The No Excuses Project: “I can’t afford it”
August 5, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under No Excuses Project
When I began this project last week and drew “I can’t afford it” from the bowl of excuses, I wasn’t sure what to think. It seemed like a big one to tackle first; it’s probably one of the top three excuses of mankind.
On the other hand I have a pretty good relationship with money and while the lottery and trust funds have so far escaped me, I get by – in part because I do tell myself ‘I can’t afford it’ and save my money. Which is great for getting by but doesn’t accomplish much else. It is definitely one of the memes that goes back generations without interruption. I was a little surprised by what came up during the week and while I haven’t put this excuse out of my life, I think I’m much more conscious of where and how I use it:
Taking a vacation
I decided to take a short vacation anyway although I told myself before and during that I really couldn’t afford it. The irony is that the destination was so disappointing that I chose free camping over the pre-arranged accommodations and passed up an expensive planned activity so it ended up costing me only about a third of what I’d originally thought. I didn’t have a great time but it turned out I could afford it! And now I know, as opposed to thinking it was something that would have to wait forever.
Getting a dog
I’ve been thinking about getting a dog for some time and the owners of the pooches I stop to pet are starting to look at me funny because it’s clear I love them. Every time I seriously consider it I back down because of the cost of boarding and vet bills. As I’ve pondered this one after meeting Ramona on Wednesday, an elderly Rottweiler that didn’t know she was one, I’ve concluded that it would not be a fair thing right now to introduce a new family member to my elderly cat. However, that doesn’t mean putting it away. What I can be doing is gradually accumulating paraphernalia like water bowls, blankets and leashes, researching how to best handle the whole pooper-scooper issue etc. That way when the circumstances and the right dog align, I’ll be ready.
Being self-employed
I’m not sure why I tell myself I can’t succeed at this because I can’t afford it but the brain isn’t always logical. Somewhere in my circuits is this idea that I can’t afford to bridge the financial gaps that happen in business, can’t afford the initial outlay necessary to get things off the ground and can’t afford to fail. I read some advice on dealing with excuses that pointed out that if you aren’t treating something like a life and death matter then you aren’t really giving it everything you’ve got. I definitely need to treat my career goals like a life and death matter. It feels like one so it’s time to stop hanging back a little, keeping one foot inside the room instead of putting both out on the ledge. Part of me feels the pressure to fall back on what’s safe, what my family thinks I should do, even though they try hard not to say it. But that too would be an excuse not to really try. The truth is I can’t afford to keep telling myself ‘I can’t afford it.’
Next week: “I’m too ____” (fat, tall, out of shape, opinionated, reclusive, etc.)
