Making Budgeting a Game:

 ## Making Budgeting a Game: How a Vancouver Couple Balances Fun and Financial Planning:

### Meet Lacey and Sean: Saving Smart, Living Well:

Lacey and Sean, a dynamic Vancouver couple, have mastered the art of balancing fun with financial foresight. Their whirlwind trip through Europe in 2022 showcased this balance beautifully: from savoring hot wine at a Christmas market in Copenhagen to posing at a famous Parisian café and wandering the sun-kissed streets of a Greek beach town.

Even while traveling, they never stopped working. Both employed full-time in the tech sector, Lacey, 27, and Sean, 23, utilized their remote work flexibility to fuel their passion for travel. In an interview, they shared insights into their financial journey, highlighting how discipline and planning enable them to enjoy the present while securing their future.

### The Journey Begins: Curiosity and Learning:

Sean’s financial curiosity was sparked by an investing book that opened his eyes to wealth-building through various investments. This newfound interest guided him to delve deeper into personal finance. “As I stumble across more information about personal finance, I’ve become more and more curious,” he shares.

Lacey, initially less familiar with investing, quickly caught up after opening her first Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) just before their marriage. Now, both invest through TFSAs and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs). “Money wasn’t something that my family taught me growing up. I didn’t even know what a TFSA was when I started dating Sean.

As avid social media users and content creators, Lacey and Sean also turn to YouTube and TikTok for financial inspiration and ideas.

### The Fun Side of Budgeting:

Lacey’s budgeting skills were honed during her college years when she worked part-time to support herself. “I had to make every dollar count, and I got really good at finding deals,” she recalls. Today, despite their growing careers and income, Lacey and Sean stick to a straightforward budgeting format: they subtract their living expenses from their income each month and work with what’s left.

For many, budgeting can feel daunting, but not for this couple. They’ve turned it into a fun competition. “If I bought something that’s not a necessity but just a ‘want,’ it’s considered a loss, and Sean gets bragging rights,” Lacey explains. Whoever stays within the budget gets treated to a nice dinner. “It has really helped us keep our budgeting on track".

Sean emphasizes the importance of budgeting as the foundation for their financial decisions. “The purpose of budgeting is that whatever we set aside, we want to make sure there’s enough left for the future, whether it's for retirement or for other goals. If we can set aside even a small portion of our income and let it compound, it can be powerful.”

## Saving for Tomorrow, Enjoying Today: How Lacey and Sean Make It Work:

### A Balance of Saving and Living:

For Lacey and Sean, saving doesn’t mean missing out on life’s pleasures.This philosophy was put into action in late 2022 when they sold everything in Vancouver and embarked on a three-month European adventure. They booked one-way flights to Paris for only $100 using travel points from their credit cards.

Lacey highlights the many opportunities to save without sacrificing quality of life. “Do you really need paper towels from a name-brand supermarket? You could go to a dollar store and buy them for a much more affordable price,” she suggests. The money saved through such choices can then be invested or spent on experiences that enhance their lifestyle or future.

While working remotely in Copenhagen, the health-conscious couple invested in a one-month gym membership to stay fit. Their regular savings also allowed them to indulge in their love for food by exploring local cuisines and dining at sought-after restaurants.

### Planning for the Future:

Lacey and Sean are committed to continuing their explorations, whether through travel or potentially moving beyond their hometown of Vancouver. “At the moment, we’re focusing on investing our money consistently to grow it over time,” says Sean. They believe in mapping out their future while enjoying the present.

“We work in percentages a lot,” explains Lacey. “We put a certain percentage of our paycheques into retirement, saving, and investing. The leftover money we can then use for, say, a weekend trip to California.” Sean adds, “I don’t want to save all my travel for when I’m 70 and can’t enjoy it as much.”

By blending disciplined saving with a zest for life, Lacey and Sean demonstrate that financial planning and living in the moment can go hand in hand.