💰Frugal ≠Cheap💰
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Happy Sunday!
Here’s a rundown of what happened in the world of finance this week:
I hope you enjoy this week’s article. As always, I am not a financial advisor.
An Expensive Dinner
My friends visited me from Austin, TX last weekend. After a day of hiking in Malibu and walking to Venice from Santa Monica, I offered to pay for dinner that same night. I knew this dinner would hurt my pocketbook, but I wanted to be a gracious host for travelers in a city for the first time.
Quarters Korean BBQ is located in the heart of Koreatown, Los Angeles. There is never any parking and you’ll be waiting for two hours from the popularity of this restaurant. I go crazy for Korean BBQ and, I love chowing down on the different assortments of meats and sides from bulgogi to kimchi.
On Saturday night, we waited for two hours for our table of four. My group shared their stories, jokes, and Netflix recommendations. I ordered the large combos for the table which consists of: rib eye, beef short rib, bulgogi, beef belly, pork belly, pork jowl, and pork collar for a hefty price. Midway through the dinner, the table ended up ordering a bottle of merlot.
The check arrived around midnight and I threw my credit card into the pocketbook after scowling at the total bill.
Financial Feelings
At first, I was hurt. Just looking at the amount felt like a stab to the heart.
I sat in that emotion and looked around at the table, noticing everyone laughing and genuinely having a good time.
From there, my hurt feelings turned to contentment. I realized that I had contributed to a memorable night that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.
This epiphany woke me up to the fact that being frugal doesn’t mean you have to be cheap. For the past year, I’ve optimized portfolios, cut back on spending, and increased my income. But if you do all these things and don’t have someone to share the wealth with, what’s the point?
The moral of this story is finding gratitude in paying for friends when you’re in a financially set place. We can get caught up in buying the cheapest things for ourselves and never realize the impact it has on others. Spend little on yourself and lots on others.
Have a great week!
-Jordan