Remember that whole budget mode thing I started eight months ago? While I haven’t paid everything off, I’ve made significant changes in my life that have made quite an impact. Yet there’s one thing I won’t cut out of my life. Some might even call it an obsession.
Since living alone equates to financial responsibility for all expenses, I had to realistically evaluate what defines a want vs. a need. Cable and internet? Gone, replaced by Red Box. Going out to lunch every day? Doesn’t happen, replaced by a brown bag. New clothes? Purchased only when truly needed. Painful decisions, hard to adjust to, that eliminated luxuries enjoyed by a girl who couldn’t afford them: Me.
Incidentally, the same girl who’s traveling to four out-of-state marathons next year, all which involve hefty registration fees, airline tickets, and hotel stays.
My mom pointed out if I stopped doing them for a while, I’d save a significant amount of money. And she’s right. But at the mere mention of this, my head started reeling. So I started working more part-time events, started clipping more coupons, and started watching prices even more closely. Still not satisfied, I brainstormed with friends who referred me to a credit union. Finally, a financial solution was discovered that allows me to both achieve my financial goals and travel for my marathons.
Books like The Secret claim if we think about something long enough, “the universe” will hand it over. Just like that. And while I think this is a load of crap, I can relate to an indirect truth to this theory.
I believe if we want something bad enough, and we think about it long enough, we become obsessed with it. And once we are obsessed with it, giving up on it is not an option. And because we refuse to give up, we are pushed to come up with creative solutions we may not have otherwise spent time researching and considering.
I’m in budget mode. But come hell or high water, those 50 states are getting done. No matter what, that’s the one thing I won’t give up.
What’s yours?
I’ve given up traveling for races. But I wont give up traveling to see my best friends for important events. Bridal shower, you bet, even though i think they are stupid. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Best friend on the other coast is lonely and struggling, I’m there and we’ll go to a Badger game together.
You cut out something important to you, but find a way to make traveling to see your friends happen, no matter what. I love it.
I’ve ban all shoe shopping, running and non, all running clothing, and regular clothing for now.
Me too. I need to re-ban going out too much, as the last two weeks I’ve been bad! But, I’ve been much better :)
I REFUSE to give up racing. If I went one whole season without racing, I could make a significant impact on my bills, etc. Granted, I don’t do quite as many races as I used to (last year I had some every weekend of the month).
So you scaled back, but didn’t eliminate – nice thinkin’ :)
I registered last night for the Little Rock Marathon!!!! Woohoo! Hope to see ya there! :)
Hurray!!!!! We are totally meeting up at the post party or at the expo! I love the theme – “Lucky” :)
I’ve had that exact same thought — if I were to not be doing all these out-of-state races, I’d have a lot more in my savings account. But then, if I had all that money in my savings account, I’d probably think, man, I can afford to race some new states.
So really, I’d end up doing the same thing. And yes, it seems like running is my one thing as well. I’m very parsimonious with my food budget, tend to only buy clothes when I absolutely must, and don’t necessarily buy “stuff” ever, which is sort of a blessing. But running is one place where I will splurge happily, especially Disney races, which tend to burn the biggest holes in your running pockets.
Yeah, Disney World Marathon was a huge dent in my checking account, but I do all of these for the entire experience (I’m a 100% back of the pack runner) so I feel justified when I splurge on those. After all…Mickey Mouse hanging out on course? Come ON! How could you not justify paying more for that! :)