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Budgeting basics, minimal spending and maximum saving.

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After we were denied for a house loan for a second time I came home and sat on the couch and sobbed.⠀
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Despite being great savers, being smart with our money, and budgeting like no one else, we just didn't make enough money, monthly, on paper, at one job, for over 2 years. After almost five years of trying, all the ducks were there, but they didn't line up in the correct order they wanted.⠀
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So I cried for awhile, then I think I numbed it with a show, my drug of choice. Then Greg came into the living room later and matter of fact like I said, "Well if we are here for at least the next two years then I want to make it as much our home as we can. I really want open shelves."⠀
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It sounds silly but making a space a home matters. You may think that because I have a strong will power with spending that I think everything that is non-essential doesn't matter, but that's not true.⠀
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So Greg surprised me one day and built shelves. I came home and stared at them and may or may not have teared up a little bit and then I said, "Is this because I was really sad that day?" To which he said, "yeah..". ⠀
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Making a space a home matters guys.⠀
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We've since painted our fake wood paneling walls to white which made an incredible difference, (with landlord's permission) and I'm now happily awaiting the right time for us to try for a house loan again. I know God's got big plans so I'm not worried. In the meantime I'm still trying to style these shelves just right and they are close, but not there yet. So suggestions welcome!⠀
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If you're in the middle of a defeat, think of a small win. Then ask somebody to help give you that win, they are usually willing to help. These shelves were my win.⠀

I wasn't lying when I said I live in those thick socks in the winter. What's a girl to do, turn her heat up? No thanks! 😉⠀
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Also, I know I said I would decorate the tree but it's not Christmas yet so I still have time! Now, I'd like to direct your eyes to that cute little tree mug on my coffee table. I think in January of this year's $25/month budget I talked about buying this mug for (I think) $.25 after Christmas and being excited to use it next season. Well here we are friends and it is just as sweet as I thought it would be.⠀
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Actually you can find a lot of different things from my previous $25/month budgets in this shot. The hexagon shelves, the gold orb (as Greg likes to refer to it), the coffee table itself, the ottoman, the pillows, etc. I'm telling you, if you think you can't only spend $25/month on all the "fun extra" things and still have nice things, you are so wrong.⠀
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Also, it's way more fun to tell someone when they ask what or where I got something from, that it was thrifted and only a couple bucks. Why? Because I'm essentially telling them that they can do that too. That they don't need to buy all the new, expensive things to have a nice living room, kitchen, closet, etc.⠀
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How often do you see something online, on social media or at a friend's house only to find out it's $30 or $50 and you can't afford to pay that for it. ⠀
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Let me be the friend that says, no actually you can have things you like and not kill your budget. Pinky promise. ;)⠀
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#budgeting #thriftedhome #thriftstorefinds #goodwillshopping #frugalliving #minimalspending

If I remember correctly, I bought this shirt when I went a year of minimal spending, meaning I didn't even have my $25/month budget. It was essentially a don't-buy-anything-unless-it's-essential budget.⠀
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I was so desperate one day for a new-to-me something that I saw this at my local thrift store and scrounged up $1.25 from the bottom of my wallet/purse/car to buy it.⠀
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It's funny because it wasn't the best purchase. I think it's actually a little small for me and really I only wear it once in a while when I remember that the "white shirt" section of my closet actually has some graphic tees in it.⠀
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But I needed a thing that day, so I bought a thing. I'm sure it made me happy in the moment but in reality it wasn't the best choice.⠀
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When we get desperate we never make the wise choice. It's not that we always make the worst choice, a $1.25 shirt is not a 'worst choice'. But we don't make the wisest choice.⠀
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That's why I think having a budget is actually so much more freeing for people than they realize. You will make much more wiser choices when on a budget and you'll feel the freedom to do so. If you cut out everything, you're bound to not only break, but break with a dumb decision.⠀
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I'm glad we did that year of no spending, but I'm also glad that we are not doing it right now. I also recommend people do it, but I also know that not all people can be successful going straight from buying whatever they want to buying nothing. Know yourself and what works for you and then do that for yourself in order to reach your goals!⠀
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For me, I do great with $25/month and the freedom to use that money on what I want. 🤘⠀ #budgeting #minimalspending #frugalfashion #frugalliving #thriftstorefinds

We celebrated an early Christmas with our family yesterday and I'm still stuffed. (That's a joke, I could obviously eat like 5 more desserts.)⠀
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Anyways, I'm going to be REAL honest and tell you I have still yet to fully finish decorating the tree. At this point I'm thinking I might just leave it lights only this year? Is that a thing anyone does? To be honest it just hasn't been a priority for me this month. But since we spent $40 on this Christmas tree, I'm now realizing as I type what a waste that would be to not decorate it. ⠀
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Alas, you convinced me.⠀
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I hope your Christmas festivities have been going swell lately and I hope no one is pressuring you to buy for people you can't really afford to buy for. I'm ALL about giving, gifts are my love language, but I'm also all about using your money wisely and that includes within gift giving. ⠀
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So cheers to giving Christmas gifts that don't break the budgets and don't break anyone's hearts. Oh, I think I like that phrasing, maybe I'll make that a thing. ;)⠀ #christmasbudget #frugalliving #budgeting #budgetingtips