Like everyone else, my feelings about saving money ebb and flow. Sometimes, I am highly motivated. I make frugal and practical choices to save the most money for my family. But other times, I just want to live my life without constantly thinking about money. I want to go out to eat. I want to go on vacation. Unfortunately, I have been struggling lately to maintain a frugal mindset.
After paying off our mortgage, I was determined rebuild our savings account. I was highly motivated and eager to make progress. When the pandemic started, we were able to save a decent amount of money. Being home constantly meant we were not spending any extra cash. Saving all that extra money was the highlight of 2020.
Now here I sit in 2021, struggling to find the good in this whole situation. It seems like Covid-19 will never end, and we’ll be stuck inside our house forever. I have to admit, saving extra money because of the pandemic is no longer satisfying. Most days, I just feel sad and weary. I would much rather live my life NOW, instead of always saving money for the future.
Lately, I have become obsessed with home renovations, which is driving my husband insane. But these projects allow my body and mind to feel productive. When everyday feels the same, it’s nice having a project to give my days purpose again. I feel productive and happy when I am working toward a goal.
So while we’re still saving and working towards our financial goals, I am also going to continue working on various home renovation projects. I know it’s not the best financial move, but I think it’s good for my mental health. By the time the pandemic is over, we are going to have the best house on the block!