Written by Brenda Isaacs (Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach) on March 15, 2024.
As of this writing, we have around 30 more days of winter. However, as those of us who are TRUE Mountaineers know, the winter weather can hang on until at least April here in the Appalachian Mountains.
As my mind reflects on days gone by with my family and all those activities and fun memories we made with our children, I am reminded of all the preparation that went into making spring play dates and Easter Celebrations special.
Having been in Mr. Jim and Mrs. Adah’s FPU class, our family learned to begin a savings plan weeks prior to spring break trips to visit extended family and friends. The first time around was the hardest, as we had to think about all the celebrations and traditions we were creating for our young family. Whether it was a special outfit for spring pictures at school or a special meal to gather together with loved ones, we learned that ‘every dollar’ mattered.
I prayed and didn’t want money to keep us from having fun but to be part of the special preparation we would use to ENABLE us to have fun, enjoy fellowship and make special memories.
Budgeting for the Little Moments
We learned that those lovely creamy marshmallow peeps and that delightful honey-baked ham meant cutting back on other areas like electricity/heating fuel expenses so that we could add a little bit extra to our grocery budget.
Even those little treat bags we would share with our children’s friends at special impromptu gatherings took a little planning. To this day, my now grown children look forward to our traditions and meals to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.
They also know how important that emergency fund is, as it’s often part of making memories, like when your oven goes out halfway through baking that casserole. Oh, and there’s nothing like calling the plumber to figure out why the toilet is overflowing, only to find out that one of the plastic Easter eggs was accidentally flushed down the toilet. Oh me!!
A budget has its own pressures of tightness and looseness, kind of like inhaling and exhaling. For example, as the winter winds down, the temperatures get warmer, there is not as much need to budget “as much” money for those expenditures as when the weather is colder. I also learned that spring and fall were also times where the budget had a little more “play” room. We could save more and not be as tight as during the expensive winter/summer months, when either heat or air conditioning took most of our money to stay comfortable in our little brick home.
Whether you are traveling, dining or just relaxing as the calendar turns to the all-important season of spring time, be sure and use your Every Dollar App to help you pace yourself and keep up with all those “little” expenses that help make life more rich and meaningful. Do the hard work and develop your budget. Let God’s provision of financial resources not only bless your family but your neighbors and friends as you Celebrate our Risen Savior!