(This piece is written by Bianca, one of the readers of MoneySmarts who has been chosen for the one-year Money Makeover challenge by INQUIRER.net. Bianca’s real identity is confidential, so that MoneySmarts can share her family’s financials and the lessons she has learned with the rest of the world. Read more about Money Makeover here.)
I am stumped.
I had been meaning to write about our recent family trip to Hongkong and Macau. As a matter of fact, my computer bears the digital imprints of so many lines and pages written. But for the life of me, I could not strike the “send” key. It struck me why one night. I never could justify – even to myself – why we did it. A family undergoing financial overhaul simply does not go on trips. What example would I be? What message would I send? The shudders would not stop (even as I grin at the memories).
But, hey, we did it. And it, oh, set us back a few months. But there were valuable lessons we learned along the way.
Joe and Salve knew about the trip. I was shaking when I told them – partly because of wanting, partly because of fear, partly because I thought I would have to defend myself, partly because I was wracked by the guilt that is the genetic imprint of my mother. But, lo. Joe and Salve said we could turn the trip into a challenge. They asked what budget I wanted to set. Eyes blinking, I said P30,000, all in, for a family of three. I was almost sure that I will make it, having done it the year before during our trip to Malaysia and Singapore, a welcome retreat after the grueling bar exams.
Of course, I overshot the target. When that Canon 400D at a small Hongkong shop with an over-attentive salesman flashed those power lenses at my husband, that P30,000 budget went up in smoke. He had to buy it. For business (I chimed, miserably, in my head).
With the camera, which catapulted us toward the edge and beyond, we spent P70,000.
But hey, it included a trip to Disneyland and Macau and several authentic Chinese meals, some in quaint little hideaways after climbing rows upon rows of escalators upon elevators, and, as my daughter said, priceless time of running hot baths, walking hand in hand, using chopsticks and twirling in Dumbo’s cups (okay, this is Disneyland talk). Our daughter actually expects that we will do it again this year.
Oddly enough, I am unperturbed. Shaken, defensive, yes, but unperturbed. After all, theories must be tested in the bed of reality, lessons must be learned and burn deep, so that it will linger and be remembered.
Until the next time.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
My my harsh crowd we got here.
Main point of the story I believe is Bianca and family tested their willpower to stick to their holiday budget. They weakened and overspent. Next time they plan for another holiday they will take this experience in consideration. So yeah there were lessons learned.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
aren’t the lessons she said just a way to justify her overspending?
May 30th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Lessons learned? Bianca said it best in her comment here:
“Lessons? Oh, several. Like I cannot resist my husband and that sometimes, it is a good thing, because I am infinitely rewarded - sometimes; two, money is money and it is there to make our stay here, in this big beautiful world, with its beautiful people, worthwhile; three, I would pay the world for a great time and wonderful memories shared with loved ones; four, there is nothing like traveling to add dimension to a person - it affects him, in how he looks at the world and value it, because it is actually awe-inspiring and beautiful; five, I have said “yes” to a hundred things on that trip but I have said “no” to a thousand others - to that beautiful antique teacup (which I collect), to an I-phone, to an expensive buffet at a nearby hotel, to dresses and shoes and shoes (I have fallen in love with a lot and managed to buy none) - I learned restraint on this trip, albeit the magnanimity of this lesson is dimmed in the seeming overspending, which is not really “seeming” because we did overspend; and lastly, I will do this again because… there is no because.
Someone said “know thyself”. I have, through this trip.”
And yes, sometimes we need to make mistakes to learn. Sometimes, the mistakes will cost P70,000. Sometimes P1 million. The key thing is the learning and the fortitude to keep trying.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I was looking for lessons learned…where are they?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I agree with leela.
I was expecting to find the lessons learned not the feeble attempt at justifying the unjustifiable expensive trip.
My two cents. Sorry.