I Got The Hooch...

Do you have a "happy song"? I do. The first time I heard it I had no idea what it meant. Truth be told, I'm still not totally sure but it seems pretty positive to me.

This week "V" and I ran into more technical difficulties with his hard drive and such. Then our internet was out. Did I freak-out? Nope. Well, maybe just a little. But then I realized how peaceful it can be to "unplug" now and again.

So during this unplug time, I decided it is time to get real. I organized my desk, opened all the mail (which took a significant amount of time in its own right) and made a long-overdue financial plan. You see, I am great at organizing everyone else in the world...it's myself I have a problem with.

Well, let me tell you how wonderful this went. 

As I was organizing, I found three gift cards I had previously set aside so I wouldn't lose them. Hmmm....obviously I put them aside so well I completely forgot about them. I also found some great posts from my buddy Bliss - one being her recent one about economizing and budgeting. So I started. 

After a great deal of time and effort and filing and shredding, I am proud to share that by the end of this calendar year, our family will be free and clear of all car, orthodontist, instrument, credit card, and tractor payments. Armed with this knowledge, I have increased our giving to one of our favorite charities and knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel have such an incredible lightness of being I am practically walking on air.

And there's more!

Being the cheap frugal person I am, when I hafta shop I'm always on the look-out for a sale and a way to use my coupons. Today we went shopping for my oldest daughter's dress for her semi-formal dance being held in two weeks. Armed with the on-line preparation I invested in, my Macy's coupons (have I ever mentioned how much I adore Macy's? Yes? Okay...just making sure. Audrey had her Tiffany's and I have Macy's...but I digress...) and the gift cards I found have we went and found a beautiful dress and shoes. In the end we paid a whopping forty cents for everything! 

But wait! There's more!

Next stop was for my son's tuxedo rental for the prom next week where he will accompany not one but two lovely ladies to the festivities (where's that wine?) This of course is a post for another time, but I am thrilled to share that thanks to call-ahead inquiries and the other two gift cards, his tuxedo is amazing and cost us no money out of pocket! Suffice it to say, I think I finally got my act together...I actually feel like a grown-up.

So this evening as I enjoy being in my kitchen creating a lovely meal from scratch, I am dancing about singing my happy song. What is your happy song? If you don't have one, feel free to share mine...it even has the words for you to sing along with me! Votre Sante!