Examples.. the girls at work made fun of me that I don’t go out to lunch with them (mind you they go up to 3 times a week or more now). One girl told me to my face that that they don’t invite me to lunch anymore because I will most likely say no because I don’t have the money.. its all good.. ill brown bag it. Its healthier for me anyway
Next example happened yesterday. While walking with a buddy of mine we were met up with another friend who I haven’t seen In a while. It was nice to catch up with her and see her again. Half way through the walk we got onto the topic of lines of credits.. my friend was thinking of getting a line of credit to help her pay her bills. The two of them got talking and I just kept walking while listening to their reasons for why they have so much debt. Then the topic of overdraft came up. One said she has overdraft protection of $500.00. The other said overdraft protection of $200.00 and both agreed that that protection came in so handy when bills needed to be paid and why having overdraft is the best.. when they asked me how much my overdraft protection was, I said “I don’t have overdraft protection” Both looked at me with this weird look before asking me what happens when I go into overdraft. My response was “I
don’t”. Both their mouth dropped open and I don’t think they could believe that I don’t ever and have never gone into overdraft. I know what is in my bank at all times and never spend more than that.
The my walking buddy said “well that’s because you don’t go out and drink or have fun or anything like that”.. now at this point I could have go offended by that comment but didn’t.
I knew she wasn’t trying to be mean about it. I know she goes out to dinner 4-5 times a week with her friend and goes clubbing every weekend.. I just calmly said “yes I would like to go out every night and drink beer on the patio after work, I would love to go out every weekend and party and yes I would love to spend money on brand new clothes every season but I don’t.. I have different priorities right now, like travel and becoming debt free”
I think they both were shocked that don’t have any need for overdraft and that I don’t care to spend my money on something’s that.. essentially.. is going to end up in the toilet.. I did advise that I am saving my money for 3 major trips that my and the BF re planning over the next year
and a half.. to which both of them replied “I wish I could travel”
I guess the point I am making is that I am fine with not “keeping up with the jones”.. I would love to go out every night and party with my friend, have dinner out every night and get new clothes every season but I choose not to because I want to travel. I do know that if I put all that money I am saving for traveling towards debt I would be debt free by the end of the year.
But I have my plan to do both. Travel to the places that I want to and be debt free by the end of next year..
I will have the last laugh of course when I am sitting on a plane heading to my travel destination.. and I am totally cool with that..