My husband and I are celebrating this month in a big way. We are out of debt for the first time in our 36-year marriage. Out, baby. All the way. We don’t owe a cent on our cars, our kids, our credit cards or anything else. It isn’t because we are smart and savvy. It isn’t even because we’ve been following Dave Ramsey Rules (though we have radically changed some things, thanks to Mr. R.)

We are out of debt because several years ago, a good friend helped us make a good choice about an investment. It doesn’t always go that way, of course. But this time, things worked exactly the way we all hoped. And now, we are out of debt and paying cash for every purchase. We still have credit cards, but we use them like debit cards and pay them off right away.

But, even back in the day when every paycheck was squeezed until it screamed, we spent some money I’ll never regret. The list goes something like this:

An occasional splurge at Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory or some other franchise thinly disguised as upscale dining with people we love — like our kids.

A trip to the movies with various kids and grandkids to see something amazing in 3-D. With popcorn and soda.

Christmas gifts.

Birthday cakes.

A tank of gas to cross the state when another grandchild was born.

The dimes, dollars, and double portions we’ve put in offering baskets through the years.

I don’t, in fact, regret any dollar ever spent on someone else. And, I hope I never do.