Yesterday I got to attend an experience of a lifetime and went to Augusta National to see some AMAZING sights at the Masters golf tournament
Some points of interest:
- The prettiest greenery I have EVER seen…didn’t even imagine it could look like that. Can I make my yard look like that?
- Golfers in real life CRUSH the ball. It is unreal.
- Food at the Masters is ridiculously great. I got like 4 sandwiches and 3 drinks throughout the day for less than $10!!!
- Tiger Woods can draw a crowd…and I mean DRAW A CROWD. We watched him hit off the practice tees and I felt like this was the scene where Jesus was teaching in the house that was PACKED and some dudes helped their paralytic friend go through the ceiling just to see Jesus. People were climbing trees just to get a glimpse of Tiger.
- While food prices were low…Gift shop prices were high…VERY HIGH.
It was a bit unusual, people (including us) were standing in line just to get in the gift shop. To spend money on the most overpriced merchandise. And you know what…it was contagious. I began thinking all the things that I was going to spend money on and the tally was racking up. If it weren’t for the fact that as soon as I got in, it was a mad house (10 times worst than Black Friday), I would have bought stuff. I had to escape as quickly as possible so I ended up not spending money.
But it made me think how impulsive of a shopper I am. I really was about to spend some major money just because it is easy for me to catch the shopping fever.
I do not know why I am an impulse shopper but it is my nature and I have to place solid guidelines in the arena in my finances for the rest of my life to truly combat this.I get what I like to call “buyer’s remorse.” I will be super excited about something and then get it, I get into this funk where I feel guilty and stupid for spending so much on it.
I find myself time & time again giving into impulse rather than patience.
I have learned (and continue to learn) this about myself. Therefore I have implemented what is called the $100 rule in my life.
For every $100 that I want to spend on a purchase, I must wait one day before I make the purchase.
If a new purchase costs $100, I have to wait one day until I can purchase the item.
If a new iPod costs $400, I have to wait four days until I can purchase the iPod.
If a new MacBook Pro costs $1400, I have to wait two weeks until I can purchase the MacBook.
By doing this I have a built in period where I can fight impulse. If you find yourself wired like me, implementing healthy guidelines can absolutely aid to transitioning from being in a financial mess to being financially free.
And just to be honest, this built in time allows the holy spirit to get a hold of me and I can be sure if I am making purchases to advance the kingdom or if I am just being selfish.
