I’ll confess, I’m not great with change.
In all aspects of my life, not just vacations, I am not someone who goes with the flow easily. I don’t trust the flow. Why is the flow so flowy? What is the flow’s ulterior motive?
There are some people, like my beloved Mr. B, who deal very well with setbacks. Mr. B is a take it all in stride kind of guy. When trouble kicks on his door, he answers it, and says, “Ok, trouble, I see you. Where do we do go from here?”
I feel the same way about trouble as I do about the flow.
So when I hit a solo trip savings setback this week, I was ready to throw in the towel. Mr. B, made of sturdier stuff, was like “how can we fix this?”
Long story short: the airline credit that was supposed to get me to and from Orlando for my solo trip is no longer on the table. It’s a long, drawn out story that involves fine print and tears (gotta love these post pregnancy hormones), but what’s done is done. So what next?
Truthfully, the solo trip was designed because we had that airline credit. It was enough for one person to use before it expired, and we certainly were not ready for a big family trip with the Teacup being so small and so reluctant to sleep when she is supposed to. Without the credit, was there even a solo trip?
Mr. B says yes, there is still a solo trip. I say no, because now I have to save an extra $250. Mr. B says if anyone can do it, I can do it. I say that I don’t want to do it, I just want to sit on the couch, eating the prunes the Frying Pan refuses to eat, and feeling sorry for myself. Because here is the thing: the solo trip was really a means to an end, the end being using the airline credit. With that no longer a need, why not just scrap the solo trip and divert those funds to the 2021 Family Trip?
Mr. B says that I used to love taking solo trips, and that’s true. Mr. B says it’s been a long time since I’ve done something for myself, and that’s true, too. Mr. B says the 2021 Trip isn’t going anywhere, and we have years to save for it. I shouldn’t sacrifice something I really wanted to do for something that is going to happen anyway. And maybe that’s true. I didn’t have a good response for any of those points, so I flopped over on the couch, with my arm over my eyes, in an old timey pose of despair. Mr. B said, “Are you doing the dab?”
While there were some very good points made, mostly by me, we did not come to a conclusion. The thing about flows is that even if you decide to stop swimming against the tide and go just around the river bend, it takes a few minutes to change course. But that’s okay. I know, because Mr. B said so. I don’t need to come to a decision today. Or even tomorrow. I can take the time I need to get comfortable with the current, to try seeing the plan in a new light.
Since there is no decision, I’ve decided to keep saving as though I will be taking the trip. If I decide not to, I can always just funnel that money into the 2021 trip savings account, no harm, no foul.
February 2/27 Deposits
2021 Family Trip
Goal: $8000
After Last Deposit: $7975
Total Deposit: $25, Paypal Deposit from Swagbucks
Still Need: $7950
2019 Solo Trip
Goal: $1050
After Last Deposit: $1027.48
Total Deposit: $8.10
$3.10, from Grocery Rollover
$5, Paypal Deposit from Swagbucks
Still Need: $1019.38
What do you do when you hit a speed bump in your planning? Are you a go with the flow or fight the flow kind of person? What would you do in my position? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!