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My Gosh, it *Has* Been Two Months!
I have actually started several entries during this hiatus, but promptly trashed them because they sounded too self-indulgent. Monique was kind enough to ask how things were going...well, nothing's really changed. I am still working at the accountant's office, and I still enjoy it. My co-workers are friendlier, but it's still a very quiet office. Howdy's still unemployed, although he has another interview on Thursday. Our house is still up for sale. I have still not knitted a stitch in months, but I keep looking at the stuff everyone else is knitting.
We've kind of come to terms with the new status quo around here, and it's not really all bad. Every once in awhile, Howdy starts waxing nostalgic for what we no longer have and I have to tell him, "our life does not suck!" We have enough food to eat, we are able to pay our bills without racking up new debt and really, I think we've learned to appreciate what we've got. It's kind of nice to feel like we haven't been wasting money on stuff we really don't need, but were buying anyways. He's been able to spend a lot of time with our daughter, which is priceless. I can hardly believe it's been almost a year since we moved here. It's been quite a year.
I do have to tell you, though, Howdy has stepped up to the plate admirably in my absence. He's taken over all of the grocery shopping, including clipping coupons and making lists based on what's on sale. We are lucky enough to live by a discount grocery store and he spends a lot of time there. (A funny aside, this store has a Tex-Mex section and a Mex-Mex section. You can get a can of Old El Paso refried beans for a dollar, or you can get five cans of refrieds with a label in Spanish for a dollar. Guess which ones we have?) Our local Kroger frequently runs clearance meats, breads and veggies, too, and he stocks up on those when we can find them. Our freezer is crammed with 99¢ a pound ground beef he found. He's been Mr. Lawn Maintenance, saving us $160/month and Mr. Housecleaner, saving us $80/month. We've downgraded to beer in a can and wine from a box, but hey, it's still drinkable.
There is one thing I'm really missing. You're going to laugh. Steak. Howdy cooks a magnificent steak. Rib eye is the cut of choice here in at Chez Sockbug, but at $7.99 a pound at Costco, we just can't afford it. And we let our Costco membership lapse. So we had steak for Howdy's birthday back in April and that's it. Do I appreciate steak more now? You bet!
Well, I was going to continue on with pictures of my bedroom/bathroom renovation, but that will have to wait for next post! Have a great rest of your weekend, wherever you are!
Hi! It's great to see you again. Looks like although things have changed,
you are still doing very well. Best of luck to Howdy on his job interview!
I'm really glad you guys are doing good. I'm glad Howdy is spending the
time with your daughter, it'll mean so much to her when she's older.
I hope the house sells soon, and that the interview goes well.
I've been thinking about you. Glad to hear that you are "keepin' on".
It's nice to hear from you. I'm really impressed by how you've handled
this. So many people would have let such a situation ruin their lives. Glad
to hear things are still running relatively smoothly. Here's to Mr Howdy
finding his next steps.
I'm glad to see that you're still alive and well and unfortunately living
in the unsold house :) I was unemployed a couple of years ago and saw, as
you are, that we do tend to spend much more than we have to. I've tried to
keep a more frugal mind-set however and the bank balance is now such that I
can go a couple or three months (please god I don't want to) without
worrying too much. Here's hoping Howdy finds something soon and kudos to
him for standing up to the plate and taking on chores, coupons, shopping
and things you used to contract out.
More kudos to him for taking a more active role with your daughter too. I
bet when he does find something loosing the time with her will be his only
regret.
Wait -- wine comes in something BESIDES a box?
Glad to know your still around, adn things don't suck! Hope you have a
great week.
Ahhh you have realized the power of contentment. It is not about what we
have, but our attitude towards our circumstances. Contentment is a choice.
It looks like you have made the right one. Who cares what brand something
is, or where it comes from. If it is all we NEED then that's all that
matters. :)
We have been through the "unemployment" thing two times in the past 29
years. My husband also proved to be much better at the shopping, planning,
cooking thing than I was. Things on the home front actually ran better
overall when he was taking care of business.