Tyrone Schiff Sociology 315You Used a Dollar for What?Many years ago, the process of trading spices from India and silks from Chinawas a tough and tedious process. Back then, these and thousands of other objects wereexchanged for a fair price. Figuring out just how much and which particular object togive took a great deal of reasoning on both sides of the transaction. Although themonetary system in place today is far more uniform than it was back then, there are stillintegral components of these ancient techniques that persist. Money, although practicallyidentical in all physical properties, has a variety of different uses based on where themoney came from, who the money came from, and what the money is intended for.People will mentally ration their money into groups based on unconscious social rules.Therefore, money is not exclusively economic, and the use of it is highly contingent onsocial cues derived from one’s community.One of the greatest champions of non-fungibility, the concept that the use of adollar is not consistent in all cases, is Viviana Zelizer of Princeton University. In her essay, “The Social Meaning of Money: ‘Special Monies’,” she asserts the following aboutthe prevailing perception of money, “Special money in the modern world may no be aseasily or visibly identifiable as the shells, coins, brass rods, or stones of primitivecommunities, but its invisible boundaries emerge from sets of formal and informal rulesthat regulate its uses, allocation, sources, and quantity” (350-1). Zelizer could not bemore accurate about her assessment of money. The purpose of this paper will be tofurther prove Zelizer and illustrate through personal experience that these “boundaries”are real and occur in every day life.1

Keep in mind that when dealing with money and its budgeting, it is critical tounderstand that all of the use and interaction one has with money is drenched in socialrules. These rules may not be perfectly conscious to the individual as it occurs, but thesesocietal standards are at work constantly. In particular, this paper will address the boundaries associated with money. Where money comes from has tremendousramifications on the usage of it.In my own personal budget, I receive money from many different sources, andalthough I hardly notice it, I instinctively use those monies for distinctive purposes. Inorder for me to go to the University of Michigan, especially being an out-of-state student,I have to take out massive loans. These loans are transferred to my bank account by SallieMae, a company that provides students with loans. There are two important things to notehere. First, these funds are placed into my personal bank account with other money Ialready have, however, I earmark, or mentally account, for this money in my personal bank account that is from Sallie Mae. If I use this money on frivolous things, I will not beable to buy books or pay for my rent and tuition. Second, the money that I receive fromSallie Mae is a special type of money that I set aside. Although it is combined in ageneral pool of money, my bank account, I mentally separate my loan money from therest.Money that comes from institutions does not always have to have a rigid set of planned out expenses. I receive a check from my job that I have here on campus everytwo weeks. This money comes to me as a result of my own hard work, and therefore, Ican use the money on whatever I wish. However, I always keep in mind how muchmoney I have to spend on unnecessary items as to not tap into my loan.2

This brings up an interesting point about the fact that who we receive money fromfurther changes the usage of money. The following example harps on the gender rolesthat Zelizer discussed in great detail in her paper. Although the function of money in thisexample does not directly imply a superiority of one gender over another, there aredistinct differences in the usage of the given monies.My mother and father both send me money from time to time, but they give memoney for completely different expenses. My parents are divorced, so it is unlikely thatthey discuss their intentions for the money they give me. For instance, my mother sendsme some money for common day-to-day and living expenses. She never specifically tellsme what the money should be used on, but she makes it known that it is just to have anduse. This is where my social rules that govern the usage of my funds come in to play. Itypically use this money to go out and eat with friends, buy a new piece of clothing, or pick up some things from the grocery store. These are typically the types of expenses thatmy mother intends for me to make with the money she gives me.On the other hand, when my father gives me money it is usually for bigger expenses that happen more infrequently. When he gives me money it is usually for a plane ticket home or for my books at the beginning of the semester. These are larger onetime expenses that I understand is the purpose of him giving money to me. Though it isnot completely explicit in either case as to what to use the money on directly, I earmark each of the monies I receive from the different parent and use it on different thingsaccordingly. Clearly, based on who I receive money from it changes the way that I usethat money furthering the non-fungibility inherent to money.There are also times in which I am given money for specific purposes and this of 3