The Cost of a Memory

(A Stackin’ & Sippin’ Reflection)

There was a time when I looked at weekends through the lens of what they’d cost me.

Now I look at them through the lens of what they give me back.

Yesterday, the wife and I took one of our favorite drives — the Quechee Gorge loop. We’ve done it countless times, but it never feels old. The air gets quieter, the roads get windier, and for a few hours, life slows down to the right speed.

We made a few stops along the way:

• $9 for handmade truffles 🍫

• $36 at the Cabot store — two blocks of cheddar, a cheese cutter, some Boar’s Head pepperoni, crackers, and two cups of coffee 🧀☕

• $94 for lunch at Salt Hill + a $20 tip 🍽️

• One tank of gas for the trip ⛽

Could we have spent about the same at Copper Door and called it a night? Sure. Two hours, great food, and then home.

But instead, we bought a full day of memories.

The drive. The laughs. The stops that weren’t planned but felt like they were meant to happen. The kind of day that doesn’t just fade away when the bill is paid.

That’s the part most people miss about money — it’s not about how little or how much you spend. It’s about what it gives back.

I used to think “living within your means” meant cutting joy out of the picture. Now I know it just means choosing meaning over mindless spending.

And this weekend? Every dollar bought something real — connection, peace, laughter, and one more reason to keep building the life we’ve been working toward.

Because stacking isn’t just about saving — it’s about living with intention.

☕💸

#StackinAndSippin #RiseBuildRepeat #HeadUp #NeverGiveUp