I've dreaded writing this post all day. Last night I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday and fell off the wagon, so to speak. I bought him, his girlfriend, myself, and another friend a round of shots, plus a couple of cocktails for myself. Exactly the type of purchase I set out to avoid this month. I'm disappointed in myself for caving so quickly, but I'm inclined to treat it as a lesson learned, re-shoulder the load, and trudge on.
So where is the lesson here? Well, for me, I'm compelled to be generous with my money in that setting. For many years as a bartender I enjoyed a liberal control of the libations at my disposal and often put that to good use for those in the bar celebrating a birthday. It's a small gesture that I find is often greatly appreciated. Unfortunately I'm no longer playing with the house's money, so a round of shots in a downtown bar carries a heftier price than it once did. Would the night have been any less fun for my friend and I had I not ponied up the cash for that round? Probably not, but it did afford us a few minutes away from the rest of the crowd and a chance to get a quick respite from the whirling dervish that is a birthday party in a crowded bar. I would say there's some additional value there than just what the drinks alone provided...or maybe I'm just trying to justify the irresponsibility of it.
I don't think an act of generosity or kindness should be avoided in times of financial duress, but like anything else I've filtered through this lens of financial responsibility, a little creativity and some careful planning go a long way to keeping expenses at a minimum. I was on the fence about going to the party in the first place and decided last minute to go. I hadn't really prepared myself to avoid the trap of spending money unnecessarily. If there's a lesson in it for me, it may very well be to take a minute before leaving the house and center my thoughts on goals loftier than what one night on the town can offer. Myopia strikes when I least expect it sometimes.
Where gifts are concerned I think it really is the thought that counts. I'm not particularly crafty or artistic, but I'm certain I could have come up with somthing for the same cost (or less!) as those shots that would have been more meaningful and more permanent and done more to cement our friendship than knocking back a couple of Purple Hooters did.
I woke up this morning and recommitted myself to the task at hand. I did not spend any money today, so I guess now I'm back on the wagon, no disrespect meant to those who use that term for something far more serious. I did briefly consider hitting up the McDonald's drive-through for a greasy hangover breakfast. Instead, I turned around, went back inside, and made myself a damn fine bacon and egg breakfast sandwich with ingredients I already had in the kitchen.
I'm certain this isn't the last time I'll be faced with this dilemma. The summer party season is upon us. I think I'll go back to being the designated driver and also hit up the flea market for that perfect, better than Hallmark, quirky, re-furbished ceramic chicken for the birthday boy's kitchen counter.
No comments:
Post a Comment