I broke the rules yesterday. My sister (who will be starting a full-time job very soon) offered to watch the kids (for free!). Knowing that offer will not happen any time soon (due to said job), we took her up on it and headed to the movies with 2 free movie coupons.
Turns out the movie time for the 3D version of Avator (which is the only way to see the movie, I think) had been misread by a member of our team (names will not be mentioned). The showing we wanted to see was sold out and hence a problem. We had two hours to kill before we could see the version we wanted but what to do?
So…we went out for an appetizer, which we shared, and two drinks. The bill was slight and the night was awesome. (There was so much about that movie I liked!) BUT as I sat in the resteraunt, I felt guilty. I broke the rules.
As Matt reminded me, sometimes it is okay to break the rules. Sometimes. This was once. We had a great time out and the evening cost us around $25 (which is a pretty cheap date I think!)
So back on the wagon I go. I realized, after analyzing my feelings last night, that this money challenge has gone deeper than just a “can I do it” routine. I am genuinely enjoying saving money and feel bad when money is spent. That’s a major turn in attitude for this spender!
I was born in Jos, Nigeria many years ago. I spent the next nineteen years living in Liberia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Time with hubby should not count, but it’s better to have spending be the exception than the norm. I thought about you while I impulsively bought a few toys that we didn’t need yesterday (the two left on the shelves of Target’s 75% off sale).
Good for you! Your husband’s right–guidelines that help us live in line with our principles are wonderful and helpful, but rigid “rules” that become a force in and of themselves are made to be broken.
We’d all be so much better off if we could learn to balance those things.
I thought of you this morning–my husband and I were readjusting our monthly budget to reflect what we actually made last year (he’s self-employed, so it fluctuates), and decided to go back to the envelope system. It’s going to be an adventure, that’s for sure!