I Really Don’t Suffer From Hyperopia
April 5, 2009 | Filed under Money
I sometimes wonder if I worry too much about money and finances for the future. Through my extended list of contacts in the frugality blog community, I was linked to this article which appeared in the New York Times on the 23rd of March: Oversaving, a burden for our times:
Consumer psychologists call it hyperopia, the medical term for farsightedness and the opposite of myopia, nearsightedness, because it’s the result of people looking too far ahead. They’re so obsessed with preparing for the future that they can’t enjoy the present, and they end up looking back sadly on all their lost opportunities for fun.
…
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” he said. “Obviously you need to be responsible and conserve your savings. But it’s been a depressing winter, and there’s nothing wrong with indulging yourself a little. This is a chance to reassess the quality and the balance of your life and to think how you’ll feel in the future. As long as you can afford it, it’s not a bad thing to be enjoying yourself.”
I imagine most people who visit this blog regularly imagine me to be some sort of savings queen, depriving myself of everything in order to better add to my bank account. The attention I give to money, my finances, and the economy, would certainly give that impression. However, however thrifty I am in day-to-day life, there’s a lot of my life that is very frivolous and money frittering – but I’ll happily forsake thrifitiness under these circumstances because it’s generally something that brings me great pleasure. These include:
- Dining out: I spend a ridiculous amount of money dining out with friends. Just two nights ago, I spent $25AUD dining out for a single meal. However, I justify it as a hobby expense – like most of my friends, I’m a foodie and we delight in trying new restaurants and new cuisines.
- Petrol: If I curtailed trips to see friends by half and just drove to and from the train station to get to work, I’d save a decent amount of money on petrol every week. However, past experiences have taught me that in order to remain sane and happy without withdrawing into a vegetative state, I need to see friends every couple of days at the very least.
- Lazy purchases: I’ve been guilty of being too lazy to do something and paying more for the convenience. Just last week I was with Mr. Monogamy and it got to about 10pm before we realised we needed to eat dinner, so we ordered two home-delivered pizzas from a large chain for $25AUD – a very hefty price considering that you can get large pizzas for $6AUD each from family-run pizza shops. This doesn’t happen very often (maybe once a month), but it does happen.
- Travelling: Every year, I spend a ridiculous amount of money on travelling and new experiences. Last year, I would have easily spent $4000AUD on holidays (to New Zealand, up to Sydney, along the Great Ocean Road), and I’ll have already spent $5000AUD on holidays this year (to England, Paris, and Adelaide). I’ll be spending about the same amount again next year in simply moving to England (e.g. airfares, visas, shipping, settlement costs, etc.) – and that’s not even counting the side trips I intend on taking around the country on weekends when I get there!
- Experiences: I will shell out hundreds of dollars to jump off cliffs and climb through canyons in the pursuit of extreme sports. I’ll pay to go to concerts. I’m even contemplating another trip up to Sydney in July this year, because Jay Chou is having a once-off concert there – a trip that would cost me well in the region of $500AUD (airfares, tickets, eating out, etc.). Would it be worth it? Definitely – my favourite Asian pop stars never tour in Australia, and this would definitely be a once in a lifetime event.
The above doesn’t even take into account the little fripperies I’ll allow myself to indulge in when I’m out and about – or the ridiculous purchases I make, like the blow up boot balloons I bought to put in my boots so that they’ll stand upright. They only cost me $10AUD for four sets, but the real question is: did I need them? Or could my boots have gone on without having boot balloons that keep them upright?
I can only conclude that while I save a lot, and do deny myself a lot of the fripperies that others seem to indulge in (I don’t buy movies and books, or knick-knacky type items, or digital products), I’m not so intensely hyperopic that I live entirely for the future rather than the present. I can be ridiculously frivolous with my money (especially so when I’m travelling, when I’ll happily buy numerous rounds of drinks) in the pursuit of immediate gratification. Apologies to those who thought I was some sort of a savings queen!
9 Responses to I Really Don’t Suffer From Hyperopia
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I think there is a big difference between saving a bit each month as well as saving up to buy something in particular, as opposed to compulsive saving with no reason beyond that you might need it “in the future”.
I like eating out as well. It surprised me that this year I cared more about having a nice meal with friends for my birthday than getting presents. After all you enjoy the social atmosphere as well, not just the food!
Robert on April 5, 2009 #
There is nothing wrong with saving money for the future, unless you take it to an extreme and don’t enjoy the present anymore.
I never saw you as someone who saves so much money for the future that she can’t enjoy the present. Actually I always saw you (and still see you ;) ) as someone who enjoys life, the present and seems to have a lot of fun, but also has a responsible side and looks to the future and plans ahead with certain things.
I really enjoy the present and can indulge myself in fun things and spend money on things I don’t really need, or at least it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I didn’t get it. Which technically goes for everything apart from the basics such as food. But I also save to prepare for the future or a rainy day or whatever.
Responsibility doesn’t equal hyperopia…
Chans on April 6, 2009 #
As much as you talk about your financial plans, you never once struck me as the “OMG I MUSN’T SPEND ONE CENT!!111″ type of person. Just the opposite — I admire you because you manage your money and your pursuits so well. You’re responsible and highly motivated, and that makes you awesome. :)
Robmarie on April 6, 2009 #
Well, I always noticed that you set aside some money for “fun” every time you plan out your finances… Your still a Savings Queen in your own way, though!
Kaylee on April 6, 2009 #
I never thought you were hyperopic… I just thought you were smart. The way you save is the same way I would.
Stephanie on April 6, 2009 #
Hmm, that sounds an awful lot like Karl. He saves and saves, although he doesn’t know what he’s saving for, and yet constantly worries about the future. Every purchase has to go through a rigorous mental test – do I need this, could I live without this, etc. I love his sane and sensible outlook, and he has influenced me in many ways, but I think he should take a leaf out of your book.
Jem on April 6, 2009 #
Well, I still respect your saving abilities. Mine are non-existant and I blow all the money I get in a few days. It’s mostly because I don’t get much of a schoolarship anyway, but I could still save a small part of it. I don’t, though. I always spend my last euro on clothes or books or cinema tickets in the first week, then I just go without those things for the next three weeks of the month, and I know it’s not the most reasonable thing to do, but it works somehow. :)
Zala on April 7, 2009 #
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