On Friday I got a special email that I had "won" the lottery *to register* for Creative Escape (CE) 2008 in Arizona (E finds that whole concept suspect and silly, so)...It took me all weekend to figure out how to propose this to E, as it is a weekend away from him and the kids, albeit not until next September.
Going is going to require a lifestyle change for me. It is quite an expensive event, but after going to Creating Keepsakes University (CKU) in April, blowing my budget *after the fact*, and having moved into a house with a room for me to spread out my scrapbooking stuff, I have realized a few things.
1. I am not the kind of scrapper who stocks up on supplies because they are pretty, and I *might* have a use for them, someday. I have been guilty of that in the past, but it's not what makes for happy scrapping in my world.
2. I have everything I could want from Close To My Heart (CTMH -- for whom I have been a consultant for 4 years now) and I've been in a Stampin Up (SU) monthly stamp club for a year and half, so, same sentiment there. Those two commitments have cost me over half of my monthly budget each month for too long now; I need resign from CTMH and quit the SU stamp club when my latest round is up in February.
3. I have soooo much leftover stuff from CKU that I haven't used yet (see moving into my own space, above) that I don't need to buy anything for a while.
4. Putting a down payment on the event (non-refundable, gulp) and *saving up ahead of time* to finish paying for it, as well as hotel and airfare, was a challenge for CKU (see blown budget, above), but I have been less interested in spending money on new stuff (see leftover stuff, above) and I feel totally ready to go on a serious craft diet to attend something this special.
5. I have plenty of knitting stash to keep me going through the winter when I get the itch to knit (my other expensive hobby, which I have not been spending much money or time on lately).
6. Ditto quilting stash.
7. Scrapbooking gives me the most relaxation and satisfaction right now. I need to step back and step up and really treat myself to an extended scrap retreat.
7b. And I need to save up for it this time, instead of paying for it the year after.
I sound like I'm still trying to convince myself, don't I?
UPDATE: Sorry, I wasn't trying to convince myself since I've already paid the deposit. Now the challenge is to see if I can stay on track until the final balance is due February 4th. When I quit CTMH and my SU stamp club (which I am glad to give up; both have been exhausting to my budget), I should have $130 or more to save toward CE --per month -- and I feel that is totally do-able.
Besides, I am SO not giving up my spot! Not yet, at least :D
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4 comments:
Sounds like you would feel guilty if you did it, so don't feel like you have to just because you won the lottery for admittance. You can always win it again, lol!
I think you would be better off starting to put money aside a little bit each week...and then when you have it all saved picking the event you want to go to. (If you have the money already there...then you won't feel all guilty about it and be trying to play catch up.)
You and I both know that there are all kinds of retreats like this each year... Plus It looks like this is only the second year that they have been doing this...I would book mark the sight and try for next year.
Yes, Lisa, but you know me, and know I couldn't hang on to money like that for that long without a goal in sight :D You've seen me shop for scrapbook supplies, girl!!
Sigh, to have your financial patience. Hopefully this exercise will get me some ;)
Congratulations on setting your goal and figuring out how to achieve it. Nothing wrong with making changes and shaking things up now and then. It sounds like the time has come and passed for the other 'initials' anyways. You go, girl!
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