Truly rich

After my daughter's gymnastics class this morning, I really, really wanted to stop at Taco Bell. I kept driving. We had something healthier at home.

The new sander my dad bought me broke, so I am still sanding the kids' Christmas blocks by hand. It hurts. But I think about my kids, and the love going into the perfect gift, and I love doing it.

I kneaded pizza dough even though my wrists hurt from the blocks. I had pizza and watched a movie with my kids this evening.

My daughter hurt her toe pretty badly, but I had all the medical supplies I needed to take care of it.

I haven't eaten out all month. We're not destitute or anything, but I'm having to really watch my money until business picks up or I'm going to have to go back to work.

But you know what? Right now the dishwasher is washing dishes for me. Electric lights are on so my kids can play while I type this on the laptop my parents gave me. There is a pitcher of clean, fresh, cold water in my refrigerator. There is a basket of books on my table filled with books and movies we got from the library for free. My son is running around in a costume yelling, "I 'piderman!" while my daughter sings a song and hugs her doll.

And today, I feel truly rich.

Frugal Accomplishments This Week

I returned some things I've had sitting in the closet for months to Lowes. I used the gift card from that to buy supplies to make blocks for the kids for Christmas (I'm hoping to post pics and what I did when they are finished, but it could be a while as I'm sanding by hand).

I needed a dolly to move my container plants indoors for a freeze. My mom gave me a 25% off coupon for Harbor Freight and a free scissors coupon. Plus the dolly was on sale.

I used that dolly to haul in a trash-picked bookshelf. It's super sturdy, and it's been sitting out in the alley for weeks. I haven't decided yet if I'll paint it and bring it in for a bookshelf or use it in the garage for storage.

I folded and reused a piece of foil.

I started using Swagbucks again.

My mom sewed a new outfit for DD, and I watched most of it, because I'd really like to learn to sew. I saved the scraps to try to make a doll quilt eventually.

I made popsicles out of green smoothie.

I roasted pumpkin seeds (yes, we finally got around to carving our pumpkins).

We enjoyed an afternoon at the park just before a cold snap.

I renewed library books online because we missed our usual library day. No late fees!