“Not Again”

Timing can be a funny thing. In life, love, relationships and money the timing of events can change the course of history, could affect wealth or happiness, ultimately could change your life.

I bet any one of us could look at an event from our respective pasts and recall how the timing of a situation altered some aspect of our lives. For sure I can.

Shortly after I bought my first house my wife was expecting our first child. As these two budget-altering events would happen within six months of each other my bank account decided to curb my leisure spending. Basically no more toys.  I initially agreed with my bank account.

October 1999. Go to settlement. Money. Move into house. Money.  New furniture. Money. Everything else. More money. Baby is due on Christmas Day. ALL OF THE MONEY! So now comes November 1999. My coworker shows me a brochure of a new digital recorder that did  not exist until after I bought the house. Guess when it would be available to purchase? Yep. December. Guess how much it cost? MO’ MONEY, MO’ MONEY MO’ MONEY!  But I HAD to have it. I bought it just after Thanksgiving and sneaked it into my basement until I could find a way to explain to my very pregnant and not-able-to-understand wife. Timing.

It happened again. I have been blessed with the opportunity to buy my sons new cars. I know, I know but buying them their first cars was part of the plan to Jumpstart their financial planning. The cars came with financial goals and expectations. So, I promised myself a new motorcycle once the cars were paid for. Guess what? Three months before the last car was paid off a new bike came out. Timing. Well, the car was paid off in April 2023 and the new bike was, um, “delivered” in May 2023. I was good. Until…..

Timing. I made a promise to myself. No new motorcycles until I complete a long awaited personal goal. That damn Timing. You see the picture above? It’s a new bike that will be available in March 2026. I may not reach my personal goal until December 2026. I like this new bike. A lot. I CANNOT BUY A NEW BIKE UNTIL I REACH MY PERSONAL GOAL.

Timing. My marriage (and thankfully my bank account) survived the previous undisclosed purchases. But you know what they say about the third time……..Well, guess I’ll take my time and wait ’til December 2026.