Finding Money To Do The Things You Want

Goose Spit Regional Park, Comox BC

Over the last year and a half we made some serious decisions to downsize our living arrangements, move to our dream climate, and choose self employment.  Our life is better for it and I truly believe we shall live longer as a result of these changes.  There are still certain things we like to spend money on and these don't fit into our monthly budget so we have to find ways to afford them.  Here are a few of the ways we are doing it:

1.  Sell things.  In January we sold a set of speakers that belonged to a theater surround sound system that died for $25.  We bought a new surround sound system with gifted Christmas money.  We watch tons of movies (recorded free on the pvr off tv) so having a surround sound system is important to us.

2.  In March I sold at my first flea market.  $82 was raised from items I had purchased for resale (only about $10 total was spent on purchasing those items) and a few left-overs that should not have made the move with us.  I had a really great time and am definitely doing this again-hopefully a couple of times per year as I really enjoy thrifting and garage saling.

3.  We save change specifically for our travel fund.  Who says change doesn't add up - $182!!  Our banks do not yet have change counting machines so I had to roll it up the old fashioned way with free coin roll papers that I had asked for the last time I was at the bank.  Canada recently quit making the penny as a cost saving measure for our Government so future coin rolling sessions shall take less time.  I fully support that decision as it cost far more to produce the penny than it was worth.

4.  $1865 was raised last week in selling furniture and household items from our Alberta home that has sold.  We had taken our very best items to our downsized Vancouver Island home last year so these were mostly items of little value.  This paid for our entire trip plus the rest has gone into a home improvement fund to pay for projects to make our Island pad better.  We brought back only what would fit in the car and only things that  would save us money down the road like a really nice set of towels from our Master Bedroom and a pancake grill that was better than anything we had back here that I had originally left for family get-togethers.

5.  I have just been hired to work the day of our British Columbia Election.  I get $215 for an approximate 12 hour day (including breaks) and $35 for 3 hours of training next weekend.  We have tossed around the idea of me getting a part-time job on the side but unless I could only work 1 day a week it likely wouldn't work with our schedule.  These type of temporary jobs fit nicely into our life so if I can pick up any more of them I shall.    This money is earmarked for 1/2 into the Sealed Pot Christmas fund and 1/2 into our travel fund.

6.  Income Tax Refund. We have just filed our income tax and we both qualify for large income tax refunds this year due to being taxed at higher incomes then quitting our jobs part way through the year.  Hubby's will likely go to household improvements as we are half-way through installing a hot-tub (purchased floor model on sale for a discount of $500 off) and a garden shed.  Mine shall go to the travel fund and some into the Sealed Pot Christmas Fund.

For some, the purchase of a hot-tub would not be within reach and never should  be talked about on a frugality blog - but this is one of those "occasional sips of champagne" moments.  We have always wanted  one and have decided to spend the money for it as now have the year-round climate to enjoy it.  We originally were looking at homes between 2200 and 2500 sq foot.  When we ended up buying a home of 1700 sq foot with no basement, only crawlspace for storage, we saved over $100,000 on purchase price and will save more year after year in property taxes, utilities and insurance. A decision was then made to spend some money on upgrades to make our small Island pad our dream-home.   This is a financial decision we have made as everyone makes different choices, and although not frugal, one that will make us happy.

How do you find money to do the things you want to do but that don't fit within your regular household budget?