On Being Thrifty-Five Internal Wins

I’ve got bigger goals right now than Caribou Coffee in the morning. It doesn’t mean I didn't want to pull through the drive through and order a triple shot Americana with two splashes of cream. This morning, having not bothered with coffee because I woke with an odd taste in my mouth and only wanted my tooth brush, 75 minutes later it was an internal fight to not detour to any of the five Caribou’s on my route. I drive through a chilly rain and had soaked feet as dodging puddles was useless. I settled for hot tea at my desk.

Doing a little online browsing last night, still looking at possible options for a TV stand downstairs, I kept getting swayed over to pretty storage units, baskets (I love baskets) and other things to store clutter. I resisted buying anything, knowing I don’t need more things to store clutter-I need to reduce clutter entirely. 

I ruined one of my new to me pairs of work pants and a short sleeve blouse by letting them touch something that had chlorine bleach on it. I am disappointed as these were go to work pieces worn at least weekly. My disappointment is lessened somewhat in that the pants were under $8.00 bought at Goodwill, and the shirt was at least a decade old, only recently worn again with the loss of a few pounds. I might be able to salvage the shirt with a Sharpie marker, at least as an under suit jacket blouse. I’m not going to run out and replace either, as I am still hoping to keep losing a bit of weight, and continue to make my current wardrobe work. I’ve got bigger goals than high fashion. 

I was alone for dinner last night and it would have been tempting to go over to the salad bar at the grocery store and make myself a delicious customized salad. I made due eating up a few bits found in my fridge and freezer, took pup for a walk, and watched a couple YouTube video's. 

Skipping Caribou was only part of my morning internal fight. I almost scrapped packing a lunch, with the idea of ordering the meal delivery, but in the end, left with both a can of chunky soup to throw in my desk drawer,for a future temptation, and one of DH’s frozen bean burritos, an apple, and a cheese stick for lunch today. 

I don’t think of myself as a tightwad. I splurge on plenty of things that bring me joy. I also make bone headed spending decisions on occasion, lured in with a shiny package or misguided thinking that the item will work for me and add to my quality of life, or I just plain succumb to convenience. None of the ways I utilized thrift this week created a hard ship, not so much as even a minor inconvenience. I’ll still have the occasional coffee or lunch out, not on a whim, but with friends and colleagues. I’ll replace my clothes when I truly need to, but not at this time when hopefully will only be useful for a short time. I’ll find the right piece for the TV stand, and am better off spending my time sorting and donating, not sticking away stuff in yet more bins and baskets. I’ve got to continue to remember I have bigger plans for my money; a comfortable, clutter free home; travel with my family; college for my daughter; and a secure retirement.