Glass Half Full

In my previous entry I talked about frugal living and some of the measures we took to save for this trip. I just want to clarify that most of our cost saving measures involved changes to our lifestyle, as there was little we could do about fixed expenses like rent and bills (we already kept those as low as we possibly could). And obviously we didn't have a mortgage and didn't have any children - so any lifestyle modifications we made only impacted on ourselves.

I do understand that many people feel they're already doing it tough - be it because of unemployment, or because they're studying, or because they're raising a family - and so there's little room for saving when they're just trying to make ends meet. However for many of us, there's possibly a few areas where changes can be made to save money. And the only point I want to make is that instead of being daunted by the challenge of saving money (and forfeiting your goals), try and be inspired by it. Because frugal living can actually be liberating and rewarding...

Not to mention good for you - both physically (due to more exercise and a better diet) and psychologically (greater autonomy and a sense of control over your circumstances, so you're less dependent upon being a wage slave!) If you can stick it out long enough that it becomes the new 'normal', you may just find that your perspective changes. Instead of seeing the glass half empty (because you can't buy new things, can't celebrate the end of the week with a beer or 10) you see it as half full (you find more creative uses for your spare time, you have more energy).

Yes, I would have loved to move into a nicer and bigger apartment. Our tiny 1 bedroom was freezing in winter, stifling hot in summer and there was no proper ventilation in the bathroom (so every shower caused the walls to become slick with condensation and the paint to peel). The toilet rocked precariously, the living room could only seat about 3 adults comfortably and we prepared meals in our 'kitchenette' each day before eating them at the coffee table.

But you know what? It became our home. It was in a great location within a stone's throw of public transport and a short walk to the city, so it took me no time at all to get to/from work - thus reducing my transport costs. When we packed up and left for our trip, I was actually sad to see the place go (although admittedly I did realise how ugly it was, especially once empty). But most importantly, it was ridiculously cheap to rent. So whilst 'cozy', there was no denying it cut our living costs dramatically (and if entire families in Laos and Cambodia can live in a 1 room hut, we could manage in a 1 bedroom flat in Richmond!)

So whilst frugal living can be challenging at first and undeniably requires more planning and more effort, the point I want to stress is that there is an upside. It gave me strength in times of anxiety at work to know that I was closer to reaching my goal and that my hard work would be worth something. I took comfort when denying myself a new purchase that the memories of our trip would be far more rewarding in the long run than any item I owned. When I felt frustrated about bills and fixed expenses, I reminded myself how fortunate I was that I could afford to save at all and that travelling is a luxury and not a birthright...

This 'glass half full' type of thinking has also paid off now that we're actually on the road - especially when things inevitably go wrong, our circumstances suddenly change or when we have to forgo an activity or location because it's too expensive.  

One of the key reasons people love to travel is to be challenged, to have new experiences, to have their eyes opened and to broaden their horizons. Time and time again I hear travellers comment about how travelling helped them realise how fortunate they are, how good they have it at home. It's so easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of everyday life and the stress of work and family. All too easy to succumb to the pressures of having a career and keeping up with everybody else...

But for many people, there inevitably comes a point where they ask themselves "is this all there is?" Or, like me, they simply stop giving a shit.

Something has to give. The glass can't be full, for everyone, all of the time. You can't always control your circumstances. But you can control how you feel about how much (or how little) you have.