Too much talk about money in the personal finance space is centered on frugality hacks and stories of restriction. We have no interest here in asking you to be less. Let’s normalize spending with joy!
Summer in the northern hemisphere is so filled with light and energy; it’s a time for family, travel, rest, exploration, play, late nights, early mornings, new beginnings. We feel like we’re spending a ton of money this time of year as we pack in parties, trips and events while most schools are closed and days are long. If your relationship with money has generally been based on restriction and shame, all of this stuff that’s supposed to be fun might stir up guilt — and that’s so unfair.
Reclaim joy in spending money by celebrating the ways you’re using money this summer!
In the comments, tell us about your favorite thing (or few things) that you’ve done or plan to do with money to enjoy your summer. (If you’re in the southern hemisphere, share your winter joys!)
Writing from Brattleboro, Vermont—one of the places that my wife and I are investigating after selling our house in NC. We're adventuring across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this year, searching for our new hometown. This exploration is funded by our house sale, and I've not regretted a dollar spent! (The house sale also paid off the final debt from my Chapter 13 bankruptcy.) Making this decision to dive deep into a fully aligned place to live in our final years is the most important and FUN thing I've ever done.
I coordinated a Barbie movie outing opening weekend for about a dozen friends and I’ve never managed so many venmo transactions in my life 😂 it was a really fun time for everyone!
I just went on a holiday with my cat and dog. I did absolutely nothing for a week except decide what to eat. I didn't even spend as much as I thought I would so, yay!! I'm feeling amazing and also, I'm celebrating that last year this wouldn't have been remotely possible. But I do get the occasional twinge of anxiety over the expense. I flick the feeling away like a gnat. I realize it will take a while to rewire those feelings. ❤️
Aug 3, 2023·edited Aug 3, 2023Liked by Dana Miranda
A new kayak for my family. My son out grew his, and my daughter is starting to enjoy life on the water. I'm able to show them the magic of the ocean one paddle at a time and spend quality time with them.
I signed up for a copyediting/proofreading course so I can start a freelance editorial business that provides those services to self-published authors and possibly publishing houses. Still hashing out my ideal client. I also bought some good shapewear! 😄
I spent too damn much on tickets to see The Chicks play next week! 🎸 But my daughter and I are ridiculously excited. I absolutely know it will be money well spent. And for the record, it wasn't the tickets themselves that were too damn much. It was the stupid Ticketmaster fees (of course).
Evening walks to get an ice cream on the rare warm summer days here in Scotland. And, with much larger sums of money, throwing cash at problems that have arisen as I’ve been moving house.
I am spending the summer looking for jobs so I can move back to the land of sanity...AKA the northeast...Boston in particular. I am spending a lot of time daydreaming about walking in Boston.
We have seen 2 movies at Blossom with the Cleveland Symphony playing and I am headed back for an end of summer season concert with Brandi Carlile with my 12yo daughter.
I am also navigating the golden handcuffs of my 2.75% mortgage and what the heck do we do about the house we own in a place we don't really want to live.
I've had 2 big international trips this summer and enjoyed hanging out in cafes and also buying a few tourist knickknacks for me and our cat sitters. I love the one special fridge magnet that makes me smile and think of the place I visited with fondness. (Cardiff, Wales was my fav place in the UK!)
Spent pretty much all my money to be able to travel around Western Europe for a month, currently on a train riding across Ireland. My first longer holiday in two years, first time in Europe, and second time I've been out of the U.S. The heavy weight I'd been carrying around while I was in the states lifted when I left. I feel lucky and am contemplating the possibility of leaving the states permanently eventually.
The most joyous money spent this summer was an impromptu side of the road taqueria truck stop after a really long day of hiking 1000 miles from home. We bought all the things, the horchata, the churros, the tacos en mass, at it by the side of the highway in a vinyl tent on a plastic picnic table, and it was the most amazing $80 I’ve ever spent on food for my family of four in so many ways, from the food itself to the joy of enjoying it. It helped teach me that there is more to life than saving money...
The majority of our summer adventures have been low cost, but the price of a hotel right in LoDo in Denver for two nights when we were there for the Eras tour was the best expense of the summer ❤️ A major splurge but it allowed us to really see the neighborhood on foot ~ well worth every penny!
Writing from Brattleboro, Vermont—one of the places that my wife and I are investigating after selling our house in NC. We're adventuring across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this year, searching for our new hometown. This exploration is funded by our house sale, and I've not regretted a dollar spent! (The house sale also paid off the final debt from my Chapter 13 bankruptcy.) Making this decision to dive deep into a fully aligned place to live in our final years is the most important and FUN thing I've ever done.
Beyoncé ticket and a fancy farm to table dinner
I coordinated a Barbie movie outing opening weekend for about a dozen friends and I’ve never managed so many venmo transactions in my life 😂 it was a really fun time for everyone!
I just went on a holiday with my cat and dog. I did absolutely nothing for a week except decide what to eat. I didn't even spend as much as I thought I would so, yay!! I'm feeling amazing and also, I'm celebrating that last year this wouldn't have been remotely possible. But I do get the occasional twinge of anxiety over the expense. I flick the feeling away like a gnat. I realize it will take a while to rewire those feelings. ❤️
A new kayak for my family. My son out grew his, and my daughter is starting to enjoy life on the water. I'm able to show them the magic of the ocean one paddle at a time and spend quality time with them.
I've signed up for a course with Bayo Akomolafe a do am very excited about a new adventure! Great to celebrate what money can do for us..
I signed up for a copyediting/proofreading course so I can start a freelance editorial business that provides those services to self-published authors and possibly publishing houses. Still hashing out my ideal client. I also bought some good shapewear! 😄
I spent too damn much on tickets to see The Chicks play next week! 🎸 But my daughter and I are ridiculously excited. I absolutely know it will be money well spent. And for the record, it wasn't the tickets themselves that were too damn much. It was the stupid Ticketmaster fees (of course).
Evening walks to get an ice cream on the rare warm summer days here in Scotland. And, with much larger sums of money, throwing cash at problems that have arisen as I’ve been moving house.
I am spending the summer looking for jobs so I can move back to the land of sanity...AKA the northeast...Boston in particular. I am spending a lot of time daydreaming about walking in Boston.
We have seen 2 movies at Blossom with the Cleveland Symphony playing and I am headed back for an end of summer season concert with Brandi Carlile with my 12yo daughter.
I am also navigating the golden handcuffs of my 2.75% mortgage and what the heck do we do about the house we own in a place we don't really want to live.
Lana Del Rey concert in Hyde Park, London with my teenage daughters - epic, forever memories made!
Two weeks in Sicily which was hot, hot, hot but thankfully the gelato was cheap and delicious!
I've had 2 big international trips this summer and enjoyed hanging out in cafes and also buying a few tourist knickknacks for me and our cat sitters. I love the one special fridge magnet that makes me smile and think of the place I visited with fondness. (Cardiff, Wales was my fav place in the UK!)
Spent pretty much all my money to be able to travel around Western Europe for a month, currently on a train riding across Ireland. My first longer holiday in two years, first time in Europe, and second time I've been out of the U.S. The heavy weight I'd been carrying around while I was in the states lifted when I left. I feel lucky and am contemplating the possibility of leaving the states permanently eventually.
The most joyous money spent this summer was an impromptu side of the road taqueria truck stop after a really long day of hiking 1000 miles from home. We bought all the things, the horchata, the churros, the tacos en mass, at it by the side of the highway in a vinyl tent on a plastic picnic table, and it was the most amazing $80 I’ve ever spent on food for my family of four in so many ways, from the food itself to the joy of enjoying it. It helped teach me that there is more to life than saving money...
The majority of our summer adventures have been low cost, but the price of a hotel right in LoDo in Denver for two nights when we were there for the Eras tour was the best expense of the summer ❤️ A major splurge but it allowed us to really see the neighborhood on foot ~ well worth every penny!