There are a number of people
who seem to think that ‘luck’ is the required ingredient to enjoy life.
When I hear this I remember the words of Thomas Jefferson; "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it”, and rephrased by movie producer Samuel Goldwyn "The harder I work, the luckier I get."
This has come to light recently, as I posted ~300 pictures from a vacation we took to Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean; comments such as ‘you are so lucky to have taken a trip to Italy’. While I appreciate the intended sentiment, the ability to take extensive and far flung vacations has very little to do with luck, but as inferred by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Goldwyn, it has everything to do with hard work.
You start by getting a good education (10 years university for me) to get a good job, with good pay, so you don’t have to count pennies at Safeway. There is nothing lucky about higher education – it is hard work. Apply your education a career or series of careers to build a professional relationship with the world over a number of decades. It is not easy or lucky, but very worthwhile.
After you have raised and reared your children and they are (mostly) financially independent, all the money you spent on their well-being, you can now spend on yourself. Some people choose to buy new vehicles every couple of years, some invest in real estate; we choose to take vacations to places we have not been before as a couple.
Cruises, flights, hotels and tours are not cheap, and we chose to save money on a regimented schedule in order to cover the costs of the vacations without going into debt. After maxing out our TFSAs, RRSPs and Pension Plan contributions, we still manage to save enough for an annual vacation without needing to borrow funds. In order to achieve our goals of fabulous vacations we choose not to spend our money on other ‘things’.
Going out to dinner is a rarity for us. A case of beer can last us six to nine months. We go to the movies – up to twice a year. In the summer time we walk more than drive, and only turn on the heat when it gets REALLY cold. Most clothing and books comes from Value Village or other second hand outlets, an expensive pair of new shoes will still be under $50, and neither of us indulge in jewellery (although I did have to buy a watch to go on vacation - $15 at YVR) because that is money that can be saved for our vacations.
In September and October 2014, we are taking an 18-day South Pacific Cruise from Hawaii to Sydney with stops in Tahiti, Morea, Bora Bora, and New Zealand with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. All we have to do is get to Hawaii and home from Sydney – luckily, the rest is already in the bank.
This has come to light recently, as I posted ~300 pictures from a vacation we took to Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean; comments such as ‘you are so lucky to have taken a trip to Italy’. While I appreciate the intended sentiment, the ability to take extensive and far flung vacations has very little to do with luck, but as inferred by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Goldwyn, it has everything to do with hard work.
You start by getting a good education (10 years university for me) to get a good job, with good pay, so you don’t have to count pennies at Safeway. There is nothing lucky about higher education – it is hard work. Apply your education a career or series of careers to build a professional relationship with the world over a number of decades. It is not easy or lucky, but very worthwhile.
After you have raised and reared your children and they are (mostly) financially independent, all the money you spent on their well-being, you can now spend on yourself. Some people choose to buy new vehicles every couple of years, some invest in real estate; we choose to take vacations to places we have not been before as a couple.
Cruises, flights, hotels and tours are not cheap, and we chose to save money on a regimented schedule in order to cover the costs of the vacations without going into debt. After maxing out our TFSAs, RRSPs and Pension Plan contributions, we still manage to save enough for an annual vacation without needing to borrow funds. In order to achieve our goals of fabulous vacations we choose not to spend our money on other ‘things’.
Going out to dinner is a rarity for us. A case of beer can last us six to nine months. We go to the movies – up to twice a year. In the summer time we walk more than drive, and only turn on the heat when it gets REALLY cold. Most clothing and books comes from Value Village or other second hand outlets, an expensive pair of new shoes will still be under $50, and neither of us indulge in jewellery (although I did have to buy a watch to go on vacation - $15 at YVR) because that is money that can be saved for our vacations.
In September and October 2014, we are taking an 18-day South Pacific Cruise from Hawaii to Sydney with stops in Tahiti, Morea, Bora Bora, and New Zealand with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. All we have to do is get to Hawaii and home from Sydney – luckily, the rest is already in the bank.
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