Are Personal Finance Bloggers Control Freaks? May 29
I’ve been thinking lately that Personal Finance Bloggers must be control freaks. Who else would spend so much time thinking about money? Who else would bother to create elaborate budgets? Who else would meticulously count every cent they earn, spend, and save? Who else would not only do these things, but then write about them?
Yes, I think Personal Finance bloggers must be control freaks. I know that I’m a control freak. Once, I was talking to a pilot about how I don’t like flying and he said, “Well, you must like to be in control of things. Because I find that most people who don’t like flying don’t like it because they can’t control (or even see) what is going on.” I just laughed because it was so true. Better yet, it’s actually helped me be less afraid of flying because I know why I’m scared and I’m able to relinquish control of the situation.
Being a control freak when it comes to money can be both a good and bad thing. It’s good because it helps us to “keep control of our finances” and avoid spending too much. As control freaks we know where are money is going and how to keep it going to the “right” places. Generally, we control freaks have our finances figured out.
But, we also worry and think more about money than the average non-control freak. In doing this we spend less time doing and thinking about the things we care about.
Recently, someone very dear to me called me out on my control freak-ness when it comes to money. Something to the effect of “Who cares if we go $40 over our budget for dining out this month? We can afford it and it’s a special occasion. So why be cheap?” This really got me thinking. Is it worth it to be so concerned about money?
I’m in the fortunate enough position where if something tragic happened I would be able to manage for a few months. (And I’m sure, if it were that tragic, with the help of friends and family I could make do much longer than that.) So, why should I be so concerned about money? Isn’t it better to enjoy my todays, so long as it doesn’t dramatically impact my tomorrows?
mapgirl May 29
I fully admit to my control freak tendencies. I don’t have too many, but I know they extend to personal finance. heh heh. Somehow though, I still can’t stick to a budget.
Oleg K. May 30
You know, I’m not a personal finance blogger per se, though I do write personal finance articles, and I wouldn’t consider myself a control freak. I dig this post because it touches on something I see as a problem in our society, namely the discomfort that is inherent with thinking and talking about money. I for one have a hard time understanding it. I see it this way: I enjoy thinking about money, it helps me relax knowing what I have. I don’t look forward to going over my budget in-depth every month, but when I do it, I really enjoy having a bird’s eye view on my financial world.
Furthermore, I think an adult who does not know what they have, and spends little to no time thinking about financial matters is irresponsible and very strange in today’s world.
It is not greedy or cheap to stay on budget. Having a budget and sticking to it is how you are now able to survive for a few months if something terrible happens. Plus, not only can money buy some cool stuff, through political contributions and donations to non-profit organizations, it also helps create the world you want to live in.
Are you a control freak? I don’t know…Maybe. Is that bad? Not when it comes to money. Perhaps being secure IS a way of enjoy your todays; knowing that you’ll have enough tomorrow is a comforting thought.
Thanks for the post. Sorry for the long comment. I sort of went on a bit of a tangent.
Lazy Man and Money May 30
I’m pretty much the anti-control freak. I’d much prefer that other do everything (hence the Lazy name). However, I’d like to be able to hop on a plane today and go to Aruba. That’s not going to happen now, but in optimizing my finances, there’s a chance that it could happen in the future.
I think there’s a big difference between worrying about finances and keeping finances in mind.
Harmega May 30
I am definately not a control freak. I am lucky enough to earn enough to statisfy my current material desires, and also build sufficient net worth for my future (this may also be because I am satisified with less material items than I can afford).
I do not understand why ‘budget’ people need to count every cent in every category. I basically break my budget down to two parts. Fixed costs and disposable income. Fixed costs are living, eating, transport, taxes etc. Disposable costs are all of the frills including eating out, vacations, having a fancier car than I need, etc.
If I hypothetically spend 15% of my income on these so called frills, what is the point of budgetting it down to multiple categories. Some months I can spend that on travel, while next month it can mean a new suit. I could save the 15% and go for the BMW rather than the Toyota. I find budgetting every expense a tedious waste of time. Some months you would prefer more of one thing than another. For example around Christmas I do spend more on food and gifts, but likely less on travel. I would really like to ask the so called control freaks what exact benefit they do derive from such actions.
Angie Hartford Jun 16
I wouldn’t spend time wondering about the control freak issue. Often, I’ve found it’s a label others choose for you. It can mean a lot of things, including “I don’t want you to control me,” “You pay more attention to (fill in the blank: your house, children, finances, the plight of the manatees) than I do, and I’m threatened by that,” to “I am feeling insecure about my own lack of attention to finances, so I’m going to put you down to make myself feel better.”
I don’t think you’re a control freak; I do think you put more effort and attention into your finances than most folks, and that you’re willing share your process and findings with others. I would call you brave and responsible.
Nabloid.com Jul 16
I think you have to save and plan for the future, but enjoy life TODAY as well. You never know if you will see tomorrow.
Too many people plan to do all the fun stuff in retirement. Then they either get there and are ill healthed or don’t have enough steady income coming in to go on all those trips, or they die before they get to retirement.
I have a friend (21 y/o!) who broke his back and neck. He can walk, but he is in constant pain. Life is too short to plan to do everything in retirement. You have to have fun and live life.