As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been going back and forth about how to proceed in my journey. It seems there are two choices: (1) continue with gazelle-like intensity, spending nothing extra. Or, (2) keep intensity high, but allow for some spending exceptions. It seems to me now that I will take route two (already have), whether I set out to or not. Really, there’s nothing bad about spending a little money on fun when you’re putting hundreds of dollars toward your debt every month.
The major exception I’ve been making is on travel. Other stuff I can buy anytime, but travel comes with experiences and those are had or missed. When I am out of debt, maybe Summer 2011, I would like to do some traveling around California. I haven’t yet seen San Diego or San Francisco.
This year, I’ll be spending a few days of Spring Break in Arizona. It won’t cost me much. My dad bought my plane ticket (he insisted I not drive; I could write a whole post on my mixed feelings about accepting help from my parents). I don’t think I’ll be paying for the hotel. But, travel is never free and while my vacation time from the library will be paid, I will probably have to take time off from my second job and that time will not be paid. It all seems worth it, though, to get a break from my crazy schedule and some time by the pool with my brother, sister, and Dad.
I’m still deciding whether to attend Bloggers In Sin City. Vegas is not far away, so that’s almost no money on travel. It’s the hotel and food/drinks/entertainment once I get there that will be expensive. I love meeting bloggers (though meeting so many at once does overwhelm this shy girl) and I also love Vegas. I just don’t know. I can’t decide. It will probably depend on what my work situation looks like for the Summer.
My parents are visiting the weekend after Bloggers in Sin City. That won’t require any travel on my part, but it will still be a vacation. I had a great time when they last visited.
In July, I’m going to VidCon, which again won’t require much travel, but it’s an event I decided to make an exception for. All my favorite YouTubers in one place, plus some bloggers, and Ze Frank!!! My ticket is already paid for.
I always go home to Washington for a week during the Summer, but that’s not certain this Summer. It will depend if I have the vacation time and money for a plane ticket.
I think these are all valuable exceptions to the budget. It’s the work I’ve already put into getting out debt that is making any of this possible.
{ 4 comments }
I actually wrote about this “saving while paying down debt” on my blog today too! I am saving for a few things, namely, retirement and an emergency fund, but also for a couple of vacations. To me, I can’t completely deprive myself or I’ll go crazy and then just end up putting more money on my credit card. So I am saving a little bit – not too much, just enough to keep things fresh in my life – while putting hundreds on my credit card.
BTW – you should TOTALLY come to BiSC. I’m going. It’s one of the things I’m saving for.
Please come! You’re one of the bloggers I really want to meet.
Cheerio,
Allison
I’m psyching myself up to spend the money on plane tickets to CA for my reunion (Apr 29-May 2 — I’ll send you a fb message when it’s finalized!), but you’re right it’s about the experience, and this will be a memorable one!
i totally understand where you’re coming from. travel for me has always been the exception to any sort of budget i’ve ever made, mostly because i really can’t (and don’t) put a price on the experiences i’ve gained through traveling. but that said, plane tickets and all those travel extra’s are what primarily make up my huuuuuuuuuge credit card debt. it’s something i struggle with as well, and i’ve learned that i have to just be smart about it — save, then travel with real money, not plastic. seems so simple, but it’s so not.
You certainly have to leave that breathing room for those trips, and if they all don’t fit well into the budget you’ve carved out, then make sure you decide which ones are overall more valuable than others to you.
My budget doesn’t allow for consistent travelling — I refuse to take off more than one weekend per month — so I’m often choosing between this or that, but in the end, I try to make each worthwhile so I don’t feel bad about missing a different one.
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