Seriously, I think I’m really back now
I don’t know if it is the change in the weather, or if I just have bad luck, but last week was tough to get through! I was just so tired, and managed to do the bare minimum to get by. That’s not really like me…
It’s time to get back on track. I’ve been doing some serious bargain hunting – I managed to find some great deals online at The Children’s Place, and got the kid a winter jacket and 5 shirts (I even splurged and got him a flannel for holiday pictures!) for $30 with shipping. He outgrew almost everything from last year, and many of the second-hand shops in the area didn’t have anything for his size.
We’ve done a pretty good job tackling the potty training – we are down to a pull-up for nap time, and a nighttime diaper. That’s some money saved! Also, the kid will be 3 in January, so I’m pretty comfortable with the timetable that we are currently on.
I am still working a lot. I am going to tutor as much as possible before the holidays to try to pay off some debt. We’ll see how that works, since we are going on a trip to Arizona in November!
Other than that, I have learned how to knit. I’m making a scarf for the kid right now. I made him a “bunny” – it might pass for road kill, so I decided to take it down a notch to something more simple.
That’s all for now! I promise to get back on the train this week. Take it easy!
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Sorry for the lack of posts!
I should be back to a regular schedule in another couple of days. I’m still working 35 hours a week, taking care of the kid during the day, and I’ve been feeling a little under the weather. But I’m starting to feel a little better now, and am pretty sure that we can handle our latest financial setback without dipping into the emergency fund again.
I’m also feeling the need for a change in the layout of this blog, so please be patient if you see some weird experimental changes over the next week. I hope everyone who is reading this is doing well. Take it easy!
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Life lesson – it is up to you!
The most important thing that I have learned about life is that I am in control of it. When I was in high school, I played soccer, and our coach always used to say, “How bad do you want it?” when we were losing. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but I always used to go out and play harder after he asked us this question. Looking back, it’s kind of ridiculous – why did a coach have to remind me of the purpose of playing the game in order for me to try harder?
I think that many people are content to go through life without regularly asking themselves exactly what they want out of it. “How bad do you want it?”, as well as the incentive to work harder, does not really apply for these people because they’re not really sure what they want. This is understandable – in today’s world, it is easy to get caught up in material possessions and the daily routine. However, before they know it, life has passed them by, and they have all of these really nice things. However, they may have missed out on their kids, or quality time with their family, or have lost touch with friends. I think that it is worth the time to sit down and be honest with oneself about their personal goals in life.
Thoreau said, “I know that the most encouraging fact is the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” I agree with this statement, and use it as a platform to evaluate my life on a regular basis. It’s hard sometimes, but taking a good look at myself and what I want really helps me to realize what is important in my life. When I am unhappy with something, I try to develop a plan (on paper if necessary) to fix it. I try to look ahead and say, “If I do this thing X, what will it mean to me in the future? Will I regret it? Will it matter?”
I don’t mean to preach, but I think that it is so important to really think about what is important in life on a daily basis. So far, I can honestly say that I have few regrets in life, but it has been a difficult path at times. I hope that others will also take the initiative to make positive changes in their lives as well – it is up to you!
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What do you want out of life?
Over the past week or so, I have been reading different blog sites looking for ideas on how to develop my own blog. The main question in my mind has been what topic to develop. I have a lot of ideas, but I don’t want the site to become too messy. I know that I could develop multiple blogs, but I think that a lot of topics are interrelated. After taking a look at Steve Pavlina’s website, I came to realize that I am interested in helping others develop themselves as a whole, and that this encompasses a number of different facets of life.
I specifically took a look at the article How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes. I realized that there are a couple of big things I want out of life:
1. I want to be a good mom and wife, and I do not want to compromise my quality time with my son.
2. I want to have a job with a purpose that helps other people directly in a way that may change them for the better. I would also like to be able to develop some of my hobbies into potential side-income opportunities.
3. I want to be financially independent – this will help with #1 and #2. When speaking of financial independence, my primary goal would be for both my husband and I to be able to work whatever job we like.
After some more thought, I realized that the first thing I want to do is develop the financial side of this blog. I have seen a lot of different financial blogs, and many of them have wonderful advice. I would really enjoy adding my perspective to the mix, and becoming part of the financial blogging community.
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Is it possible to obtain financial freedom?
We’re about to find out! As an introduction, we are a family of 3 in our early thirties. We have a son, age 2, a lot of student loans and credit card debt (mostly from college as well as from when we first had our son), and are living on a single income. We do have a house, our cars are paid for, and we do have a start on retirement savings (all on our own). I have started this blog to document our journey to financial independence.
I have seen a lot of other financial blogs out there (many of which are really great!), but have not seen anything from a family with a stay-at-home mom. I am hoping that this blog will provide another perspective for people who are hoping to achieve the same goals as we are. I look forward to learning a lot, and interacting with others!
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