We, my husband and I, live modestly. QUITE modestly, in fact.
Depending on any number of factors, our budget flows somewhere between - 'middle-class-comfortable' - to - 'it's tighter than too-small jeans'. ... Can you relate?
I'd like to hope that all of us have 'been there' at some time. It helps us grow, and find perspective.
The 'No we can't get that right now' days. Or, 'Sorry. We can't take that trip.' times. Maybe it's - 'It's hot dog night, again'.
Any tight times comes with disappointments. Probably more than just disappointment.
Maybe sadness. Anger. Frustration. Feeling pathetic, or hopeless. All of the above? - Ya. It can be hard.
Most of the time I'm a very frugal spender, regardless of our budget. - I looove making our dollars stretch! It feels wise and wonderful, even!
To grocery shop for bargains, rather than being a Commercial endured robot-shopper, is smart.
Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, Dollar Tree, and Walmart stuff? Yup! I'm all about it! - I use coupons, BOGO, a combo of both, or a number of other ways to 'Not be ashamed, to not spend'.
I absolutely love the sense of satisfaction it brings. =)
As life goes, there are times (right now is one for us) where circumstances shift, and you're left pinching pennies just to meet basic living expenses. - (Can I get an 'Amen!' ?)
The sort of time where it's 'routine' to have leftover-leftovers for most meals. Cashing in coin jars to put gas in the tank. Cutting back on non-essentials, entirely.
Such as - Dinners out. New seasonal clothing. This, or that. - And the upcoming Christmas gift list gets 'shortened'.
All of which can take a toll on your heart, even if your head 'gets it'.
I had such a 'pay the toll' moment, last night.
My husband and I decided one of the non-essentials we would cut-back on is our cable service. We don't have premium service, to begin with. But, we don't 'need' cable. Not really. Sure, it's a want, but definitely not a 'need'.
Some of what I watch on the News are reports of catastrophes. Shootings. Wars. Storms that leave thousands without anything. Countless reports of families losing loved ones. And knowing that, even just a few miles from any of us, that there are families that don't only NOT have a Christmas list - but they don't have a home of their own, either. And they live at the mercy of a community - day after day.
How can I dare to think that I 'need' cable?
We're going to forego cable for a while. For a couple of months? A couple of years? I don't know, yet. But, we're going to cut it.
So as to get SOME sort of technical connection to the outside world - my husband hooked up an old fashioned TV antennae to the TV in our room. I didn't know he had, until I went to bed that night.
I walked into our bedroom. Stopped. Saw this 'not small' metal tic-tac-toe contraption of rods - sticking up and out of our flat screen TV. It was a jarring sight. It's UGLY! Intrusive. Poor looking. Pathetic looking. ...... I felt sad. *sigh*
It was a stark reminder of our financial plight, right now. How tight we have it.
And the 'moments ago' thought of people without ANYTHING - was gone from my head. And the thought of 'no' sugar plums, danced in my head.
As I lay on my bed, looking sadly at that sad contraption of rods - I couldn't help but notice how it was facing at an angle, and 'up'. Up. Like, skyward. Heavenward. Up.
And I felt shame at how quickly I had looked 'down' on my plight. Instead of 'up' to God.
Doesn't He have my back? Of course He does. Then why do I take my troubles from him, and hold onto them, and 'worry' instead?
.... ya .... 'Guilty as charged'.
We all have things that reminds us to keep things in perspective.
Some people have endless piles of debris from a catastrophe'. - I happen to have an antennae in my bedroom. An antennae that looks 'up' for power and strength to function.
... We should do the same. <3 nbsp="">
