How Running is Like Personal Finance – Part I | brokeGIRLrich
At the beginning of the summer I had the brilliant idea of running a 5K with some friends from college.
Last summer, my cousin asked me to do the same thing and I blew her off because running seemed pointlessly miserable to me.
Running still seems pointlessly miserable to me, but for some reason I decided this was a good idea this time. Boredom, I suppose. And all the extra weight I usually put on when I’m not working full time.
Running is like personal finance because sometimes you need to be invited to get started over and over again before taking the first step.
I started out with absolutely no idea what I was doing, but the important thing was that I took the first step. I wouldn’t be able to run as far as I can now (which is honestly still a little pitiful), if I hadn’t just shut up, laced up and started moving.
Running is like personal finance because it all starts with one small step – whether it’s trying (and failing) to run for a minute and thirty seconds straight or trying (and failing) to stick to your first budget. You still have to try.
I needed a little help getting started because I had no idea what I was doing. Do you just leap out onto the road and go? I suppose you can and there are probably some people who did and succeeded that way. I wasn’t going to be one of them. I downloaded a coaching app for $1.99 called Couch to 5K that I’ve been using all summer.
When I started getting my finances in order, it all began with a book called Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich. I devoured that book and started laying out my budget and net worth statements based on it.
Running is like personal finance because you might need some coaching to get started.
I’m a big fan of waiting until I’m really committed to a new hobby before investing in it, but I quickly realized that with running, it’s a good idea to spend a little on a few things – especially when the amount I was paying for blister pads and band-aids started to rack up quickly because I was wearing entirely the wrong shoes.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have the fanciest of anything, but a good, sturdy pair of running shoes, socks that don’t slip, a good running bra, and one of those arm bands to shove my phone in were worth every penny.
Sometimes personal finance requires investment as well – whether it’s in books or courses to teach you more (although check your library first!), working with a financial planner or purchasing You Need a Budget.
Running is like personal finance because paying for the right supplies earlier in the game can make the entire situation a lot less painful.
But speaking of pain, sometimes the whole thing is just painful. I remember struggling like my lungs were going to explode the first few weeks and the first day I ran without feeling like that, it lasted for about 6 seconds before I realized that my legs were on fire and felt like lead and really I just wanted to curl up and die.
My finances can be pretty similar. I struggle along, buckled down and paying off debt, and as soon as I have 6 seconds of feeling like I’m finally ahead of the game, I realize that I need to work just as hard at saving if I ever want to own a house or retire.
Running is like personal finance because you just have to keep moving through the discomfort.
However, there’s a difference between discomfort and getting hurt. I have a pretty messed up knee from a high school skiing accident. You know who knows when I’ve messed it up again? Me. I mean, others will eventually see the swelling, but it’s me who can feel the moment it pops the wrong way. So while I may look like I’m being super lazy to someone on the treadmill next to me, in reality, I may be recovering from hurting it again and the absolute most I can do is slowly walk a mile that day.
Personal finance is personal for a reason. Someone who doesn’t understand your goals might wonder why you prioritize your spending and saving the way you do, but at the end of the day, it’s only you (and maybe a spouse) who know when you’ve crossed from discomfort into a zone too painful to continue in.
Running is like personal finance because only you know your own limits.
Check out How Running is Like Personal Finance – Part II here and Part III here.
Good luck in the 5k. I used to hate running too, but I found my stride. Just gotta get started like you said and work through the discomfort to find what works.
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life recently posted…Are You a Bad Judge of What’s Worth It?
This analogy works so well! So many of the challenges of running and finance are in our own minds, too. When I first got into running (sometimes just jogging), I was convinced I’d run more than a mile without stopping. Why? Because I’d never tried. I still remember the first moment I pushed through into the second mile without stopping to walk. I had heard it was all in my head, but I didn’t really trust that advice until I experienced it firsthand. Best of luck! You’ll definitely get there. Sounds like you have a good game plan!
Penny @ She Picks Up Pennies recently posted…Credit Card Tips & Tricks: How I Scored a $20 LOFT Rewards Card in One Day…Twice
Thanks, I’m still shocked by how much is in my head and how much my head is apparently against me. It’s awesome.
Great analogy! I completely agree with your point about taking the first step. When I started running, as when I started investing, I felt like I had no clue what I was doing, but I just did some research and dove in. Trial and error can work wonders!
Ali @ Anything You Want recently posted…On Balance
It’s true, especially if it’s careful trial and error.
Love the post, especially as I try to get back in shape, my finances are doing ok but my body is not. I enjoy running once I’m actually in shape but getting there not so much. I’m sure you’ll do great at the race, the energy during a race with all the other runners is great at distracting you from the hard part of actually running. Good luck!
Liz recently posted…The Sunshine Blogger Award
I’m gad to hear that you like running once you’re actually in shape! I’ll hold on to that hope. 😛
Good luck, Mel!!!
Will recently posted…Benefits of Online Shopping
Thanks!
To me running comes naturally, I joined the track team 6th grade and enjoyed every second of it. I still run from time to time, and I’ve done, 5K, 10K, and 5 mile races. But I can clearly understand the concept of running and personal finance for someone who doesn’t like running.
EL @ Moneywatch101 recently posted…Entrepreneurial Real Estate Investment: A Winning Strategy
Yeah, even as I get a little better at it, I still kind of hate it. But I’m not upset about breathing better or my clothes fitting better, so apparently there’s a point to the pain.
Good luck! Sounds fun! Running is like personal finance because there’s no secret; no sophistication needed. It’s just putting in the work on step at a time (Read: you cant skip steps. Some steps come before others 🙂 )
Luke Fitzgerald @ FinanciallyFitz recently posted…What Do Casinoâs and Stockbrokers Have in Common?
Very true!!
Great comparison. Not that I’ve been working on running, but I have been working on steady brisk walking on the treadmill, and I think consistency–doing it on a regular basis—is a big part of both exercise and personal finance. By now you’ve probably finished your 5k, and I hope it went well!
Gary @ Super Saving Tips recently posted…Storage Units: Do’s and Don’ts to Save Money
It did go ok! We decided to run as a group, so we wound up walking several sections, which was kind of a bummer, but I also feel more confident I can actually do it now too.
Good luck with your 5K. I am confident you can make it. This article has just shown me that any goal we set for ourselves can just be like personal finance. Our goals are truly personal, we know why we want to achieve a goal, what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve our goal and of course when we have achieved the goal.
Katie@Moneynuggets recently posted…Bend It Like Beckham – Career Lessons from Victoria Beckham
Hope you did well in the 5K Mel! I agree with all the similarities you’ve described above. Especially taking that all important first step – without that, nothing good can happen!
Hayley @ Disease Called Debt recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays #105