The Best Money You’ll Ever Spend
(Please note that the stories and examples in this blog have been shared with permission.)
I met up with a friend last month, and she arrived looking exhausted. “I know, I know. I look terrible. I had the worst night’s sleep. My mattress is so uncomfortable.”
So I asked the obvious question, “Why don’t you get a new mattress?”
She went on to say that her husband sleeps lousy too, and that their mattress is lumpy and squeaky. It’s the same one they got when they were married, which makes the mattress twenty years old. They’ve been intending to get a new bed for years but hadn’t taken the time to go to the store and choose something new. I told her that when we had purchased a new bed several years ago, it made a huge difference in our quality of sleep and ultimately our quality of life. I never knew how uncomfortable our old bed was until we got the new one.
My friend acknowledged how ridiculous the situation had become, and committed in that moment to making a date with her husband to get a new mattress.
A week later, she called to say she felt like a renewed person. “Our new bed is like sleeping on a cloud. Seriously, this is the best sleep we’ve had in years. And this was the best money we’ve spent in a long time.”
Another friend of mine recently had Lasik eye surgery to correct her vision. She’s been wearing glasses since second grade. She is now 52. A few weeks after the surgery, she shared with me that she has a different quality of life. To wake up in the middle of the night and be able to see perfectly, or to go swimming in the lake and be able to open her eyes under water— is miraculous to her. She said, “I don’t know why I waited until now to do this. It’s some of the best money I have ever spent.”
Take a moment to think about something in your life that’s an inconvenience. What is it that you continue to tolerate, even though you know you could fix it or improve it?
I posed this question to a group of friends: Tell me about something you “invested” in, even though it felt expensive or luxurious at the time, but it turned out to be some of the best money you’ve ever spent?
Here’s what they said:
A gas stove: “When I bought my house, it came with an electric stove. I hated it, yet I used it for 5 years because there was nothing technically wrong with it. I love to cook, and an electric stove is not ideal. When I finally committed and bought my new 6-burner gas stove, it was the best purchase I ever made. Worth every cent!”
A personal trainer: “I hated going to the gym because it was overwhelming. I’d only use the machines that were familiar, and end up doing the same routine every time. I did this for years. When I finally hired a personal trainer this summer, it changed everything. I’m stronger, leaner, healthier— and I’m more committed to my workouts because my trainer is at my gym waiting for me three times a week. Sure, it’s expensive, but compared to what? I finally decided my health was worth the money. And it’s also turned out to be an investment in my happiness.”
A new car: “For years, I prided myself on driving my old Honda Accord with 200,000 miles on it. I had no car payment and I wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. But in the past year, every time I drove the old clunker I worried that I’d break down. I realized that the car kept me from going very far because I feared it wasn’t reliable. I finally decided to lease a new Accord. I had no idea how awesome the technology would be, how much better on gas it would be, and how enjoyable it would be to take road trips again. My new car is a game-changer. It might sound weird, but even the car payment makes me happy. I’m spending money on something I enjoy every day.”
As you were reading this, what came to mind? What’s the thing in your life that you’re tolerating… but that you’re finally ready to upgrade? What’s the thing that annoys you? Are you finally willing to commit to changing it? No matter the answer, consider that investing your money in that item or experience will likely improve your quality of life, and maybe even create more happiness and satisfaction for you and your family.
What’s the best money you’ve ever spent? Was it a vacation? Did you splurge on an experience that’s still vivid and memorable? Was it something decadent, and you have no regrets even to this day because it was worth every penny?
As we wrap up 2021, choose an inconvenience that you’re unwilling to bring into the new year. Or commit to doing something special you’ve been postponing doing. Get it on your calendar now so you can look forward to in 2022. It could be the best money you’ve ever spent.
Don’t over-think it: and assume you are worth it.
This Week’s Resources
Speaking of Old Mattresses
If you can relate to my friend’s story about her lousy mattress, maybe you’re in the market for a new one. Before you head to the store, you might want to do some research on the different brands and features of today’s mattresses. The good news is that Consumer Reports just published their Best Mattresses of 2021 article: mattress of the year
What’s Your Word for 2022
As you think about a new year approaching, what’s your intention for 2022? What theme do you want to take on, or what virtue do you want more of in your life? You might want to purchase a necklace from My Intent Project to create a daily reminder. You can either order an individual item, or buy the kit and make these awesome gifts for friends and family: My Intent Project
Improving 1% Each Day
We all roll into the new year with resolutions and commitments. And some of us set out to radically change old patterns. Of course, it only takes a few weeks to lose momentum and go back to our old way of doing things. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about incrementally improving 1% a day. If you haven’t read this book, it’s fantastic. And if you have, it might be worth a re-read before the new year begins: one percent better each day
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