by Hope
Do you ever get over saying “No” to your kids? Especially when it comes to things that are traditionally a right of passage? I’ve had to do that several times lately. And not only does it ache when I do it, but it continues to twinge a bit when it comes up again.
The two most recent examples are a class ring and a letterman’s jacket for Princess. I said “No” to both. I looked at my bank account and my own experience having received both items when I was younger.
First, they are both very expensive for what they are…the rings started at $300 and went up from there. And the jackets, the same. Even just one of them was more than I thought was worth it, let alone both.
Second, I looked back at my experience…I stopped wearing the jacket the minute winter was over my senior year of high school. And my ring…I have no idea where it went after high school. The next expensive jewelry piece I received was my engagement ring.
The combination of this evaluation led to a resounding “No.” But I can’t help but feel bad when I hear about the other kids getting their rings this week or seeing them wearing their jackets when I drop Princess off.
Financially, I KNOW this was the right decision. These are both items with a very short “life expectancy” as far as items go. I decided some years ago that I would much rather spend $$ on experiences versus stuff. But the reality is, I know Princess would really enjoy these items. I have found myself justifying expenses for Princess with “she works so hard and asks for so little.” It’s hard not to feel a twinge.
But I am standing strong. And continuing to try to make better financial decision, despite the heartache it may occasionally cause.
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
