"I don't have enough brunch money"

A social life and money - A pipe dream.

You know that one friend who can never afford to go clubbing, to breakfast, to the movies, or just to the beach because let’s face it, $1.60 for petrol isn’t within the budget of any living soul? Well, I am that friend, and I’m finally ok with that.

In an era of high expectations and social conformity; money, self-image, and material possessions form the pillars of society. Going to the next pop-up, eclectic cafe for a $6 coffee and a $15 avo smash is no longer a luxury, it’s a lifestyle. The bitter truth is that hardly anyone can actually afford it. 

Although we cringe every time we pay $25 to sit on a milk crate and eat chia pudding, we still do it.

Although, I am beyond fortunate in many areas of my life, for a long time I have felt like I was dangling over the poverty line because of my social life. There is a constant pressure to spend money in order to socialise. It’s no ones fault, and it’s everybody’s fault. Although we cringe every time we pay $25 to sit on a milk crate and eat chia pudding, we still do it. We go along with the societal trend, and we keep our mouths shut. Often I have felt extremely caught up in a vicious cycle of wanting to socialise, and simply not being able to afford it. Money is always on my mind, and it is the fundamental reason for my stress and my anxiety. I’ve finally realised that to be financially secure; you have to sacrifice. This doesn’t have to mean cutting yourself off from your relationships; it means compromising.

Listen closely, because I’ve discovered the secret on how to make both your friends and your bank account love you. SAY NO. Can’t afford a $20 cocktail with fairy floss on it? SAY NO. Can’t afford half a tank of petrol to drive to the middle of the Australian bush, to take some pictures with sunflowers? SAY NO. Can’t afford exotic, vegan Acai bowls with ingredients you don’t even know how to pronounce? SAY NO. It seems simple, but my god it’s hard.

Suggest something else, something cheaper, something that isn’t going to make you hate yourself for blowing your weekly budget… again. Steal your parent’s food and have an aesthetically pleasing picnic in the park. Make pizza’s and drink wine at home. Have a movie marathon of old classics. Go and get $5 hot chips and sit on the beach watching the sunset. Sit at home and play Fortnite for eight hours straight (It’s sad and anti-social but it’s cost-effective, so who cares).

The moral of the story is this; if you want to get anywhere in life, you have to say no to avo smash.