#019 — Would You Upgrade to 1st Class?
This Wednesday, I’m headed to Southern California to be in my college friend’s wedding. I got an amazing deal on the flight — $220 including fees & taxes, round-trip from DFW!
I don’t know about you, but all I usually hope to do is avoid any disasterous experiences when I’m flying. Except the last time I flew to California. That was the time I upgraded to 1st class.
I know, I know. I didn’t need to fly 1st class, but I’ll give you my excuses justifications *ahem* reasons why I did it anyway.
My Excuses / Justifications / Reasons for Upgrading to 1st Class
I went out to California to visit family for Christmas. My wife was already out there on business, so we met up out west and spent time with family. We ended up booking the same flight home to Texas, except her company booked her a first class ticket, and I was back in coach with all the other riff-raff 
Being the good husband that I am, I agreed to check into upgrading so we could sit together on the flight back home. Turns out the upgrade was ‘only’ $100.
Could I have taken that $100 and paid down a student loan? Sure. But sometimes it’s fun to enjoy luxuries. We’re very careful to pick and choose ours, and always make sure they fall somewhere within our budget. It also fell within our allotted “Christmas Trip” budget-line, so we were okay with it.
The 1st Class Experience
I loved it. By the time everyone else was boarding the plane, you were already stretched out and a chapter into your book. Plenty of leg room for my 6′3″ frame, hot towels, a meal on an otherwise meal-free flight, and of course, free alcoholic beverages! And no, I didn’t try to drink $100 worth of mixed drinks to make up for the price of the upgrade! 
The closest experience I can relate it to is going to a professional basketball game, and sitting court-side vs. the nosebleed seats. You just never want to go back to the cheap seats after the experience!
Taste the Snowball
Our debt snowball will be rolling for quite some time. A quick victory of knocking out a small debt can keep you motivated to continue snowballing the larger debts. Every so often in little ways, I like to be able to have a taste of the good life; or “taste the snow” in my snowball. It keeps me motivated to continue my debt snowball by reminding me that today’s sacrifices will pay off with future reward and security.
Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war.
What about you?
Well I’m back to flying coach this week with a smile on my face and even more determination to knock out our debt.
Any comments on my choice to upgrade to 1st class?
Have you lost some financial battles to win the war??
photo by Richard Moross
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