I learned that I can stick to a savings goal and that it absolutely fits in my budget if I prioritize it. And I learned that being out of debt and having solid short-term savings provides so much more peace of mind that I could have imagined.
I also learned that it works really well for me to set an aggressive budget for each month, but leave some money unallocated that I can apply wherever the budget ends up inadequate for the month. Not seeing “extra” in my envelopes keeps me focused on living within my budget, but I know I have some squish money on hand to take advantage of a sale or have an extra dinner out if the occasion arises without having to debate about tapping into savings.