I've been looking back on how much progress Josh and I have made on our finances, savings, debt reduction, and etc. It amazes me. Sometimes I know I take the whole frugal thing too far, but he is there to gently (but most often humorously) remind me that I'm getting too dangerously close to a Frugal Freak-out!
It's been an interesting past week, to say the least. Last weekend we spent around $400.00 total on clothes, shoes, and luggage for our Florida trip. We went only to Target and Kohl's. I hit the motherload at Target and loaded up with a complete Florida/Summer wardrobe- I am set! All in all, I bought shorts, capris, t-shirts galore, and 4 pairs of cute girly flip-flops. Josh walked away with a 5-piece luggage set, a pair of sandals, a pair of kicks, and some new boxers. He is giving the smaller wheeled-suitcase to Andy so he can have his very own suitcase when we travel. We haven't even showed it to him yet!
We've been doing really good with the whole "not eating out" thing. So really, our only extravagance is beer and wine for home, and yes, we both smoke. (I started smoking again around the holidays- terrible, I know!)
We've been taking advantage of the library to rent our movies for us, and kids movies for Andy and Makayla. I just brought home an armload of DVD's and children's books (and a couple books for myself) last Friday. I was thinking about another trip to the library today after work, but I haven't returned the kids movies yet and I'm not sure how many you can check out at one time.
I have changed myself, so much over the past year or two. I have been able to cultivate a stronger relationship with the Lord. This is thanks to Josh and his Mom, Phyllis, who is so wonderful to pray with. She is so strong in the Lord that when she prays with you, it's more than praying- it's an experience that stays with you. I have been gathering as many Max Lucado books as I can- he is such a wonderful writer. The way he writes, I try to soak in as much reading as I can. Thanks to www.paperbackswap.com, I've been able to gather close to a dozen of his books for my permanent collection.
I've also gotten rid of some of the old books from my "past" life on Paperbackswap as well. Looking through that old collection really made me realize how different things are and how much I've changed. I am closer to God and my Christian Faith now, actually it's stronger than it's ever been now that I have walked the other path and came back home. But, looking at those books was like reading a big sign that says: "this person is lost! and she is searching for answers, comfort, reassurance! but she's looking in the wrong place!" They were all books about the Tao, Dali Lama, and those horrid, foul Chuck Palahniuk books. What in the world was I thinking? And to think, those were purchased on my old credit cards, during my "who cares, I'll charge it!!" days.
These days, Josh and I pay cash for EVERYTHING. This includes, but not limited to: clothing, entertainment, our entire wedding and honeymoon, emergencies (the trip to Jackson, KY), and emergency dentist visits and my least favorite, emergency car repairs. Our goal is to keep a cash emergency fund, with at least $500.00 in it. Although lately I've really been thinking that $1000.00 socked away in the EF would be a lot better. It seems like our emergencies are getting more and more expensive.
Well, I don't want to overdo it on my first post, I am all over the board here. I am just looking forward to picking up my little handsome man from Kindergarten and getting home. I'm feeling the Happy Housewife thing today... I'm ready to cook and clean tonight! Biscuits and Gravy for dinner tonight, anyone?
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