I CAN SAY NO!

THINKING THIS WEEK ABOUT OUR EXPENSES AND MAJOR PURCHASES WE MADE THIS YEAR as if they are our CHRISTMAS PRESENTS to one another.  

A small chest freezer was bought with cash a few days before THANKSGIVING and I was so very thankful we bought it to store two frozen turkeys and two frozen hams.  I have wanted a chest freezer for years as we got rid of our tall, full size freezer years ago.  Had not replaced it. Because of space restrictions, a small chest freezer is ideal for me.  

Okay, that was a gift to our estate.  Then there is the matter of GOLDIE, our car.  We give our cars names.  GOLDIE is our Cadillac and PETE is our lil PT CRUISER.  The Lincoln Town Car we once had was named LILLIE and I wish I still had her as she had a soft gray leather interior and a gorgeous build that I LOVED driving.  Our Gray Cadillac was called, THE CAR.  Hubby's old work car was named WALLY.  PEARL was our sparkly black AVEO that was totaled years ago. Who on Earth names their automobiles and has fond memories of them like they were a living member of the family?  We do.  grins.      

We had our old Cadillac repaired as we plan on driving her until it will drive no mo.  The repairs were like purchasing a good used car at $4200.oo.  It may not seem prudent to spend so much on an old car, but this sweetheart has so many bells and whistles, still a beautiful body and leather interior plus she gets decent gas mileage, that we made the executive decision to repair her.  SO we spent this hard earned cash to make it happened.  We could have taken a vacation on this.  Didn't want a car payment right at the moment.  Perhaps we will be able to start a savings account for the NEXT CAR that will be newer, but until then...hey.

We paid OFF our CREDIT CARDS!!!  A HUGE PRESENT TO OURSELVES and have vowed to NEVAH get into so much DEBT EVAH AGAIN.  EVAH. How on Earth did it happen in the first place?  We carried a balance for years.  It snowballed and got away from us.  Though we were able to pay a minimum monthly payment on each card, it was a BURDEN and sapped much joy from my LIFE.  Such a heavy load to carry around.  We had HUGE medical bills when I went through surgery for a cancerous thyroid.  Two surgeries later with a multitude of other medical bills attached there were months that I had 7 active medical balances that the doctors and medical staff wanted PAID right now, and we had to juggle the expenses in order to stay in good graces with them.  We managed.  Then HUBBY had two thyroid surgeries due to a cancerous thyroid as well three years after mine.  Same playground with the same BULLIES.  

When you are on overload with medical bills but desire to pay your debt, it may weigh you down where you cannot stay afloat on other expenses.  It was difficult for us.  We GOT THROUGH IT. Praise the LORD.  We have been fighting a long hard battle that we may have a reprieve from debt.  Shall see.  I HATE DEBT.  HATE IT.  

LIFE IN THE COTTAGE will be different.  We'd like to pay CASH for all purchases and expenses AS WE GO.  I don't mind purchasing THRIFT items in the clothing department and other things such as decorating decor, dishes, pictures.  It's fun to me to go thrifting because I never know what I will find.  A surprise in every trip.  

I don't mind shopping at places such as GOD's STOREHOUSE, MARSHALLS, KOHLS, ALDI, TUESDAY MORNING for discounts.  I look for bargains wherever I go and find them.  NOW, I can say I don't need that even if it's a BARGAIN.  Oh HAPPY DAY...I can say NO.  It's gotten easier to say this two letter word.

~d