---
layout: post
title: Thoughts about money and consuming
date: 2020-10-18 20:04 +0200
categories: life
language: en
---

I attempt to spend as little money as possible in what I see as "unnecessary
things". I mostly buy groceries. I spend (I think) very little on clothes [1].
When I look for stuff, I look for used (second-hand) things when possible and
when I find it reasonable.

I love the library. Basically "free" books (like, less than 10 € annually).
Although I buy books, too, occasionally, when they're about "knowledge". Less
so for novels. I may read them twice or thrice, but after that...  not so much.

I guess the most money (besides food) goes into insurances and retirement
planning - although I doubt the contracts I got from insurance representatives
make much sense. I would like to go the consumer protection to get the
contracts checked. But I haven't found the time / motivation yet. I started to
put some money into ETFs, though, recently.

But I wonder, what for? For the (pessimistically speaking) "worst case
scenario" that I get very old, and possibly need to go into a retirement home?
(I don't like to think about becoming old, it depresses me).

I guess "most people" spend their money on traveling. Me, not so much. The only
"real travels" I did in the recent years was going to furry conventions. But
going somewhere alone? Couldn't really be bothered. I thought about it
occasionally, but merely choosing a destination was a struggle for me. Due to
CoViD, I won't be starting travelling around now, either.

I could probably work less, yet I want to earn more money "just to be sure".
Also, because I found out I'm underpaid according to the statistics I found. On
the other hand, it's not like I struggle financially. So what to do?

If I had more free time, I'd probably spend more money? Would I get bored,
even? Dunno. Haven't been to the cinema in months, for example. Not only due to
CoViD, to be honest, even if it weren't for that I probably wouldn't go, unless
something came on I really wanted to see. Going to the cinema alone isn't as
much fun as going with friends.

~~~

That all being said, I wonder "what am I living for?". I have no real "goal". I
basically let the day pass and do as much things I enjoy as possible. (After
doing the laundry and dishes and stuff, ugh).

[1] On a site note, I find it pretty darn hard to find comfortable boxer
shorts.  I don't like the tight ones.