Managing life’s surprises is possible with just a little forethought. I am a planner and a list-maker. Both help me organize my day to day life. I plan my vacations weeks ahead of time, and I wait till shoes go on sale before buying mine. I like making gifts and do my own house decorating and repair. As a business owner, I am self-employed. A year-long budget which also includes a ten-year spending plan that includes expensive items like a car, computer and mattress keeps me feeling prepared.
Am I in control? Well, mostly.
Shop for Sales
This is the Mattress Year. So, when Labor Day sales popped up, I knew exactly what I needed: that new mattress and a new sofa. Perfect time to get a good deal, and I had planned for the expense of both. Naturally, I liked the bigger sofa, better fabric, firmer bed and stain-preventive coatings. I knew if I were careful, I could replace the extra $800 by the end of the year. I took a breath – and ordered exactly what I wanted. These two items were it for the rest of my life. Seriously – last ones I’ll ever buy.
Manage Life’s Surprises: Have Good Friends to Talk to
Afterwards, I panicked. So much money! I could have lived a bit longer with the old sofa. Dang it – I could have made a slipcover for it! I grabbed my phone and called my favorite problem-solver. She’s a former math teacher, calm and completely logical.
“You’ve been talking about a sofa for two years now! You can make up this money easily by early next year. It’s in your budget plan,” she reminded me. “Your mattress is 30 years old! You really need a new one. You’ll be okay, and don’t forget that you can make all your holiday gifts to save even more.”
Right. She was so right! After a lovely long walk, I did some deep-breathing. Then, I called my daughter and Facetimed with my 3 year-old grandson.
“I bought a new sofa today!” I told him.
Then, “I bought a new robot today!” he answered, showing me his newest Transformer.
I went to bed relaxed, back in control and certainly looking forward to the new mattress. I fell right to sleep.
Develop Friendly, Long-term Relationships with Your Doctors
At 3:00 a.m. I jerked awake with something crunchy in my mouth. Horrified, I realized that I had bitten down on a porcelain cap and cracked it in half. The Bad Surprise I hadn’t planned for.
The next morning, after the dentist looked in my mouth he asked me if I was stressed about something.
“I am now! How much will this cap cost?”
“$1300. We have to replace the whole thing. You’ve destroyed it,” he answered, kindly. Tears rolled down into my ears. He felt so bad for me that he put his hand on my shoulder and in sympathy dropped the price to $1,000. “Labor Day sale!” he joked, and I opened my mouth for the inevitable numbing shot.
Here’s my advice: be sure you shop sales, have good friends, and love your health care professionals. Because you just can’t plan for those Bad Surprises.
FOUR WAYS TO GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST
Christy Steiger, Writer, Teacher, and Textile Artist – You will find Christy either behind her sewing machine, making lists, editing Dorothy’s books, counseling friends or stirring up conversation in The Aging Abundantly Circle Meet-Up group. She’s a gem of a human being and a valued member of The Aging Abundantly Community.
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Great guest post from Christy. Yes, for sure you have to leave room in the budget for the ‘unforeseen’ needs and repairs. I love to shop but I refuse to pay full price for anything – that way I can shop more because I get such good prices. That’ my logic, lol. 🙂 🙂
I hunt for sales, too! My sister gets annoyed with me because I say things like “I could sew that for half the price” when we shop for clothes. The funny thing is that I rarely do that — but it’s a good reason to walk away from that too-expensive jacket. I think it’s a fun challenge to get a great deal with a sale price or coupons. That makes me as happy as whatever I bought!
I identify with Christy completely and suspect her planning skills and love of frugality have their roots in family upbringing and perhaps temperament (Myers-Briggs scale?) Like you, I save coupons and waited for the date I could get the shoes I wanted at DSW. As my blog posts will attest, being thrifty and frugal is woven into the fabric of my Mennonite upbringing.
And I’m glad the woe-is-me reaction worked to give you a price slash at the dentist’s office. Thank you for this entertaining post, Christy, and to Dorothy for featuring you today! 🙂
I felt a bit guilty about my reaction at the dentist’s office! One of my friends said, “Oh, just like crying to get out of a speeding ticket!” My dentist knows I no longer have dental insurance, so it was kind of him to give me a reduced fee. I’ve been going to him for over 35 years — so that relationship is important. I am very careful with my money, and you’re right that I learned it from my parents. I’ll be forever grateful to them for that!