Debt Quote Tuesday

That millions of people share the same forms of mental pathology does not make these people sane.
Erich Fromm

Why do we all borrow? Why are we all in debt? Why is credit so much apart of our lives?

DEBT IS BAD!!! (even if every one's doing it) BAD, BAD, not good, BAD!

Let's all be happy with what we've got. ok.

What Would Little Kid Me Think

While driving to work the other day I was giving thanks to God for blessing me and my husband with an absolutely amazing little boy. I thought a bit about him growing up and becoming a completely independent adult. The entire world lies before him. Then I started to think about my childhood. I was a really happy adventurous little kid. I can remember dreaming about growing up all the time. For most of my childhood I wanted to be an architect or a writer. For all of my childhood I dreamed of getting older and having independence and freedom, being really happy as an adult and living life to the fullest. Kids are so unaware of the confines of adulthood; the responsibilities that are inescapable; obligations and expectations.

As I was pondering all of this I had to wonder what the little kid me would think of the adult me. I think I've made a lot of really good decisions. Little me would most likely be thrilled at my home and family and who I've become. (even though she was certain that one day I'd be living in a ginormous home with and indoor pool, secret passages and hidden rooms) However I imagine she'd wonder why I don't travel more, spend more time outside, be more active, explore artistic endevours (creating, writing, drawing, photographing). I guess I'd have to give her my lame excuses: debt, tiredness/ laziness. I'd be saddened to see my son grow up only to be stuck in a rut of sorts due to debt and lack of motivation. I'd like little me to be super proud of the life I'm living.

Blah, blah, blah... kids are so unaware of the confines of adulthood. But more often than not I think adults accept lame excuses for inactivity and call life confining. I'm not in any way upset with who I am or my life but I can work on the excuses and do more living. Just another good reason to tackle the debt!

I'd love to have more free time/ less working time
to garden more
visit my friend in Sweden
teach my son about the world
stare at the stars and watch sun sets
see the Grand Canyon and red wood trees
be with the hubby
spend time with family
return to Guatemala
smell the roses

What would little kid you think of who you've become?

Saturday

Saturdays are how life should be. I got to lounge around with my son this morning while he was awake instead of having to kiss him goodbye before heading off to work. Being able to stay home with him, if just for two days a week grants thee absolute best feeling. Being back to work these past two weeks has made life VERY hectic. I feel as though I'm moving non stop 24-7 and yet NOTHING is getting accomplished. Weird! So far this morning while baby boy's been napping I've washed some dishes, done some laundry, straightened a bit, went over the monies (yuck) and am now writing a quick blog. Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, oh how lovely.

Funny, I'd very enthusiastically planned on sticking to the $12 a day budget, blogging everyday, and getting the finances in order this week. I didn't manage to accomplish any off that... boo! At least this morning I'm able to check off two of those goals (blogging, getting the finances in order).

Ah, Saturday... I love you!

Oh yeah, I'm pretty funny... at least he thinks so  : )

P.S. thanks for all the most recent comments on my blog! I'm sorry I haven't responded to or acknowledged any of them. I've been SOOOO scatter brained... still chasing squirrels, haha. Actually last week my dad called a few times and I never called him back and he freaked out and thought I was horribly upset with him. Seriously I'm just running around like a crazy person trying to keep my dishes clean and get a shower in every once in awhile. I'm not doing so good with the returning calls/ responding to comments/ catching up on yard work/ pretty much anything and everything that doesn't absolutely have to be done in order to continue functioning.

Chasing Squirrels

You know how if you're driving and you don't look at the road you're eventually bound to crash? Or let's say you're running a race but instead of following the track with your competitors you just run after a squirrel you happen to notice wandering by. You're not going to finish any races that way (and you'd look like a lunatic).

Stupid examples but point being when you're keen on spending yourself into a deep dark dingy hole of debt you're not likely to ever get out of the hole if you get distracted and don't focus on the light over head. I suppose it should go without saying but none the less this debt pay off thing is a battle! When I'm not constantly on guard and blocking punches I get knocked back down. I feel like I should just be able to say, "I want to get out of debt" and then I'll do it. But it doesn't work that way for me. I have to watch every penny, which is quite hard work. I need to intensely concentrate on not spending and not buying. I must set financial priorities AND stick to them. Throughout each and every single day I need to be fully aware of my every financial foot step.

Confession: for the whole of this year I've hoped to reduce our debts but I've been chasing squirrels. I won't apologize for the distraction and lack of ANY progress this year because I've been focusing every bit of my energy else where and I'm not ashamed of it. But I'm acknowledging the stand still and ready to get going again.

Throughout this past week while I've been in the stores for work I've noticed myself wanting to buy TONS of random nonsense. This desire is slightly frightening to me because it's one I haven't dealt with for quite sometime. Noticing this sudden want to acquire has caused me to realize how much I've truly lost focus. I haven't been paying close attention to the finances since baby Abe arrived but apparently it's much worse than I thought. My little monster has reared it's ugly head and pulled out the shovel. I'm not about to let it start digging me back down.

I'm setting a few goals for this week:
Blog at least a quick something everyday (helps me stay accountable)
Get the finances in check/ balanced/ budgeted
Stick to the $12 a day budget (it's been quite sometime since that happened)
Pull off two NO SPEND days

Up up and away!

Back into the Swing of Things

I survived the first week back at work. Hooray! The anticipation of returning was worse than the reality of it. I miss him terribly when I'm gone but I know that he's in good hands with my husband (we basically work different shifts) and that they're enjoying their time together without mommy.

My little piglet

Oddly it wasn't strange going back to work. After three months of being away I felt as though I'd never left; as if no time had lapsed. Even so this year is almost half over. My boy is almost 3 months old. Financially we've been at a stand still with me not working and us focusing solely on the babe. I guess now that things are returning to normal (but with an AWESOME addition to the pot) I'm ready to buckle back down and do this; get back in the game; resume the race; pay off these dang debts! I lost the gusto this year somewhere along the becoming a mom path. Being a mom is as great a reason as any to act responsibly and become debt free.

This week I want to try and find the gusto again. I don't think it's gone too far off.


Happy Mommies Day to all you mom's out there!!!

I Love my Husband

I found this blog post the other day while on pinterest (which has become super addicting ever since I've been confined to the sofa for 30 minute blocks of time while feeding my son).

100 ways to make your marriage rock

For someone on a strict budget, who feels a little frumpy (due to having just given birth and owning a rather shabby wardrobe too), who's husband has a very strong "receiving gifts" love language, who's been married just about 10 years, and who's been trying to figure out how to add a little spice to life this blog post is wonderful. Thus I decided I needed to post it to my blog.

I think just about everything on this list is great. Most of the things are common sense, yeah I should do that regularly type ideas but to be reminded, to have the list to reference, well I needed that. I also love that almost all of the ideas are free!

Some of my favorites include: Hide a treat in his glovebox or desk at work, Don’t nag him, Compliment each other, Take one day a month to make your spouse your total focus, Choose not to be annoyed by an irritating behavior/disappointment, Sit on the same side of a booth at a restaurant, Remember your spouse rocks- even when they don't. Ok, I really like most of the 100 ideas so you should probably just read the list.

Happy Wednesday to you all!