This weekend, I messed up. What did I buy you may ask? A bird harness. I’ll explain
Our family fosters parrots for a local bird rescue. A couple of weeks ago, we got a new foster- a female Umbrella Cockatoo named Sunshine. She is the absolute sweetest bird ever! One of the things we do with our foster birds is work with them not only to rehab them from any medical/behavioral issues, but also to teach them new things that can help them find their forever home. One way to do that is to teach them new words, or tricks, but another is to do something called harness training. It is precisely what it sounds like. Just like you would put your dog on a leash/harness before you take them on a walk, there are harnesses that are designed especially for parrots so that they can safely go on walks with you. So, we bought one for Sunshine.
At the end of the day though, it doesn’t matter what specifically I bought or why. Its not unusual or even unexpected that there may be things that pop up during a no-spend month that you didn’t account for. Does that mean the challenge was a fail? Absolutely not! KEEP GOING! Chances are your “Oops!” wont be a parrot harness. Maybe your car breaks down? Or the furnace goes out? Again, just keep going.
So how do you respond? Peacefully. Step 1, take a deep breath and assess the situation calmly and rationally. Take stock of your finances and determine how much wiggle room you have to cover the unexpected expense without completely derailing your no-spend month. Are there any non-essential expenses you can cut back on temporarily to free up some cash? Can you dip into your emergency fund or savings account to cover the cost? Explore all your options and come up with a game plan that works for you and your family. In my case, I spent an unexpected $9.97 on a parrot harness. Is this going to break my budget the way a new furnace would? No.
So how do you handle it? You get creative. First, think outside the box and consider if there are any alternative solutions to your problem. Can you DIY a temporary fix for your car or appliance until you have the funds to repair or replace it properly? No? What about any side hustles or odd jobs you can pick up to earn some extra cash quickly? Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and put in the work – you might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of accomplishing!
Above all, remember to be kind to yourself. No one is perfect, and setbacks are an inevitable part of life. Don’t beat yourself up over a momentary lapse in your budgeting goals – instead, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Reflect on what you could have done differently to better prepare for unexpected expenses in the future, and adjust your financial strategy accordingly. Remember, it’s not about how many times you fall down but how many times you get back up and keep pushing forward.
