Spending Attitude

Spending Attitude

This incidence happened some 4-5 yrs ago, when I was doing my first years of Masters. This was the time when cell phones were about to enter into our everyday life. We had 40 students in the class and out of which only 2 students had cell phones and out of 4 professors only 1 had the cell phone. Cell phones were considered as a symbol of pride at that time and people loved to show their cell phones.

One of my friends, Soni use to get very irritated with others’ cell phones and the ring tones as the phone owners had the habit of listening to the ring tones continuously one after another. She would always say, “They only want to show off their cell phones, what urgent and important work they have to do, for which they need the cell phone.” I also agreed to her to a point that cell phone should not be allowed in the classroom or at least it needs to be switched off or put on silent mode, as it disturb others.

I have a habit of reading books and I like to have the real good books in my library. One day I had brought two books, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey and ‘You can Win’ by Shiv Khera, the cost of the two books was around Rs. 500 to 600. I talked about the books with Soni, how wonderful the books are and it would help me grow as a person and as a counselor, to which she very excitedly said, “Oh, I have heard about these books and they are really wonderful books to have, but are very costly, I cannot buy it. If you don’t mind can I have the books to read, I will return as soon as I finish reading the books.” I gave her the books to read.

After three weeks or so she returned the books saying, “Wow! Wonderful books. I have a request can you give them to me again when I need them for reference?” and I agreed to lend the books to her when she requires. She added further, “you know what I have brought something and I want to show you that.” She took out something from her bag and I was shocked to see that it was a cell phone worth Rs. 6000 to 7000. I thought some three weeks back she said that she couldn’t afford the books worth Rs. 500-600, which she may require for her reference, but now she can afford a cell phone worth Rs. 6000-7000 and earlier she never liked the idea of having a cell phone in college. I very curiously asked her, “You found 6000-7000 Rs. cell phone essential to have than the books worth Rs. 500-600 which you plan to borrow from me.” To which she gave a very strange answer, she said, “I wanted to show these two that even I could afford a cell phone.”

I had no reply for that answer. I thought that’s her view. But I never thought that her views would turn out expensive for me where I had to lend her my books when she wanted to use them for reference and for her cell phone, well I always had to call her back after her missed calls.

Now after 5 years I am still using those books for my reference and she had changed 4 cell phone models to show others she can afford to have a new cell phone with more functions in it.

It’s not just about Soni and her cell phone but if you look around you will find many such people who are continuously wasting their money buying things to impress others or to show others what they can afford, and they never get satisfied with what they have.

“The average American is busy buying things he doesn’t want with the money he doesn’t have to impress people he doesn’t like.” O.Donald Olson

It’s not just about the money but I believe it reflects the attitude too. Your spending behavior can be a window to your attitude. Just check!