish than my life in 2007, but it is fun and interesting. I am not going to jump in a mound of debt because of the new lifestyle, but I realize that I won’t be saving as much as I used to. Sometimes you got to take one for the team though. I have all my life to save and make money, but I am only young once.
My New Years resolution isn’t saving money, increasing my income, or trying to pay down some of my debts. It is on the other hand, trying to have as much fun and excitement within my means. I know my views on life and finances are changing a lot right now, but my life changed a lot in the last quarter of 2007. Maybe later on this year I will be able to have as much fun as possible and save money (which would be totally awesome). Remember that life comes at you fast and if you don’t try to make the best out of every moment, you might miss out on something huge. Have a great New Year and let’s make 2008 even better than last year.
