Swish the time goes

I thought I would be writing more in here. Now it is the eve before the eve before Christmas eve. This year is flying by. I get kind of depressed around Christmas, which is why I haven't been blogging anywhere, especially in the main family blog. We sunk about $2000 into our car with repairs. That is what Mark makes in two months, so we were so blessed and relieved that family stepped in to help out.

This big car money fiasco ordeal has had me thinking though. I want to have goals. I have a need to be in control or I feel out of control, especially when it comes to our resources. Even though Mark hates the thought, I crave a budget. If I don't know where our money is going, I get all crazy and just want to spend spend spend. Most of it I can justify, especially this time of year. A little here and there for groceries. Christmas gifts. Stocking stuffers. A little chocolate to make me feel better. Ect....

I have been doing some thinking. Is spending money really making me happy? No, it is not. It is a temporary fix that does not last. I want to be smarter with our limited funds. I want to be happier with less. I still want less in our home and I am still struggling to declutter. So why in the heck do I do the complete opposite of what I need to do to get what I want?

It is maddening.

I have decided I need to set goals for myself and my family for the upcoming year. They are not set in stone. I do not want to make my family nor myself miserable.

Goal#1: Eat better and more local. I put this first because health is such an essential part of us. I want to get to a higher percentage local REAL food. I want to follow Nourishing Traditions and get my family to eat that way too. I know it won't be 100% but even if I can get them to give up the manufactured cereals, junk food, and packaged chemical laden foods. I will help them set goals monthly. It will be hard due to our vast food storage but I think it is doable. First month will be giving up pop and soy milk.

I am saving to buy a side or a quarter beef in the near future. This is huge to me and I know I talk about it a lot but the desire for organically raised, free range beef is just such a big deal. The store meat just tastes sad and unhappy, especially when you have tasted the difference. I also found a place that has farm fresh eggs for about the same price as store eggs, which are starting to be disappointing as well. For me to be low carb and gluten free, my protein sources are a concern .

Some things we cannot get locally produced, like coconut product, stevia and chocolate, things I refuse to give up, lol! I also don't expect the kids to give up bananas or oranges if they don't want to.

Goal # 2: The Compact. I blogged about this before here and it is basically the same. I want to stop the excess shopping. If we need something, we will assess that need and try to obtain it second hand. This can be hard with some things so I will be flexible.

Goal #3 Save more aggressively. I think goal 1 and 2 pave the way for this. DH already saves a lot but I know we can save more. I know I can personally do a lot to spend less if I put my mind to it.

Goal # 4: Be a better keeper of the home. I know this may seem silly and irrelevant, but I think it totally is to simpler living. I am bored a lot. My kids don't need me as much. I find myself doing a lot of time wasting things, even when the house is in shambles around me because I don't feel worth having a nice home and I resent cleaning because no one else does anything to help (except Shaylee sometimes). There I said it. I need an attitude adjustment. I need to work around the house instead of shopping when I am bored and have needs that need to be filled. I need to take pride in things I can do instead of complain about not having enough and trying to fill the void with things that don't ever fill the void.

That is all I have thought of so far. Of course they are pretty big. I am debating about talking to Mark and the kids about them because of how they react to my crazy ideas, lol! Sometimes it's just easier to do them.