So I was walking back home and there was this guy sitting on the sidewalk. As I passed by, he asked for some spare change. I told him I didn’t have any cash.

This was a lie. I had a $5 bill.

Under normal circumstances, I’d gladly have given him the cash, but something changed. Last month, after some calculation, I realized how much I’ve been giving away. Not that generosity is bad; however, it’s really added up.

At 31 years old, I don’t have much to show for financially, except for some retirement savings and enough savings to survive for a few months should I immediately lose my job. I still even have credit card debt (the cards are now stashed behind the potatoes instead of the wallet, so at least they’re not being used). I need to be stingier and think of my own welfare as well.

At the same time, I still feel badly because it’s likely that guy needed a few bucks more than me.