I’m feeling very down in the dumps about my finances these days.
I guess it’s because when I started getting serious about getting my finances under control – almost four years ago – I felt like there was going to be some kind of “end.” I thought there would come a day when I would feel financially comfortable enough to buy a house, take a vacation, have a wedding. That day hasn’t come yet, and I’m starting to feel like it never will.
The older I get, the more I understand what my dad has been saying my whole life, “it’s always something.” You need a new car. Your computer dies. Your pet gets sick. There will always be something popping up that requires a hefty financial investment to fix or solve. That is, there will always be something to interfere with your financial goals. It’s very discouraging, very disheartening, especially when I feel like I pour so much time and energy into keeping my finances in order.
Yes, I’ve made a lot of financial progress and I’ve learned a lot about managing money. But when will I be able to let my guard down a little? When will I be able to go on a vacation? When will I be able to get excited about the idea of marrying my boyfriend instead of being panicked about how we’ll pay for the wedding or our home? In other words, when will all the budgeting, the planning, the scrimping, side hustles pay off?
I understand that keeping financially fit is a lifelong endeavor – you have to keep saving, keep avoiding debt, keep making frugal choices – but doesn’t it get easier at some point? Doesn’t there come a time when taking a spontaneous trip or paying for a $500 car repair doesn’t set you back three months from your financial goal of the moment? Or am I being naieve? Are finances an inherently stressful part of adult life…meaning that expecting to avoid that stress is a fool’s errand?
I suppose this post is sort of a downer, but I’d really appreciate some insight from my readers. Is there something I’m doing wrong, or are my expectations just out of whack? Do you always worry about finances, too? Or am I being too obsessive? Any advice or thoughts you have would be great!
