Studies have shown that people who are serious about their finances tend to regret big purchases or vacations immediately after making the purchase or incurring the expense. Logic dicates that someone who is very serious about saving and putting money away to secure their financial future doesn't want to part with the money or to treat themself.
The same studies show that as years go by, people tend to feel the opposite. Which is to say, three years down the road people still do not regret spending $1000 to go on vacation. Instead, they regret if they DIDN'T go.
People feel guilty for enjoying themselves in the moment, but feel guilty for not enjoying themselves over the long term.
Until I became serious about my finances, my attitude in every situation was that you only live once. Do this now because you won't regret it when you look back on your life. I still feel this way to some extent.
Over the 4th of July this year all of my friends from college will be hanging out in Los Angeles. I've seen them all relatively recently for a wedding in NYC last year, but is once every few years enough really? I tend to think that's it's not. I'd love nothing more than to go out there for a few days over the holiday, to see everyone, catch up, and just have a good time. On top of that, I've never been to Los Angeles (I've been to LAX on my way to Australia but that doesn't count). I really, REALLY, want to go.
On the other hand, $500 for a plane ticket, $80-100 kennel costs to board Jack, $200+ for a missed day of work - that adds up. The $800-1000 I would spend going to Los Angeles could REALLY come in handy in other parts of my life. I'm still trying to get my finances together, build my savings, and get my house in order.
I find this to be an incredibly difficult decision.
Right now I'm leaning towards the following plan of action:
1) Take this opportunity, now, and this time only, to not go. Pay off the bills, establish the savings, get the house together. You miss one great time, but it's certainly not the last one.
2) Make sure that this doesn't happen again. I know for a fact this is what I want out of life. I want to be able to pick up and go across country (or globe) on a few months notice and have the money to do it. This is important to me. This is the type of financial independence I am striving for, ESPECIALLY before I have children. That's why it's critical that right now I get everything together and make sure that I don't miss the next trip, or the next trip, or the inevitable flood of weddings that are sure to come in to my life in the next few years.
This might mark the first time I've denied myself something I want so much but it's important in the long run. I want to make sure this doesn't happen again and I need to establish this base now. Making difficult decisions is never fun. :(
(GO UNC!!!)
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