Spending is a pleasurable pursuit

Robert Akau
May 6, 2011
Final Draft 5

I find that spending money brings great enjoyment and pleasure. Parents are to be given great credit for pointing us in this direction of finding work as early as possible to earn money. I sometimes wonder, however, if an ulterior motive for doing this was at work here. Was there regret on the part of our parents causing them discomfort in raising and subsidizing us all these years? Getting to work for pay as early as possible served a function of getting us off of their paychecks. leaving them more  funds to spend as they enjoyed doing before we came along. [THESIS] What are the reasons for spending and how is the pleasure described?[THESIS]
The family lends itself to many opportunities for funding. Frugality is a good practice for the long term. Dating seems to have been the first major event where  learning to spend for social reasons took place. However the reasons for me spending is that this is rewarding in life and in outside pursuits. Food is the most important reason for spending that I can find. Paying is a spending of sorts in which the pleasure factor is suspended but supports the upkeep of my home. Family is present for the long haul and efforts expended for its upkeep finds many rewards both obvious and hidden. Well heeled advisories would support that “yes!” spending for upkeep of my family is a noble notion and worth every dime nickel and penny.
But what would determine quality spending upon all facets of family life? As children grow older, the requirements for spending on their behalf increases and in certain ways, change. Spending towards success in their endevors seem like investing for returns. When spending is done as a greater benefit toward them, the pleasure parts sometimes seems defeated. Sibling efforts appear for good causes and shows it worth in the returns and is therefore worth spending towards it.
The choices of spending among my friends are many. Gathering together to celebrate an event or a holiday is a reason to show off cooking skills practiced and ready to show off. Potlucks call for making good impressions and gives reasons why the best cuts of rib, fish or steak are bought. Along with the tasty meats should go good drinks. In keeping the celebration non-alcoholic, cases of soda or syrup and water mixtures makes for a good purchase and good addition to the picnic or party. If the occasion is an indoor event as in a Christmas dinner, then appropriate gathering of stuff is necessary. Ice cream, cake and or pie adds to enjoyment of this get together. Scriptural study also supports being of help to others. Contributions of time to assist others has the markings and or labels of making an economical impact upon the one receiving the help and I look upon as spending. Another reason for spending in efforts of keeping friends is acknowledging their careers. This sort of spending viewed as having ulterior motives of self gain may appear more as investing rather than altruism.
A very noble deed is noted when spending for a greater good, impacts community efforts in a positive way. There is the community drive to collect monetary donations sponsored by the Red Cross in an effort to rescue and restore living for the thousands of victims of and earthquake that destroyed the area of Sendai in the Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures. Giving a monetary gift makes me feel real good. There are many efforts to collect money, but giving more than a certain amount may not allow me other pursuits, requiring spending. Local efforts asking for donation funds from the public sometimes move me to help with small donations.
I then learned that besides monetary spending, giving of personal effort without looking for compensatory returns is another way of spending. Compensatory rewards are a great means of telling me that I’m on the right track and doing the right thing. This is a great incentive towards which effort towards this in noble.
Building skills in the varied trades in family and facilities upkeep I was brought up to respect and emulate.
Through various skills learned, any use of these skills to help others is a form of spending though non-monetary.
Spending rank high among the choices of pleasurable activities. Among the myriad of things I like doing, swimming, driving, skiing, flying on a trip, learning a skill, etc., purchasing an item especially if it was something greatly anticipated is very enjoyable. When your funds become depleted, the period during the time funds are non-existant appears very discomforting. I soon take on a self depreciating manner in evaluating this event as a sore spot showing me how callous and careless I had become in dispersing my funds. Not going to a retail outlet and making a purchase becomes a real noticeable non-event.
It is when observing others around us and their ways of “making ends meet”(cultural adage, source undetermined), that I learn that other ways to self sufficiency exist. Seeking to understand their ways become a focus in my life. The need to attend and complete college studies has its roots in understanding economic life better but if half heartedly enforced or reinforced makes judicious spending a trying hit or miss, or hit and miss effort. My spending style started in my high school years working summers on the Marine Corp Station at Kaneohe. Maturity was to be gained and gave me the feel of adulthood while still attending high school.
Only in exposure to such avenues, may one see advanced education as necessary and important towards advancement of skill building towards greater rewards.
 If I was a lone CNN or FOX reporter on the street interviewing a typical person, I attest that, yes, spending is great! Its only the distractions temporarily derailing our poorly planned financial efforts which causes me to spend for immediate gratification to make be suffer soon after for depleting cash earmarked for spending elsewhere. Looking at myself as if I was a total stranger unfamiliar with myself; the target of this critique on spending, would wonder if there was not a better more noble pursuit in life upon which to spend my life on. The pleasure gained from this is enormous.