Does more spending mean more community?

Throughout this blog we have noted a lot of people following the pattern of spending as a way of being with others or growing in community. In many of the previous interviews, it has been a more complex process to derive the reasoning for spending, but in this interview with Hanna, her reason for spending is a little more obvious.

CRU is a student ministry group on campus that has weekly meetings, smaller group meetings, and super fun events throughout the year. Hanna is a senior and states that she has consistently spent money on the CRU events.  These events are created with the purpose of building community, but are also much more expensive than going out to eat once a week. Does the importance of being in community during these events change Hanna's spending? 

One of the events Hanna saves to attend. 

1)How did you decide you wanted to go forth in this purchase? 

 There are several CRU events throughout the year that I know I will be spending money on so I make sure I save enough money to attend the events. There is the raft trip, fall retreat, CRU conference, and women's retreat. The retreats are generally between $40-80, but the conference is around $300.

2) Do you set a budget for spending on this type of stuff? Did you change your spending budget after this purchase? 

I set aside or save up enough to attend the events. This means eating out less, not buying luxuries, and being minimalistic when it comes to spending.

3) Have you forgone participating in other activities or purchasing other items in order to purchase this/these item(s)?

As stated above, I spend less money in order to save money to attend these events.

4)How much would you say your spending habits have changed while in college? (1-10 scale)

 Seven. I didn't have a job in high school so coming to college and working one or two jobs gave me more money to spend, but I also had other responsibilities such as rent and food. I've had to work on my spending habits and decide what I can or cannot spend.

5)Do you think you will continue to spend the same after college? 

 After college I won't have all these events to attend so I believe it will change. However, there will always be other things I end up spending my money on. I'll spend money on different things, but I will continue to spend money on what I am passionate about, but mainly what is necessary in my life (rent, food, etc).

This is the strongest link I've seen between community and spending, and commitment is shown. These events truly affect Hanna's spending since they cost more, but it also shows the importance that Hanna places on attending these events. For many college students, we will drop a couple dollars on a coffee, but dropping $300 for something takes a long-term budgeting commitment.

This led me to wonder... Is it worth spending more for a direct link to community, rather than just getting coffee with a friend? It seems as though it is.  By spending more for guaranteed time with friends and community, students are showing a direct link between reasoning and spending.  Both of these instances: CRU events and simply having coffee with friends get to the end principle of being with someone else. But is it the fact that these CRU events are made to build community that it is worth it? Rather than one time at coffee these events involve numerous days of fun activities that focus on building community, making it seem as though it is more intentional and overall more worth the money. 

As these blogs and interviews continue, the link between community and spending will become blurrier as I begin to interview others who are focusing their spending on hobbies, larger purchases, and pursing adulthood.