I try to save money. I’ve been told that’s the right thing to do. But I also try to live by the philosophy to carpe the f*$k out of every diem I get. Because nothing matters and we’re all gonna die. So, why save? Here are my reasons.
To get a grip on this paradox, let’s look at the idea of learning how to play the guitar. On day 1 of playing the guitar, you’re lucky if you’re able to play a note without your fingers hurting. It’s objective not fun, and there’s no joy in it. You listen to those juicy Metallica solos and dread how far you are from being able to play that. But you keep calm and play on. Slowly in week one, you’re able to play a chord. In month one, you’re able to actually play that Metallica solo you used to drool over. But you go deeper into the rabbit hole lines with solid wood and nickel strings and realize you’re still VERY far from where you want to be. This is because the goalpoast keeps moving. So does this mean you stop playing the guitar? Does this mean you don’t enjoy the process? Ask any guitarist you know and the answer will be the same: their happiest moments have likely been with a guitar, thanks to the effort they put into learning, and at the same time, they’re far from the virtuoso they aim to be one day.
In the same vain, we save because that’s what our future self will thank us for. But we enjoy every moment today as it comes, AFTER the saving. May I go as far as to say it gives me JOY to know that I’m saving money in an effort to make my future self more secure and at peace? What about you? Why do you save?
