I tend toward thrift. So paying $100 and $200 a day for gas was hard for me. We had budgeted $25 a night for campsites, and when I could not find anything under $40 one night, that was tough. But it was during our visit to New York City that the expenses really took off. I spent over $600 one day just buying bus tickets for our commute into the city. The next day, I spent over $300 buying tickets to one show! And the next day, I again spent over $300 buying tickets to one show. But strangely, it seemed easier this time. And the bus tickets, they were easier, too. Now, every once in a while a campground costs $40, $45, even $50. Ah, well, it’ll be OK.

Lesson 7: Spending money gets easier with practice.