As Isaac and I were driving back from our long weekend in our hometown we started to talk about our trip to Europe (which won't happen until 2020). We talked about how excited we were to begin planning, where we wanted to go, what places we wanted to see. And then the dreaded "b" word came in...budget.
We've taken plenty of vacations within the states and always busted out the credit cards to pay for it. This time we are doing it the right way. We plan on going to Europe paying for everything up front with cash. This might not sound like a big deal to many, but it is to us. So the past few months we've put ourselves on a financial diet to help course correct some poor spending habits that we've developed.
One thing I'm doing to keep my priorities straight is to put this quote as my phone's wallpaper. It might seem like a small gesture but that's part of daily affirmations. I (just about) constantly have my phone on me so anytime I check the time (because I don't wear watches) or look at a notification there my affirmation will be.
And let's talk about the quote and it's meaning while we are on this topic. In my 20s I wanted stuff. All kinds of stuff. I was materialistic and constantly looking for something-anything new to purchase. Clothes, accessories, make up, hair products, you name it-I was buying it. And I have only about a handful of those "I-need-to-have-that" purchases today. Other than that those items are either in the trash, donated, or lost. I still find myself falling in to the "I-need-to-have-that" mentality and I don't know if I'll ever NOT be like that. I like clothes. I like accessories. I like shopping!
As I entered my 30s and have started to inch more and more towards my mid-30s, traveling and experiences have been weighing on my mind. And the experiences don't even have to be out of town. They can be going to a library or museum, or public park. They can be going to a free concert at La Cantera Mall or going to a jazz bar. It really doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm doing something.
There's an insightful article that I was reading right before I wrote this entry. It was my motivation behind this rant tonight. I'll post the link here in case you want to check it out. It touches on why we crave purchasing items, buyers remorse, and how experiences become a part of us, not things. I highly recommend reading it.
What are your thoughts on experiences and possessions?
PS: Fun fact - the first place Isaac and I traveled to was on our one year wedding anniversary to Disney World in Florida.
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