If I Had $250

If I had a sudden spare $250 (because I do! I just received, in the mail, two gift cards worth a total of $250 thanks to a giveaway over at Mommy Niri--thank you, Mommy Niri!), I could:

• buy fancy new boots
• buy funky new jewelry
• buy a 20-class pass to the yoga studio
• go out on a great date with my husband
• take a bunch of friends out to dinner

But it's hard for me to spend money on myself. I'm kind of a miser. I always talk myself out of getting new things, saying "I can live without it," and lo! a year later I've proved that I can indeed live without it.

Thus I dress like a bum and my bike shoes are totally shot.

But after that initial "I can splurge!" feeling, I get practical (have to, I'm a Capricorn). I could do several other things with that $250:

• give it to the Greater Boston Food Bank or to Rosie's Place
• put it towards buying Max a better bed (he doesn't love his toddler bed, so maybe it's time to move him to a regular twin bed)
• pay for groceries (I know, I know: LAME)

Then I think even further out. $250 would pay for most of a home inspection once we buy a house (yes, a good home inspector in these parts charges $300-$400). I could put it in the kids' college funds. I could use it to pay for all the various classes I want the kids to attend but never seem to get around to signing them up for: swimming (too cold in the winter), gymnastics (for Max), kiddie music (for Ben). We can totally afford these, but it's the time factor (oh, the time factor).

I could use it for some upcoming dental work I'll need (STOP, frugal self, you're killing me!).

We can afford all of the above. We're lucky. But I have a very hard time spending money on myself, even if I own one nice sweater at this point and no stylish boots.

I think the best solution, to both treat myself and share the joy, is to invite a bunch of friends out to dinner, on me. Then I am sharing the wealth, but I still benefit greatly, by getting to see my friends. (I tend to be lazy about organizing outings.) And maybe I could buy myself some new earrings first, as a kind of early birthday present to myself.

We'll see what happens. I'm pretty sure I won't be using the money to buy myself a bunch of new stuff, though. That's just not my style.