I've had a natural aversion to excess all my life. I was brought up very simply and to be content with what we had. We'd eat simple meat and two veg meals, holiday close to home (camping etc), make our own entertainment (playing board games, reading, etc). Technology was a TV with 4 channels.
Nowadays everything seems excessive to me, especially in my generation (I'm approaching 30), and I feel out of place because I'm happy as I was. Everything has to be instagrammable, we're supposed to try new restaurants/bars, travel to far flung places to tick them off some proverbial list, always be in fashion, have the latest gadgets, etc.
It causes tension in my relationship because my SO is very much a fan of new/exciting things (usually that cost money), and I'm just happy as I am. Whatever the new/exciting thing is, I just don't really feel like I need it. But I never know if frugality is a positive attitude that's helping me plan for a better future, or a negative attitude that's making me pass by opportunities in my present.
What about you? I guess I'm curious to hear how other people find the balance?
May 19, 2018 at 10:57AM
