The Costs for Greener Grass

Do you feel sometimes like you need a break from your life? Or dream of a different version? It’s like that saying, the Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side.

We recently went on a staycation for three nights, thinking we needed a break from our real life, that the grass was greener in Waikiki.

At one point, I honestly regretted we came and discussed with my husband if we should request a refund for the last night. Money and time spent to go weren’t producing the dividends I expected. Assuming it would be a respite of complete relaxation, in some ways the staycation required more energy.

• Packing for 6 people for 3 days and nights
• Supervising my kids at the pool where the lounge area wasn’t exactly comfortable with the wind and sporadic rain.
• Figuring out where to eat that didn’t require a long wait, offered food that everyone would eat, and was reasonably priced.
• What to watch on cable TV when they wanted to hang in the room. 

I wouldn’t say that we should’ve stayed home, but I realized that when life starts to feel imbalance, a big change isn’t necessary.

Sometimes the big change can cost you a dollar or more to realize that what you already have is a pretty good thing. I walked away from that staycation being grateful for:

• My kitchen and my cooking abilities. I may not be a Food Network star, but I know how to quickly and efficiently prepare a meal my entire family will enjoy, have enough for seconds, with $20 or less.
• My laundry basket and a washing machine. Staying in a hotel, dirty laundry has to be stored somewhere to then return to your suitcase amongst the clean items to bring home and wash.
• Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu. Their price points are such a bargain for entertaining little girls when you just want to read a book.
• Video Games. As much as video games annoy me, my sons truly enjoy it. When my children enjoy things, I can do more of what I enjoy.
• Our Yard. I love that within 10 seconds of opening my front door, my feet can be in grass.

The next time you think you need something different than your current life, make a list of what you think is missing. Then, try to recreate those things at home. Fertilizing and watering your dry and brittle yard is much cheaper than buying a new one and just as effective.

This concept can also save you tons of money and energy with your dreams as well.

I’ve always dreamed about owning a beach house where I can wake up in the morning, make a cup of coffee, walk outside and have my feet in the sand in a couple seconds. Or jump in the water midday just to cool off.

When I think about what I TRULY want from that vision is the convenience of traveling quickly to the beach. The beach has always been a place that refreshes my soul. Wouldn’t it make sense to live right next to it?

But I didn’t evaluate the costs.

• A beach house is much more expensive than the home we have now. How much more would my husband and I need to work as our financials would need to shift with a higher mortgage?
• Our homeowner’s insurance and maintenance would increase significantly due to the wear and tear a beach causes on nearby homes.
• The threat of natural disasters to beachside homes are much greater compared to our home that resides at a high elevation in the middle of an island.
• The reality: our travel time to the beach is twenty minutes. Are the costs of the items I listed above really worth eliminating a beautiful, scenic twenty minute drive?

What are some dreams you have that carry a big price tag?

Leave a comment below and let me help you strategize ways to fertilize and water what you may already have.