Eighteen months ago, give or take a few days, my bicycle was stolen. Very upsetting, and an object lesson in why a decent home contents insurance policy goes a long way, but that’s another story…
Very shortly thereafter we moved home, and the new address was somewhat further away from work than before. This was one of several inconvenient features of our new abode. Also another story.
The question I asked myself was: Now that I don’t have a bicycle (because someone prefers to take from others than to earn for themselves), do I walk to work or take the underground (“subway” for you foreigners out there) to work every day?
I made a decision based on a vague notion that, given the choice, it’s better to not spend money. This is a decision I’ve stuck with for eighteen months, walking 45 minutes each way every single working day.
I also chose to walk because I’m all about taking control of my money, and this is one of those areas that I completely control my spending. If I can’t move the needle here, what chance do you have in areas you don’t directly control?
So I was looking for an idea for something to talk about on my blog today and it occurred to me that I’d never actually run the numbers on this decision, and I’ve spent approximately 450 hours walking as a consequence of this decision. So perhaps I should… you know… check?
It’s quite concerning having to check a decision that’s cost you so much time, facing the very real possibility that you’ve cost yourself several weeks of productive time pounding the pavement just for the sake of getting from A to B and saving a buck or two.
Anyway: How’s that worked out?