When it comes to birthdays and anniversaries, my husband and I are always very low key. We will usually make dinner together and exchange a card. We might get a gift card or something small for one another. We know that it is not about the things, it is that we are together and celebrate it with one another.
However, a few years back, we decided to have a big celebration. It was our ten year anniversary and we decided it was time for us to take a trip – just the two of us.
When we started planning, we really were thinking we should not spend much at all. Maybe a couple of days away from home staying a budget hotel. Then, my husband brought up a very good point.
He looked me straight in the face and said “We deserve more.”
“WE DESERVE MORE”
In that moment, I knew he was right. We did deserve this time away. We deserved to actually spend that money we had been saving up. What were we saving it for anyhow? Our emergency fund was full funded. We had the money to pay for it in cash, so there was no issue of debt.
We sat down and I told him that one place I would love to visit is Mackinac Island in Michigan. He instantly agreed with me. With that, we began to plan our trip.
We did not go overboard. We stayed on the island in a nice hotel. We ate at wonderful restaurants. We opted to fly and then rent a car rather than spend days driving.
We were gone for about 5 days. We both came back so relaxed and rejuvenated. We had no guilt. There was no remorse of spending the money.
We had no credit cards waiting for us. The kids had parents who had a chance to just get away and could allow them to focus on them again. Best of all, it allowed the two of us the chance to reconnect without children. We both needed (and deserved it).
The reason I share our story is to remind you of why you are saving money. Life is too short not to splurge once in a while. You have to take the time out to just enjoy the special people in your life. You never know if tomorrow will come or not, so enjoy it while you can. We did. And we had no regrets at all.