Introduction

If you’re like me, you work a job that doesn’t pay enough to cover all you want.  We all have desires for our life…travel, shopping, fine dining, etc.  And your job doesn’t cover it?  Most don’t.  You can still enjoy these things.  It just takes effort, planning, and saving.  I know we live in an instant gratification society/world, but by exercising gratification delayed (not gratification denied) we can enjoy these experiences.  You may have pictures/posts from Paris, Dubai, Essence Festival, wherever, and dreamed of going to those places. I did.  I’ve been going back to New York City forever to see family and go to the US Open.  I would stay with family and stand in line 8 in the morning to get the ground pass for the day. Now I start thinking about how fancy I want my trip to be and start planning.  I do use a credit card, but I also start my savings plan for it. Which hotel, for how long, and how I want to fly determine the budget.  Check hotels and air prices daily.  I booked my hotel as early as 10 months before.

I created a bucket list of trips and other things I would like to do.  I have expanded my travel to include two additional trips a year. The same rules apply.  Spontaneity is great.  But in these inflationary times not practical.  Cheap last-minute travel deals are like finding a golden ticket.  Can’t depend on it.  I am on the lookout for them as well.

I also love dining out with friends. Now I am cool at Fridays, but some of my peeps like to go big.  So I try to budget for a few of those a year…TasteMaker Dinners, Oscar weekend bonanza.

By now you may be thinking, must be rich or have a high-paying job.  Well no & no.  I am rich in spirit, desire, and heart, I have a job that pays just enough to keep me off the streets.  You know the drill. Have you heard the expression Champagne tastes with Kool-Aid pockets? My father would tell me that all the time. I paid it no mine.  I increased my pockets.  Learned to be Bougie on a budget and make what’s in my pockets stretch. Clip coupons, and search for deals.  With my heart currently being filled with travel goals, my new passion is learning how to use points & miles to lower my costs.  Lower costs mean an increase in the quantity or quality of travel.  Consuming information and strategies from many different sources.  I’m striving for both quantity and quality by 2025.  For me, that looks like 2 – 3 bigger, longer trips and 3 – 4 quicker jaunts.

If you want to get close to those things you want for yourself, and your family, it takes a sacrifice of time, energy, and comfort.  The first thing you should do is create a budget.  Be brutally honest with yourself as to what is coming in and what is going out.  Some professionals will sit with you at no cost and do a financial needs analysis.  That type of analysis can show where you can improve, where you can save, and the next steps based on the goals you gave them.

If your job isn’t covering your dreams don’t shrink them and expand your pockets.  Start a side hustle.  For generations, people have worked 2 – 3 jobs to make ends meet and fund their needs.  In this era of technology, we are in, there are so many opportunities available to create additional 1, 2, and 5000 a month. Research to find the one that is right for you and go for it.

Invite you to follow our journey.  Take notes and hopefully, you’ll find nuggets that you can use in your life.  We will share the financial education received and continue to learn. How applied that education to go from robbing Peter to pay Paul to sip champagne at the US Open Tennis Center, experiencing Essence Festival, and going to Dubai, to after years of fantasizing about being there and planning my trip to see Wimbledon matches in person.

Life is about the journey, not the destination.  There are ups and downs, all part of the ride.  It’s about finding and creating the joy along the way.

 

Blessings!

L & L

Your Frugal and Fly Team