Blogging for Change

Missing Inaction

by Kim McGrigg on
6/2/2009
in Budgeting and Building Savings

I miss free time. Not only because it is relaxing, but because it is also free.

I love to blame my time shortage on responsibilities; however, I elected to participate in most of my draining activities. I’ve replaced reading a book with hosting a book club dinner; taking a walk with training for a 10k; gardening with a trip to the new gourmet market (and subsequently cooking dinner for the neighbors).  In other words, I’ve replaced relaxation with excitement which is costly in more ways than one.

I actually started thinking about this fact a few months ago when I read and commented on a blog post at BrokeGradStudent.com in which the author wrote “It’s easy to get carried away when you’re having fun.“ ow true.We have a whole garage full of expensive, dusty equipment to prove that we have become too busy to enjoy the things we love.

Now that summer is here, the problem has only gotten worse. ike many parents, I didn’t realize just how active my children were all day at school—until I was tasked with keeping occupied during summer vacation. Vacations, summer camps, and child care are some of the big ticket items I was ready for. However, the summer was already starting to get expensive in terms of finding day-to-day activities that keep children occupied.Trips to the movies, swim toys, and meals-on-the-run can quickly turn into budget breakers.

 

The good news is that summer has just begun and it is not too late to learn from past mistakes. I vow to reclaim the lazy part of the “lazy days of summer.” Summertime is designed for taking it easy, so I am going to stop stressing about planning every minute. Even active children (and their worn out and broke parents) need a break and should be allowed to learn the art of relaxation.

Kim McGrigg is the former Manager of Community and Media Relations for MMI.

Recommended Articles

Man sitting in front of pile of bills, trying to understand his options.
Professional Budget Advice
Make the most of every dollar and start building toward your dreams! Budget counseling is FREE and available 24/7.
Learn More
Learn more
  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating Better Business Bureau
    MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
  • Financial Counseling Association of America Financial Counseling Association of America
    MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
  • Trustpilot Trustpilot
    MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development - Equal Housing Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development
    MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
  • Council on Accreditation Council On Accreditation
    MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
  • National Foundation for Credit Counseling National Foundation for Credit Counseling
    MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.