They want me back!

I've been away sorting out life for a while. In the busiest of times, I worked for pay 44-46 hours a week, then cared for my grand-daughters for 40 plus hours. Sleep became premium.

The job I thought was mine turned out to be temporary, a fact they neglected to share at hiring, so I find I have plenty of time to rest and sleep, and garden, clean, organize, read, and blog (if I get around to it).

On the other hand, my financial situation has shifted, again. As you know by now, I much prefer enjoying my life at home. To do so, I work diligently to reduce and contain expenses. However, I have a minimalist attitude and a hoarder's desire. How to find balance...

Get a bit more cash in.

I tried selling my best and favorite linen pants on Craigslist and new with tags suits on ebay. No luck.  Finally, I donated them just for the freedom. But, before I separated from my job I found these wonderful boots for an unbelievable price -

I love them!!! They are Crocs and will last for years. They look great and I can walk to to and from work easily. Just wait until I travel back to San Fran - cute, functional, and light weight. So I sold these. I priced them way below their values and received two emails immediately. Sold that evening.

Money or not, I needed a few things I consider necessary for my lifestyle. The more you shop (online) the more emails you receive for the next great deal. The longer you delay purchases, the better the deals get. They want you back. They want me back!!!

Me, the grrl who barely works and needs every cent she has to pay the bills, like housing and utilities. They do not care about those expenses. They want me to look trendy, take the latest touted supplements, and own stylist electronics. I almost want to look, almost...but, I have a plan.

My prevailing mantra helps me delay spending:

"That's not in my budget."

It maintains my desire to acquire, yet reminds me that I have priorities.

Besides, my closet is still full of clothes available for sale. There are several other sites to consider including Amazon and Thredup.com. Better to secure financing before the purchase than to become a debt slave.

On to a far more interesting journey...

More Money?

Spend less. Give more.

Holiday season thrift tips were abundant and now that the New Year has arrived it is either time to continue conscious spending or settle created debt. If there is still old debt floating on the balance sheets, this is a great opportunity to resolve that as well.

Spend less.

• Know how much you need to live – housing, utilities, food, fuel, insurance – necessities
• Know how much you are spending monthly and identify where every cent goes. How much is funneled into the miscellaneous category? Include clothes, meals and snacks away from home, and all expenditures beyond necessities.
• Identify the bare minimum for your life and family. Each of us has a ideal standard of what we need and how we are willing to live. When we know what that is, we can make decisions more clearly about what we are willing to change.
• How much is your ego costing you? Egos are vultures and will strip you of your cash and available credit. The ego knows your secret desires and will declare eminent death if left unfed. Changes in choice and habit will be challenged from within with fear of loss and limitation. Be thoughtful, precise and aware.
• With a visual of spending habits, subtract the necessary from the pattern of spending. This is the resource. It is from this balance that we will pay off debt, save, and give more.

Give more.

I give in love because I love to give. Sharing opens our hearts to others, to the human experience. We are blessed to have more than we need and the opportunity to share brings the realization of our blessing directly to us. Give to places or organizations that serve in an area that interest you or that feed you spiritually. Give sufficiently that you feel the experience in giving.

If giving is already part of your commitment, give more. Acknowledge that you have more than enough. Is there any doubt? Check the numbers again. Spending, saving, and giving each have emotional tags. We calculate and understand the numbers cognitively, but at disbursement we face deep seeded ideas about money. As we open, examine, embrace and accept these ideas we are free to choose which actually serve our lives.

Imagine there is more than enough. As we accept this realization, we find there is even more.

There is enough of everything for every one, even you.