Budget the Luxuries First!

Written by Andy White


Continued from page 1

What arerepparttar things in life that really feel like luxury to you? Now isrepparttar 111212 time to identify them, and separate outrepparttar 111213 smaller, less satisfying things you’re paying for that keep you from getting what you really want.

To keep torepparttar 111214 spirit of fun, I’ve found it's useful to agree to some simple ground rules:

- Make some unbroken wish list time forrepparttar 111215 two of you

- There are no such things as 'silly ideas' or 'waste of money' items duringrepparttar 111216 wish list time (that will come later on during a reality-check period)

- No impulse spending duringrepparttar 111217 wish list time! Window shop if you want, share a seat in front ofrepparttar 111218 computer if you’re looking online... my preference is to go hang out in antique markets and bohemian shopping districts for ideas, but you might prefer to go visit a travel agent’s office or web site. It DOESN'T matter!

- Each partner gets equal time to show off their ideas if they want it.

Being realistic, there will, of course, be a price tag associated withrepparttar 111219 wish list. Also being realistic, not all luxuries cost an arm and a leg, either. If you haverepparttar 111220 iron will to make a strict budget and do without so that you can go hang out in Tuscany for a month next fall, good for you (and yours!) If you're like me, though, it may make sense to make do with lesser luxuries.

Luxury item #3: Keep looking until you find reasonably-priced luxuries that really make your life more worth living, then revel in them!

That's all it takes. If you get this far, you've done a few extremely healthy things. For starters, you've actually talked to your sweetie about money, without it being a crisis! You've spent some time dreaming together. You've examined your debt and thought about what it's costing you. And with any luck, you've found at least one thing you can enjoy without feeling guilty about what it's costing you… because it's an investment in your piece of mind.

© Andy White, budget guy for Coudy Coffee - because life is too short for mediocre coffee. For gourmet coffee and espresso; coffee gifts, information and resources, visit http://www.coudycoffee.com.


Giving Up Cable Television

Written by Alyice Edrich


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Our 9 year-old-daughter stormed out ofrepparttar room, uprepparttar 111211 stairs, and straight into her bedroom as she mumbled and screamed aboutrepparttar 111212 injustice of it all. Our 13 year-old-son looked at us in disgust while he complained that he’d never be able to watch televisions again becauserepparttar 111213 only shows he ever watched were cable-only stations. And my husband; well, let’s just say that he had a moment of television jitters but soon realized something pretty powerful—television shows had become more important than socializing with his family and friends. He realized and later admitted that he had grown accustomed to planning his time around what show was on at what time and yelling atrepparttar 111214 kids to “not” interrupt him.

I’ll admit thatrepparttar 111215 first week wasrepparttar 111216 hardest. With so much time on their hands, my children began bickering with each other overrepparttar 111217 silliest things. After a week of listening to my children constantly bicker, I was ready to re-order cable. But we stuck it out. We’re now going on our third week and I’m pleased to announce that no one died of boredom,repparttar 111218 children have stopped bickering (well forrepparttar 111219 most part), my husband and I have found more time to talk with our kids and each other, we’ve rediscovered reading for pleasure, and board games have become a family affair. It truly has been a blessing in disguise and a great way to reacquaint ourselves with one another.

Alyice Edrich is a freelance writer specializing in helping busy parents balance life. Visit her online for free information on how she can help you succeed, today. http://thedabblingmum.com


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