“It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy” – George Lorimer
When I travel outside my tristate, I prefer to use cash instead of cards. I feel like someone would get a hold of my cards and max them, that’s crazy, right? not really. Most recently I visited some cities in California, while there, I was reminded to make sure my purse was not exposed. Not because someone would snatch it, but because some fraudster might scan my credit cards and use them. Last summer, I visited Kenya, my home country, and used cash for the duration of my stay. While there, I realized I was running out of money very fast. My initial thoughts were the items I was purchasing were just expensive, but that was not quite accurate.
My moment of awakening was brought to my attention by my kids. We often strolled around the neighborhood to the nearby stores or just for kicks. The early days of our walks involved giving the equivalent of a dollar or two to the lady or ladies waiting at the roadside evidently looking to be picked for a day’s work, like laundering clothes or some housekeeping. We would also purchase milk and bread for the disabled person begging. I habitually engaged in conversations with the street vendors selling mangos, ice cream, nuts, and roasted maize and often bought a thing or two from them as well.
A few weeks into our visit, my kids started noticing that I avoided the vendors and used new routes for our walks. I would walk faster when I approached my usual stopping spots. Subconsciously or consciously, I was behaving out of character to avoid spending. My new sensitivity to spending was reactivated by my use of cash instead of cards.
My behavior was embarrassing and shameful. This shame came from realizing how quick it was to undo life lessons, like giving, lessons that I was undoing right in front of my children. I had to find solutions to reduce my spending especially in areas that were evidently the budget busters, Uber, taxi rides and entertainment. I opted for public transportation and sometimes walking. I also split entertainment bills with friends instead of paying the entire bill.
As I reflect back on this experience another lesson reaffirmed was the finality of the money as it exchanges hands. As I spent the cash, I would feel it exchange hands, as I counted it, I questioned the spending more than I do when I swap my cards.
If you are up to it, I encourage you, or challenge you to a month of spending cash instead of using cards. See and feel where your money is going, question your expenses and make the necessary budget cuts as needed. I believe we all have room for improvement.