How do you view those un-fun, necessary, “life happens” expenses? Do you agonize over them? Do you wish they would go away? Do you have to panic and beg, borrow, steal from savings accounts to pay them? Do you just add them to the already overwhelming credit card debt?

Recently I’ve had a string of those not-so-little expenditures that aren’t a great deal of pleasure. For example, yesterday’s root canal, a tooth crown two months ago, a new set of tires for the Jeep, and replacing a dead garbage disposal. Now, none of these scream “wow” or get my heart going pitter patter like say an expensive bottle of champagne or a trip to NYC to “play”. Yet, they are a necessary living expense that is not necessarily part of the overall budget.

In the past, I’d encounter one of these and simply stew and stress about it. I’d be resentful and resistant of having to take money from savings to pay for it. I’d beat myself up for not having wads of reserves just piled up to use on a moment’s notice. The net effect of all this was just a cloud of negativity. Whether I liked it or not, the expense wasn’t going to go away. And, truth be told, I wasn’t blowing any big financial goals to simply handle it. Yet, I let it get me down and miserable.

Early this spring I had a class with a super coach and we played with this money mindset a bit. As a result of our work together, I changed the way I view these types of expenses. Instead, I now see the blessing in the fact that I can pay for these necessary expenses without a great deal of hardship. I also take a moment to feel gratitude that I am able to take care of my day to day needs without struggle. I can afford to receive the medical, dental, or other professional services I need to make dis-ease go away (like my tooth) and to ensure my safety (like good tires on my automobile).

What I’ve found with this newfound shift in perspective is a freedom and ease I did not have before. Do I love shelling out my hard earned savings for these unexpected expenses? Heck no! Do I love the fact that I can do so without feeling resentful and wasting my life energy and time stewing about it? Yes!

So, the keys to handling these situations with grace and ease as I see it are:

  • shift your perspective
  • have a plan to save regularly for these “emergencies” so the money is there when you need it
  • don’t beat yourself up or waste energy steaming about the expense
  • find the gift in situation and view it as an investment in your well-being

How do you handle these necessary, “life-happens” emergency expenses? Do they trip you up? Or, are they just a small bump in the road that you don’t even notice? I’d love to hear what you have to say…