On spending and Plato

I've gone through a kind of metamorphosis in my spending habits in the past couple years… Or maybe you could say, in how I think about spending. I used to put off spending money on things for myself, dither and procrastinate while my mixed feelings rumbled. If I found I had no top that suited me or fit well for a certain situation, I'd talk myself out of buying a new one unless (or until) the situation was dire. Then when I did buy it, I'd feel bad unless I'd gotten it for a truly fantastic price. I felt guilty spending money on myself- or much money, anyway. Did I really need it? Couldn't the money be better spent on something else?  Couldn't I help feed a hungry child? Don't Americans overspend so chronically? Maybe so.

I sometimes see this trend play out in other women too, especially moms. When I do I notice that we're normally less reluctant to spend the identical amount of money to meet someone else's comparable need. If your kid has no acceptable shoes to wear, then of course – go get him a new pair. But for yourself? These scuffed-up ones from 2009 with the crushed backs will suffice.