Another Day, Another Dollar.....

I have been really wondering about things....and why it never seems that I can find a job that I like. I am, again, in a position of being in a job that I absolutely DREAD going to. My boss treats me as if I am the newest chimp to learn walking upright. I get letters left for me nearly every afternoon about things that I don't do right, or that I didn't do enough of, or that I did too much of...there is NEVER any recognition of the things that I do that aren't asked of me, the times that I put in more than I should, and so on. I am still making what I started at when I took this job 3 months ago, and I am working at what I think is pretty much full capacity at this job. I was told when I interviewed, that when I showed that I was catching on, then I would be given a raise, and then another in a few months, etc...until I made top pay. Well, I haven't even had my first raise and it is looking like I may never get one. I am also the ONLY employee that this woman has that works 6 days a week straight. She is the owner, and she even gets time off. Not me. I have missed only two hours the entire time I have been here, and worked every day. No time off, and when I do request it, I am told that other employees have things that they need off for (even though they are new and she posted a note that they would not be able to ask for time off) and that I may not get the time off.
I hate to sound like I am a whiner, but right now, dern it, I am whining!!!! I ALWAYS get into job situations that let people take advantage of me, cause I never speak up for fear or retaliation or possibly losing my job. God, forgive me, but I just want to be at home....having children and raising them, and putting all my energy into my family and my home. And then, I see folks that have this and either A) hate it and want to get out of the house or B) see it as an opportunity to sit and eat junk food all day and watch cable. Even more of a reason that I feel I should be so stingy with my spending, and what I am willing to lay my "work-life outlay" down for....Is it really worth what I have to do and put up with to waste money on?
Is there anyone out there who has ever had this problem? A spouse who is dead set on you working and brining in as much money as possible, without even listening to other options? If so, how are you coping with this? How do you make your life work? And if God answered your prayer and you are at home now, do you still appreciate the fact that you don't have to work anymore?
I have decided I am not going to spend ANYTHING until I absolutely have to. I don't care if I have to patch clothes or eat peanut butter and jelly....I have GOT to get out of the American rat race. It is killing me slowly, and in the end, I will be like all other American robots.....dying alone in a nursing home with nothing to show for it.

Sorry this post is so dreadful....Maybe tomorrow I will be in a better mood.

So where am I now?

I have fell off the wagon, and now I am wanting to get back on...SO, I am challenging myself again (and let's not all forget that we ALL have done this at some point in time, right?) with some new added challenges....

I am sick and tired of being a lukewarm Christian. I am supposed to be sold out, and I still keep letting things and people get in the way of my relationship with God. So, I am going to add to my "Buy Nothing" challenge, and here is the newest set of rules:

1) No more TV. Period. I spend too much time in front of it, and I am an all or nothing person, so nothing on the TV it shall be.
2) No more secular music....whooooo, boy, this is going to be a toughy. But, I slip into someone that I don't want to be when I listen to it. It is MY choice that I do that, not that it is mandated by a church or anything like that. I really believe that is why Paul stresses to bring our flesh under submission....or it will rule us.
3) ABSOLUTELY NO MORE COMPLAINING AND GOSSIPING!!!! If I can't say something nice and encouraging, my yap is staying closed.
4) Being a true Proverbs 31/Titus 2 wife...instead of using it as a cute label in chatgroups :)

This is going to be so hard, but I believe that God will give me the desires of my heart, and this is what I desire. I want Him to be the most important thing in my life, not me or what I want at the moment.

Please be in prayer and agreement with me on this, as I really need all the support I can get. And let me know if you also are going to try to "put away the old man", and I will be more than happy to encourage you and help where I can. Remember, it ain't all about us anymore, and the sooner we can get our flesh in line, the eaiser it for God to step in and take control.

My first trip to Wal Mart...oh, so soon!

Well, we had to go to Wal Mart this afternoon, so that my husband could get some paper towels. He uses these to clean with as he thinks it is easier than cloth rags. I bought 3 strands of cross stich floss as I use this to do my hair wraps, and when I made my wrap last night I used up all that I had. So, first day down, amount spent: $.61
I really had to watch myself, as I had a little cash on me, and was tempted to spend it on things that I "thought" I needed. Shew, this is going to be tougher than I thought!
I am now going into the kitchen to start our bread for next week, and to start some beans to soak for tomorrow. I also vowed to go back to eating vegetarian again, so this is going to involve meal planning and making use of what I have in the ktchen. Tomorrow, I will post my menu for the rest of the week.

New year, New Life....more than just a saying

I am going to use this blog to document my journey from a typical, greedy (normal) American, to one who is completely in touch with what and when and why I buy. I am unplugging the machine that I, like nearly all Americans are plugged to: The Media Spending Addiction Machine. Here are going to be the ground rules for the above mentioned "fast" that I will undertake for the next 366 days:



1) I will not purchase anything new that can be helped. This would include:

~ Things that I cannot make or find at thrift stores/flea markets/barter/trade; some grocery items, gas, medicines (if my herbs can't be used) , things that cannot be found in any other way.



2) I will buy things from the cheapest available option, but it MUST be non-polluting, non-toxic, safe for the environment, and not one person/group/animal/country should be harmed in it's production. If the materials can be purchased and then the item made, this will be the option that is utilized.



3) I will share recipes/directions/links as I find them, and I will try to answer all questions that may be asked of me.







I am excited at this opportunity of making a point that we as Americans can get by with at least 95% less consumption than what we are accustomed to.....Starting tomorrow, it's all new territory...Ain't ya'll excited?