I have been traveling down memory lane the last few days. Trying to gather together memories of past events, and life lessons learned from my parents. This has led to today's posting, and hopefully more future blogs as well. The first memory to be illustrated here, and one of the important lessons I learned from my parents, was that of leading a frugal lifestyle. More times that I can count have I witnessed first-hand my parents going without their wants, so that they could achieve financial needs.
I have vibrant, yet scattered, memories of moments in my life prior to moving to the home where I "grew up". We moved to my present home when I was three years and two months old (at that young age, the months count almost as much as the years do). It was my parent’s goal to buy a home of their own one day - where they could have the security of home ownership, grow as a family, and have adequate space for their anticipated children. So they made many financial sacrifices over the years to enable the realization of their various goals for the future.
A few weeks into their marriage, Mom discovered that Dad had credit cards with multiple department stores in town - and that each card had quite a few charges on them. She firmly set down the rule that if they didn’t have the cash for something, then they didn’t need it, and therefore it was not to be purchased. And if Dad didn’t agree with that arrangement, then Mom would take those cards and put Dad so far into debt that he would never get out. Fully believing her statement/threat - Dad soon became convinced that she was correct (after all, church leaders had been instructing members to "get out of debt and stay out of debt" for years). "Cash only" became their mantra from that time forward, and with few exceptions (such as home or car purchases) they followed that rule for financial freedom. Soon Dad was almost a greater proponent of this frugal concept than Mom was.
Within a year after their wedding, my parents moved into a one-bedroom first floor apartment in the north-west corner of a Victorian era home - which had been converted into multiple residences. This home was located a block from Temple Square - the Conference Center Theater now stands on the corner where that home once stood. A mere memory now of a time and place that is no longer. It was there in a small and cramped apartment they would live for the next seven years. And it was there also where they would welcome the births and early years of their two children.
Succumbing to pressure I have acquiesced and finally joined Facebook. Actually it is my alter ego of Messy Musings who has joined Facebook. I still consider myself to be quite "faceless".
Poor Messy Musings never actually went to high school - nor has she ever lived anywhere but in my own mind (please don't tease her about where she lives - she's quite sensitive about that). So Messy's Facebook profile is somewhat limited at this time. I am however in the process of asking her questions in order to complete other areas of that profile. Please remember that those answers will be coming from her and not me!!
So far Messy only has three Facebook friends - which is kinda sad when you stop to think about it. So, if you are on Facebook and want to be Messy's friend - she told me that invitations are welcome.
I have started this great new diet - guaranteed to provide a gain (amount yet to be determined) - but the promises are sure and hopefully will be large!! I'm so excited to see an increase - that I just had to share the news with all my friends!! Aren't gains what all diets are about? Well, with this diet I certainly hope so!! You see, I am starting a "money diet".
For the next few months, every single potential purchase (even for something as small as 50 cents) must first be weighed on the harsh scales of needs versus wants. Until then I will be wearing the ear muffs of need to counteract the singing sirens voices of want.
- Yes I acknowledge this poorly formed metaphor is a blatant (but slightly altered) theft from the epic Greek mythological legend of Odysseus, and his encounter with the Sirens. But I much prefer an ear muff over stuffing ears with beeswax - plus I do not wish to be enticed by the sirens song while tied to a ship's mast.
But I digress...
You see, my latest home improvement venture of rebuilding of the back porch (photos coming soon - I promise) is going to cost me almost double what I had originally estimated and planned for.
So in order to salvage my sanity and renew financial resources - I must commit myself. No, not to an insane asylum (though some friends might be of mixed opinion on that) - but I must be committed to diligently conserve income resources. To that end I shall endeavor to follow these guidelines:
- If I can honestly survive without it for at least 2 to 4 weeks - then it is not really a need.
- Only basic purchases at the grocery store are allowed (no indulgent extras) - and coupon usage is highly encouraged.
- No purchases of new shoes or clothes - if I can continue to modestly wear something from my closet, then I don't need to buy anything new right now (no matter how cute it is).
- Reading, television (and blogging of course) are on the approved entertainment activity list.
- So-called "emergency expenditures" will be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- A re-evaluation of finances will occur just prior to Thanksgiving. If monetary funds are still lacking, then the "money diet" will continue. Additional financial evaluations will then occur on a monthly basis until further notice.
I have successfully completed a "money diet" before - living off of food storage items and creativity. It is not glamorous, and can sometimes have a degree of pain and small amounts of suffering associated with it. However, fortified with divine help from above, experience, and a semblance of confidence -- I shall go forth, persevere, and achieve necessary current financial goals!!
Sigh... time to dig out the wheat grinder and get back to baking my own bread (which is fabulous by the way!!).
Last week was supposed to be a fun adventure-filled trip to Cedar City, Utah - where I would attend the yearly Shakespeare Festival. The tickets were purchased back in April in high anticipation of attending this event - yet alas twas not to be.
Instead I spent my week of vacation at home - a "staycation" if you will. Not a bad way to spend time off work, but I did feel badly about backing out of the trip and making family members take the journey without me. But please don't think of me as a roguish pottle-deep moldwarp (or some other Shakespeare-ish type of unpleasant being). They had fun even if not graced with my scintillating presence. There were a multitude of reasons why I did a staycation this year - and it was actually not all that bad.
I spent most of the week in a productive way. I obtained multiple bids from various companies to put a roof and siding on my new back porch. The roof is now in place - and photos will be posted when the siding is finally installed in a few weeks from now.
I also spent an entire 11-hour day sorting through all the paperwork and accumulated items in my Dad's den. It's been three years now since he passed away - so it was about time I did something about it. I filled the recycle garbage can with shredded papers and such - then organized or disposed of the rest. It was amazing some of the things I discovered - among the clutter were many treasured items (which of course I kept).
Tasks like this make one step back and consider all the clutter we accumulate in our own lives and homes. If I were to die tomorrow - I do not envy the person who must go through all of my possessions. Perhaps it is time to make my home a "house of order" - to scale down to the necessities and eliminate clutter from my life. Wish me luck!!
