Budgeting In The Sky: Hot Air Balloon Money Lessons
This month I completed two items on my bucket list. One took months of training to prepare (triathlon), the other that took months of saving to prepare (hot air balloon ride). Prior to starting my no spend year I knew I was going to go on a hot air balloon ride this fall. I had been scoping it out and saving for over a year. It has been on my list since I was 18. The cost kept me from completing it for years, yet going on the ride taught me a few things about money.
What I learned about money from a hot air balloon ride
It takes hard work
It took 5 people to get the balloon set up and in the air. People were pulling ropes, holding fans, and making sure the balloon was tied down. You have to have some muscle to move around the balloon, basket, and propane tanks. Taking control of your finances takes hard work. It takes strength and disciple and sometimes help from other people to get it set up. Like ballooning, saving isn’t easy otherwise everyone would do it.
It takes patience
Once in the air the pilots played a game called Hare and Hounds. The Hare (the first balloon in the air) landed and the Hounds (all the other balloons) tried to get as close to the Hares landing point. Initially we were right on course… then the wind changed. The remainder of the flight (about an hour) the pilot tried to get back towards the target. It took patience to work with the wind, circle around, and try to get back on course. Saving money takes patience. Sometimes we get steered off course by life circumstances but we have to stay steadfast to get back on course.
If you are in a spot you don’t want to be, make something happen.
At one point on the ride, we stalled out, just floating on air. The pilot shared when he was learning to fly his instructor told him “If you aren’t going where you want to go you have to make things happen.” Instead of sitting, waiting for the wind- try something, move up or down to see what happens. The same is true when it comes to your finances, if you are in a spot you don’t want to be, make something happen. You are the master of your money; you tell it where to go. Make a change- start saving, get a new job, downsize your house. Do what you need to get where you want to go.
The risk is worth the reward
There is risk with going up in a hot air balloon, a storm could suddenly appear, there could be a crash landing, or the propane could leak. But once we were up in the air those thoughts and fears went away. I was overtaken by the surreal experience of beauty and peacefulness. Doing a no spend year or investing can be scary. Fears of missing out on the newest thing, criticism from others on how you are spending (or not spending) your money, or the stock market crashing can stop you from taking the risk. But in the end the risk is worth it, you don’t know how your life my change unless you take the leap and try.
Although there was hesitation with spending a large amount of money on an experience it was worth it. We were able to marvel at the ingenious of the inventor of hot air balloons, admire God's creation from a different view, and learn new things. Having an experience is a worthy place for my money to be spent.
What experience have you been holding back on because of the cost? What will you do to "make something happen" so you can follow your dream?