Have you come to that point? Have you said, “Enough! I want to buy the expensive coffee for once!” I’ve had my breaking point a time or two also, and I think it’s ok.
On the journey of debt freedom there is no weapon as effective as frugality. Nothing can beat the money-saving capabilities of a motivated person looking to cut every corner. Done with the right amount of intensity it can well qualify as a part-time job. I view my menu-planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation that way and it really helps me feel like I’m contributing to “the cause.” That cause being debt freedom.
However, if you’ll allow my corny analogy, the journey to debt freedom is not a leisurely, late summer walk; but rather a mid-winter hike up Everest. A person can come to the point where they say, “Enough!” and noone would probably blame them. Good work. At least you tried. However, you weren’t on a half-way hike up Everest. Your main purpose was to reach the summit. All of your labor, toil, pain and sacrifice was toward one solitary goal; Everest, freedom.
There will be times when you feel motivated and excited at what’s ahead; when you’re able to keep the final reward in sight, but as you continue your journey you feel equidistant as when you began, feeling as though you’ve made no progress, that every step has been in vain.
These times, when frugality seems pointless, like you sacrifice so many things for no realized gain, when you feel like there isn’t one more thing you could possibly give up; these are the defining moments in the journey. Will you press on or turn back? Those are your only real options; otherwise you are standing still in a frozen, barren terrain. Clearly, in the deepest part of your being you want to forge ahead, otherwise you would not have begun in the first place.
If you’ve come to that point, where you’re weary and you’ve just had enough, you might want to try taking a break. Don’t break the budget, but take a breath for a day or two and then pick up again. Do you have some vacation days at work? Take a couple in a row and do nothing. It might sound wasteful to you, but having your body and mind in the right place will make you a far more productive person in the months ahead. Sometimes all it takes is a small indulgence.
Today I was pretty frazzled and I’ve come close to that breaking point a few times lately, so ya know what I did? On the way to the library, with 3 little kids bundled up in the back seat, I went through the drive through of our local coffee shop and ordered my favorite coffee with cream and sugar (no milk and Splenda today!). That probably doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, but it was to me. I frequently cut my own indulgences for the benefit of our budget. Not because my husband forces me to, quite the contrary, it’s because I want to. I care about the cause. I care about what we’re working toward.
Sometimes all it takes is to stop for just a moment to regain your focus. Maybe the thing you’re forging ahead toward isn’t debt freedom but something else all together. The same principle applies. Anything worth working for is worth doing well. If a cup of coffee can clear my head and refocus my gaze then I believe it’s worth it.
Have you ever felt this way? I have to believe I’m not the only one. What are you working toward?
Why I do what I do ~ as soon as I’m done typing this sentence I’m going to go bake gingerbread cookies. I love to bake. Anyone want to come over and have some? 
photo credit: Caveman 92223
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that the little bit of ‘personal spending’ money in my budget is what keeps me on track. It’s not a lot, about 1% of my take home pay, but having that money that isn’t tracked is so liberating.
If I want a chai latte or knitting supplies – no guilt!
Exactly! The 1% idea is a good one.
I think for those exact reasons you posted about is why its so important to give yourself rewards for when you reach goals. My wife and I try to save as much money and pay off debt throughout the year, but every 6 months or so we reward ourselves by a weekend away, or buying some new clothes. etc. It really helps us feel good about what we’re doing.
I like the idea of a planned reward! It gives you something to look forward to.
I feel this way ALL THE TIME! Really, an awful lot of the time I feel like “What’s the point?” I then have to fight with my inner three-year-old who really, really, really wants those new shoes, and once I get over my little fit, I’m fine. But I do this quite a lot. I’m not sure I’m evolving very well…
Courtney’s last blog post..Green cupcakes…ham optional