So I realize that not every tree is made of money, and most of us Stay at home mother’s are living on very meak wages and trying to budget every penny. And not many of you reading this have gone through any of what I’m about to talk about. haha! Oh well, no time like the present.
We have always been poor. Even when we thought we had hit it big (because we could afford something to eat that wasn’t Rice-A-Roni or coming from a can), we were still poor. I don’t dislike being poor, nor do I love it exactly. But I do dislike the stress that comes with being poor, and the nasty pride (Which comes before the great fall, yes I know) of trying to keep up with the Jones’. Or in our case, everyone that’s a DINK around us (dual income, no kids) or those with 1 income that is double our own. Yea- it’s not fun “hanging out” when you feel like a slob because the best shirt you own has 3 stains on it and a hole, or feel badly because you cannot relate to anything these people say (I just spent an extravagant amount of money on something I don’t need, and now I don’t want it anymore- don’t you just hate that?)
So I stocked myself up on coupons for a particular salad I like. And I wait until the day before the “Sell By” date, to use it. If you are unaware of the produce and meat department’s policies of marking down products a day or two before the sell-by date, well!! You are most certainly missing out on some great deals (yea I’m a cheap-o, but these ways of life are proving to benefit my family more and more each passing day). So the produce guy marks down my salad from $4.99 to $1.99 and I have a $1 off coupon to use, so I get this $5 salad for a measly $1. I’m stoked! Then I realize there are other salads being marked down to $.99, and are larger salads. So I got to thinking, why are some marked down a dollar more than another? And then I realize that the store KNOWS there are a bunch of people with $1 off coupons (afterall, it was a display near the salads that I got the coupons from in the first place)… so they are counting on not losing money- they are actually hoping that the bargain shoppers will buy it simply because it’s marked at a $1.99, and figure if you have the dollar off coupon then they still aren’t losing money since they would’ve marked it down to a dollar had that coupon not been out in circulation. Here I was thinking I’m pulling a fast one, getting a great deal, and really- I’m getting an average deal. Bummer. haha!
Other ways to save money?
Garage sales… Sell the stuff you don’t care about, for 50 cents-$5, and there you have it… some $$$ for stuff you don’t care about. Why you bought that stuff to begin with will always remain a mystery, unless you recieved it as a gift. And then you just have to wonder why it remained in your possession for so many years.
SO we’re having a garage sale this weekend, which should be eventful. I’m hoping to earn enough money to pay for our moving truck, a present for Ichi’s classmate (birthday party, or course), a present for Ichi and Ni (just to ease the transition of moving and losing half their toys), and perhaps a coffee afterwards. So my goal is close to $300. Maybe. Last time we had a garage sale, we made a little over $100 and I was selling junk only… this time we actually have some stuff I’m not wanting to get rid of, but really have no other choice.
So- our life is now in the process of shedding weight (mentally, and materially). I like it. It gives such a sense of freedom when you can get rid of all you have and still feel content. =-)
A certain verse pulls me through life, it means a great deal to me, and I’d like to share it with you all.
Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches- feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I steal, And profane the name of my God.”
May that be a focus in each of our lives, especially through tough financial situations- and even more so when we are ahead in the game. Remember that the Lord should be our focus, and not the money in our pockets. That His grace is sufficient for all of us. What a blessing to have that perspective each and EVERY day.
Have a wonderful weekend!
“poor” is a relative term. I know how you feel. We used to be “rich” and now we’re “poor” (in my terms). But not really. Life could be A LOT worse. I’m glad we’ve got the best family (a bit psycho sometimes) to carry us through these times! I’m so happy for you guys that you get to move to a beautiful place and that Mikey gets to leave the warehouse. I know God will bless you both abundantly…He’s already begun!