First day for the kids to go back to school and Jim and I both have the day off work. So what kind of fun shenanigans did we get up to? Oh, just a little something called working on our budget. Sure, we do know fun.
I hadn't made any New Year's resolutions, but I have a strong impulse to after a morning of number crunching. It's not that there is a shortage of cash. It's a question of how that cash is slipping through our fingers. I think one of my biggest problems is wanting a little treat now and then. Those treats add up. And yet I feel I deserve something for all my hard work.
So how do you reward yourself when you deserve a treat? What sorts of pats on the back do you give yourself?
One idea I have is to stash dive to find treasured yarn and pack it up in bags with a nice pattern. Then, when I want a treat, I can "open" a present and find some fun waiting for me. Sort of like the Yarn Harlot's personal sock club.
On the other hand, I may try to go cold turkey, and don't buy anything for a month. I'd like to make it three months, but I don't know if I can go that long. January is a horrible month anyway. The weather is awful and there's nothing to look forward to. But I've already taken January's measure and lined up a treat for a the whole family at the end of the month. As a Christmas present I bought us all tickets to go see Ron James when he comes to London, January 30. A dose of laughter is just the antidote to the gray days of winter. Here, have some for yourself:
I like your idea of a stash diving treasure hunt. Personally, if I tell myself something like no yarn purchasing for a month or a year, or sadly, even a week the first thing I want to do is purchase yarn. And you are right. January is a tough month if you are a Canadian. (Unless you live in Vancouver or Victoria where they should have to surrender their Canadian passports during the winter months.) I have no solutions for you, just a lot of empathy. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Ron James. I laughed and laughed...
ReplyDeletebuget....fudge it LOL. Budgets are tough for sure. I like your stash treasure hunt idea tho!
ReplyDeleteYou could always live vicarisouly through your stash enabling friends LOL.
Ron James is a crazy guy, for sure LOL
ReplyDeleteI am very lucky in that every year my stash is replenished...... come shearing time for the sheep and alpacas!
Yea, budget. I need to sit down and pay the bills this week. Which should have been done last week.
ReplyDeleteMy treat to myself is the TIME to relax and knit. I already have plenty of yarn (much of which is rec'd for free by bartering or as gifts), but what's in short supply is the time to use it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a shopper, so that part is easy for me anyway, but I also figure the less I spend, the less I need to work, the better our financial well-being, the better I sleep, the more happy and relaxed, and the more time for knitting.
Works for me.