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Blog: If Your Money Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy
 Hmmm What Do I Want To Buy Next?
If you're a typical woman like me there is that constant wanting to buy the next item on the list of must haves. After moving this past year there are things that I would like to buy to make my home feel more complete. I am very much an all or nothing person who would love to go and buy everything I need right now and have it all done…like I really wouldn't buy anything again right?! I am a woman who does like to go shopping a little now and then. But since finances are limited and I don't want to charge things on a credit card and pay twice what it's worth after interest, I am having to learn again what my mom taught me when I was younger, and society bucks at every opportunity, which is needing to figure out what I want and then save up for it. Yuk, right? However I am learning that I am actually finding better deals and more what I want by taking my time and using the waiting time to develop what I really want rather that finding something quick to ease my want. I even use some visualization techniques to help me define my wants even more. I'll explain more.
My friend and I both do this. In fact she reminded me to do it more when I saw she was still doing it at her house. We visualize what we want by tearing out a picture of it out of a magazine or catalog and post it in our house either in the room that item is supposed to be in or in the kitchen where we are most of the day because we both have young children. It helps develop the idea of what you want more and assists in the creative process. It's amazing how I've even found items around my house that I forgot were there and brought them out to use because I took the process of time instead of going shopping and finding it quickly and then having more than I need around my house.
I also have a strategy that makes this whole process feel like a challenge or game with myself. That is, we have to have a minimum amount in our savings for our emergency fund and then some and then whatever is above and beyond that is the money for that next purchase if it is agreed upon between my husband and me. We work together to make our lists because sometimes I will forget the needed items. I like challenges and anything to make this process feel like a TV game show or something fun goes a long way for me. Especially since it's not always fun waiting for something…I can admit that!
I am also finding that not buying everything right away is making my home look more personalized. It reflects intentional buying. I heard not that long ago that your home should tell a story about those that live there and give a first impression to those who come over. Now, I am really trying to take out some pictures and put them around. I want people to see how our family came to be and the process of each child coming into the family. This will take some time!!! But I will be able to determine what pictures I like, then what size I want to display so I can then find the frames, not to mention I will look for the good deals and the right color of frames and maybe even take it further by getting custom matting so they look personalized. Yes, time does bring out the best with almost everything. Finances are also part of that statement. Take it slow, steady and smart with your money and you will be happier and more fulfilled because you'll feel better about your purchases and knowing that you found what you really wanted. Taking the time to think about something doesn't cost anything…it's free and saves money in the end or makes you feel more comfortable with spending the extra on something you KNOW you really want. Happy spending, saving and searching!
posted on: 3/5/2008 11:30:00 AM by Triste Horrell
category: Finances
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If Your Money Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy
by Triste Horrell
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About Triste:
Being an organizing expert makes one want to be a "showroom" in all areas of life. However reality can hit hard when you're a mother of small children and a military wife and own an organzing business. Of course Triste would like to have a picture perfect Better Home and an even Better Garden. Throw a Pottery Barn in the backyard for exceptional creative time to become the wiz-woman for all the ideas and inventions that the world could not live without. But Triste has settled on the fact of telling herself "I can be perfect in my mind and no one can mess up my space there!" In reality Triste is very self-motivated and has true business accomplishments like having SYSTEMIZE since 1997, the first home and business organizing firm in the state of South Carolina. She has been repeatedly recognized in her Greenville, SC area for her organizing expertise and makeovers on local NBC and FOX news, Greenville News, local magazines such as Greenville Magazine and Upstate Parent and NPR radio. She has turned people's lives around by focusing on what she calls the "four building blocks of being organized" consisting of space, time, financial and personal. This is even represented in her business logo. "That's what I'm in business for, turning people's lives around!" Also applying her popular 3 Steps to Systemize have not only organized her clients but KEPT them organized for years.
Triste's Website:
www.systemize4u.com
Downtime Activities
- Reading Magazines
- Spending time at our cottage
- Keeping our Westie pretty
- Putting tealights around after the kids are in bed
- Adventures with my awesome hubby
- Making microwave smores...just for me
1 graham cracker, broken in half 1 small piece of chocolate 1 big marshmellow On one side of cracker put piece of chocolate and marshmellow on top. Place in microwave and heat for approx. 17 seconds (while cooking replace marshmellow on top of chocolate if needed). Put other half of cracker on top, eat and enjoy and watch out for oozing chocolate!
My Organizing Tool-Box
- Time - Outlook
This is a great way to keep papers off the desk and track where you need to go, task list, jot down quick notes on the virtual "post-its, keep up with contacts in the virtual Rolodex
- Personal Finances - Quicken
This simple yet practical program keeps your bank accounts in tact...did I mention simple?!
- Business Finances - QuickBooks
I have used this program for years and have set many clients up on it. It is a must for keeping track of business transactions and keeping tax time easy...push a few buttons and out come the reports, your done and your tax preparer loves you.
- Space - turntables
I love these things! You can put them in cabinets, the fridge, garage, and closets. They are inexpensive, easy to find and available at any discount store and you can even find fancier ones. If you are not sure what they are, they are the white (or other fancier kinds) and spin around like a lazy susan, you can have a single or double-tier one for spices.
- Personal - Magazines and Internet
I love to look at magazines and the internet for good articles on personal development, pictures for decorating inspiration and fun projects to do with my family. I keep my magazine subscriptions to a minimum (3) so I can read them and enjoy each one. I look for things on some of my favorite websites for whatever fancies me at that time.
- Online Recipe Boxes
Use these on some of your favorite websites, bring the laptop into the kitchen while the recipe is up and you never have to have the paper clutter. One of my and my husbands favorites is Williams-Sonoma.
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1-877-251-8435
www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
