Ever since I started working, regardless of what bonus or raise I got, I never really thought much of the additional dollars I was getting directly deposited into my bank account. Our society kind of brainwashes you into thinking that whenever you get a bonus or a raise or pay bump of any kind that you should reward yourself! Treat yo’self! Indulge more! You deserve it! Up until around 2012 to 2013, I barely bought clothes because I enjoyed the process of trying on new clothes or buying new things. Clothes were just for utility. Getting my nails done? Eh, what a waste of money! “Treating” myself hasn’t really been something I’ve thought that much about…. well, outside of traveling and eating.

So at dinner tonight, my friend who was in town from San Francisco for a wedding told me that she got some monetary prize at work, and everyone was asking her what she would spend the extra money on. “I don’t know,” she responded. “Whatever I need to purchase next.” No one really got her, and they were flabbergasted that she was being so practical about it all, that she wasn’t planning to buy herself a special new designer purse or some extravagant piece of jewelry or coat with the extra dollars.

Well, I get her. That’s exactly the way I operate. I got a raise or a bonus? Great. What’s next to buy or do that’s on my list?

Credit card companies hate people like the two of us. We pay our credit cards in full and never over spend, which means we never rack up interest payments. Take that, credit card companies.