Travel: “I Can’t Afford It”
When I get inspired to do something, I go in 200%. I will read books, subscribe to blogs and Instagram posts to help me understand more about what I want to do and how I can do it quicker, better and avoid pitfalls other people have done before me.
There’s a big part of me that longs to be inspired, so I read, and read and read and then something just clicks.
“…One Dad had a habit of saying, ‘I can’t afford it.’ The other Dad forbade those words to be used. He insisted I ask, ‘How can I afford it?’ One is a statement and the other is a question. One lets you off the hook and the other forces you to think.” Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kawasaki
The quote just wouldn’t leave me. For days it was in my head and wouldn’t leave. What a powerful perspective. Instead of cutting off the thought with “I can’t afford it” you could engage your creative mind to find a solution and figure out ways to make it happen.
AlienDaddy and I discussed the quote over coffee. He was fired up about the thought, too. We are on year one of a three-year journey to pay off debt and our house. Logically we should cut out our vacations to get it done quickly, but realistically we both need a break from our everyday and we both get Wanderlust pretty bad.
Both my husband and I are fairly logical people. How we approach problems is different. I look more for the big picture and then zero in on the details, while my husband looks more at the details and then the big picture. For example; if someone said go get the garbage can, I’d get the nearest one. If someone told him to get the garbage can, he’d ask “Do you mean the green one by the fence?” Even though it’s the only garbage can around.
How we process information is the same though. Get information and find a solution. We decided to use this approach to finance our vacations. What could do to keep us on track but still be able to afford to take the vacations we love so much.
AD wanted to define our vacations by using very specific terminology. Adventure, Getaway and Vacation. Which I wouldn’t have thought of but made the whole process so much simpler.
- Adventure: zoo, community fair, things in our backyard
- Getaways: weekend or extended weekend travel, usually involving a hotel room. Might involve an airplane
- Vacations: lasting a week or more. Usually involving an airplane and hotel rooms.
Since we have the Debt Free in Three goal, AD has been working extra hours, but it’s hard to just work and work to pay off debt. It’s not really sexy. Nothing to keep you motivated. Without a reward somewhere along the way, it’s just work, work, work.
We already know we’ll go on at least one adventure a month – it’s in the budget, so that’s a no brainer. But we also want to go on three getaways and a vacation every year.
We brainstormed for a bit and came up with the right solution for us. We decided 30% of all overtime money and ‘found’ money would fund our adventures and vacations. Yeah, I realize we will be in debt for a bit longer, but as hard as my husband is working for our family, the return on investment is worth it.
“How can I afford it” What a powerful phrase.
