Welcome to the Blooming Mindset. I'm ​Ruth Rieckehoff​, and I'm so glad you're here. Some of my emails include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only share what I’ve personally used, trusted, and found meaningful enough to pass along.

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Beloved Architect of Identity,

I almost saved myself out of one of the best days of my life.

Years ago, my husband and I were planning a trip to Portugal.

We were going to Porto, and I knew I wanted to see the vineyards along the Douro River, not just taste port wine in the city, but actually go to the place where it came from.

The easiest option was a day tour.

The problem? It was around 120–130 per person. That meant 240–260 for the two of us.

It was outside our daily travel budget, and I hesitated. A lot.

I knew how to save. I knew how to stay within a budget. And spending hundreds of dollars on one day felt like breaking the rules.

But eventually, I decided to do it. Partly because the tour seemed like a genuinely good value.

But mostly because I realized: I might never have this exact opportunity again.

Turns out, that day became one of my favorite memories from Europe.

There were only seven of us. We visited three wineries. Ate lunch at a beautiful estate. Saw the vineyards. Cruised the Douro River.

Our guide was fantastic. Even the family traveling with us added to the experience.

It was one of those rare days when everything just… worked.

Years later, I don't remember the $260. I remember the day.

And somewhere around that time, my relationship with money started changing.

I still wanted to save, invest, and build assets. But I also wanted enough margin in my financial life for days that made me ridiculously happy.

Not constant indulgence. Not spending because “you only live once.”

Something much more intentional: Having the resources to recognize something I deeply value, and say yes without guilt.

We talk a lot about learning how to save and invest. Maybe we also need to learn how to spend.

Because if your wealth strategy leaves no room for enjoying what you've worked for, something is missing.

Until next time, keep blooming,

Ruth

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Reflect

What do you genuinely love spending money on, not because of status or habit, but because it makes your life richer?

And what worthwhile experiences have you talked yourself out of simply because spending money felt wrong?

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Reframe

Old belief: Good money management means spending as little as possible.

New belief: Good money management means knowing what deserves your money, and what doesn't.

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Actionable Transformation

Create a small category in your financial plan specifically for delight.

Define what qualifies before the opportunity appears.

Then, when something fits your values, your finances can support the decision instead of fighting it.

Because sometimes the best return on your money isn't more money. It's being able to say: I'm really glad we did that.

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P.S. Years later, I can’t tell you what else I could have done with that $260. But I can tell you about the vineyards, the lunch, the river cruise, and probably more about port wine than you asked to know. Some spending ages better than others.

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