Budgeting: Do I Have to Give up my Fun?

by Michelle Vandepas | More from this Blogger

27 Dec 2006 01:50 PM

Budgeting means giving up fun? Not.

Just because I'm budgeting now doesn't mean I've given up my gourmet coffee, spa days, and pedicures. It just means I have to plan for them a little better now.

By planning I don't mean that I call the day spa on the phone and schedule a week ahead. By planning I mean budgeting the money - and saving for it when necessary.

I'm lucky that my Hubby understands that I need to have massages, a crochet addiction, and pedicures occasionally.

It is true: I need these things.

I crochet as it feeds my creative impulses.

I need massage for my own peace of mind and to help my stress level.

I need the pedicures because I do yoga and I look at my bare feet every morning.

These things help me feel luxurious, so I feel like I'm having fun in the world. They make my heart sing.

Hubby has his own list. Good wine, road and mountain biking gear, and we are both travelers. We love to go to new places every year.

Does this mean we have unlimited money? Nope. It just means we have to plan for these things, and give up something else.

We choose where to spend our money. We can choose to spend it ALL on travel and then eat rice and beans every day.

Budgeting means being conscious - aware - of how you spend your money and making choices that work for you and your family.

In agreement, together. - (but that's another blog post).

We've chosen to stop eating out. Not entirely, but mostly. When I was working we used to eat out several times per week. That's not unusual. Many families eat dinner out, or bring home prepared meals.

One financial adviser I know said the average family spends between $800 - $1,000 per month on meals out and groceries.

Ouch!

We aren't anywhere near that figure.

I also do everything less than I used to. In my working days I'd pop in for a pedicure every month. Now I have a couple in the sandal season, and one in the winter. I paint my own toes when the mood strikes and I bought one of those buffer things for my scratchy heels. (sorry to all the guys reading if this is just too much information).

Hubby watches sales and asks for his bike paraphernalia for Christmas and Birthday. He doesn't need a new bike every couple of years either - like his truck, he's taking very good care of it. His attitude is one of thankfulness that he doesn't need to give up his hobby because of our budget. Far from it, we just spend less, and we spend it less often.

But we still have fun.

What are your hobbies you won't give up? What will you give up so you can keep them?

Learn more about Michelle Vandepas

In a previous life, Michelle was president of a medical manufacturing company, and then in private practice as a holistic business consultant.

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