Spenders and Savers

When it comes to money, there are two types of people. You have spenders, and you have savers.

A spender is someone who spends beyond his or her means. Spenders come in all shapes and sizes and occupy every bracket of income. They are careless with their money and are always in desperation over it. They waste it on things they want or think they need but neglect their true needs like housing or clothing or medical care.

Spenders go into debt to make their lifestyles work. This can be credit card debt or it could be mooching off of friends and family or what have you. They spend all of what they earn and will spend what you earn as well. Naturally, this is all defended with the good intentions of repaying at some later time.

The spender is much like an alcoholic. They are in denial. They even have enablers that help them get by and avoid the consequences of their choices. And they always have the same excuse for their money shortage. They never make enough. When they do make more, they increase their spending more with no real improvement. And the answer is to make MORE MORE MORE.

The things spenders buy vary. Some people go for big ticket items, but I know spenders who live relatively modest lifestyles in terms of housing, clothing, and cars but who waste it on expensive food, vacations, or, in the case of my crazy mother, horses and mules. Ultimately, they have nothing to show for their labor and are mystified as to where it all goes. Put a spender in the presence of a saver, and the spender is amazed at all the stuff the saver has.

A saver is someone who habitually spends less than he or she earns. They end up amassing wealth out of habit. They invest. They pay their bills on time. Their friends like them because they never ask for money. And they live lives of reduced stress. They don't worry about shit because I know that 90% of worry is financial.

I am a saver. I've always had a tendency to be like this, but I learned about money one day when I bounced a check. I was mortified by the experience. I never wanted that to happen to me again, and it never did. I'd like to say I am rich, but I am not. I just spend less than what I earn and have peace of mind.

My biggest weakness on money is other people. I won't spend a damn thing on myself, but I pour it on thick on the ones I love. I shouldn't do this. I give too much and get little in return. My dad is the same way. Soft hearts lead to soft wallets.

I don't believe in going to extremes on money. There are bag ladies who have died with thousands of dollars stuffed in sacks. I believe in thrift but only in the quantitative sense. I want to have good things in my life, and I find I can have more if I spend wisely. Spenders have less even though they spend more.

When it comes to love, money is the number one cause of divorce. This is because it can't work if there is no money. Love is beautiful, but it doesn't pay the bills.

Two spenders cannot be together. A spender and a saver can't be together either because the strain becomes unbearable. Only two savers can make it happen.

A spender can become a saver. The most famous would be Dave Ramsey who went from bankruptcy to being a top financial counselor to the nation through radio, television appearances, and print. He is a born again Christian, but I think his advice is sound.

Becoming a saver is almost like a conversion. One day, you are one way. The next day you change your mind and do something about it. But spenders can resist this for a long time. They can be as difficult as drug addicts or alcoholics. You're not going to change them. The best you can do is love them and not give them money. They will hate you for this, but it is the only way. Parents must do this with their grown children. Sometimes, friendships end. And in my case, you lose a girlfriend who is stellar in every other aspect of her life.

Spenders have to hit rock bottom. They have to suffer a lot before they realize it makes sense to live within their means. Sometimes, they have to go to a financial counselor for help. Or they can do like I do and read books and personal finance blogs.

Money is an emotional thing which is what fundamentally separates spenders and savers. A saver wants the security that comes from not living paycheck-to-paycheck and wants to avoid the embarrassment of bounced checks, turned off utilities, and begging other people for money. The spender wants to enjoy the good life they have grown accustomed to, and money is an annoyance. They love the thrill of spending a buck on something they love and despise spending it on what they need. Things like budgets are a hassle and a waste of time. Enjoy now and pay never.

I have a friend of mine who makes about the same as me. He used to be a spender, but his wife changed him into a saver. He says he will never go back. He loves his life now, and he has his wife to thank for it. He owns his own home, has three vehicles, takes vacations wherever he wants to go, and his wife doesn't work. He is very laidback and easygoing. He has money in the bank. I envy that fucker. But I can have the same things, too. I have fewer expenses than he does.

It is nice to make money, and I want to make more of it. But I find it much easier to always live on less than what I make and save it and invest it. I just wish I had a girlfriend who thought the same way as me.

A saver always recovers after a financial hit. A spender always falls even after a financial boon. Lottery winners who take a lump sum payment spend it all in just three years on average. Some of those people even manage to rack up worse debt after hitting the lottery than they had before winning the lottery.

It is easy to change. Just start reading. Read every book you can on personal finance until you realize they are all the same book. Then, follow the advice. I know it doesn't sound exciting, but I love that shit. I get as much thrill from saving as any spender gets from spending. It is fun.

I am a cheapskate motherfucker, and I am not ashamed of it. People can hate me for it, but I don't owe anybody what I have earned. If they want my money, they need to earn it from me just like I did from someone else. And remember, those same people who call you stingy will drop you like a stone the moment they learn you are broke. So, I tell people I am broke even when I am not. It is amazing to learn who your real friends are. I regularly play this game even going so far as to turn off the power in my place and light candles when they come over. They never stay long. Heh heh. . .

The best way to run off a spender is to ask them for money. I did this to the mooch at work. He asked me for twenty bucks once. I responded by asking him for fifty. He never asks me for money, but I still ask him. He tells me I should learn how to budget. I have to shake my head and laugh. Good advice though.

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