Monday, January 03, 2011

How Not to Relax on a Day Off

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:

6 comments:

  1. 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. :-)

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  2. Thank you for the Ron James. I laughed and laughed...

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  3. buget....fudge it LOL. Budgets are tough for sure. I like your stash treasure hunt idea tho!

    You could always live vicarisouly through your stash enabling friends LOL.

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  4. Ron James is a crazy guy, for sure LOL
    I am very lucky in that every year my stash is replenished...... come shearing time for the sheep and alpacas!

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  5. Yea, budget. I need to sit down and pay the bills this week. Which should have been done last week.

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  6. My 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.

    I'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.

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