12. Morgan and Alex easily started to argue when Morgan decided to spend a (relatively) large sum of money when going to the movie theater and on unneeded food, such as a large drink and sweet rolls. Alex wanted to spend as little money as possible in order to save up for a more dire time, while Morgan felt it was important to spend money on things they enjoy. This difference in views led to much debate over what should be done with their money. Their difference opinions even led to the two of them arguing in front of Morgan’s niece and nephew. The underlying feelings that likely caused these monetary debates is a tension between fears about a survival safety net and the need to have something they enjoyed in their life. Because Alex and Morgan were living on minimum wage, they were forced to live paycheck by paycheck. If they were to get into an accident they feared they might not be able to pay off the cost. At the same time, Morgan believed that if they did not get a chance to do anything they enjoyed there would be no point in them living. Balancing the fear of losing everything and the need to live their lives is what caused Alex and Morgan to argue.
1. Alex and Morgan worked hard to budget effectively over the thirty day period, but there were some bumps in the road. They made sure to put money in the “bank” (a tin can they kept in their cupboard) so that way they would have extra money in case of an emergency. This ended up being a smart idea because both Morgan and Alex ended up needing to go to the emergency room during the thirty days. While this use of their “bank” ended up being effective, Morgan was more willing to spend money on discretionary things. However, Alex thought they should only spend on needs. Morgan wasted more money on things he wanted (but didn't need) than he should have, and then found himself in a difficult situation because of these choices. Since both Alex and Morgan ended up needing to go to the emergency room, the money the pair saved in their “bank” was not enough to cover the cost for the bills. Had Morgan saved his money instead of spending over $80 when his niece and nephew visited, and $50 on dinner for Alex’s birthday, the pair’s debt would have been smaller. While it is important to spend some money on fun activities, like going to the movies or eating at a nice restaurant, Morgan was unable to recognise how to balance a good time with spending a reasonable amount to have fun in comparison to the money he earned.
Hey its Kayla Lesch! I completely agree with what you said about why Morgan and Alex were arguing, even in families that have stable incomes it is extremely stressful to balance enjoyment with survival. America has a 60% divorce rate and the number one reason for this is economic arguments. I think this is so sad and hopefully can one day change.
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