In advance, I was not sure where to post this; OffMyChest, NoStupidQuestions or here. Decided to do it here because it is mainly a question. However, I thought it do be better explaining it a little as well.

When I was younger, I could not really get the luxuries I wanted. Just like many others, my parents did not have heaps of wealth to spend. I did not have it bad, got a roof above my head, education, food and such. Parents would spend on luxuries if they could. My siblings usually bought the more expensive things (Atari, Nintendo, PS1 and PS2 etc). My parents did purchase PS4 and a decent gaming pc for me back in the day. One time my father told me ‘’if you just show that you are seriously studying and if money allows, I will get you anything in luxury. However, money is the boss’’ (money is the boss as in, only if we got enough money to spent for it and not get into financial issues).

Because of that I have learnt to live kind of frugal in terms of money (for myself). I find it hard to spend money on expensive things. It took months to purchase a great gaming PC and a Steam Deck (loving the heck of it though). However, spending money on my parents (mostly my mother) is no issue. I do it without a thinking, as long as I know it makes them happy.

Now, I always wanted a MacBook since I was a teenager. I can afford to get one, I saved up for it and will not have any financial issues. I budget ever since getting my job, everything is already set (saving up for car stuff, emergency funds for both myself and parents, pension saving and even saved up for new glasses for whenever that’s needed). Yet with all of that, I still feel not comfortable paying a lot for something that’s ‘’not necessary’’ and that’s just a ‘’luxury product’’. I feel like the money, I would spent for the MacBook could better be saved towards either emergency funds or car stuff (car theory exam, the car itself etc).

Now, I’m curious if other people deal (or have dealt) with this and what is this called? How to be more at ease with spending for fun instead of always being on edge.

Note: I checked the rules and it said this is not a support community but that seemed more related to tech-stuff. If it was also meant for this kind of question. Apologies, I will ask in another community.

  • InfiniteGlitch@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
    2·
    13 hours ago

    First, it is better for you that your natural instinct as you’ve gotten wealthier is to still maintain your cheap habits. It is better for your finances to spend under your means than over them.

    This is so true, especially in today’s era where everything gets more and more expensive.

    Your time has value now, so you should consider the time value when making financial decisions. You should also look at things like total life cycle cost; a MacBook is generally well built and is on the higher end of life.

    I’m pretty certain if I get a MacBook it will last at least 6-7 years (especially because I don’t think, I will fiddle with the system as much as I do on Windows).

    I would also start to set financial goals. If you have an idea of what you want financially in your life, it can help you decide if you have the money to splurge on some essentials.

    I did this already, luckily. The moment I got my job, I set goals: driver license, car and then saving up for an apartment.

    • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.clubEnglish
      1·
      11 hours ago

      I did this already, luckily. The moment I got my job, I set goals: driver license, car and then saving up for an apartment.

      I’m talking longer term. Do you want to retire early? Do you want to make it easier for you financially to start a family? How much should you set aside for a rainy day fund? Are there any expensive goals you have?

      It doesn’t have to be set in stone; I expect it would change for you several times given your age. However, knowing your goals gives you an idea on whether a big purchase will impact your long term goals and how.

      • InfiniteGlitch@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
        1·
        6 hours ago

        Oh, I see! Would like to retire early but highly doubt it would be possible. But yeah, I had been thinking about that too but haven’t set goals yet for it.

        Though, I’m older than you think. My life is just a lot different than the usual path people go. Studied long* and a lot (have pretty much seen almost every education level. From lowest, middle to higher education) and that kind of delayed the rest of my life stuff.