I think that maybe I think about finances and value a little too much.
This weekend, I ran a local 5K. (Yes, I ran a ten mile race last weekend and am running another ten mile race next weekend. I realize I’m crazy.) When I say local, I mean that it started a few blocks from my apartment. It seemed silly not to run!
After the race, I started to think about what I got for my money. I paid $30 for the race, which benefitted an environmental organization (it was an Earth Day race). For my money, I got to run a great race, complete with electronic chip timing and closed roads. It’s nice to be able to run and not worry about cars. But I also got some tangible things as well. I got a t-shirt and post-race snacks. Very nice post-race snacks, actually.
And I started thinking about the cost of those post-race snacks, had I purchased them. It didn’t add up to much – probably $6 or $7. And then I wondered why I was putting a price on my race experience. I ran it for fun, not to get a “deal.” And it was definitely fun. And tasty afterwards too.
5Ks are fun! I should find one to run around here soon. I would probably take something like that out of my “charity/gifts” budget, so I’m not so worried about the value I’m getting out of it.
I think that blogging about money and reading all of the pf blogs makes us hyper-aware of where our spending goes. And to some degree, it’s a little unhealthy.