How £25 Can Change Your Life. As It Did Mine.

How much value would you place on the cost of an experience? This is a question I found myself asking recently, and it’s one that’s becoming more relevant as we navigate through life, filled with opportunities, responsibilities, and moments that, quite frankly, might only come once. Life is priceless, and while every experience carries a price tag, the true value is often much greater than we anticipate. Let me share a recent experience that opened my eyes to this concept.

The Dream

As someone who enjoys staying active and engaged with my health, Peloton has been a regular part of my fitness routine for some time. The on demand classes, energy, sense of community, and competing against myself are things I love. I was never never one for cardio, but I love my heart, so I now relate to it as heart health. So, when I found out that I’d be travelling to England, the thought crossed my mind: "How amazing would it be to participate in a live Peloton class at the studio?" A live class isn’t something that happens every day, and the opportunity to join one while abroad felt like something special.

I immediately went online to see if there were any classes available. To my disappointment, every class was full. It wasn’t a huge letdown; I figured it just wasn’t in the cards for this trip. But that didn’t stop the thought from lingering in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks later, and I found myself already in England, still thinking about that live Peloton class. On a whim, I decided to check the schedule again. To my surprise, an opportunity had opened up for me to join the waiting list. I didn’t expect much from it but decided to add my name. It felt like one of those “you never know” situations.

In the days leading up to the class, I joked with my wife about being in the class. “I’m in!” I laughed, fully knowing that being on the waiting list didn’t guarantee anything. But lo and behold, two days later, I received an email confirming that I could indeed attend the live class. My excitement skyrocketed.

The Unexpected Cost: Processing My Reluctance

Then came the moment of registration. As part of the final step to secure my spot, I was required to pay a £25 fee. Now, I’ll be completely honest here—I hesitated. My immediate reaction was, “Why should I have to pay £25 when I already have a monthly subscription?” It felt unfair, and I found myself going off on a tangent in my mind. I had invested in Peloton for months, and yet here I was, being asked to pay extra for this special experience.

But then I paused. Something shifted in my thinking as I processed the situation more fully.

Was I really going to let £25 stand in the way of an experience I had been dreaming of? I reflected on how rare this opportunity was. Sure, it’s possible I could join another live class in the future. But was that a guarantee? No. Was tomorrow promised? No. I had been given an unexpected chance, one that I had been excited about for weeks. It wasn’t just a class—it was a unique experience that I might not have again.

In that moment, I realised something important: I was willing to spend money on fleeting purchases, like coffee or small luxuries, without a second thought. So why was I hesitating about investing in an experience that had the potential to create a lasting memory?

The £25 didn’t seem so big anymore when I thought about the lifetime of value I’d get from the experience itself. I had wanted this. And now, it was in front of me. So, I went ahead and paid the fee, excited for what was to come.

Planning for the Unplanned

While I hadn’t initially planned on spending £25 on this class, I quickly realised that this amount had already been accounted for in my annual health and fitness budget. This was an important lesson for me—not every opportunity will come as part of your day-to-day spending routine. Some experiences are rare, unexpected, and priceless. But having a financial plan that allows you to take advantage of these opportunities when they arise can make all the difference.

It’s important to budget for experiences, even if you don’t know what those experiences will be. The fact that I had already allocated money for my fitness journey meant I didn’t have to stress about this unexpected cost. And that’s something I encourage everyone to consider—set aside a little extra in your budget for rare, once-in-a-lifetime moments.

In the grand scheme of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the material world—buying things, upgrading devices, investing in stuff. But what truly makes life rich and meaningful are the experiences we collect along the way. No one looks back at the end of their life and remembers the stuff they accumulated. What we remember are the moments that moved us, challenged us, and made us feel alive.

That’s what this live Peloton class represented to me. It wasn’t about the workout or even the class itself. It was about being present in a unique experience, one that gave me a sense of accomplishment and connection to something bigger.

Conclusion

So, what’s the takeaway here? It’s simple: Don’t be afraid to invest in your experiences. Whether it’s a spontaneous trip, a special class, or a rare opportunity, these moments are what make life meaningful. And sometimes, they come with a price tag that might make you pause. But when you look at the bigger picture, you’ll often find that the value of these experiences far outweighs the cost.

Put money aside for the moments that matter. You never know when an opportunity might come knocking—and when it does, you’ll be glad you’re ready to answer.