Sunday, August 28, 2011

Fortune of Good News

“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”
Please! Please! I could use a little good news…no more bills, just good news. And, NO I don’t count the Publishers Clearinghouse!
When I think about it, and it doesn’t take much thought, I don’t get much mail. I get plenty of bills, sales notices, coupons, but not letters. What is even sadder is I don’t send mail. I don’t even get Christmas cards out most of the time, let alone birthday cards, Thank You notes, just everyday thinking of you cards. Ask anyone who has known me for years…I am great at emailing, I respond on facebook, I text like a mad woman possessed. But, a simple letter, well frankly, I suck!
Yes, there is my confession. Ask my pen pal in Germany from the 9th grade, oh…wait, you can’t, I wrote ONE letter! Ask a lovely, lovely lifelong friend in New York, ask my family. They will all tell you I suck!
It is a strong way to put it, but I am a realist if nothing else (except when I am wearing my rose colored glasses) and I know it, I own it. I wish I could say, I will work hard to change it, but I know it would probably be a lie. I wouldn’t mean it to be. In my heart I see a neat clean organized desk with lovely Marthaesque stationary where I would sit with a LeBlanc pen and write heartfelt notes to my loved ones. As I gaze upon my desk…umm, kitchen table…I have a nice basket with stationary and envelopes, I also have a pile of paperwork and bills to plow through. Where will that stationary end up?
Why do I even have it out? Because I sent my son in college a care package. Yes, me the queen of not sending mail, I sent a care package. It had coffee, boxers (sorry Pop!), school supplies, an awesome Papo Mutant Gorilla and a letter on my stationary telling him how proud of him I am. I cannot tell you how excited I was for him to get his package, I know he loved it, he was on the phone when he opened it. I will see him this next weekend, so I probably won’t send him a care package this week – but I look forward to surprising him.
“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”
In this day and age of the fast and faster gratification, tweeting and posting, I don’t hold out much hope of good news in the mail. What is truly sad - most of the good news I get in my email inbox is just a chance to order Viagra at 20% off with free shipping or I have won the Lottery in Sweden based on my email address. I know you have the same emails, sitting in your junk box…
THAT’s WHAT I NEED!! A Junk Box for my MAIL box!! If only the mail man could filter it as he puts it in my box – Bed, Bath and Beyond mail – Ok! To Current Resident – JUNK! I could even set it up for him, a separate slot and everything. But, since it is probably the Junk Mail we receive that actually keeps our tried and true Mail Men/Women in service, I shouldn’t complain too much. I just need to send more MAIL!
Maybe if I would send more mail, I wouldn’t rely on my Ebay or Amazon purchases to make my mail nirvana happen….
Live, Laugh, Love~
Vanilla Mama
PS…Your lucky numbers: 11, 13, 15, 26, 35, 40 – Oh 40, I am going to face you down next year! I am finally starting to feel the age I am in my heart.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Meanest Fortune


This pic has nothing to do with the post, but I WANT ONE!!!

“Never corner anything meaner than you.”
I am going to start off by apologizing for how long it has been in-between posts (and Book Blurbs – which I know I will never catch up on, I may just have to hop around), life has been moving all around me.
Since my last post, I have gotten my oldest son to college – a whirlwind trip to be sure and my wallet is still reeling! My middle Tart has started his sophomore year of high school and little Frosting has begun Pre-K with a new teacher. I lost part of a tooth and got a crown (temp right now)…paid a king’s ransom for it! Honestly I could probably go on and on…can’t we all.
So, with all this I pull out this fortune, “Never corner anything meaner than you.”
I could complain all day long, but there are some really wonderful things that I am grateful for! I have a son in college, another in high school and one in Pre-K. I was able to get a tooth fixed. I have two good jobs and co-workers that I truly enjoy working with.
What exactly do I need to corner? What is meaner than me? I need to corner the dirty rotten scoundrel that stole my old checkbook information and is cramping my style…I don’t like having all this hanging over my head. Might consider taking on the cable company to figure out why my bill is so high when I don’t have any premium channels. 
Probably the meanest thing I need to corner is MY HOUSE! The clutter monster continues to try to take over…I have read tons of tips on how to tame it, but that critter just won’t quit. It is MEAN! If I turn my back for a minute (or two or a couple of days), it just seems to spread like mad.
So basically…I may have to ignore this fortune and corner it.
Thanks for checking in – I’ll be making my rounds and trying to catch up!
Live, Laugh, Love ~
Vanilla Mama
PS…there are no lucky numbers on the back of this fortune. Now, really…that’s just MEAN!


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Frugal Fortune

Frugal Fortune

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

As our country dives deep, deep, deep into debt with numbers that if my 5-year old would ask if possible, I would say – of course not…that will never happen to you! But, it is. It is happening to all of us.

We are raising the debt ceiling, our credit rating is falling…does any of this sound familiar? Is this happening to you?

Is the United States government finally facing the reality that most Americans face every day?

Too many finical obligations….too little cash.

Where do you make cuts? Where do you choose not to spend your money? (as I sit here with acrylic nails that are desperately in need of a fill, unpainted toe nails and gray roots showing…store brand staples in my cabinet and Groupon pinging off the roof…) Small changes are happening here. A coupon diva I am not – post about that later.

The government choices are much harder. But, I think that if some of the trust fund babies that can afford to get elected would give up some of their benefits…it might make a difference, a small one.

We live in an entitled society. From the Congress Man who is entitled to a lifetime of benefits and retirement for his service, to the poor who are entitled to health care (– and as a member of the uninsured for a couple of years – I DO NOT say this lightly!), to the 16 year old who is entitled to a new car, to the 4 year old wanting a cool toy with his Happy Meal. (and Apples Fries!)

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

On a more personal level…I have a son going into college. Thank God for Pell Grants, for scholarships, for parents working together to put him through college, for grandparents offering an amazing amount of support. But – all the same, it is an expense. He is moving…moving…(getting into emotional territory with no tissue available) to another state. There are expenses. Being frugal is very important, overspending must be avoided, we need to try to set an example.

I want my son to grow up without debt, without unnecessary financial obligations. I want my children to not rely on our government for their welfare, I want them to be financially independent.

The same with everything…I have to try to set the example, and I will admit, I am not always the best, our government is not the best, but I pray that they learn from example. In some cases, we all must learn for the example of what NOT to do! I always stress the importance of education to my kiddos…I never finished college, did not finish medical transcription training…at this point, I am where I am. I am entering a new phase in my life, I want to write…but have little time raising 3 kiddos, being a wife, having 2 jobs – I feel like my house will never come together, I am not spending enough time with my family, my parents, my spouse, my friends, on my jobs, on my writing, on myself…I am overspent. Overspent finically, emotionally and physically…I need to learn to be more frugal. Smarter about my time, smarter about my money, pay more attention to politics and turn my air up to 80 to avoid the rolling blackouts that may happen here in Texas.

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

How do you try to live this fortune? How are you frugal and avoid overspending? Tell me, I want desperately to find the balance I need.

Live, Laugh, Love ~
Vanilla Mama

Cannot forget the lucky number…is it the path to financial independence or just another unnecessary expense? I promise to let you know, if you do!
16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 30
(as a side note…all of these are AGES I have passed…SIGH!)

Coming up will be a money saving post, and hopefully a couple of book blurb posts…