Wasting Money is a Good Idea

There’s a reason that I wear the same pair of beat up blue keds with socks (you’re totally not supposed to wear socks with them) everyday. There’s a reason I don’t own a more vast collection of fashionable scarves (though I totally wish I did). And there’s a reason I don’t have any jewelry (besides the fact that I’d lose it all).
I have a philosophy for money management. And I don’t mean a real-life responsible one. I’m not going to tell you to save your pennies and build good credit so that you can get a car loan and pay off your student debt (though you should probably do those things). My philosophy for my work-study wages is this:

Spend your money on things you can do. Things you can experience and remember and write about later. As Hannah has advised you, don’t hesitate to buy those 26 dollar concert tickets. They’re absolutely worth it. The opportunity to get off campus for night and walk through a city to see the people who live on your iPod singing that song you love is worth every penny. Hell, the time spent jamming in the car with your roommate on the way there is worth it in itself.

Let me set the scene. It’s last Friday, and you’re on a 30-mile stretch on 95 south and The Mowgli’s are serenading you through the radio the whole way there. You get lost in Boston trying to take the right exit off of Storrow Drive (note: this feat is completely elusive and you’ve never once taken the right exit off this fucking deathtrap of a road but that’s okay, there’s good music playing and better people sitting next to you). A few wrong turns and some vague Google Maps directions later, and you’re walking on Comm Ave under streetlights that feel like Christmas lights towards some great music. You squeeze in late and thank God that you’ve got that one friend who’s not afraid to squeeze her way to the front, because you’ve got a great spot. Some couple won’t stop whispering dramatically to each other long enough to watch the openers, but by now you’re too excited to notice. The openers thank you profusely and leave. They were good, but you’re ready for the reason you came. The lights above you dim and a group of eight heavily bearded men shuffle onstage. Their respective guitars start the chords of one of your favorite songs, the first song! You turn to your roommate and mouth it’s Slowly Slowly! over the music and screaming. She laughs and both sing the first line. The rest of the night only gets better.

To me, that’s totally worth $26.50. And if I have a few less pairs of cute shoes because I wasted my money on various shows and books, then I won’t let myself complain. Because last Friday was pretty awesome. And all I have to show from it is some magic marker X’s on my hands, an album on my iPod, a signed Harry Potter coozie, and some wonderful memories.

I am now the proud owner of a Harry Potter coozie signed by none other than Colin Something, lead singer of the Mowgli’s.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLSBU6PoXNw&w=560&h=315]