Money, Monie, Monay, Mahhhnay

Hello Victory Seekers,

So I did NOT get eaten and swallowed up by a camel or disappear into any dark alleyways thanks to a sly snake charmer... though I did ride a camel and see a snake charmer.

Foreign Cat - Mow mow.

I did however, have a ridiculously amazing time in the two weeks that Joe and I were gone but then arrived home with a pretty horrible head cold- which is what we get for leaving 80 degree Morocco for 40 degrees and wet Paris and England- (by round of applause, how many people love flying with a sinus infection). So that knocked me out for a few days and those few days away from the computer turned into being behind in getting ready for Thanksgiving (also out of town), I bake, and all the while still unpacking my house (moved in mid-September) and then we got back and holy-moly it's Christmas time.

Were those enough excuses?

I'm sorry for the absence.  There, I said it, now can we all just get over it and move on - geez, hold on to stuff why don't you.

Ahee.

It's Christmas time, you have to forgive me. Santa's Law.

Alright so back to the business at hand - FIRST let me say that I will be writing my travels up and adding pics (3,000+ is what I came home with...yowza). But for right now - let us continue with the victory we can touch and feel, shall we?

So it's the holiday season and that means spending money on extra food ingredients (that were probably still in your pantry from last year) and new clothes (even though you just bought that blue sweater but forgot about it because you wore it once and now it's in your trunk) and gifts for others (multiple because you started the stash in August but forgot about the funny mug so you bought the funny t-shirt too) and CRAFTS (because you are going to be different this year, save money and make all your presents and because can never have too many...right?)

Just as the coins drip through the hourglass, so too, are the monies I never keep.

All of this got me thinking... I DO have a ton of ingredients and pie filling and the like in my pantry and I DO have a couple of new items and really just a few old ones I keep forgetting exist and I DO have so many crafting supplies that I could open my own competing kiosk and I DO already have a few gifties- in the box where I collect them, but have I gone through to see what I really have? Not so much.

My point.  I have a lot of stuff - in various forms. But the idea is, if I have so much and so many, materials, supplies, food and gifts... what am I doing purchasing more?

Now, I'm not trying to close up shop and go of the grid JUST now (though I do have a Goin Off The Grid board on Pinterest). I'm not advocating stunting the economy and calling a halt to all spending...

But I am saying - Hey... Jess... stop buying stuff you don't need!!!

So.  I'm going to start a little inventory game.  And I'm going to start off "small" as I'm a known member of the "This is a great idea, let me put all my resources and energy into doing ALL of this idea RIGHT NOW... I'm tired, never mind" club.

We were going to get t-shirts made, but it never really happened... weird.

So- first in my order of - Inventory Thyself before Thy Wrecks Thyself (it's a working title) I am going to go through my bath products and see what I have.

Seeing as I've just moved, they are still in two big tubs in the bedroom.  My point, if I have pretty soaps and body washes, 1- why should I be shopping for more and 2- as one of my Homemade Gifts this year, I want to make more lotions and soaps and I can raid my own supply for starter soaps and pretty smelling things to make the base of them all. (I'm so smart)

Shop At Home

That's what this is. It's not a very pretty thing to say but it's shopping within my own house for items I forgot I had. And using them to the best of my abilities... or their abilities.

Do you have a room in your house with a closet in that room with a box in that closet with things that you know are probably useful but you forgot they were there?

Let's not lie to each other, it cheapens what we have... Find it and go shopping!

Well alright then- Onward- To Victory!

Jessica

I want YOU to go shopping in your own house!