It hit me as I was pulling out my key to re-enter the apartment to grab some duct tape and bubble wrap. I do need new hiking boots before I head off to St. George. The cushion in the heel of both of my boots is no longer intact, meaning part of the stiffer material often rubs against my heel. My left foot was angry after biking 25 feet, so I found myself duct taping a small rectangle of bubble wrap in place. Voila! Problem solved for basic short-term usage.

Lately I’ve been telling myself I don’t need new hiking boots. True, my boots have been drenched and dried so many times over the last 4 years that they have significant cracks that no waterproofing can fix. True, with all of that water exposure, they’ve shrunk to the point where I can only comfortably wear liner socks or a pair of cotton socks; wool socks are practically too tight a squeeze for these boots. True, I’ve used them for just as long as my first pair. But surely they could do the job for another summer, right? There’s no need to spend money on new footwear to keep my feet happy… right?

Welcome to my actual life. Yes, my life involves adventuring, friends, puppies, and minimal time indoors. However, my life also involves the penny-pinching ways of seasonal workers, perpetual travelers, and others who don’t know the luxuries of salaries and benefits. I belong to a group that wants to experience life rather than get bogged down in the details of the rent and bill payments of suburban survival.

To some it may seem like I must spend most of the money I make on my willy-nilly trips through Canada, to Washington, around Hawaii and New Zealand, etc. I admit I find a way to get around, but my habits make up some of the most inexpensive travel. Over my months on the road I can come up with fewer than 8 nights spent in hotels.

For just my month in Hawaii, I paid for some form of lodging only 3 times. Especially since turning 25, a sleeping bag in the passenger seat of a rental car works just fine. As long as the price is fitting, sure I’ll pitch a tent or sleep in a cabin! I don’t need to take expensive tours or eat 3 meals a day. I’ll walk everywhere in cities and get to know places rather than fool around with public transportation. The root of my wanderlust truly is a desire to simply see other places. I don’t need to splurge to look around.

Getting back around to the boot story highlights what I consider a winning story of saving money while spending money… REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) is an outdoor gear store run as a consumers’ co-op, providing members with special sales and an annual dividend. For a thrifty money-watcher like me, visiting REI is generally for the eyes only. Being dividend time, it’s a different story right now.

As I tried on a pair of brand new women’s 9s today, I found myself eyeing my well-worn boots and wondering how they once had looked so fake and shiny. Since my shin issues dating back to cross country in high school, I’ve been particular about hiking boots. (After all, my jobs frequently pay me to hike every day.) Unfortunately I determined the boots that felt the best were also the most expensive: Asolo’s TPS 520 GV. $300 is no small chunk of change to drop for a pair of boots, which is why I’d been putting off the purchase. Finally I put my head to work and figured out the following:

• Members’ coupon saves 20% off one full-price item = $60 off the boots
• Dividend value this year =  $23.98 off
• Although I don’t particularly like using credit cards because I’d rather see money leave my hands so I can immediately acknowledge how much I’m spending, REI offers a $100 gift card as one perk of getting an REI Visa. To have a back-up credit card, I bought  in for the gift card = $100 off
• $300 – $183.98 = $116.02

Why would I talk myself out of spending a mere $116 on $300 boots? I didn’t, which is why the back of my right forearm had a nice workout from holding the boot box while biking home.

I’d also been considering the purchase of a new sleeping pad for awhile. My 3/4 length pad seems to finally have a leak after over 12 years of use. Since Alaskan ground is cold, it’s time to have my own full-length, leak-free pad. Instead of paying full price for a Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus women’s pad, I once again took advantage of deals:

• Rather than the 2015 model ($99.95), I found the 2014 closeout model on REI Outlet = $109.95 automatically down 22% to $85.73
• Members’ coupon saves 20% on any REI Outlet item = $18.00 off
• $109.95 – $42.22 = $67.73

While I could have talked myself out of the necessity of both of those purchases, for once I don’t feel bad about spending that much money. As I reflect on the various adventures my boots have led me on in various countries and how many nights of sleep my current sleeping pad has enabled, I can’t help but wonder what’s to come. To continue the dream, sometimes you have to close your eyes and make an investment.