Don't Worry About My Money

Sometimes on my way home I see little goth/punk kids and I have now twice heard one of them utter "sell out" when I walked by. It made me laugh to myself, and I kept on walking. But I think about my 15 year old self, and if I saw tattooed me, in slacks and a blouse, I may have said the same damn thing. In fact, I'm quite sure that I would have. The beauty about being 15 is that you think you are going to get to live your whole life on passion, doing what you think is right, and you assume the world will just take care of you somehow. Then you turn 30, and you realize that is not the case. But it also made me think about why people concern themselves so much, with the lives of others.

What is wrong with someone not wanting to struggle financially? Why does everyone assume you can't be a decent human being, and make money while doing it? I know just as many poor assholes, as I know rich assholes. An asshole is an asshole.

I got the inspiration for this from Trixie (her blog is here.) She had a post that has since ended up deleted, that got me to thinking about how much people accuse others of doing something, when they really have no clue what kind of life that person leads. Someone called her a name and it was totally inappropriate and weird, and it made me think. People are constantly saying things like, "I can't believe Oprah buys 11,000 dollar purses!" Who cares? Her buying an 11,000 dollar purse is like me buying a 400 dollar purse. And I have done that before. Why do you care what someone else spends on something?

So many times I hear people making statements about someone who is wearing an expensive pair of shoes and I don't know if it's jealousy, or boredom, that makes them say something negative about that person because of it. I have gotten to a place where stuff like that isn't important to me. But there was a time when I'd pay several hundred dollars for a first edition of a book. Everyone has their things they like to blow money on. Anyone who says they don't, is a liar. Unless you're so broke you don't have any liquid income after bills and feeding your family.

I was verbally accosted by someone because I go out to eat at places that cost over 100 dollars per person and I just laughed and said, "It's either that, or the blow and alcohol. I'll choose expensive restaurants." There has always been something in my life that I can look at and say, "I spend too much money on that" and there always will be. You know what I've never said? "________ spends too much money on that."

The only time I've ever concerned myself with someone else's money, is when a family member will talk about how they can't get their kid new glasses or shoes, but they have Starbucks every day. I have been known to blurt out something like, "Go a month without Starbucks and you've just saved over 100 dollars. There's your glasses/shoes."

I have had people get mad at me when I say I'm broke and can't do anything, but I still go out with someone else. My idea of broke is when all of my money for the rest of the month is spent on plans I already have. I am a planner. For this month, I am taking my mom to a buffet for Mother's Day, and I have $140 set aside for a trip to San Francisco. I also have more veggies to buy for dinners. Plus, I have lunch plans next week. So although I may have money, it's all accounted for. Therefore, I'm broke.

Bands that start off small and play $10 shows, if they're good, often end up playing bigger venues and earning more money. That's the way that stuff works. The only band I've known to get popular and not do something like that is Fugazi. They weren't in music to make money. They refused to play shows that cost more than 10 bucks, and they didn't sell shirts. They encouraged kids to make their own shirts. This is the exception. If a person wants to make a ton of money doing what they love, more power to 'em.

I guess what it all boils down to is why would you concern yourself with someone else being a "sellout" or living a life that you don't think you agree with? Why don't you just live your life to the best of your ability, and if you don't like someone, just don't hang out with them? The phrase, "Keep my name off your lips" comes to mind. So many people need something to bitch about all the time. I know I sometimes find myself bitching about people. I vent like a mad woman. But then I let it go.

I think the world would be a much better place if everyone stopped concerning themselves with the lives of others. Yeah, that douchey guy in the BMW might annoy me. But that guy might also be going through some rough shit that I don't understand. I have a lot of work to do on my compassion and judgmental ways. I think it's something everyone should be working on.

Happy picture of the day: from Failbook. I laughed so hard when I read this. It's genius.