Valentine Weekend 2009: Tax and Family Time

I wrote this post almost a week ago...just now getting around to posting it! 

2/13/09

Valentine's Weekend 2009: Tax and Family Time

I can't wait to be home. As I'm writing, we are driving north on I-35. This weekend is (as everyone knows) Valentine's Day weekend. It also happens to be Hubby's birthday weekend! We're taking this opportunity to indulge in one of the things we love most: family time. 

My darling mother has offered to help us get our taxes organized this year. As I've posted previously, 2008 was a complicated income year for us. I worked two W-4 (or is it W-2?) jobs, and two independent contracting jobs. Hubby has worked two W-4 jobs, and did some independent contracting this summer himself. This being our first year married, and having made (for the first time ever, really) enough money to be very careful and accurate, I solicited some advice and got a wonderful response. My mom is one of my favorite people - her wisdom and her kindness and her selflessness are her hallmarks. The two of us have certainly had our run-ins in the past, but my respect for her grows daily - and I know I can always call for support, encouragement and unconditional love. 

Hubby's birthday is on Sunday. Almost a Valentine's baby! His folks have invited us over for lunch and a celebration after church, and we're SO looking forward to it. I love how easy going and readily accepting and loving his family is! In high school, Hubby's house (of course he wasn't Hubby then...he was Boyfriend!) was an refuge, a place to get away to, during those inevitable and overwhelming periods of teenage angst. They were always so happy to see me...and I can honestly say that I was (and am more, every day) always happy to be there. What a blessing to join with a family that loves me unconditionally! 

I guess I'm just thankful for family right now. I'm excited to see everyone, to have my eighth wonderful Valentine's Day with my sweetie, and to learn something about taxes! And, lucky us, we get to stay until Monday! 

There are times in life when one must admit what one is not. 

I am not globally organized. 

This is something that admittedly bothers me. I am an organizational person - I used to sort UNO cards when I was a kid. It was FUN for me. I love finding places for things, and knowing that those things have a belonging-place. But on the whole, I'm not good at making that happen. I am not good at being selective, at knowing what I want and when something doesn't fit with what I want. If I like it, I'll have it, even if it doesn't....match (gasp!). 

So you see the paradox I am living with. I thrive in clean, organized surroundings. I love making that happen, and I love it when its complete, but I suck at the process! (I am also Mrs. Stingy, and replacing something just because it doesn't match or isn't entirely efficient is rarely an option.) So in the mean time, I lack the vision, the resources and the motivation to create a well-organized space. 

Ah, how the longings of my heart are thwarted! 

February Groceries...Ugh!

Well, if you hadn't already guessed, I failed miserably on my self-imposed grocery challenge for January. As it turns out, I haven't quite gotten the hang of buying enough of the right things, at the right time, so I can cook the meals I intend to cook, when I intend to cook them. Its hard! 

Our budget is constantly undergoing renovation. Most of it is actually holding up really well, but the grocery has still not achieved balance. I am terrified that my it is just going to keep getting BIGGER! Ahh!

We just finished week three of Financial Peace University. Thats the week we talk about the budget. A lot. So, today is the day to reexamine the budget for February. I've already spent grocery money for February...I couldn't stand it. I thought for a long time about what we use up most (like cans of tomatos...where do they go!?), and made a very concise list...which ended up being very long, also. I spent nearly all of the budget according to January, and its only the first week! I'm going to allow myself an extra $25 this month, and see how that goes. 

I'm trying to be purposeful and not just buy stuff because it looks good, or because its on sale. Sometimes I need to remember that just because its on sale doesn't mean I need to have it NOW. (I bought four boxes of cereal on this last shopping trip, because they were on huge discount. I feel good that I got a good deal, but do we really need to have four boxes of cereal at a time? No way!) Because of this realization, I'm considering converting to a weekly shopping trip - which means I purchase for one week at a time. I could allow some budget for a stockpile, for those on-sale-amazing-deal-impulse-buys. Because I have less than $75 left in February's grocery budget, I'm planning to instigate this new grocery plan on the first of March. Wish me luck!