A few days ago I got home from Australia, ending a two week period in which I spent as much money as I usually do in two months. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit spending that much hurt a bit.
I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit that it was an incredible experience. The people I met, places I visited, and memories I made will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Now, I was able to afford this trip because I don’t have any debt and I have a sizable financial safety net set up for myself. If you have debt, or don’t have enough savings to cover at least the next 6 months of your life, I would suggest that you work on those before spending hundreds of dollars on traveling. In fact, I would also suggest maxing out your Roth IRA for the year as well (which I did).
But life is all about balance. No one is happy spending 100% of their money, but I don’t think anyone is happy saving 100% of their money either. We all have to find what balance works for us. In the past, I’ve declined experiences with family, friends, or traveling to save money, and my trip to Australia was an interesting look at how the opposite mindset made me feel (declining saving to travel/spend time with friends).
I am still figuring out what the right balance is for myself, but I think it’s healthy to experiment to find what works for you. If you usually spend a lot of money, try cutting back and see if it’s a better balance. If you save all your money, try spending a little bit and see if it’s a better balance.
As the great philosopher Smash Mouth once said, “We could all use a little change.” This next month, I encourage you to try changing something or doing something new to find balance in your life. #MoneyGoals
(Pictured: Sunset in Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. May 21, 2017)