June Is Bustin’ Out All Over

Hello Week 5 of Project Money!  Ever feel like your spending is just busting out all over?  Life ever get you down?  Save up a little nest egg and WHAM life knocks you down with unexpected expenses?  This week for me, it was an unexpected broken garage door and a prescription that was more expensive than expected because the generic version was not available.  These are topics many of us can relate to.  Yes, I know it’s July but these thoughts are apropos during any month, and this week I wanted to spend time reflecting on the concept of balancing one’s savings and spending while using the frame of Rodger and Hammerstein’s classic 40’s Broadway musical titled Carousel.  As a bit of a side note, I happen to be partial to the musical as my daughter was in this production during her high school career.  Yeah Grace!   

In Carousel, there are two plot lines.  One involves a carousel barker by the name of Billy Bigelow who falls in love with mill worker Julie Jordan.  Bigelow gets into trouble but is given a chance to make things right. A second plot line discusses another millworker named Carrie Pipperidge who falls for a local fisherman, Enoch Snow.  In gathering inspiration for this show, Rodgers who owned a house out East suggested a New England setting for the musical.  In The New York Times article from April 15, 1945, Hammerstein was quoted as saying, “I began to see an attractive ensemble — sailors, whalers, girls who worked in the mills up the river, clambakes on near-by islands, an amusement park on the seaboard, things people could do in crowds, people who were strong and alive and lusty…”

My first Project Money video from a couple weeks ago had a Carousel-like setting in the picturesque Door County Wisconsin, often referred to as the “Cape Cod” of the Midwest, a locale that I spent years dreaming of and now finally made visiting it a reality.  If you watched the video, I discussed a few simple ways to save money while vacationing in Door County or elsewhere.  Tips included such things as camping in a tent or camper trailer instead of bunking in a hotel, entertaining oneself by bringing along books, board games or other hobbies, spending time outdoors with a pair of binoculars or a camera, biking, hiking, or swimming, and overall just being a smart consumer.  This was the first vacation I have ever taken where I did not come home with clothes from boutiques I charged on a credit card or souvenir t-shirts — plural.  My boyfriend and I enjoyed eating out a bit as we are just familiarizing ourselves with our camper, so surely next time we will be cooking more inside our camper.  One “splurge” we made was purchasing a pass for Wisconsin state parks.  In just three visits, we will have gotten our money's worth compared to buying a daily pass (10 dollars for a day pass vs. 28 dollars for a yearly pass).  While the weather was rainier than expected, we were able to enjoy Peninsula State Park, three lighthouse tours, and a bit of fudge and some pizza from my new favorite restaurant: Wild Tomato.  Check it out.  While there was no clambake, I did treat myself to a cup of chowder. Samples of everything cherry were readily available and the views were breathtaking.  Well almost.  The 97 steps of the Cana Lighthouse challenged my fear of heights as I enjoyed the unconventional tractor ride over the causeway a bit more. 

Additionally, I worked with my financial coach Jess this week with Summit’s Money Minder app, setting up separate sub savings accounts related to both short term and long term goals.  So in July, money will be funneled directly from my paycheck to these various buckets.  When brainstorming these separate accounts, we devised such topics as a bathroom remodel, weekend getaway, car loan, tuition, emergencies, holiday spending, etc.  By having these separate buckets, I am really paying myself first as I place value on things that are important to me.  I look forward to “piloting” my savings this way and seeing what works and what doesn’t. 

Fun Fact of the week? — Whether you decide to take a staycation or travel near or far, take time to think outside the box.  Sometimes it is okay to spend a little money to create memories and spend time with those you love.  I know it may sound morbid, but with the death of Billie in Carousel, we are reminded about the transience of life; death truly stalks us every day for we do not know when a day or an hour or a moment could be our last.  “Look around! Look around! Look around!” Take a cue from Carousel when life has you down — “When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark.  At the end of the storm is golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.  Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone.  You’ll never walk alone.”  Won’t you walk with me?   #TeamSara #10K  #embracethejourney  #ProjectMoney2018 #SummitCreditUnion #Lifeistooshortnottotakerisks