Shoestrings

Maggie reminded me last night, in the middle of a heated moment of budgetary frustration, that we have a good family and this too shall pass. We all need those reminders sometimes, that at our foundation we have a good family and, despite the current tribulations, we persevere. It is a big reason I love my family - for those reminders.

Thanks to Mint.

For the last few years we've been experiencing what a lot of families experience; rising costs and shrinking or stagnant revenue. Like you, we've seen gas prices double and triple (if you've been driving as long as we have), soaring food prices, inflating utility costs (despite all the improvements we make to save resources or maybe because of them), and increasing government/school taxes (or assessment values if you listen to the bureaucrats). In short our money just doesn't buy what it used to buy.

Economists define inflation with that last sentence (sort of). However, if you look carefully at what is happening, it does seem as though the scales are out of balance. None the less, our money isn't stretching as far as it once did and that forces you to take stock of your lives, your property, your budgets, and the like.

Last night we experienced a setback with our property assessment where we missed some important hidden bureaucratic deadlines which in turn is going to keep a recent increase in our tax allotment up for the next year or so until we can straighten it away. It was my fault, I blame myself, and I am taking it pretty hard. Missing tiny bureaucratic details costs us money; money we don't have from details I should have found.


Without going into the details, our house is worth barely what we owe and certainly not 25% more than what we owe. Add to that an increasing school budget and a bloated town government that built a surplus of over $1 million to buy us all fancy garbage cans and...well...my Libertarian blood begins to boil.

"We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." - Winston Churchill

I digress...

As a one-income family we understand making some sacrifices for the health and happiness of our children. Maggie is an awesome mom and having her home is a tremendous boon to the growth of the family.


We made conscious choices to live more simply, live more sustainably, and rid ourselves of costly creature comforts that are easily replaced with other lower or no cost items. We have over-the-air television, grow/can some of our own food, time our showers, go most of the night with lights off, don't go on vacations, don't use our credit card, and generally live well below the Joneses of the world.

We are doing what we feel is right but for whatever reason, we are presented with challenges.

Sometimes we look on at the Joneses of the world and feel gut wrenching angst that we're doing the right things but seem to have so much less. Chalk it up to credit card debt or whatever but we wonder, in amazement, how it is done.

CC BY: greggocconnell via Flickr

So, with the frustration off my shoulders, and my family standing in support we look at our budget on both sides of the bottom line. We need to look at the costs side and everything is up for review. We need to take stock in all our costs and determine if cut will our shoes stay tied. Cautiously examining things so we don't make frivolous and austere cuts that jeopardize growth or safety but enough that we can safely pay our bills, feed our family, and have something for unforeseen expenses.

We also need to take a look at the revenue stream. Are there ways to bring in more money and maintain our family environment? That's up for consideration too and ideas are beginning to percolate.

For now, we need to live on a little more of a shoestring budget and that's okay.

We need to stop worrying about the Joneses.

We need to listen to Maggie's advice, "We're a good family and this too shall pass"