Completing my second marathon - Seattle, 2004
I was on an 18-mile training run for my 4th full-distance marathon a couple years ago. I knew what was involved in preparing myself mentally and physically to complete a run that’s 26.2 miles in length – I’d done it before.
But on this particular run, somewhere around the 11th or 12th mile, fishing in my running coat pocket for some energy gel, I thought: THIS IS NOT FUN. Now many times before, I’ve shoved such thinking in order to do what needed to get done to complete some crazy distance. But today was different. Instead of fighting the thought, I owned it. That day I quit my training and bowed out of the event. Frustrated and tired, I found myself not running at all for months. Not working out or eating right either, to boot. As you imagine the pounds I’d worked so hard to keep off crept back on, and my fitness level declined.
I’d lost my love of running.
How Couponing is Like Running
When I started couponing I found myself spending quite a lot of time clipping and sorting coupons (I actually used to clip and file every single one), running to multiple stores, and pouring over circulars. I had some pretty impressive shopping trips too – it wasn’t at all uncommon for me to save 80% or better. Seeing photos of other trips folks made me often ponder if I was doing this “right” or “good enough.”
Overwhelmed by couponing?
It’s so easy, particularly when starting out with couponing, to set some arbitrary goal for yourself, such as:
- I’m ONLY going to buy items I have coupons for.
- I’m going to save 70% or more this month.
- Set realistic goals that serve a purpose. Your goals should support why you got into couponing in the first place – to save money on the items your family needs and uses. While it’s certainly fun to set a savings challenge for yourself from time to time, be careful to place long-term pressure on yourself to achieve some sort of unrealistic savings rate.
- Assess your couponing strategy. Is your current method of couponing enjoyable and practical for you? If not, give yourself permission to change things up! Maybe you need to subscribe to the paper to save yourself the headache of rounding up papers each Sunday. Or maybe you need to shop at a store like Grocery Outletonce in awhile (where low prices are offered, but coupons aren’t accepted).
Maybe it's time to ditch the coupon binder for something cuter
- Find new ways of saving money. One thing that’s kept my passion for frugal living alive is by exploring new and different ways of saving money. I recently shared about the importance of diversifying your savings strategy, and I cannot stress this principle enough. There are weeks I just don’t want to clip coupons, and I give myself permission to feel that way. Instead I may see what’s growing in my garden, pop by the Farmer’s Market, or make meals from my stockpile. The most important thing in my book, is sticking to a cash budgeting system. By following that, I don’t have to be so concerned if I’m hitting a 30% or a 60% savings rate in a week – I’ve just got to be concerned about getting the items I need for the cash we have on hand.
- Focus on your journey. It’s so easy to compare what we’re doing to others, isn’t it? You’ll never feel successful so long as you are concerned about what others doing. If you need to personally change something in your journey to frugal or better living, then DO IT. Whether or not Suzy so-and-so is doing it. And then take the time to appreciate your success. At heart, we all know what I’m saying is true here, but every now and then a kind reminder (or kick in the butt) is a good thing.
In the end, small but consistent steps to saving money and living frugally may be more sustainable and beneficial than sudden bursts of intense couponing. For me, it’s got to be about a method I can easily and enjoyably sustain over the long haul, not just this month.
How I Rediscovered my Love of Running
Several months ago, I laced up my sneakers and started running again. Only this time, it was different.
Instead of signing up for a marathon, I went out and ran a couple miles. Since then I’ve done some running outdoors, and some on the treadmill. I’ve dabbled in speed training and thrown in other cardio and strength exercise to keep things from getting boring. I started making better choices with my diet and I’ve finally lost those pesky pounds.
Explore new routes
I’m still intensely proud to call myself a marathoner – crossing those finish lines are among my most treasured memories. But right now, running has a different purpose in my busy life. Yesterday I was having a frustrating morning, so I told my husband I’d be off for a quick run. I didn’t need to spend hours beforehand carb loading, or warming up, or sipping Gatorade – no, I simply put on my shoes and headed out the door. Twenty-five minutes later I felt refreshed and ready to go. Besides that, I knew that I’d have the stamina to make the same choice the next day. I’m actually enjoying running again – not just the “runner’s high” afterwards, but the feeling I get of pushing myself during the activity of running itself. And ironically, maybe now I’m truly going for distance.
I don’t regret quitting that marathon a couple years ago. What I do regret is not figuring out what wasn’t working and finding another path to fitness.
I’ve seen too many folks start out with their savings journey only to give up a few months later after exhausting themselves at the stores or over-complicated methods. If that’s you – please don’t sit around and let your frugal fitness slip. Just find a new way of doing things that fits who you are.
Because the last time I checked, the tortoise still wins. Every time.
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