Dropping a stack on different things: YMOYL principles in action!

[Osprey]

My partner and I recently did two seemingly facepunch-worthy things, except one of them brought much joy and satisfaction, while the other just made me feel a bit sick.

1) Went to an outdoor market type thing for geeky interests. Dropped a stack on tiny dressed up dragons handmade out of modelling clay, one intended to be a gift for a good friend of mine and two that I couldn't help but buy for myself. Felt pretty good supporting the girl for her talent and time, even though I'd just bought "stuff." Felt good paying the entrance fee to walk around in the sun looking at people's hobbies, like cosplay and LARPing.

2) Went to fancy seafood dinner with some friends, at a super consumerist shopping mall. The food was good but nothing special. Felt sick (thankfully not literally) spending so much money, compounded by the fact that everyone around us was very blingy/showy and up to their gills in $$. We could've had the same amount of a good time with a barbecue at our house.

Sometimes when trying to be frugal we can get carried away with numbers and amounts. I guess if I were following YMOYL I'd have +++ next to (1) and many minuses next to (2) at the end of the month. I'm very thankful that we even had the money to spend on such things in the first place.

[Zamboni]

^It feels good about supporting creative people in their art.  I like to drop dollars into street musicians cases or hats, for example.  I enjoy that they are there brightening my day with music.  It probably takes a long time to make those little dragons, and they will always make you smile when you see them.  Now, if you started a collection of dragons and ended up with dozens of them gathering dust, well then you'd drift into problem territory . . .

[hybrid]

Pictures of the dragons please.  How is a geek to respond without being able to see your purchase?  :D

[pachnik]

One day last week I gave the 'last' $2.00 I had in my wallet to a street musician who was playing an old Neil Young song.   I hadn't heard this song in a while and after hearing it, it stayed in my head for a while if you know what I mean.

I say the 'last' $2.00 because in my pre-MMM days, I usually had cash in my wallet AKA "walking around money".  Since MMM I don't need as much cash in my wallet since I am not spending as much or as often.

So in other words, it felt strange and good to give a street busker the 'last' $2.00 I had and not need to rush over to find a bank machine to replenish.

[TrulyStashin]

I forgot about a doctor's appointment and got slammed with a $40 no-show fee.  No, they would not consider waiving it.  If I didn't REALLY like this doctor, I'd leave.

I'd much rather have blown that on models or (part of) a dinner.  Might as well have taken two $20's out of my wallet and lit them on fire.

[travelbug]

It's interesting how, the more mustachian/richer you become, the more your values and priorities in life become more obvious.
That's what I find interesting, I can also spend money in afew ways and only by aligning with my true interests do I feel any real value.
As an ex-busker (years ago when I was younger) I can say thankyou and that we really do appreciate your contributions. Our family also loves to help out artists who make our days brighter.