Smothered by Stuff

we've been house hunting over the past few months and it has become very apparent that the kelley family will be downsizing!  at first i was sad and upset, but the more i've thought about it the more i am excited for this new adventure.  sure, we'll be a little more cramped, but i am hoping that helps us eliminate some of our 'stuff.'  lately i feel like we're suffocating under all of our possessions.  the kids have a playroom that is overflowing with toys (granted, they play with almost all of them often, but do they really 'need' them?), our closets look like a clothing store puked all over the place and our basement looks like it came out of an episode of hoarders.  

however, until now we've always felt like we 'needed' it all.  

it was really funny, actually.  the other night ben and i were having one of our phone conversations that lasted into the wee hours and it was so interesting to find out that both of us feel the same way, but neither one wanted to admit it... maybe it's partly the fact that we were living in denial that we thought we could keep up the lifestyle that we're living... new clothes, fun outings, babysitters, and all the tiny things that add up, or maybe it was just the fact that we can finally, really, see that the joy our kids get out of the world (without spending a single dollar).  don't get me wrong... things could be A LOT worse, but i'm just thankful that we didn't have to hit rock bottom to see that things needed to change.

a large part of me is embarrassed that i am such a materialistic person.  of course, i still think it is a good thing to desire nice things, but with the way our culture is going (me included), people feel entitled to have nice things and aren't willing to just be content with desiring them anymore.  i often have tell our kids:

'i understand that you want that toy/book/(insert thing here), but i'm sorry... we're not going to get it today. maybe you can ask for that as a special gift for your birthday/christmas gift.  we'll just write it down on your wishlist, or you can do your chores and earn it yourself.'  

sadly, i don't really tell myself that (until very recently).

a couple of new things that i will be living by:

“You must walk to the beat of a different drummer. The same beat that the wealthy hear. If the beat sounds normal, evacuate the dance floor immediately! The goal is to not be normal, because as my radio listeners know, normal is broke.” 
― Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.” 
― Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

“If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” 
― Dave Ramsey

so... sorry friends, i may become kind of a debbie downer to hang out with... unless, of course, you're up for hanging out at my place with a glass of cheap wine ;)

here's to a freeing 2013. cheers!