It’s my birthday!!! I’m just a tad excited. I took the day off, and I plan on doing fun, relaxing things. I also plan on spending some money, but on things I value, which makes it worth it.
As a side note, I fell off of my regular posting schedule with travel the past couple weeks. I’m hoping to get back to it now, but no guarantees.
Things versus Experiences
I’m a huge fan of thoughtful gifts, and I love gift-giving just as much. But this year, when I’m trying to redefine my career and move relatively soon, I don’t particularly need more stuff. Then, I found out that I was going to be able to go to the Cents Positive Retreat. What? A bunch of awesome women talking about money and wearing onesies? Sign me up!!
That meant that I need to find a way to get to Denver though, so I used airline miles for my flight there, and my mom offered to make my return flight my birthday present. This is perfect because it isn’t money I would have necessarily spent on myself (I would have picked a much less convenient and cheaper ticket), and I get to have this awesome experience, and I don’t have more stuff cluttering my apartment. It’s already bad enough with premature stacks of moving boxes everywhere…
My biggest expense for the retreat so far was buying a onesie. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t already own one, and I have no regrets about that purchase. It has stars on it, which felt appropriate.
Celebrating with Friends
Tonight, I’m getting dinner and dessert with my aunt before going to see Cait Flanders speak at a local library. This was also a perfect coincidence because I really connected with her book The Year of Less and can’t wait to meet her in person!
Over the course of this weekend, I’ll be drinking with friends, wandering around DC with another friend, and going to a super cool whiskey bar that has been on my DC bucket list for some time.
Buying Myself Time
Ok, I’m not directly spending money on this, but I am using some of my annual leave to take the day off. I love slowing down and taking a minute for myself on my birthday. I love being able to answer the phone when family members call, and I love sleeping in and treating myself to breakfast at my favorite bakery (ok, that part costs money).
What I don’t love? Having to work on my birthday. I’m running a little low on my annual leave allocation because of time off for job interviews and pet crises, but this still felt like a good way to spend some of the remaining time. I’m going to read a book, and catch up on Hulu, and if I’m feeling really wild, maybe even write some future blog posts. Jk, I’ll totally leave those till the last minute despite having a little spare time today…
All the Free Things
Last year right before my birthday, I signed up for every possible offer that gives you free things. Sephora, Bruegger’s Bagels, Peet’s, Starbucks, a local diner, etc. It was fun to redeem the offers, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or a free bagel).
The cost was selling my email address, in this case. All these companies then started cluttering my inbox (or my promotions tab), which got annoying fast, especially since I was trying to cut down on spending and didn’t need the temptation. So I unsubscribed from them all months ago.
I won’t get a free makeup palette today, but that’s alright. I am still signed up for Starbucks and Peet’s (because coffee is life), and I’m looking forward to getting a free Caramel Macchiato later today. Venti, with an extra shot, and extra syrup, because the only time I go all out is when the drink is free…
Frugality and celebrating both come in a balance. I’m spending money today and this month on things that matter to me, while cutting out things that don’t bring value to my life. I know that the things I prioritize don’t match anyone else’s list, and that’s ok.
I’ve had someone I know comment that “adults still have to work on their birthday” when I told her I was taking the day off last year, but I know what makes me happy, and I AM an adult, so I can damn well do what I want. My general reply when people imply that I’m not conforming to some absurd expectation of general stereotypical responsibility or success is:
You do you, and I’ll do the same. And hopefully we’ll all get somewhere better in our lives. But at our own pace, and in our own way.
That being said, if you have any other awesome suggestions for how I should celebrate my birthday today or this month, let me know!
