SSF: feeling of victory

I can't believe that the month is almost over and the spending freeze is coming to an end!  I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting these past two weeks over this freeze.  First, I got to thinking about when I decided that spending money on my wants surpassed weighing out wants vs. needs.  Now, I don't go over board.  I'm not a closet shopaholic.  But, when I have an itch for a new DIY project I run to JoAnn's...when I want to try a new recipe I add all of the ingredients to my shopping list...when I think my class would look so cute with these adorable posters I head to Lakeshore.

Somewhere over the past years my ability to truly think about whether I needed something has diminished.  I'm still not sure when my wants surpassed my needs, but I do know that this spending freeze was such a release.  I felt free!  I had thought I would've felt trapped, burdened, and restricted.  But in reality it was very freeing.

One of the things that was hard to give up was eating out.  I love trying out new restaurants and types of food, and keeping up with upbeat places.  However, there is always the check and seeing it add up in our "Eating Out" budget column isn't pleasant.  The one thing we love about eating out is the entertainment and enjoying each other's company.  In place of eating out, we have found ways to create fun recipes and enjoy them in the company of our home.  With fall settling in, I'm looking forward to hosting dinner parties and entertaining.

Another area that was hard to give up was coffee.  I never realized how much I actually go out to get coffee until I stopped completely.  When it's the end of the work day and I'm packing to go to class, my body screams "Caffeinate me!"  Not going out to get coffee this month or breaking down and drinking soda to get my through showed me that I don't always need it.  I got through class, I was productive, and coffee wasn't needed!  Even when I caved in and bought one this month it was still so stinkin' expensive.  I loved trying out at-home pumpkin spice latte recipes and partaking in my favorite fall drink.

It is crazy to sit back and look at everything we have and realize that it is enough.  This desire for more is exactly that: a desire.  This freeze has taught me ways to enjoy regular costly comforts in a free fashion at home.  It has also showed me that buying material items doesn't bring joy to my life.  I find joy in spending quality time with the husband and friends, teaching the cutest kids, and making memories each and every day.  Even though the freeze is lifted on Saturday, I actually don't want to go out and spend money.  Although I'm dying for new boots, a new rug, fall decorations...I resist the urge and learn to get by with what I have.