Spendinding to save

Everyone has heard the saying "You have to have money to save money".

Well today I guess I tested this theory. I went shopping for some holiday lights for next year. This caused a little problem because I spent 126.42. Most of what I got was on sale and if it were any other year, I would have been super excited over my savings. I saved 152.61, but in reality what about the idea of not spending it at all. If I hadn't spent any money I would have saved 126.42 and that is better than savings 152.61 while spending 126.42.

I like to give a years worth of holiday paper plates and napkins to couples for weddings. When you first start out and want to celebrate and have no money, it can be hard, so I like to give something that will make their first years memorable.
Anyway, I collect them all throughout the year for any upcoming weddings.. In truth, I'm not a good gift person. Gifts are not my love language. Don't get me wrong, I like gifts, but I am not good at giving them. It doesn't cross my mind as the first option. In fact spending money on wedding gifts or birthday gifts has to be a planned thing for me or it won't happen.

Anyway, I spent 126.42 and now hopefully I won't do that again. I really didn't need to buy any of it, but then again I don't want to skip weddings altogether. I was sick for many years and I didn't give gifts for a long time because I just didn't have the energy to do it. I decided that had to change. I got some things I needed and some things other people needed. I only bought a few things that were not on sale and I decided I need to get coupon apps on my new phone (which came in and I'm setting up)

I have this unrealistic goal of not spending a dime EVER. That is not going to happen. Commerce is a real thing and making a choice to do without is hard. It is hard to say no to the enticings of sales.
I got sucked into saving money today while spending money and it was ok, but it will never get me to my goal. My goals has to be to go without or only buy things at 50% off at least. Almost everything I got today was 70-75% off so I feel good about that, but I would be better of going for a long walk outside than stepping in a mall.

A dollar spent is a dollar spent and a dollar saved is a dollar. Which do I want, I spent dollar or a dollar?