Guest post from Leah
As a longtime reader of MoneySavingMom.com, I have learned the importance of wisely budgeting to mitigate emergencies. In fact we know that using money wisely can turn an emergency to an inconvenience.
What I didn’t realize is that sticking to a budget also allows me to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
Earlier this year, the opportunity arose to take a trip to Greece, with a longtime mentor. Now I’d never been out of North America before, let alone to Europe; but I’ve been trying to say “yes” to life’s opportunities. So I considered.
Unfortunately, it was $2,000 for a 10-day trip!
Gulp. Big decision. To make it worse, I had only about two days to decide.
This was not something to be considered lightly, but after some deliberation and counsel, the answer was clear – YES. I said yes to Greece!
It may seem like an impulsive decision to spend $2,000 with only two days to think about it, but honestly, this decision is the fruit of years worth of budgeted living.
I would have never been able to say “yes” to this trip if I hadn’t:
- Worked my way through college, staying debt-free
- Paid for a used car with cash instead of purchasing new
- Shopped almost exclusively at thrift stores for clothes
- Minimized eating out expenses
- Used the library for all book / entertainment needs
- Made the commitment to save reasonably and always live beneath my means
Now I did sell some items on Amazon.com, and I also dedicated some money from my tax return to offset the cost of the trip, but I know that if it hadn’t been for many years of faithful budgeting, this decision never would have been possible.
Seven cities and two countries later, and I caught the travel bug. I can’t wait to go back!
So when you cancel that subscription, or pass by that department store in favor of the thrift store, or choose to purchase your furniture from Craigslist, or check that book out of the library instead of purchasing it new, or when you say “no” once again to something that others consider necessary, just remember that it is for a purpose.
We choose to live intentionally so that we can not only handle life’s catastrophes, but also so that we can live a full life on our OWN terms, not just surviving, but thriving. Taking advantage of every opportunity!
What have you said “yes” to because of budgeted living?
Leah is the oldest of four girls, works in the restaurant development world with a degree in Business Management, and enjoys exploring intentional living. This includes meaningful relationships, CrossFit, long-distance running, good books, and maybe the occasional piece of dark chocolate.
A testimony from Sarah
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