With great restraint, comes a time of great spending. After doing so well, for so long I fell off the wagon.
Oh! I held back and bought no-name verses brand-name granola bars. I found the best deal on printer paper. I turned around and walked away from many, many other temptations.
My shopping trip ended up feeling like a scavenger hunt as searched the city (okay, six stores) for the hard-to-find-items on my growing list of 'little things' that were piling up. It became a game.
The more places I stopped, the less tempted I became. By the time I left the last store and headed for home I was spent. In more ways than one.
I indulged myself in a few things that I wanted, but did not need. I picked up breakfast-for-one and had myself a small little party after my morning foray.
I added up the money I saved by finding a lower cost replica of what I was going to buy anyway. I put many, many items back on the shelves. It wasn't hard to restrain myself. Most of the time.
The budget is starting to feel a little scary. Something must change. Soon.
Yesterday's spending binge was a tiny bit frightening. It was a reality check. The outgo is exceeding the income. I need to know that March is going to be a better month ...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Something for Nothing
Throughout these budget-conscious months, extra curricular spending has been cut back. A lot.
The list of things not getting repaired or replaced around here was growing. One day I decided to write down that-which-is-undone.
Thankfully, the list was not as long as it had grown to in my mind. It was a finite number on a small piece of paper.
The Number One Annoying thing-left-undone was the dripping kitchen tap. I knew in the past (because our kitchen tap came with a lifetime guarantee), that I had been able to replace the broken part with a new one at no cost. It took longer to think about doing it, than it did to drive there (twice ... because I had forgotten that we had replaced our lifetime-guaranteed-tap with a different one, so I picked up the wrong part) and fix the tap.
Total cost (even though it was no longer our tap with the lifetime guarantee)?? $00.00 Zilch. Nada. It cost me my time (and a little gas). The satisfaction that was derived by fixing that dripping tap?? Priceless!!
The second and third items I decided to tackle were the broken computer downstairs and the broken speakers on the computer upstairs. Granted, this was not my idea or inspiration. I just followed through on suggestions made within the family.
We decided that the cost of fixing a slow-moving, out-dated computer was probably not worth it. Besides, we have been doing very well without it for the past eight months or so. I think that it can officially be donated to someone for parts. But ... we did salvage the speakers for use upstairs. Only one of those speakers work, but half is better than none. Total cost? $00.00 Zero. Nothing.
The items left on the list will require actual money to fix or replace that which needs replacing. A car windshield (thankfully it cracked along the bottom); rotors for the front brakes (at least the brakes work); a kitchen phone (if you don't jiggle the offending cord, you probably won't get cut off ... besides, we have two other phones in the house); (eye) glasses (it was a luxury item anyway ... I can see good enough with my existing prescription); and a door frame for our garage door (even I can hip check the door open ... that is, if it managed to latch in the first place).
In the mean time, I am enjoying the challenge of fixing (or doing) something for nothing.
Organizing my son's tax papers took a day to accomplish; didn't cost a penny; and possibly saved him hundreds of dollars in bookkeeping charges.
I have closets full of unused items that I could amass for a garage sale in the spring or advertise for free on Kijiji.
I have a book to write and all that I need to do is make the time to do so.
I have notes and cards to send. I accomplished that yesterday and was just giving them some 'breathing room' (I printed off what I had done and was planning to have a second look at it this morning ... but then our cat threw up my work!?!!) ... once again, the only tangible cost was my time.
I have not sacrificed everything. I make room in the budget for that-which-is-important to me. But some of my greatest pleasures come from making something out of nothing.
The list of things not getting repaired or replaced around here was growing. One day I decided to write down that-which-is-undone.
Thankfully, the list was not as long as it had grown to in my mind. It was a finite number on a small piece of paper.
The Number One Annoying thing-left-undone was the dripping kitchen tap. I knew in the past (because our kitchen tap came with a lifetime guarantee), that I had been able to replace the broken part with a new one at no cost. It took longer to think about doing it, than it did to drive there (twice ... because I had forgotten that we had replaced our lifetime-guaranteed-tap with a different one, so I picked up the wrong part) and fix the tap.
Total cost (even though it was no longer our tap with the lifetime guarantee)?? $00.00 Zilch. Nada. It cost me my time (and a little gas). The satisfaction that was derived by fixing that dripping tap?? Priceless!!
The second and third items I decided to tackle were the broken computer downstairs and the broken speakers on the computer upstairs. Granted, this was not my idea or inspiration. I just followed through on suggestions made within the family.
We decided that the cost of fixing a slow-moving, out-dated computer was probably not worth it. Besides, we have been doing very well without it for the past eight months or so. I think that it can officially be donated to someone for parts. But ... we did salvage the speakers for use upstairs. Only one of those speakers work, but half is better than none. Total cost? $00.00 Zero. Nothing.
The items left on the list will require actual money to fix or replace that which needs replacing. A car windshield (thankfully it cracked along the bottom); rotors for the front brakes (at least the brakes work); a kitchen phone (if you don't jiggle the offending cord, you probably won't get cut off ... besides, we have two other phones in the house); (eye) glasses (it was a luxury item anyway ... I can see good enough with my existing prescription); and a door frame for our garage door (even I can hip check the door open ... that is, if it managed to latch in the first place).
In the mean time, I am enjoying the challenge of fixing (or doing) something for nothing.
Organizing my son's tax papers took a day to accomplish; didn't cost a penny; and possibly saved him hundreds of dollars in bookkeeping charges.
I have closets full of unused items that I could amass for a garage sale in the spring or advertise for free on Kijiji.
I have a book to write and all that I need to do is make the time to do so.
I have notes and cards to send. I accomplished that yesterday and was just giving them some 'breathing room' (I printed off what I had done and was planning to have a second look at it this morning ... but then our cat threw up my work!?!!) ... once again, the only tangible cost was my time.
I have not sacrificed everything. I make room in the budget for that-which-is-important to me. But some of my greatest pleasures come from making something out of nothing.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Do it NOW!
If you are thinking of someone ... call them; email; send off a note. Don't put it off. If they are in your thoughts, let them know. Do it now.
If you think that someone could use a little care package ... act on it. Whether it is a batch of cookies; a pot of soup; a beverage of their choice. What ever it is that crosses your mind? Follow through on that whim. Do it now.
If you think someone could use some company ... drop by. Make yourself available to do whatever it is that you can do for someone who is struggling. If it is uncomfortable, do it anyway. You'll never know the difference your presence could make. Do it now.
Is there a small favor you could bestow upon someone that could help lighten their load? Running an errand; shovelling a walk; picking up some groceries. Assistance in any capacity to lighten the load of someone who is carrying far too much on their shoulders is appreciated. Just do it. Now.
Make gatherings with friends and family a habit. Yes, sorrow and loss bring us together. But wouldn't you rather have an arsenal of memories when times are light and happy? Don't delay. Make plans to gather those close to you whenever you can.
I remember how adamantly I felt when we tried to gather friends and family together for one of Mom's milestone birthdays. The birthday was simply an excuse. The true reason we gathered, was celebrate the life, friendships and relationships that Mom has built throughout her lifetime.
Some people's religious beliefs prevented them from attending this celebration of life. While the honoree was alive and able to enjoy it. Yet ... their religion would allow them to go to her funeral. There is something terribly, terribly wrong with that.
Celebrate, do and be all that you can be every day. We don't know what life has in store for us tomorrow. So don't delay. You will never regret what you have done. You will only regret that which you did not do. Do it now.
If you think that someone could use a little care package ... act on it. Whether it is a batch of cookies; a pot of soup; a beverage of their choice. What ever it is that crosses your mind? Follow through on that whim. Do it now.
If you think someone could use some company ... drop by. Make yourself available to do whatever it is that you can do for someone who is struggling. If it is uncomfortable, do it anyway. You'll never know the difference your presence could make. Do it now.
Is there a small favor you could bestow upon someone that could help lighten their load? Running an errand; shovelling a walk; picking up some groceries. Assistance in any capacity to lighten the load of someone who is carrying far too much on their shoulders is appreciated. Just do it. Now.
Make gatherings with friends and family a habit. Yes, sorrow and loss bring us together. But wouldn't you rather have an arsenal of memories when times are light and happy? Don't delay. Make plans to gather those close to you whenever you can.
I remember how adamantly I felt when we tried to gather friends and family together for one of Mom's milestone birthdays. The birthday was simply an excuse. The true reason we gathered, was celebrate the life, friendships and relationships that Mom has built throughout her lifetime.
Some people's religious beliefs prevented them from attending this celebration of life. While the honoree was alive and able to enjoy it. Yet ... their religion would allow them to go to her funeral. There is something terribly, terribly wrong with that.
Celebrate, do and be all that you can be every day. We don't know what life has in store for us tomorrow. So don't delay. You will never regret what you have done. You will only regret that which you did not do. Do it now.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cat Hair
I wandered into the kitchen this morning. As I greeted the day, I was busy 'fluffing' my hair and doing my best to make my bed-head-look disappear without wetting my head (it didn't happen).
As I did so, our cat came up from downstairs and greeted me with a meow.
He did his morning hair fluffing as I did mine.
He shook his whole body (I love watching his full-body shake, because he shakes so hard that his two front paws lift off the floor). And poof! Perfect hair!!
His hair is sleek, black and shiny. He never needs a hair cut. And he has never had a bad hair day (minus the days that my Second Son thought it was humorous to dab some peanut butter on the top of our cat's head and have the dogs lick it off).
We pet his hair backwards and muss it up a little. It never lasts. One little shake and his hair is as perfect as it was to start with.
He is graying a little. But he looks so distinguished.
When he moved in with us, he had a grand total of about seven white hairs on his underbelly. He has substantially more than seven hairs now. But they look perfect on him.
No maintenance hair. It is something that I have been craving for so long! Then I look at our cat and see that he has what I've always wanted.
What do you suppose a hairdresser would have to say if I asked if they could give me a cat-hair-cut?
As I did so, our cat came up from downstairs and greeted me with a meow.
He did his morning hair fluffing as I did mine.
He shook his whole body (I love watching his full-body shake, because he shakes so hard that his two front paws lift off the floor). And poof! Perfect hair!!
His hair is sleek, black and shiny. He never needs a hair cut. And he has never had a bad hair day (minus the days that my Second Son thought it was humorous to dab some peanut butter on the top of our cat's head and have the dogs lick it off).
We pet his hair backwards and muss it up a little. It never lasts. One little shake and his hair is as perfect as it was to start with.
He is graying a little. But he looks so distinguished.
When he moved in with us, he had a grand total of about seven white hairs on his underbelly. He has substantially more than seven hairs now. But they look perfect on him.
No maintenance hair. It is something that I have been craving for so long! Then I look at our cat and see that he has what I've always wanted.
What do you suppose a hairdresser would have to say if I asked if they could give me a cat-hair-cut?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Coming Up Blank
Usually as I make my way through the morning, I have a few thoughts drifting through my mind and by the time I sit down in front of this blank screen, my fingers have a story to tell. Not this morning. I'm coming up empty.
I'm empty. But I'm full ... I am satisfied and content. I am peaceful and accepting of where I am at at this moment.
Heaven knows there are many areas of my life where I should be striving to do more and be more. But for this moment in time ... who I am? Is enough.
And for this morning? This is all that I have got. I am coming up blank. But it is enough.
I'm empty. But I'm full ... I am satisfied and content. I am peaceful and accepting of where I am at at this moment.
Heaven knows there are many areas of my life where I should be striving to do more and be more. But for this moment in time ... who I am? Is enough.
And for this morning? This is all that I have got. I am coming up blank. But it is enough.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Difference a Phone Call Can Make
I was ready, willing and able to sit in 'idle' mode this morning.
I didn't have work lined up for today. Lately, if I don't know where I am going to work the night before (more often than not), I don't end up working at all the next day.
That has been my unfortunate reality since I flipped the calendar page into the new year.
Whether I am scheduled to work or not, I get up at the same time. I get ready for the day, despite the fact that I don't know if I will be called in to work. I go through my morning routines and I am ready to be out the door and headed to work by 7:30 each morning. Then I wait for the phone to ring.
6:30 to 7:00 is often the time the Automated Dispatch System calls (if it is going to call); 7:00 to 7:30 is usually when a live person from our Human Resource Department will call (if they call); 7:30 to 8:00 is when I can expect any last minute changes to what I have been told between 6:30 and 7:30.
If the phone remains quiet throughout that time frame ... I can usually count on having (at least) the morning off. And more likely than not, the afternoon as well.
So when the phone rang at 6:33 this morning, I had a feeling that I would be heading out the door an hour later. I was right.
I don't love the uncertainty about this job. It's a challenge to 'psyche myself up' for the day ... when I have no idea what the day will bring. And that's the easy part.
The real challenge is the variable pay cheque. I don't know long I can afford to work like this. I hope something changes soon, though I highly suspect this is my fate until next fall.
I could be wrong. I hope that I am. All that I hope for during this Time of Great Uncertainty ... is for the phone to ring on a daily basis (preferably the night before). If I work steadily ... I can make this work. If I don't?? I'm going to have to dig deep to find out where I need to go from here.
Oh .. the difference a phone call can make as to how the rest of a day unfolds.
I didn't have work lined up for today. Lately, if I don't know where I am going to work the night before (more often than not), I don't end up working at all the next day.
That has been my unfortunate reality since I flipped the calendar page into the new year.
Whether I am scheduled to work or not, I get up at the same time. I get ready for the day, despite the fact that I don't know if I will be called in to work. I go through my morning routines and I am ready to be out the door and headed to work by 7:30 each morning. Then I wait for the phone to ring.
6:30 to 7:00 is often the time the Automated Dispatch System calls (if it is going to call); 7:00 to 7:30 is usually when a live person from our Human Resource Department will call (if they call); 7:30 to 8:00 is when I can expect any last minute changes to what I have been told between 6:30 and 7:30.
If the phone remains quiet throughout that time frame ... I can usually count on having (at least) the morning off. And more likely than not, the afternoon as well.
So when the phone rang at 6:33 this morning, I had a feeling that I would be heading out the door an hour later. I was right.
I don't love the uncertainty about this job. It's a challenge to 'psyche myself up' for the day ... when I have no idea what the day will bring. And that's the easy part.
The real challenge is the variable pay cheque. I don't know long I can afford to work like this. I hope something changes soon, though I highly suspect this is my fate until next fall.
I could be wrong. I hope that I am. All that I hope for during this Time of Great Uncertainty ... is for the phone to ring on a daily basis (preferably the night before). If I work steadily ... I can make this work. If I don't?? I'm going to have to dig deep to find out where I need to go from here.
Oh .. the difference a phone call can make as to how the rest of a day unfolds.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Holiday Destinations
I just found out that one of my cousins is setting out on vacation soon. Destination? Family. A daughter on the coast; and a sister in the U.S.
I woke up this morning with my cousin's holiday on my mind. Oh ... to be able to pick up and take off on such an adventure!!
I remember well, the last few times that my world came crashing in upon me. I needed to keep myself occupied and distracted from life-as-I-used-to-know-it. I took off on several little 'adventures' during those periods of my life.
I was running away from life at home. But I was moving towards friends and family.
A day trip with friends; an overnight visit with a cousin; and a weekend with My Youngest. More recently, a few day trips to visit with my sisters; and a solo holiday to distance myself from 'life' ... but it was a weekend where (once I reached where I was going) I was surrounded by everything I needed. Solitude; friends; and family.
Dream vacations for me have nothing to do with the destination. It is the people that I bring with me and the people that I see when I reach where I was headed. And sometimes? It is about the quietness that brings peace to my soul when I physically put some distance between myself and that-which-is-painful.
I meant so much more than meets the eye, when I wished my cousin "May this holiday be everything you need it to be". It is the kind of holiday that I have needed in the past. Even now that my past is behind me and I'm looking towards the future with hope and anticipation ... it is still the kind of holiday that I enjoy the most.
A holiday with family and friends as my destination is my favorite kind of holiday of all.
I woke up this morning with my cousin's holiday on my mind. Oh ... to be able to pick up and take off on such an adventure!!
I remember well, the last few times that my world came crashing in upon me. I needed to keep myself occupied and distracted from life-as-I-used-to-know-it. I took off on several little 'adventures' during those periods of my life.
I was running away from life at home. But I was moving towards friends and family.
A day trip with friends; an overnight visit with a cousin; and a weekend with My Youngest. More recently, a few day trips to visit with my sisters; and a solo holiday to distance myself from 'life' ... but it was a weekend where (once I reached where I was going) I was surrounded by everything I needed. Solitude; friends; and family.
Dream vacations for me have nothing to do with the destination. It is the people that I bring with me and the people that I see when I reach where I was headed. And sometimes? It is about the quietness that brings peace to my soul when I physically put some distance between myself and that-which-is-painful.
I meant so much more than meets the eye, when I wished my cousin "May this holiday be everything you need it to be". It is the kind of holiday that I have needed in the past. Even now that my past is behind me and I'm looking towards the future with hope and anticipation ... it is still the kind of holiday that I enjoy the most.
A holiday with family and friends as my destination is my favorite kind of holiday of all.
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