How to Blow Money

By Lev Novak

Sometimes you have money.

More often than not, it’s the opposite; you’re short on cash, or you could use more. But, every now and then, good luck comes upon you. I had a friend win $2,000 on a scratch ticket, and while that’s not exactly a sound investment strategy, it’s a proper example of how the world can switch up real quick.

So, let’s say you get lucky, with jobs or otherwise. How do you spend that sweet cash-money?

1. Double-Check

Before you do something awesome and stupid, it’s important to double check that you can afford to do so.

Do you have any outstanding debts? Have you considered taxes? Do you need something expensive and boring, like a good coat or car repairs? Before you get stupid it’s important to get smart and check that you have enough savings that this indulgence isn’t going to be looked at with anything other than the after-glow of bad-assery.

2. Set Boundaries

Once you’ve determined what you can spend, you have to determine that up-front. Is it a few hundred dollars? Is it $50 to throw on beer and wings? Is, in this absurd scenario, a thousand dollars or more? Whatever it is, it’s important to section this money off in a way that your upcoming absurdity doesn’t dip into your real money. Once the alcohol starts going, it’s easy to misremember how much you’ve spent and simply go off the feeling of your own wealth. Don’t. Set aside your party money and use it there. Twenty percent of “good luck” money is a proper amount, and for “birthday money” a rate of about sixty or seventy percent is considered the “throw it around” portion of it to use.

3. Make It Count

Don’t let your celebration money bleed out into your typical spendings. If you’re going to spend it irresponsibly- and you definitely should spend a section like that- it should be memorable and impressive.

Get some fancy beer you wouldn’t otherwise get. Go to a stupid nice restaurant and get a $24 hamburger while a little drunk on those fancy beers I mentioned earlier. Go to your nearest minor casino and set aside $100 to gamble, and see how far it goes. Probably not that far, but it’ll be super fun, and if you feel like you don’t need that money, losing it’s no struggle. And hey, you might really win!

Tickets- either concert tickets, sports tickets, or even plane tickets- are also a good idea for blowing money. Each of those are a passport to a new scenario. That’s spending money for memories.

4. Share The Wealth

When push comes to shove, and you get lucky, don’t forget you’re friends.

Invite them to your good fortune- buy them a drink, or share the awesome whiskey you bought with your newfound luck. This is because friendship is ultimately the most valuable thing you can have- awwww…- and also, because it diversifies your luck. Sure, you were lucky today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Share your good luck now, and you’ll be the next in line for theirs. It’s nice like that; doing the nice thing also works as doing the smart thing. Not a bad overlap.

Share this article: