Reflection

No fancy title today- just a reflection. I'm often told how 'fortunate' we are to live in this country, where we're free to go to church (or not to go) and pray and worship whereever we choose. Often times i think society is often neglegent in remembering how much we have, how blessed we are. I dont go to bed hungry, ever. In fact, I've been fortunate enough to have never gone to bed hungry (minus being punished as a kid for not eating salmon crocquettes and going to bed without dinner)...but as a whole, i've had a full belly. Many times full of food AND dessert and enough milk in the fridg to come get a glass whenever I wanted.
How many times have i honestly stopped and thanked the Lord for providing? Few. Let's be real honest- how many times have i said "man I wish I had _____ to eat for dinner" rather than 'whoa God you are so good".
I'm trying hard to be more grateful and to be aware of the things I wish I had, and stomp those thoughts unless they are true needs.
My birthday is coming up and Ty recently asked me what I want him to give me. I haven't been able to come up with a genuine need/want. I hope my attitude continues on this same path because it's making my overall approach to this budget and to life much less stressful. I'm not feeling the pinch of unmet wants, feeling left out of the latest trend.
Instead, I'm feeling evermore grateful and satisfied and I welcome this new spirit, new sensation of really not needing to keep up with the Jones's.
Make sense?

Momentum

Our credit cards are paid off and I guess the momentum build up from that single exciting event has created more prayer over our budget and more intensity to stick to it.
Today, we owe less on my van than it's worth. It's a 2001 Odyssey and has 111K miles on it. We owe less than 5K and by November it should be fully paid for. How exciting!!

Persistence

Persistance, patience and peace are three "P" words that don't describe me well. However, I have learned as an adult that sticking to something, especially something hard for me, usually pays off.
We have only been on this "financial diet" for about a month and while there are days I really want to go to Target and buy something, or want to eat at my favorite Japanese Kirin House- most days I find peace in keeping with my budget.
BUT the good news is, Persistance pays off. Our credit cards are gone! Only 4 weeks of trying and they are gone. Amazing what you can do when you try.
Now we're focused on paying off my soccermom van, my Odyssey. I LOVE that van, and the idea of not having a van payment anymore is astounding.

Financial diet

Some need to completely change their diet, some to just stop eating the size portions they eat...my diet is a little different. I'm on a financial diet. I think many in America could stand with me in my distain for my own lack of self-control.
In an effort to not have debt, I'm on a $20/ week spending budget. That means for $20/ week i can eat lunch out, have a dinner out, go to the movies, buy some clothes- Or not.
It's really hard to NOT buy something I want, but at the same time I have all I need.