Needs Vs Wants 2020

A quick update on DH. He is feeling a bit stronger this week. I think it helped that he had full days between working days to take it easy. He went back to the doctor on Monday. His blood pressure is still higher than they liked, so added a new twice a day medication. He had new blood draws and another x-ray to see if the fluid around his lungs is gone-not quite. He worked almost a full day around the appointment, and yesterday  the store closed early, and now he has both today and tomorrow off. We were supposed to go to my sisters last night for prime rib and festivities, but her  recent college grad son who is back with them for the  time being just got diagnosed with Influenza B and is in the contagious stage. No way were either of us going to intentionally expose ourselves, even if he stayed in the lower level of their house, even with her double cleaning, and even with both of us having flu shots. We had a quiet night instead, though I played taxi for the youngest as she had a party in a part of the cities she doesn't know well, and I was not letting her drive in unfamiliar roads on NYE.

2020, a new year and new decade. We knew after spending a huge amount of money on our two week vacation in August 2018 to three countries in Europe, we needed to considerably scale down our wish list in 2019 and prioritize needs over wants. A year ago on New Years Eve I created the list below. Except for the speed boat, which DH again did not buy, we managed a fair number of our wants as well. While all home repairs did not happen, we replaced flooring and upgraded appliances. 

Needs-2019

Basic clothing items replaced as worn out-for all three of us

Warm college campus coat for DD2

Replace front door

Road Trip to move DD2 into college

Proportionate cost of gas for family pontoon at the lake

Wants-2019

All home repairs and improvement beyond the font door

Road trip for DD2 Show Choir

Family weekends to visit DD2

Family birthday gifts and celebrations

DD2 Grad party, airfare for DS to come home for party

Speed boat (used) with required accessories 

There are so many things to go on either list for 2020. But with DH's precarious work situation, his health, and trying to keep on top of college expenses and build more of a cash nest egg, we need to be conservative again. I will say, I do not regret a penny we spent on the trip. Maybe DH will keep getting stronger, but no one knows how long our health will last. To put things off always to some day is tempting chance. With that, here is the Needs and Wants for 2020.

Needs-2020

Basic clothing items replaced as worn out-for two of us, college kid is on her own except for gifts

Storm door with screen for front door (this will help with air and heat costs)

Road Trip to get DD2 moved back home and then back to school in fall

Proportionate cost of gas for family pontoon at the lake

Wants-2020

Fix flame unit on fireplace

Tear down deck, and do patio slab

Patio set

Update fire pit

Family weekends to visit DD2

Family birthday gifts and celebrations

DH's moms 80th birthday-we'll need to do something for that

Speed boat (used) with required accessories-keeping on this list as DH does have funds set aside

Las Vegas Trip-we are only committed as far as having bought the concert tickets

Remnant carpet for office

That want list keeps getting pretty long. There were years when my mind would have classified so many as needs.I have a nice new 2020 date book. A lot of my 2020 happiness should come from doing and not buying, but there will be some expenses that come our way as well. I think today I'll spend a little time figuring out where to put some of my  mind, muscle, and spending power.