Saving and Spending

When I first began teaching at Copper Hills High, there weren't enough French classes for a full schedule, so I got to teach Financial Literacy. This was an exciting class, let me tell you. I certainly did a lot of research every night. One day, a kid raised his hand and asked, "Could you please explain to me the difference between a Roth IRA and a 401K?" I smiled awkwardly and said, "We won't be covering that until tomorrow." That night, I spent the evening vigorously researching investment options and calling my friends who were into that kind of stuff. Whew! I learned a lot! Well, one of the most memorable lessons I taught those Financial Literacy students was the Bathtub Analogy. This is so simple: you spend less than you make. You always want water to be at the bottom of that bathtub. We cannot all have every one of our hopes and dreams. We have to prioritize.

Each of us makes choices day-to-day on how to spend our precious, hard earned cash. Here are some things that I happily spend money on:

1-Traveling. A Vacation=A Memory. Memories are priceless. I think that trips are definitely worth saving for. There is nothing more exciting than boarding a plane and flying off into the sunset. Usually, I don't even care where I'm going. I just like to take off on an adventure. My mom always told me growing up that if I ever got depressed or needed therapy to let her know and she would plan a vacation for us. Thanks to her, vacations have become my therapy.

2-New Clothes. I think it is thrilling to get a new outfit, at least once a season. Nothing is more exciting than walking out of a store with a bright new pair of shoes or an adorable summer dress. This definitely adds some color to the humdrum of life.

3-I am getting pickier and pickier about restaurants. However, there are a few restaurants that I can't get enough of and Cafe Rio is one of them. Seriously, if I am having a bad day, Cafe Rio makes it better. If I am having a good day, Cafe Rio is a great place to celebrate! And with the Rewards Card, it makes me feel like I need to keep buying meals so that I can work towards a free one!

4-Planning parties with friends or family. Seriously, there are so many themed parties to do and so many people to invite. Just last night, my friend put on a P Party! We all got to choose a P name (I was Penny), we ate Pasta Parchment dinners and played Pictionary. The Pina Coladas made a perfect spring drink! Before I decided to be a teacher, I used to say that I wanted to be a party planner. Wouldn't that be fun?






Now there are some things that I don't spend my money on. These include:

1-Books. Now don't get me wrong, I love to read. But hello--the Salt Lake Public Library system is amazing! You can put books and DVDs on hold and they are delivered right to the library near your home. It is all free and I can return them when I am done. This also makes moving a lot easier because books can be heavy! What would we do without libraries?

2-New cell phones. I kept my RAZR phone until it completely broke. They keep trying to upgrade me, but I am fine with a simple phone and a small texting plan. I know that I will probably have to jump on board with the cool Smart Phones/IPhones one day, but I am saving my pennies until then.

3-I have never owned an ipod/mp3 player in my life. Looking at this picture, though, makes me think I should eventually get one. I do have itunes on my computer and I do like music...hmmm...this one could possibly change. After all, bringing only a stack of library books on my plane rides does have a tendency to weigh me down.

4-New cars. My little Mazda just hit 90,000 miles. Ouch. The Mazda dealer also informed me that it needs new spark plugs, break fluid, rock chip repairs and...something else technical sounding. It does get me around, though, and I appreciate it.



Well, it is interesting to see what we all like to spend our money on and what we can do without. What are your priorities when it comes to spending?