I can remember my parents paying less than two dollars for a gallon of gas. I remember when the stock market crisis was history, not news. I remember getting paid $20 to cut my neighbors grass and being financially stable for the next week.
Those days are long gone. It might be that the economic situation of our country is crumpling on top of poor loan policies and predator lending. Or it might be that I'm growing up and getting old and $20 doesn't get you as far when you're 22 as opposed to 12. It is most likely a combination of both, but whatever the reason, I don't like it.
I like earning money, and I hate spending it. I've been walking around in sandals with small holes in the souls for a little over two months now with no end in sight. Why? I don't want to buy new ones. The current pair fit so well and are extremely comfortable (unless the business end of a sharp object finds it way through the holes) that I don't want to get rid of them. And the fact that I don't want to spend money might have something to do with it.
If my parents see that, they'll get mad, maybe even embarrassed. They love watching me spend money. Last summer when I had to replace my ipod, my entire family came with me to laugh as I handed over my bank card to the cashier. They literally enjoy watching me spend money. My dad constantly reminds me that spending my money will help the economy and my mom has repeatedly asked me if I eat enough, because, as she says, "You're too cheap to buy food."
Bottom line: I'm cheap.
Which brings me to my next point, kids: Don't do drugs.
But seriously, not everything worth doing these days cost a lot of money. Even in this time of economic crisis anyone can put a little effort forth to have a cheap and entertaining night.
As far as I'm concerned there are not nearly enough Dollar Movie Theaters in this world. I have only ever been to one. It's in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is literally a dollar to view a movie (no tax). I watched two films, and ate at Subway in between and still spent less on the whole night than I would have on one normal movie theater. 2 movies + $5 footlong = $7. 1 movie at a normal theater = $10.
Don't get hung up on the math (I didn't). What matters here is that Dollar Movie Theaters are God's gift to man. I saw Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express and had a fantastically priced ham sub for dinner for 7 dollars. You simply cannot beat that.
With a little effort any night can be a great night, even a cheap one.
You can't be afraid to spend your money in our current economy, but you can be afraid to spend too much of it.
