Why do this silly little spending freeze experiment anyway?

Oh many reasons.  In fact, I rarely choose to do something significant if there's only one reason for it.

So, in no particular order...

• I've always wanted to.  Years ago I contemplated the idea of stopping buying things.  I even read a book about a couple who did a year long spending freeze.  I wasn't that impressed with the book or author, but the idea still stuck with me.

• Recently lots of unexpected expenses keep piling up.  It is just one thing after another:  the built-in microwave quits working, 2 of Josh's 3 pairs of jeans ripped, his cell phone earpiece quits working and it quits charging, the toilet seat broke at the hand of our two year old, a headlight goes out on Josh's car...  I don't even remember half of them.  The point is that I feel like our bank account is being attacked by one calamity and expense after another.  And quite honestly, when I look at our account I am overwhelmed, thinking we just can't get ahead.

• In addition to our regular church tithing, we have made a commitment to give toward a specific three year fund at our church.  We knew when we made the commitment that it was going to be a sacrifice and something that we would clearly notice, so this is a very good way to become more cognizant of our spending.

• My husband was on board - hooray!  There was no way this could work without him!

After having 2 1/2 weeks off work, Josh returns tomorrow, so this will be interesting to return to life as normal while still being on the spending freeze.

 Next time I will share about a little one night "break" we got from our spending freeze, our pantry clean out, meal planning, getting creative, and the blessings of family!

Ok, one day of not spending is a lot easier than two.

I was tempted numerous times today, but did not give in.

Don't be thinking I'm going all cold turkey and not buying anything for a year like I know others have done. I won't deprive myself THAT much; I'd go insane.

I know I am going to the Nappanee Apple Festival this weekend and definitely buying a slice of their famous 7' apple pie!!! So I guess I have that to look forward to. I just need to make it til then!

I did some sorting of paperwork at home yesterday, and I'll just say it pays to get organized! I found 2 checks, woot woot! Right into savings it went!

For the last few years I've had this weird thing about needing at least 2 reasons to go somewhere or do something. So, if I go out to get groceries, I will stop for Starbucks as well, or if I go visit Jen & Andy I will also pick up dinner. Tonight I went to Jen & Andy's and drove straight there and straight back. I went against my nature. Hopefully the choices I continue to make now to save, rather than spend, money will eventually become easier and more natural.

Baby steps. Day Two down.

Thought you might enjoy some pics of the 7' apple pie. These were taken a year ago.

Yesterday with my 2:21 work dismissal, I was unexpectedly blessed with free time. Since I hadn't even planned to be in the area, there really wasn't that much that I wanted to do. I had this afternoon off, and I didn't know what to do with it.

I wandered around the library for awhile, picked up a couple books. I was hoping for a movie to catch my attention, but none did (yah, if you're paying $4 at Blockbuster instead of 25 cents at the library, you should adjust your ways). At home I looked online for any matinées showing; again nothing was interesting me.

Then I started thinking how I've been blessed with this afternoon off, but many others have not. Including my sister-in-law, who I knew was having a really rough and stressful day at work. I'd never been to her office. I could see it for the first time, AND surprise her and hopefully make the rest of her day a little bit better. This met my personal requirement of having Two Reasons to go somewhere (I'll get into this some other time), so I found directions off the internet and headed out.

I stopped to pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers, coffee, and cookies. I thought those would be 3 good things to help brighten her afternoon. And it worked. She was surprised, and she told me later that it was definitely the highlight of her day and that the rest of the afternoon went much better.

There's a song that we sometimes sing at the mega-church. And I have to give credit where credit is due - I think we got it from Mars Hill (a mega church in/near Grand Rapids).

It's all about how we've been blessed and loved and changed for the better, but it doesn't stop there. It says that with all these good things that have happened to us, we should share it with others. Not just a pay it forward/do a random act of kindness thing, but more so that are called to do this. This is our responsibility. Ok, maybe the song doesn't say all that, but that's what I believe.

Here's the chorus:

I have been blessed - now I wanna be a blessing.
I have been loved - now I wanna bring love.
I've been invited - I wanna share the invitation.
I have been changed - to bring change, to bring change.

I encourage you to take your blessings and share them with others. Some of you may be thinking right now, "What blessings? I haven't been blessed." And that's because others haven't been doing their job. So, go, be a blessing. People need it.