I’ve gotten a little flack at work from my budget posts. I think people think I’m kind of destitute by the way I budget.
I would like to be clear that we do make more then our budget affords. It is VERY important to me to live beneath our means. Every time we get a pay increase we put 1/2 of that amount into savings every month. I love a large amount in savings and it breaks my heart each time we write a check to ASU, but savings is meant to be there when you need it.
But, tonight we went with a bunch of friends on a bike ride/walking trip to the local park. Then, the parents sat around and chatted while the kids played.
And that is my dream.
My dream is a safe neighborhood, surrounded by great friends, with good friends for my kids where love and safety is everywhere.
My dream isn’t a cruise, my dream isn’t new cars or a bigger grocery budget.
That isn’t to say that I don’t really want those things. I’d love to travel more and experience a lot of things.
I’m just not sure that the feelings I’d have by doing/getting any of those things, would be all that much better then the experience I had just loving all my friends tonight.
I do think that money is very important up to a certain dollar amount. I think people can be very upset if their “needs” aren’t being met. Food, clothing, a basic mortgage. Up to that dollar amount I think money rules your happiness.
But once you reach an area where those basic needs are met and you’re getting a few extras. I think the happiness isn’t tied to money anymore. At least not for us. I do worry a lot about money. I worry about having enough and what account it should be. BUT, I worry about a lot of things, I’m a worrier, and money is just one of the things on my radar.
So, I just way to say that I am REALLY happy with our budget. Sure, I do hope that certain areas can expand at some point, but I do feel like I’m living my dream. Are you living yours?
Lynness says
So, do people at work think you’re bemoaning the pay rate or angling for a raise or something? Weird.
I read somewhere once that if you have everything you need and a little of what you want, then you’re rich. That’s probably the only definition by which we’ll ever be rich, but I agree. We are happy because we have our needs met and we have each other. I love that line to some song (not even sure what it’s called, but it gets stuck in my head sometimes) “It’s not getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got”.
However, the only way we have gotten all we need and a little of what we want is by careful stewardship of an income that is modest. i.e., Goodwill shopping, scratch and dent food stores, coupons and sales, hand-me-downs, DIY, yardsale furniture, etc. and simply going without sometimes, especially when it comes to the latest and the greatest electronics/toys/etc.
I think we’re pretty similar in that aspect, and a way to be a careful steward is all you’re trying to share. That ought to benefit anyone, so I just don’t get why you’d get flack for that.