I get asked this question time and time again. There have been many to assume the likes of "oh, you must be rich" or "damn, you got it like that". The answer to all of your facetious accusations is no, or as you might understand, nah.
Now excuse me if I sound angry or bitter, but it gets to me. I don't look at your $200 sneakers and your Hermes belt with your Louis Vuitton bucket hat and tell you that you're "balling out of control". Not because these items aren't expensive, or I didn't wish I could afford things like that, but because you're most likely participating in conspicuous consumption.
Now conspicuous consumption for all of those who are wondering, is buying things (usually outside of your purchasing range) to publicly display your economic power. Now when I tell you all, I DONT GIVE A F*** (insert Haunted House meme here lol).
I'm not trying to display any type of anything to anyone. My wardrobe is very conservative (though I still try to keep it cute), and I have no shame in rocking whatever Target and sometimes even Wal-Mart have to offer me. Trying to keep up with the Jones's is the last thing on my mind. It's called having priorities people.
As we all know, I love to travel. It is literally the desire of my heart. Not being able to wander chips away at my heart, my spirit, and my very being. Because of this, I constantly make it a point to EXPLORE. To go out there and see the world and all that it has to offer. In other words, I have decidedly made traveling a priority in my life.
Let's face it, as a recent graduate of college, I make crap money. I make a decent earning, but nothing spectacular. To travel, there were sacrifices to be made.
I don't go out nearly as often as I would like, I am continuously turning down cute lunches and dinners with friends, I live at home, and my shopping habits continue to plummet. All for traveling.
So before you let me know how "balling" I am, or how simple it is for me to wander as I do, take a minute and think. Do you own at least three pairs of Jordan's, but don't have a car? Conspicuous consumption. Do you have gold fronts or bottoms and can't pay your rent? Conspicuous consumption. Are you living paycheck to paycheck, but you're always at the club popping bottles? Conspicuous consumption.
Wanna know how I travel so often? I don't participate in conspicuous consumption. You can travel too, just make some sacrifices and you can be on your way!
Happy Wandering...
WanderlustWad