I fell like I am constantly torn in two. There are two halves of me that have strong desires that pull in opposite directions. This time of year is even more difficult.
I adore pretty things. I want my personal world to be beautiful, crafted, creative to reflect my inner being. I want to create a home that not only reflects comfort, but simplicity and creativity. I do not need more, but I would like it to be pretty. I want to be able to go out and purchase items for our home, our inner sanctuary and make it our own.
Then the opposing side that screams simplicity. Consume less. Want for nothing. Save money. Do we *need* a new living room set? Bedroom suite? Dining room table? A big screen tv for the basement?
The simple answer is No.
We do not need a bigger Christmas tree. The children were absolutely overjoyed with the one we set up. The children do not care if the ornaments do not match or if the tree is a little scanty and leans to one side.
They would like us to have more outdoor decorations. However I explained that every year we will add a little more and in the years to come it will be what we envision it to be.
I have purchased the children’s gifts with care. Not spending much, but hoping the gifts they are to receive will fill them with joy. It is so hard not to get swept up in the moment, the commercialism, the push to GIVE MORE, BE MORE, BE BETTER PARENTS IF YOU SPEND MORE … the stores, the commercials, the world screams at us.
Yet I watch my children sprawled out on the floor, playing with what was their Dad’s Lego, many many moons before and I know that we have much more than anything sold in a store. We have each other.
ps I still would like pretty things. My struggle is to balance that want with being a stay at home mom and the paths that we have chosen. All good things come to those who wait … right?
How do you find the balance? Are you a spender or a saver?
A Canadian mom with three cute kids. This blog chronicles our lives my creative pursuits. 
It’s a difficult question but when it comes down to it the fear of getting into debt curbs my spending. We didn’t get things easily as children and were made to save up our pocket money for things we wanted. I think I’ve carried that over in to adult life – I still save for things rather than just going out to buy it. There are times when you can’t do that of course – some emergencies can’t be avoided.
I hate how commercial Christmas has become and families are under so much pressure to do everything right. I’m sure your kids will be happy with whatever they get.
My cousin’s idea of a small wedding was an expensive designer wedding dress and a ring that cost over £1,000. Did it make her wedding any more special? It seems the more she gets the more she wants. Made getting her a present a nightmare.
Caledonia´s last blog ..Reaching Those Milestones
It is hard, especially at this time of year.My problem is thinking, I wanted ‘that’ when I was young and didn’t get it so I want my child to have ‘it’.
As we have simplified our living the feelings of living in this new world win over the need to spend…hopefully!
talk to me after Christmas!
by the way…tried sushi pizza the other night; OH MY STARS!!
Helen´s last blog ..Moving right along…
Balance is hard to do sometimes. Everyone likes pretty things. Good post. Thanks for the reminder to bring balance to that area.
Nadine´s last blog ..The Revolve Tour
I don’t spend a ton, but anything is more than I can afford so I do overspend. We have 20+ people to buy for so it’s tough. I get a lot of gifts free, thank goodness.
nicole from much more than a mom´s last blog ..Plug
Great post Chelle! Arghhhh I am EXACTLY the same as you. HAve so much – value cannot be placed on what we have has a family….. yet you’d think we lived in an empty mansion the way I spot things “I love” and “need”. It’s just this time of the year – it’s all in your face whereever you go! (well here it is!)
Gail´s last blog ..Day 100….. And the Winner is…..
James always wants a ton of outdoor lights. We finally got him one outdoor decoration this year – $10 at the thrift store – score
! We do have house lights that wrap nearly around the house. Almost. One of these days.
My pull is where to spend the money and experiences always win out – going to see my sister this Thanksgiving, lots of museum trips this year, *hopefully* camping this spring, to the theater a bunch this year. Hopefully the memories can’t be replaced.
Holly´s last blog ..What I did on my Thanksgiving break
Before I had kids, I was a saver. Now, I spend. Probably more for me than for them…although they do ask for a lot. I don’t buy them something on every trip to the store. They have so much already.
I’m hoping to clear out things as we move into new bedrooms. (If our addition ever gets finished!)
Heather´s last blog ..Sensory Tale
My husband and I are naturally tightwads although on certain 9like food, I prefer higher quality better tasting stuff and will budget accordingly) things I am willing to splurge a bit. I don’t know what to tell you on how to stop wanting things, I think it is innate in humans. I have smothered a lot of my desire by just being too tired/busy to go out and shop.
I’m definitely a saver. However, I LOVE to have pretty things and to create a sanctuary in our home. It can definitely be difficult at times. But, I’ve lucked up at thrift and consignment stores, garage sales, and sale racks. I want a pretty home, but more than that I want to be able to afford to work from it to stay home with my kid. And, I want him to learn that consuming isn’t what it’s all about. Although, there is lots of stuff that I want, I have what I truly need. I have the really important stuff that doesn’t come with price tags. And, that makes waiting on the “want” stuff a lot easier.
Madeline´s last blog ..Moving Out…Are You Coming? ; )
Ahhh I relate. My husband and I are DIYers. He is very handy and will try to do just about everything himself. That means many projects go undone around our home because he doesn’t have enough time to do everything himself even when he insists that he do it. Most of the time, doing something ourselves saves money. Case in point: one of the gifts for our son is a castoff motorized truck that no one wanted at a yard sale because it didn’t work. Now my husband got it working, and we are going to paint it and put new decals and stuff on it. But my husband is spending his whole weekend on this project. That means something else won’t get done! But it also means our son will get a toy that was a labor of love. It means I can be at home with him instead of working so he would have a $300 brand new motorized truck.
Rock on, sister.
Holly at Tropic of Mom´s last blog ..Disney Emergency: The Princess and the Frog giveaway
I feel exactly the same way. Due to our circumstances it is a bit easier to reign myself in this year, but most years I go a little crazy. I am really enjoying this more thoughtful, frugal Christmas so far. I can honestly say there will be no crap under our tree this year. I just hope the kids appreciate the gifts
Chantal´s last blog ..Bloggy request
I’m caught in this conundrum thusly: I don’t necessarily want much, but I want what I have to be of really good quality. Since I have garage sale finds and hand-me-downs throughout the house, the process is replacing those items with things I’ve chosen, on purpose, for their excellent quality. So I do want more stuff–pretty stuff–but not more stuff overall.
Jocelyn´s last blog ..
Luckily we have a set of grand parents that go overboard but ti is hard and we are always spending but I think we are getting better finally..I love simple and yet love stuff..I think is the tough part of living..