I mentioned yesterday that my daughters had given me a gift certificate to a local lavender specialty shop for my birthday over a year ago. It was nearing its expiration date and I still hadn't used it. It's not that I couldn't find something I'd want in that shop. That's not the issue. I adore that shop and always make a point to step inside when I'm in the retail and restaurant area of our small town.
I just have a problem with spending gift cards and certificates. I hang onto them for years. I'm not sure why. But I think it has something to do with my other financial habits. When you're frugal for a very long time, sometimes one's frugality backfires on a person and they find they can't spend money freely when given a chance. I think this is me. I think I hoard gift cards that are given to me because it feels like they are and will be in short supply in my life. So I feel like I need to find that "perfect" item on which to spend my gift card. The problem is, perfection in anything is elusive. I can no more find a perfect thing to buy than I can bake a perfect cake or have perfect hair.
So, when I try to use a gift card, I look at everything and think about it all, over and over. Sometimes, it just feels easier to delay spending a gift card. I don't have the answer to this issue. But I am working on my thoughts about gift cards and using them. I want to honor the person(s) who gave them to me, and actually using it to buy something they'd choose for me is a way to honor their gift. I also need to let go of "perfect". As I was perusing the website to spend this recent gift certificate, many items were very nice. And I would have been thrilled to receive any of the lavender products. If it weren't for this particular gift certificate having an expiration date printed on it, I may have delayed choosing something even longer. But I did choose a product that I will really enjoy. And just under the gun -- on the very last date before expiry.
I just keep thinking, spending a gift card or certificate should not be so hard. I think I understand why I am this way. I'm just needing to work on solutions to this struggle.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a hard time spending money or gift cards on themselves. If this has been an issue for you, how have you dealt with it?
