Busy Saturday

Well, this is my week off between class sessions. (And btw, I got A's in all three classes - woohoo me!) So I've been trying to get a bunch of stuff caught up or done ahead this week. I won't get done half of what I'd like to get done, but anything is better than nothing. So far, I've put 3 dinners in the freezer, stained a window (the trim) and rag-painted the front door. And done laundry. I need to do MORE laundry. Forever.

For lunch today, I made enchiladas for the first time. I used some leftover shredded chicken, mexican cheese, chili powder tomatoes, and pinto beans for the filling. They weren't a total failure but they weren't a hit either. They squarely fall in the category of "I'll have to try that again and see if I can make it better." They are a great and economical use of leftover meat.

This picture obviously isn't from today, but it's still a good estimation of what Nugget looked like after lunch. Get thee to the tub, baby!

Money and Self-Righteousness

A few of the blogs I frequent had been engaging in an ongoing discussion about being frugal vs. being a spendthrift vs. being stingy. It's been an interesting discussion and something that I've spent some time thinking about. One of the unfortunate aspects of my personality is that I tend to get a little obsessive with new behaviors for a while, and end up needing to rein myself back in.

First, a definition of terms, from the Meangoose Dictionary:

Frugal: seeking a good deal for things you value
Spendthrift: a person that makes unwise purchases that actually harm themselves or their family, either by accumulating "bad" debt or cluttering up their house with junk
Stingy: obsessively seeking to pay as little as possible in an attempt to hoard money and other resources, without regard to the harm inflicted on yourself or others

For awhile, I got on what I thought was a frugality kick. I freaked out about getting the lowest price on everything. I thought very cranky thoughts when my sweetie brought home some delicious but non-generic treat or quick meal. I spent minutes in the toothbrush aisle in the grocery store, searching for the least expensive brush, and then actually felt guilty that I didn't buy the 6 for $1 pack of brushes.

That wasn't frugality....that was stingy. How much of my time did I waste obsessing about cheap toothbrushes? What silly resentment did I allow to spill over due to the delicious but $6 California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizza? And how many unkind thoughts and self-righteous pats on the back did I deliver when I was mentally comparing myself to those, you-know-who, foolish spendthrift shoppers, and congratulating myself on my oh-so-wise ways in comparison to their foolish waste.

Here's the thing: if you are harming others by your monetary decisions, that's wrong. If you feel somehow superior to others that make decisions different than yours, that's wrong. Money has become an idol for you - something more important than the commandment that we are expected to follow - Love thy neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31)

There's nothing wrong with getting a good deal, especially when it's a necessity for your family, or when you enjoy the thrill of the hunt. There's nothing wrong with making a profit on the resale of an item - you're providing a valuable service to someone by finding and advertising said item.

There is something wrong with saying, "Oh, my shopping habits prove *I* am not "of the world." Those Macy's shoppers, those who use a credit card and pay full price, they are unrighteous but I'm righteous." No, you're self-righteous, not to mention, insufferably snotty if you feel that way.

Now, if you're actually harming someone to make a profit, well, that's obviously wrong. Here's the thing....you're never going to be able to do that yard-saleing and thrift-shopping. You'd need to be able to control a market in order to do this, and you're not going to get that power no matter how many designer-outfits-for-resale you snag at the Goodwill.

Likewise...if you're taking the grocery money and spending it on a designer purse, or hiding debt from your spouse....that's wrong. You're endangering your family with your spending choices. And if you're looking down on those who shop at thrift stores or wear used clothing, regardless of whether it's truly a necessity for them or a choice, well, you're being a snot there too.