I have been thinking lately, how everyone seems to have a 'vice' (a bad habit). Well, typically people have MANY vices, but I am focusing on the financial side of it (of course).
What is the number one thing that weakens you when it comes to spending money?
For me, it would probably be between clothes, magazines and coffees with friends. The magazines, I know I could live without easily, as I have done it before. Clothes, I can also do without buying for very long stretches (as I have so many 
).
But coffees with friends...? What's $3 here and there?
Considering sometimes my 'FUN' money is spent entirely on coffees, cakes, sharing a plate of dips, and lunches... I can safely tell you that this vice of mine adds up!
But is it as bad as other vices that people have?
Gambling? Drugs? Drinking? Sure, I do all those too, but it is never a priority of mine, and it's not something I think of every day. Or even every week.
DF's number 1 would have to be alcohol. It *IS* a priority of his. It is something he makes room for out of his fun money. And I guess, in a way, it can be compared with my coffees with friends. I relax with my friends - he relaxes with his beer (with friends or without).
Another question I have is: what's your personal opinion on 'vices'? should they be worked at? should they be stopped? or should we stop looking at these things as 'vices' and start looking at them as a part of life? why do we put guilt on ourselves over enjoying things like this? if they don't hurt other people or affect other people's wellbeing, is there a problem? but then where do the lines blur? when does it become too much? should we be identifying who has restraint and who doesn't?
what's your vice?
May 11th, 2009 at 07:17 am
May 11th, 2009 at 08:53 am 1242032030
Maybe, just guessing, maybe hundreds of years ago, the Church noticed that gambling, over-drinking, spending profusely were harmful to families so the church began to make a big moral deal out of them - in so far as they could prevent you from getting into heaven. Hmmm just a guess.
Anyways, I'm more of a humanist these days. The word vice, or my vices, don't fill me with guilt. What people choose to do with their own money is their own business. Simple as.
However, if a particular habit is harming a person's quality of life or that of their family, then they should look at reducing/eliminating it....
I think we can all recognise alcoholics, homeless gamblers but there is a whole grey area where someone's vice isn't yet doing them a lot of harm... yet it may be affecting their future finances...
Like if you added up all the money you ever spent on coffees out, it would be quite a sum right ?
I think we all NEED some little vice... a kind of guilty pleasure... it's part of being human.
Interesting post tho... I'll finish by paraprasing Aristotle - everything in moderation.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:42 pm 1242045776
BBs is video games. He doesnt buy them like crazy- maybe a game a month. But he plays every chance he gets. But once again. I'm ok with that. Its not excessive. We have our vices in a manageable situation.
May 11th, 2009 at 01:05 pm 1242047149
May 11th, 2009 at 04:26 pm 1242059203
As is, I spend money on many wants when, if I were really tough on myself, I could probably get out of debt a couple years earlier by cutting back on everything. But when the difference in years is like between 15 and 17 years to debt-free, allowing myself to spend seems like a surer path to success than trying to deny all pleasures.
I would love it if more things I loved were free. I try to exploit those freebies (and cheaper options) as much as possible--hanging out with friends in homes vs. bars, watching movies on Netflix vs. paying for three adult tickets in a theater, putting tons of effort into home cooking so restaurant food won't be as tempting. But if there's something that makes my life measurably more pleasurable that I can't achieve for free or cheap (ie, travel and pampering during vacations), I will spend money on it.
Do I consider it a vice? Sometimes I do feel guilty for not cutting back more. Other times I think, as long as I'm living within my means, paying down debt and putting some money aside, I should be proud of myself.
May 11th, 2009 at 05:26 pm 1242062782
I think balance, in everything, is important in our lives. Meaning, I think it's just as bad to never splurge on anything as it is to splurge too much. We always kind of aim for the middle. & it really applies to just about everything.
That being said, my vice, is definitely food. It's the one area of my life I do have trouble keeping balance. Spending less than I make couldn't be any easier, but consuming less calories than I need? I do struggle with that. Food was the one vice my parents always had. I just feel lucky my spouse has a very healthy relationship with food and the kids have taken after him, so far. Literally the only reason I can pull off "thin" is I have someone else to do the grocery shopping (most important) and the cooking. & I really like to be active. Literally, I am banned from the grocery store.
May 11th, 2009 at 07:42 pm 1242070977
May 11th, 2009 at 11:02 pm 1242082931
May 12th, 2009 at 01:19 am 1242091153
May 12th, 2009 at 04:46 pm 1242146777
I like anything fun - going out, travelling, drinking, good food, nice clothing.
I have a line in the sand - no debt, but other than that, I am pretty undisciplined. It is hard to say how much you "need" to save, so it is easy to justify something I want with "oh, at least I have no debt, which is better than a lot of people" and so I give in and buy it.
I have to change that line of thinking. I do save for stuff I want, such as vacations, but if there is no prize at the end of the finish line, I find it hard to be motivated.
May 13th, 2009 at 02:17 am 1242181064
2. Handbags and more specifically, designer handbags. I've never really cared for shoes or expensive jewelry or clothes, but I looove purses! I would rather buy a few designer handbags that I know will last than many, many cheap no- name bags that will fall apart on my in no time. I do control my spending on bags- to me, a $1000 bag will never be worth the same as a good book.
May 14th, 2009 at 04:43 am 1242276187