It has been a busy few months and I have not taken the time to blog about anything. I have been enjoying living my life rather than "talking" about it. But seeing as I started this for my own record, I should probably put down my last few months history.
I have continued to us coupons and built up a nice "store" as my husband likes to call it. It is so nice to just go downstairs and pull something off the shelf that we need.
In May we had a neighborhood yard sale. I posted a lot on KSL the days leading up to the Yard sale and a few things here and there since. We have made just over $600.00 selling things that have been taking up valuable real estate (storage room) in the house and garage. The most recent thing we sold was a tent that I bought for John a few years ago with the intentions of going camping. I have come to the realization that I am not a camper and never will be. We sold it for $175.00 the same day I posted it. I bought it for $80, who new tents went up in value!?!
We have been able to take the money we have earned from KSL and us it to do home and yard improvements that we otherwise would not have been able to do.
I have enjoyed talking to friends and neighbors about our goals and appreciate their support to insure that we stay on track. I had talked my mom out of buying a new camera a few weeks ago by asking her if she really NEEDED it, can she make do with the one she has, is there other places she could be putting that money?
Yesterday I stopped at Down East and found a BEAUTIFUL crib that would match the nursery. I came home a told a friend about it and instead of doing the "Friendly" thing and saying that I should go get it, she sat down and said, "I am going to do the same thing you did for you mom. Do you need it? Will it get you closer to your goal?". After teasing about it with her and actually taking my husband to the store to see it, I realized that the freedom and happiness of being out of debt would far out weigh the few moments of joy that having a matching crib would bring. I am so grateful for a friend that knew what I need to hear and was not afraid to say it. That is the support that I am looking for. Thank you dear friend!
I must say we have fallen off the wagon a little. I told myself I was not going to get any new clothes, but the hubby found some pretty great deals that we couldn't pass up. I am bummed that I couldn't resist. He both had a moment of weakness and now we just need to regroup and get back on track.
We also ate out more than I would have liked us to this last month. I pushed us through June with out turning the A/C on until the 25th and turning on the oven to cook dinner just did not appeal to me the way I would have like it to. I think we ate out maybe 3 times, and that is just not what we need to be doing right now, so I hope to refocus and get back to sticking to my calendar of meals.
So what do your struggle with? What has been difficult for your this summer in trying to stick to your budget? Please share and maybe together we can help each other!
