We all are familiar
with the term "cost of living". I even worked at a job years
ago where we frequently received COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) bumps to our
paycheck.
But I never really
thought about the phrase until recently, never thought about what it really
says: "living" costs money. I never thought about how much living we want to do needs to be
worth the money we spend doing it. It occurred to me last month when I
had the opportunity to get away for two fun weekends in a row... each costing
money (of course.)
That opportunity might
not seem like a big deal to many, but I am thrifty, conservative. My husband might call me cheap. Regardless of the
term, spending money like that for two weekends in a row is a luxury I
typically wouldn't allow myself. Then I thought—why not? I know many
people with the work-hard-play-hard motto, and I've got to say, they look like
they're having the time of their lives.
I've worked hard for
my money, as we all do, and in the past have at times had to live hanging by a financial shoestring. Now that I have spending money, I'm having a hard time actually spending it,
on me anyway. No problem spending it on others (something I used to
wonder about when I'd see my parents and grandparents do the very same thing.)
I had to really think
about what I was working for. Wasn't I supposed to be enjoying this prime of my life? Aren't we all? Yes, there are so many
out there, barely getting by. The last thing they have is money to spend
on having fun. And I think about many fun activities I enjoy, like
playing cards, that don't cost a dime. Spending money doesn't equal
happiness. I get that.
But I also know that
going on these weekend getaways was well worth the cost for me. And that
the "cost" of not living life to the fullest, isn't worth the money saved. I'm not big into New Year
Resolutions, but for 2015 my goal will be to do more “living.” How about you? What do you hope for your future?
