It has been a crazy roller coaster ride these last few weeks. After months of going back and forth, trying to settle into our new one-income lifestyle and debating over the perils of selling a house right now, we’ve finally decided. We are selling out house! Phew, it feels good to get that off my chest. I’m pretty sure that by putting it out there, we’ll have much luck selling our house quickly, for the price we want. Right? That’s they way it works, isn’t it?
Anywhoo, I won’t bore you with all of the nitty gritty details of getting the house ready to sell. The weekends of painting, replacing and fixing. All of these small things that we didn’t bother to update before, but now that we’re ready to leave the house, it’s somehow vital that it be done. There’s some backwards logic in there someplace.
Anywhoo (yes, again), we’ve gone over budget this month. It was bound to happen, with our 15,000 trips to Menards and The Home Depot. Two cans of paint, three light fixtures, miscellaneous parts, shelves, and maybe a Blizzard or two (hey, you have to stay energized). Oh yes, we have gone over budget.
No big deal, we just cut back over the next few weeks and we’ll be back on track. I figured out a creative way to stretch our food budget for another week (I may have gone a little overboard this week anyway). We’re digging into our freezer, and living out of our pantry for the next week. It will be a good exercise for us, and well, our freezer could stand to be cleaned out. I’m pretty sure that we have food growing ice castles in there.
But again, I digress. With all of the budget cuts and restraints that came up, I’m feeling those green eyes of envy lurking around every corner. Softly whispering in my ear, look at that happy couple out for a date night. Tapping me on the shoulder, look at that woman’s sassy new purse. Then just plain yelling at me, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK an iPhone!!! And You. Can’t. Have. Them. Green eyes, you can be a total “B” sometimes.
Yes, I’m going through a time full of envy. It’s something that I haven’t really encountered since I’ve been a SAHM. We just kind of made the adjustment of going from two incomes to one. The biggest challenge was not being able to save much. Other than that, I was so thrilled to be at home that I didn’t care about the rest. And now, all of a sudden, I do care. I want that date night. I want that purse. I WANT THAT IPHONE. I want. I want. I want. But I can’t have them. I hate being told that I can’t. I’m kind of like a toddler that way. Tantrums and all (can’t you just see it?).
I’m dealing, I guess. The kiddo and I are staying close to home for a while, less money spent on gas, less temptation, less chance for green eyes to find me. We’re finding activities at home to keep us entertained (baking anyone?), using the library even more (love, love, love their selection of Elmo videos). Focusing on the things that we do have: a healthy family, food in the pantry, a roof over our heads and two cuddly pugs to keep us company on those quite nights at home.
We’re keeping those green eyes at bay, but every once in a while they sneak back in. How do you deal with the green eyes?
Did you know that you can save my recipes in your very own recipe box, courtesy of ZipList? Just click on the link above, under "recipes" to get started. Want to learn more? Hop on over to read about this awesome new feature.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, those green eyes are a bitch, aren’t they? I always get a case of the I wants, when I absolutely can’t. I always try to remind myself that “stuff” doesn’t make us happy, people do…and that even people with lots of stuff can be miserable.
Doesn’t stop me from wanting an iPhone though…
.-= amber´s last blog ..The Life of a Goddess (minus all the perks). =-.
You can have my old one. Its a 1st gen 8gb job, and its a little beat up, but its yours if you like.
I’ll admit, when it comes to envy I have no will power. I’ve always been the type who just gets what I want. It’s gotten me into some hot water more than once. But it is one of the reasons I continue to work. Perhaps that’s selfish, but there is just too much I want. I have the iPhone, we do indulge in family vacatins and date nights. It comes at a price though, not just monetary, but in time away from my boys. It sounds like you have the right perspective overall, and if these kind of days get you down, I think a cure might be knowing that spring is right around the corner! With summer comes all kinds of free, fun stuff to do!
.-= Christine LaRocque´s last blog ..Time away =-.
@Christine LaRocque, Actually, knowing that Spring is coming does help. Just being able to get outside for a walk makes a world of difference. It’s summer and warm today (the snow is melting), I think that’s a sign of good things to come.