Money matters.

Once upon a time, a boy and a girl started their life together and never imagined that money would be an issue. They were both working, while expecting their first sweet bundle of joy, and always had money on hand for whatever they needed. Things were great, and they naively thought they could continue with the same spending habits after the girl gave up working to stay at home with the baby. Did they have a savings plan? Heck no, because they were too busy spending to worry about saving. The glory days.

Yeah, those days ended Real Quick.

Now five years later, boy and girl are still kicking it on the one job lifestyle, but with some dramatic difference. Money went from being fun and reckless, to time consuming, attitude adjusting and mood cramping. The differences between luxury from five years ago and now are dramatic; almost, even, traumatic. Why traumatic? Well, when I think of the things we blew money on five years ago to the things we so carefully pinch pennies for now, I am appalled to realize how careless we were. Live and learn though, right?

Tis the season of budgeting in our household. Planning, and strategics (mostly on my part, as I am the one who stresses out more). With tax returns right around the corner, I find myself making lists, over and over and over again, detailing the priorities of this money we will have. Half of our return will pay off small bills/loans. This will immediately save us about $100 a month. I can almost release the breath I've been holding at the thought of this. I can feel myself slowly relaxing into a state of calm, knowing that we will have less cause to fight over where our money goes. I can envision a savings account, money for Christmas next year, budgeting the expense of a second vehicle so that maybe, just maybe, the Monsters and I will have transportation while Husband is working. Dollar by dollar I find myself "pre-spending". In my head I have already purchased bunk beds for the Monster girls, and painted Monster man's room. In my head, I have a laundry storage system in place, and perhaps a pantry or deep freezer. In my head that pantry/deep freezer is already filled to the brim with groceries and staple items, eliminating the constant worry and fear that we might run out of money to buy the things we need. In my head I have stocked up on diapers for Monster man, and saved receipts to exchange sizes if need be. And even with all of that, there will still be money left over.
Which means, in my head I'm envisioning setting aside for date nights with Husband, who I seem to be spending too little one on one time with. The last time we even had dinner alone was while I was pregnant. I am picturing us actually treating ourselves to some pampering, that is seriously long overdue. All I want to do is continue making lists, outlining and planning for everything we need/want/desire. I'm anticipating marking a few things off of our bucket list with the Besties. Most of all, I'm just glad we'll be able to breathe easy again.