Siblings.

My brother and I don't understand each other's money decisions. I can't imagine spending $10 a week on chocolate, and he finds my habit of turning off my computer and switching off the power strip whenever I'm not using it laughable. My brother focuses on using his money to increase his current happiness, and I definitely fall more toward the frugal end of the spectrum. In fact, I suspect that growing up with someone like my brother may have pushed me to suppress some of my materialistic urges since his desire to acquire sometimes bugged my parents.

My brother has described me as, "the second cheapest person in the country," and finds it really baffling when I want to spend money on anything. He cheerfully accepts parental subsidies, reasoning that they have more money than he does, whereas I figure every penny they spend on me is one they won't have for retirement or their own current wants. I haven't been able to explain to him why I would prefer to keep my apartment for an extra month if I could instead of moving home. He sees only that it would cost hundreds of dollars for rent and utilities and that I'm not generally someone who spends that kind of money needlessly.

The point of saving is to have money later for needs or wants. There are a lot of things I want but don't get, but once in a while I find something important enough to me, and my usual habits mean I have the savings to afford it. In this case, the point is probably moot, and it looks like I'll be stuck spending the month before institute alternating between staying at home and sleeping on my friends' couch since I can't renew my lease for less than the full summer and haven't been able to find anyone who needs someone to sublet. If all else fails, I bet my brother will let me sleep on his couch once in a while.