The Best $7500 I’ve Spent
I don’t know what kind of consumer you are. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t like to spend unnecessarily and I always want there to be a return on investment (ROI) for everything I buy whenever possible. How I’ve come to define my ROI has changed over the years. Today, I define ROI as anything that saves me time, improves my quality of life, and/or makes me money.
I’ve always had trouble spending money on myself beyond the occasional bubble tea or massage by my favorite masseuse. The older that I’ve gotten, I’ve realized that I am the most deserving person in my house for financial investment. If Mommy’s not feeling good, it’ll be a lot harder for anyone else to be feeling good either. If Mommy doesn't know what end is up, how can she lead or support you in finding which of your ends is up?!😩😂
This brings me to the best $7500 I ever spent.
Me on our trip to Jamaica earlier this year.
When we had one toddler and a baby and I was working at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, I struggled with housekeeping and laundry. This only got worse with three children and my segue into ice cream life. The laundry was never done and everything was everywhere all the time.
I felt guilty for calling in the support of a housekeeper because at the very least I should be able to tend to my own home. But, then I realized the impact of our messy house on my mental health (and Nick’s, too). It wasn’t good.
After a lot of prodding and nagging by both my mother and sister, I caved and committed to once a week housekeeping. Washing and folding our laundry was a requirement for this role. The person with whom we have been working for the last year and half has taken so much unnecessary stress away from me. Where I previously felt bad about spending money on something so simple as a clean home, I prioritize this expense among many others that improve my quality of life, save me time, or help make me money.
I share this to encourage you to think about the things that are currently stressing you.
What are they?
Who can you call on to help you solve them?
Maybe the solution is free and maybe it’s fee-based. If it’s the latter, don’t think about the price as a stand-alone figure. Think about what you will be able to do or feel as a result of the investment.
Think about which is more valuable — living life with unnecessary stress or investing money in the solution that gives you the capacity to make it back or the peace of mind to no longer live with it?
Ila and I being silly in the car after school.
The decision is yours. Know that your happiness, inner peace, and calm is so very important and should not be compromised. Your little people are watching you and taking notes. We only get one life. Let’s make it great.
Petrushka
P.S. New Mom's Group registration is now open. If you know someone who added themselves to the waiting list and hasn't heard back, tell them to check their spam or share this link with them. We'll be following up with everyone by phone tomorrow!