Celebrating Christmas with Cash

I have made a few subtle changes to my blog. You may have noticed on the right hand side of my page is a nice large button for the Down To Earth Forum.  I am a member there and would like to encourage you to visit or join if you wish.  I have learned so very much from not only the forum, but it's creator Rhonda at her blog called  Down To Earth.  It is exactly as it sounds, a blog about simple living.  It is a lifestyle choice to live more simply.  DTE is full of advice, suggestions, and tips to help you on this path.  The Down to Earth forum is the same.  This is where you can go and share idea's and knowledge about all sorts of simple living idea's.  I learn something new each day and I am always eager to read there.  It is a wonderful gathering place full of support, encouragement, and very special people. 

Each Monday on the DTE forum, as we draw closer to Christmas, in different sections there are idea's posted about all sorts of things we can apply to Christmas or any other gift giving occasion.  From recipe's, to family fun, to money saving tips, encouragement, and ideas posted each Monday.  The whole world feels like one big Christmas ad here in the US, and this is a where I go and just relax and not feel pressured by ads to buy something I know we do not need or want every single day until Christmas!  It is quite overwhelming here in American.  Sarting with Black Friday, people are in a buyers frenzy and many are charging items for Christmas because they do not have the money to pay cash.  Many will take months to pay off what they have purchased for this one day event.  This grieves me as I know there are those that would never spend as much as they do if they did not feel guilt from others for not doing enough.  In simple terms pressure from others for not spending enough on people at Christmas.  Christmas guilt!!!

In our home, Christmas is about spending time with family and gathering together.  We choose to give gifts, but every household celebrates differently.  The point is, this one day should not financially cast a burden on people for many months to follow or even for the rest of the year.  I know of people that pay off Christmas all year until just before it is time to buy all over  again!  In this society if you cannot afford something then you charge it!  There are few who save and wait until they have the money.  Am I the only one that thinks that is a bit out of balance?  Several years ago after a credit card Christmas I stepped off the cc roller coaster of Christmas, and decided things had to change.   I was searching for an answer, and knew I wanted to do things differently.  I didn't know there was a term for what I felt other than the fact that I knew I wanted to simplify. That is when I found Rhonda's blog.  I am sure when I typed simple, or simplify, the web browser pulled up her blog.  I cannot even begin to describe the impact her blog, and the forum has had on my life.  I felt totally alone in this consumer driven society in the way I thought until I found others that felt the same way.  I do not feel alone, I do not think what I am feeling and doing is "crazy" for lack of a better term.  I feel that I am different obviously than the "average" American yes, but I know there are others that feel the same as I do and the support I have really helps me to be encouraged that I am on the right track where otherwise I might have very possibly gone back the way I came because I had very few around me that felt as I do.   I started implementing these changes over time and have never looked back.  I am ok with being one of few that thinks in simple living terms.  Taking responsibility and making changes in our life has made a huge difference.  The most wonderful difference is the feeling of stress you have when you have a CC Christmas and the peace you have when you have a Cash Christmas, there is positively no comparison.  My journey will continue forever as I make small changes and adjustments but that is the way life is, we are never completely set and change here and there to what we need.  I am just so thankful that my  journey is on this path.  The path I was on was heading nowhere in a hurry!

I had a very special day with my friend that I made the quilt for.  She absolutely loved it and I was so thankful we got to spend the day together.  We both have busy houses with amazing children so it was wonderful to spend her birthday together!

I am also very excited!!! I received a very special package in the mail today from my swap partner on the DTE forum.  For those that wanted to take part we had a Christmas decoration exchange.  My partner sent me this very beautiful flag garland, some tea packages for me to enjoy a wonderful cup of tea, a postcard of where she is from and a very kind card!  I took a picture to share with you and as soon as I did I hung the garland over my sewing area to enjoy.   It is lovely :)

Mapping Your Financial Future

As the new year quickly approaches I thought I would write about a topic that is usually at the forefront of most people's thoughts most of the time.  A topic people tend to avoid, that everyone has to deal with and facing it or running away from it will drastically affect your life.  Yes I am talking about money. 

Facing your finances does not have to be scary no matter what your financial situation.  In fact it can be exciting!  I do not tend to write about finances.  I am not a financial guru, overnight millionaire, or a financial adviser.  Therefore, I do not want to give advice on what you should do with your money.  I would like to share with you about the importance of mapping out your money.  It took years of learning by trial and error how to stretch our dollars.  We have lived on one income since the birth of our first child.  That was the beginning of the major stretching of the dollar.  I had to learn quickly how to budget for both our needs and our wants.

I am by nature an extremely organized person.  I am a list maker, a planner and am only comfortable knowing where I am going and how I am going to get there.  The details I could be whimsical about because the main path is always determined.... or is it?  Financially I have learned that the path we have mapped out can be affected by details, really little details.  The financial goals we have set for our family are vitally important to us.  These goals are the future, and like everyone else we want to have an optimistic picture of the future and we want to reach our destination.  As we get closer to reaching our destination like any trip, we become more excited about getting there and the anticipation grows. 

I started looking at money a few years ago like I do everything else.  It needed to have a clearer picture... I needed a money map!  Being the organized person I am my first map was on a spreadsheet and so detailed I started confusing myself!  I still wanted a map but something much less complicated.  I needed an A to B map and deleted what I had and went for something simplistic, still on a spreadsheet but simple. I believe the key to my mapping system is that I have our entire financial flow sheet on one page, one map.  I can click on it and see at a glance where we are headed, and where we have been.  Where we have been is  important.  It is these milestones that are encouraging and inspiring as you work toward accomplishing your financial destinations.

The biggest key to the map is this, set realistic goals and milestones.  A plan set in motion will work with time and diligence as long as we are careful about spending.  It's hard to get where you are going if you take a wrong turn.  The map might say where we are going and we might want to get there but if we make a wrong turn or overspend in this case it doesn't matter what the map says we are not going to get there.  Over spending doesn't have to be a big purchase, it can be astonishing how quickly small purchases add up!  As the new year approaches and goals and resolutions are being made I encourage you if you have not already, to map out your financial future to make it easier to see where you are going and work toward achieving those financial goals that you have for the new year.  Best wishes on your journey :)