The battle between Frugality and Fun

On our way to Amsterdam, the tour manager has given us a sheet of paper containing all the optional excursions (the ones NOT included in the cost of the tour). We have to decide which of the 13 activities we’d like to enjoy – days before they take place – and pay for them upfront. There are cruises, bike tours, dinners and even an explicit Amsterdam show (use your imagination and I’m sure you’ll be close). Being the frugal guy that I am, my inclination is to skip some of them in the interest of saving money.

The flip-side of saving the money is missing out on these (very possibly) once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Is it worth missing out on something you’ll remember for the rest of your life, for the sake of saving money (that you may end up spending recklessly back home, on things far less memorable than these exciting European excursions)? Each person will have their own take on this difficult decision, but in the end I have decided to take part in all of them.

I am a firm believer that we usually regret the things we didn’t do (but should have) more than those we did (but shouldn’t have). In fact, the guy sitting next to me on the bus ride to Amsterdam says he regrets not purchasing a drink while we were on the ferry. If we can regret something so small as failing to buy a beverage, then how dire might the consequences be of passing up amazing opportunities such as these optional excursions? I would dare say that many who decide against them hold on to those regrets for years to come. I may never visit Europe again in my entire life, and I’d hate to think I missed out on something amazing.

One of the biggest obstacles to blindly checking off all the activities is the fact that the grand total is quite a lot of money. But if not these excursions, which? Could the other things cost as much or more money, and be less enjoyable? There’s always that chance. It’s entirely possible that the dinners and events where alcohol is included could end up saving you money, thus paying for the other optionals. Or, perhaps at some point it’s worth forgetting about the cost of potential life-changing experiences and just dive right in! All around the bus, people are justifying their choices. There are those selecting everything and discussing regrets and the once-in-a-lifetime-ness of it all. There are, of course, saying it’s too much money or they simply are not interested. Their disinterest may be genuine, or it may be that they have to convince others of their lack of interest.

I, for one, do not want to return to Halifax with any regrets of not having done something. This tour is designed to be an appetizer, with the aim of creating a hunger for more. What better way to fully maximize your experience than to take advantage of every single opportunity that is presented. The creators of the tour – clearly successful – have decided that certain activities would accentuate the tour. I compare it to having a server, who has just served you an excellent meal, offering a dessert based on the same sound advice they used in suggesting your meal. The difference is that you’ve presumably eaten your meal before deciding on dessert. I’ve just begun to “eat” and therefore don’t know if my “server” has proven sound judgment in suggesting. To heck with regrets, I’m pre-ordering dessert. I’ll report my findings.

Nick is currently adventuring in Europe. One of RBC's partners, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has recently launched a travel site featuring exclusive travel deals. Deals are exclusive to students who have RBC No Limit Banking for Students™ and Nick is currently experiencing one of their travel deals. Over the next 2 weeks, Nick will be writing about his experience as he tours Europe on a Contiki tour.