The taste of freedom
Posted
Jan 25 2008, 08:54 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.
This morning, I sat in the restaurant at my hotel, eating breakfast. I've stayed at this same hotel many times, and I couldn't help but remember things I'd done on past visits.
I remember spending money several times like it was water, going out to eat at ridiculously expensive places. In fact, they were often so expensive that my organization would refuse to reimburse me for the meals.
I remember more than once having a credit card rejected on the hotel grounds. Three years ago or so, I stood in the lobby, fishing around in my wallet for a credit card that would work and enable me to pay my bill. I finally had to call a secretary at my place of employment and have that person read off a credit card number so I could pay.
I remember shopping for souvenirs on my first trip here, buying a bunch of unnecessary junk for people who didn't really want it.
I remember stopping by an ATM once, seeing that I had a large balance, and then using a chunk of it to buy overpriced sunglasses that I wore for about a week.
As I sat there this morning enjoying a reasonably priced breakfast buffet, sipping my orange juice and looking out at the California sun, I realized that I didn't have any of those worries anymore. This trip is actually enjoyable -- I'm not worried about a credit card or checking account balance, and I'm not tempted to throw cash because I can (or have convinced myself I can).
I now realize that I don't need any of that stuff. And it makes all the difference in the world.
I don't think a bagel ever tasted so good.
Other articles of interest at The Simple Dollar:
"31 days to fix your finances"
"10 financial reasons to turn off your television"
"Trimming the fat: 40 ways to reduce your monthly bills"
