tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030008616488996684.post1206425515591484305..comments2023-10-02T04:10:05.908-05:00Comments on That's What We Said: Making the best of what isn'tTeam Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17738677350836300457noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030008616488996684.post-55956887264663181622014-01-18T13:32:43.244-06:002014-01-18T13:32:43.244-06:00I understand wanting "things" but I am i...I understand wanting "things" but I am in a very different part of my life (70, retired, empty nest) and I can tell you for certain it's not "things" that make you happy. We are, and our friends also, at the stage in our lives when we're trying to downsize EVERTHING. If you were to admire something in my house, I'd probably say "take it home with you." Not everything, of course, but a lot of things. Sometimes I realize I'm buying something just to buy.....and I'm not a compulsive shopper, but if you've been wandering the mall for a while, you think you should bring something home to show for your time. I happen to like to cook, so I have a lot of gadgets and small appliances, but I agree with Alton Brown, of the food channel---if you buy it, make sure it can do more than ONE job, or it's not worth the space to store it. Also, the older you get, the more you seem to learn about saving money and making do. <br />I have always been an occasional thrift store shopper, but I wish I'd been more into it at an earlier age. There is so much available second hand, you can save a lot of money for other things by checking out the second hand market FIRST. Or you can make something from scratch or remake something old into new, or repair before you throw away and buy new. While I am fortunate that I don't have to make every penny count, as some do, I like being able to help my only grandchild to finance her education and reading blogs that others write about being frugal helps me keep my head on straight about what I "need" and what I don't. <br />I assume you and your husband have counted up the costs of working vs. not working--not just child care, but dinners that are "take out" because you're too tired to cook, and the extra clothes and shoes you need to keep up with your job, as well as transportation, wear and tear on your vehicle, etc. Sometimes it can come pretty close to your total salary when you add everything together. My kids were born in the 60's and I was able to stay home with them until the younger was 10, and then still have an almost 30 year career after that! Of course, fewer women worked in those days, but it was nice to be able to be home that long with them. <br />Take a deep breath a few times a day and tell yourself how lucky you are to enjoy raising your boys. You don't need the greatest and best toys, cars, computers, etc. to enjoy your family. And your house will be easier to set straight when there are fewer things in it! Clutter slows down cleaning. I'm trying to get rid of clutter but it's nearly a full time job for me.<br />Enjoyed reading your blog.<br /> Marcia in rural WNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09570153137116114221noreply@blogger.com