We are fairly frugal people. We drive older cars (no payments), we don’t have cable, we eat dinner at home almost every night, we pay off our credit card each month, I use a pre-paid cell phone, and I buy all of Boos toys and clothes second hand (nd a lot of ours too). I feel like we are pretty careful and deliberate about spending. We talk things over together and plan for the long term.
There are times, though, when I feel like deserve a new car, a nice camera or a pimp cell phone. I look at our friends and family and I want what they have. Sometimes I wish we weren’t so careful with our money or that we didn’t need to fund our Roths or Boos investment account. I feel ENVIOUS!
In these moments of weakness, I just try to think about the things I want for us and for Boo and the values that I want to teach him. I want him to be financially secure throughout his life. I want him to be able to go to good public schools, so we need to save money for a new house. I want to be able to take him on vacations, so I need to cut coupons. I don’t want him to feel ENTITLED, so we give him used toys that are perfectly fun to play with.
I want material things just like anyone else, but I also want to not have to worry about money, so I have a motivation to stay on the path we have chosen. I still get discouraged from time to time, so I have to remind myself that I have a very comfortable life and I am so lucky to be able to be home with my baby. I have everything I need.
