Sunday night at work, I lost a bracelet my husband had given me for Christmas. I’m still looking for it, hoping it will turn up, but the truth is, I work in a huge building and I have no idea where it might have fallen off, so I’m not optimistic about finding it.
The bracelet was part of a matched set of necklace, bracelet and earrings, and it was really pretty; aside from that it cost about $300. So I feel horrible about losing it not only because it was a gift from my hubby, but because replacing it just doesn’t feel like an option right now.
So what do I do? I’m not afraid to tell him – he’s far too laid back about anything like this. (I actually love his attitude – accidents happen, is everyone OK, don’t sweat the small stuff. I am working to be a little more like him on some things!). And truthfully, even without the bracelet, the earrings and necklace are still gorgeous and will be worn regularly when I go to work or go out for an evening and have to dress up.
But it brings up the question – how do you budget for these “little” life events? I mean, my insurance deductible is $1,000, so there is no way I’d file a claim for anything this small. On the other hand, I don’t have a big curveball account (actually, right now for lots of reasons, I don’t have much of a curveball account at all!) to handle replacing oddball items like this. And until we get our debt under better control, I don’t have any extra cash to establish that type of account either!
So at this point, I’m going to have to (sadly) let it go. I won’t be replacing it, and I will miss it (hey, it was pretty, and Bruce doesn’t buy me a lot of jewelry so I always appreciate it when he does!). I may try to save my allowance up for a few months (hmmmm…. $80 a month…. at least 5 months to cover cost and taxes, if I spend NOTHING else), but I may just have to accept it is gone, and this is a lesson learned.
At least this was just a bracelet, and I can live without it. There are lots of other items that I would have had to replace if I had lost them!
So what do you do? Do you save to replace items like this? Accept that they are gone? Or go out and replace them for sentimental reasons?
I would probably just accept that it’s gone unless you truly loved it. I’m not the type of person who would want to replace it, and thankfully my bf is like your husband, and he is laid back.
Yes, as much as I was sad, I had no plans to replace it – amazingly, it turned up at work tonight and I got it back!
I would just let it be gone. I wouldnt go out and try to replace it. Maybe you can nudge him to read your post and he will see that it is missing
I told him the morning after I lost it – he was fine. I knew he would be, although his first reaction was to want to replace it! Luckily, it was recovered at work tonight, so all ended well.
Thanks for commenting!
Hmm, I snapped a chain to my necklace and just patiently waited it out until I could find a pretty chain that was on sale. But that’s a bit different–my necklace cost me $11 so it was a bit easier to save my allowance. I’m so glad that you got it back though!
Yes I was so happy! I really didn’t want to replace it, even though hubby wanted me to!
I tend to agree with your husband. This is one of the reasons I just don’t keep expensive things — I’d be too upset to lose them. Instead, keep focusing on the important things in your life. By paying off your debt, you are prioritizing these important people over and above “stuff”.
Yup! I do like his attitude about things like that – I’m usually way harder on myself than he ever is (Don’t ask him about my driving, lol!).