Half devoured cake. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

My money doesn’t always get blown away, but when it does I enjoy my splurge to the fullest. I’m 21 and cruising through the “Young and broke” ocean. My boat is more than rocked by bills and upcoming college loans. That still doesn’t stop me from enjoying life sometimes.

I was grocery shopping during the Palm Sunday weekend when I decided my family deserved a treat. My money was already spread pretty thin, but then I passed by the bakery. There was no way to avoid it, because the bakery comes before the frozen food section. The cakes were displayed in the front and one caught my eye. The craftsmanship to the applied frosting was commendable, and I was suckered in.

Cake slice. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

As I slid the cake through self-check out I felt a tad guilty. I knew I was spending six dollars for a sweet treat, instead of using my money for real food, or just saving it for later. However that guilty feeling was overpowered by my desire for dessert. 

The cake was well accepted into the family. Literally into each member of the family. My twin sister, Mom, Dad and I dove right into the sugar filled beauty. The plates and forks came out, and I missed my chance to photograph the complete cake. I think it looks better half eaten though. A full cake may be untouched because no one wants it, but the one I bought definitely had some fans.

As we ate the cake the guilty feeling from the grocery store went away. Sometimes you need to treat yourself. I often skip things that I want because of money restraints, but the few “prizes” I award myself are great. Six dollars isn’t going to dig a hole of debt around me. I don’t splurge often enough to create that kind of bottomless pit. You just need the occasional splurge sometimes. Being responsible is important, but you have to live a little as well.

-Katelyn Avery

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