Mary had spent most of her adult life being careful with money.
She saved. She budgeted. She invested. She thought twice before making a large purchase.
Those habits served her well.
So when Mary decided to take a cruise that would cost nearly $5,000, she hesitated.
She could afford it. The money was there.
But spending that much on herself still made her uncomfortable.
What if I need the money later?
She went anyway.
And she loved it.
She enjoyed the trip, the experiences and the memories. But she also discovered something else:
She enjoyed spending the money.
When she came home, she wasn't sorry she had spent nearly $5,000.
She was glad she had.
For most of Mary's adult life, her financial goal had been accumulation.
Earn it. Save it. Protect it. Grow it.
But perhaps there comes a point when some of that money has another purpose.
Not to accumulate more.
Not to protect it forever.
But to use it to make your life better.
That doesn't mean spending without thinking. Life is unpredictable, and being financially responsible means preparing for what might happen tomorrow.
But there is another question worth asking:
What happens when being careful with money becomes so important that you're afraid to use it?
That question isn't only for retirees.
A young person may hesitate to spend because they're building their first savings account. A parent may continually put off something they want because there are always other priorities. Someone approaching retirement may wonder whether they'll ever have enough.
Different stages of life.
Sometimes the same fear:
What if I run out?
Mary's cruise didn't make her financially irresponsible.
It changed her perspective.
She learned that spending some of her money didn't erase the years she had spent saving it.
The money is gone. The experience isn't.
Maybe that's the question worth asking yourself:
What are you afraid will happen if you spend this money?
Your answer might tell you something about your money.
And it might tell you something about yourself.
Richard Sowa, Founder – Read The Money Mirror
FINANCIAL DECISIONS ARE NEVER JUST FINANCIAL.
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