Growing up, I always thought that there was only one path. You go to high school, then continue onto college. Then, if you’re fortunate enough, start work in a career of your choice and make a bunch of money. Not once when I thought about the aforementioned timeline did I think about the struggles that may come before reaching that dream career.
I remember checking my bank account one day shortly after I graduated high school. It was pretty hefty, I won’t lie. I had worked from the time I was fifteen years old and saved a lot. I was proud of it. I earned every dollar. But I couldn’t help but think, “I don’t even need this.”
What nobody will tell you is how fast college will drain that. And how money fluctuates. Sometimes you’ll have a lot, and sometimes you won’t. There will be times you go to get a coffee and realize you can’t. And there will be times when you are fortunate enough to be able to buy a coffee for the stranger behind you in the drive-thru line.
So how do you find the balance between living and saving? It sounds dramatic, but when you think about it, most good things cost money. Sure, there are things like friends, family, relationships, dogs and cats to provide happiness and a life that feels full.
But what about all the things that you need to be happy when you’re away from your family, you’re not out with friends or you’re not sitting on the couch with your dog?
My advice is to not think about it too much. Most people spend too much time stressing about money, their future and things that are mostly out of their control. All it causes is a severe lack of sleep and pimples. Spend and think later.
I’m not telling you to go buy every dream item for your closet, or book every vacation you think of. But what I’ve learned is somehow, money always comes back around.
It takes a certain level of responsibility to find that healthy balance between spending and saving. And chances are if you’re reading this, I have faith you possess that level of responsibility. Don’t wait until you’re retired to enjoy the money that you work hard for. (But also, please don’t read this and take it as a sign to drain your checking and savings account!)
Everything will fall into place when it needs to. One day you’re going to be working at your forever job, hopefully drinking an eight dollar iced coffee, and you won’t even have thought twice about spending that much on it.
It may have taken 24 years for me, but I finally realized you’re not really ever supposed to know what your next step is. If you do, congratulations! But if you don’t, just know how completely normal and okay that is.
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at josh.pawlik@ubspectrum.com
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor for The Spectrum. His hobbies include playing guitar, working out and reading. He can be found on Instagram @joshpawlik
