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As I mentioned earlier, this past weekend was a special no sales tax weekend in MA and just about every merchant and shop had an additional sale going to draw in more customers. The articles in the local newspaper today said it seems to have a little something to spur on our state's economy. I hope so and I was happy to do my part!
DH has been working really long days on a huge project, and because of that, we haven't had a chance to do any of our usual day trips this summer, and rarely get out in the evenings during the week either. When he has had some spare time, he has tried to get out and golf and since that is really his favorite thing to do and he does work so hard, I am thrilled he can do that and I encourage him. And so this weekend, he was happy - well maybe not happy, but agreeable, to go with me to one of my favorite shops the one close to an ice cream stand! After all, what good is this new job and if I can't spend some of his salary for him - he rarely spends any of it. We can't save all of it, right??!! I am happy to help him part with some of it! Isn't that part of my job description?
Seriously though, first we talked about our budget for the day because we do indeed live on a budget. I really have to take a minute to give props and a lot of credit to my DH because he deserves that credit - especially with me always showing off something new it seems. I wasn't always able to shop for prims this way. He has worked very hard to provide for us and make this life possible, and not just for today, but for the future. No matter how tight things were when we were young and starting out, he always found a way to save and budget. To make our future more secure, he went back to college when the kids were little. Over the years, his dedication to his job, his willingness to go the extra mile, work long hours, and his proficiency with money, earned him the respect of his peers, a great reputation in his field, and now the wonderful position he has with a great start up company. And just as he is really good with the mega million dollar projects he runs for the company, he is also very smart with our money. And though it wasn't always easy, he taught me the benefits of a strict budget. More than that - he knows how to make our money work for us. We have always lived well below our means. I'd have probably spent it all but he taught me that wasn't smart. I did bring home my spending money for years and I have my owns ways of saving us money too - I can really stretch a food budget for example - but this is his moment to shine, so more about that another time.
Except for our home, we buy nothing that we can't pay off that month - including our cars. He refuses to pay the interest on an auto loan. Do you know how much money that saves? He could tell you - he has a spread sheet for that I am sure! For the 4 -5 years someone else is making car payments, he is saving and then we are set for when we do need to buy one. Because of his diligence, and my patience, I drive a very nice crossover SUV. He's happy to drive the van I owned before that - truly by his own choice. My job is to take really good care of my vehicle so he gets it in great condition when it's time. That van is almost 15 years old now but it doesn't look it because of my excellent care and it gets him to and from work and that's all that counts, he says. He is not one of those guys who has to have a toy.
So you might be surprised to find that we charge just about EVERYTHING else -groceries, gas, dental work, medical fees, travel expenses, my prims, and even some of our utility bills. BUT we use credit cards with really great rebate programs and most importantly, we pay off each and every charge card bill that month so we that we never EVER pay interest charges. It takes discipline to use those cards only to the point that you can pay the bill that month, but if you can be that disciplined, you can get something for nothing. My new 19" flat screen monitor, and our 4 phone set system were bought totally with Amazon.com credits we earned on one charge card.
So armed with the budget in mind, I knew I needed more furniture for downstairs. Being logical about it, I decided why put the new down there when it will be a playroom for grand kids someday. Instead, I'd find something for upstairs and move something older down there. And whenever I buy new furniture now, I always look for something with more storage. The older we get, the less trips to the attic we feel like making for out of season storage. Another criteria was that I didn't want it to project from the wall too much. As luck would have it, I found the perfect piece! I love that it has display space like a bucket bench, and a cupboard for that essential storage. And it is not as deep as the piece we took out of the room so there is more room to walk around the table. When the table is pulled out to it's fullest and the 12 of us are sitting there, that will help!
Of course that meant rearranging things so the jelly cupboard was moved across the room and my side board is the piece that went downstairs t the family. Seeing the jelly cupboard in place, my immediate reaction was to take the black cupboard off the wall and sit it on the jelly cupboard, but now I am not sure.
My daughter Jen said I should fold some of my prim linens and put them on top of the jelly cupboard and leave it like it is. I may try that. I'll have to live with it for awhile and then decide.
So that's it until tonight's drawing! The entries are all in my big bowl. The post is started and my camera is ready to take the picture of the winning slip of paper and I'll post it as soon as soon I upload it. The anticipation is killing me!!
So until later tonight - hugs, Linda
