What have you learned in '08?

[forHISglory]

It's getting to that time of year where we tend to look back and evaluate our days. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I tend to look back and determine what I have learned.

Here's one thing I learned about myself this year:
I have learned that I am not as organized with my time as I thought I was. My co-workers always used to compliment me on how organized I was in the classroom; my students were in awe of how my lessons ended just as the bell was ringing. My administrators loved how I juggled everything that they asked of me, how I got every report in on time, and chaired all those committees, and handled all that extracurricular. I really thought that I had a good grip on time.

Surprise......

I think I was only artificially propped up by the ringing of the bell every 55 minutes. I was good at adapting to a schedule, but now I know that I am not good at organizing time on my own. I had grand illusions of how I was going to spend my time in retirement: reading, walking, praying, visiting, cleaning, cooking, crafting, traveling......... I visualized myself calmly going about my day with every thing organized on my refrigerator calendar.

It was more of a grand delusion than a grand illusion. I haven't got my time organized at all. I get caught up in something, and POOF!! Suddenly my time for that day is almost gone.

Now that I know that I am in need of serious work on this, I can tackle it. Now....... hmmm...... where will I find the time to work on this problem.........

Your turn. What have you learned this year? Maybe it was something about yourself. Maybe a new skill? Maybe an attitude? I think I have learned more of having a frugal attitude this year. Did you actually take a class or instruction, or did you just learn on your own?

[dancar3]

I learned how to take control of our money thru budgeting when I "found" Dave Ramsey in January this year. Through this, I learned financial peace and inner peace....our lives are so much more calm and happy now, things have just fallen into place. This was the most significant thing we learned this year....looking forward to 2009 to see what it brings!

Oh, I did want to add that I also learned how ridiculously high gas prices can go!!

[larabelle]

I learned soooooo much this year.
1.) How to budget
2.) That although I thought I needed alot of stuff I really do not need very much stuff in order to be happy.
3.) That there is contentment in staying home versus shopping on a daily basis
4.) That I do not need an off site storage unit as I could not even remember all of the stuff which I put into it when I went to clean it out. Some of the stuff I had not looked at in over six years.
5.) That I could live and prosper on my salary without borrowing any money.
6.) That only eating meat once a week was OK and I would not starve if I did so.
7.) That decreasing my cell phone minutes plan would not kill me but instead make me more organized in writing down topics of conversation for discussing during my free cell time on the weekends.
8.) That although my family are spendthrifts that when I presented to them the numbers of how much debt I had paid in being frugal they would respect my frugalness more.
9.) That I do not have to have a land phone line or internet connection at home and as a by product I realized how much more time I had at home without having it occupy my time.
10.) The library is a wonderful resource and has lots of educational opportunities.
11.) Quilting which is a great hobby to have since I have an excess of cotton fabric and have lots of clothes.

[C@rol]

I have always believed that we were totally in control in the destiny of our lives. This is an opportunity afforded us partly by being US citizens the rest is decided by how hard we are willing to work and how much we educate ourselves.

But this year I have come to realize that even if you put in the hard work, even if you get the education (formal or otherwise) our fate is not totally in our hands.

Take the person who does all the right things. Works hard, pays their bills, doesn't go into debt, pays their mortgage, properly educates and raises their children. Then after doing all of these things and being an upstanding citizen also it falls apart because of the economy and because of decisions and laws made by people you may or may not know.

It breaks the heart to know that when you have faith in the American Dream and you work hard to reach it, it can be taken away from you so easily.

I feel for people who do the right thing and lose a lot or all of it in a wisp of smoke. Especially knowing time isn't on their side to recoup what they have lost. Much like the Eron employee's they must find a way to make it and start all over again.

So this year I have learned that nothing (as we learn as Christians) material (money, homes, job, etc) is guaranteed to be a sure thing you can count on even if you do the right things. As long as the economy is in someone else's control we are all vulnerable.

Hope springs eternal though.

[cheles2kids]

Let's see:

Really beginning to work on becoming debt free is one of the most important things we can do for our family as well as having that EF in place!

Rethinking our financial goals & plans is very important!
I think this should become a yearly goal for us.

Working a budget can be a difficult habit to get into.
Staying within that budget, even harder.

Stockpiling is an essential thing to do.

Getting over the "stigma" associated with using cloth grocery bags is a wonderful thing. (Weird one, I know)
'Cause they hold so much more *and* you don't have those ripped bag accidents while loading & unloading the car.

Going on a prepaid cell phone plan is a good thing.

Learning to live through a financial recession/downturn/depression 'ish era can teach us all so much.
Learning to live within our means is the biggest one for most people.
It's made me begin to realize how little we really need to live on.
Overall just taking more notice of the things that we *really* need as opposed to what we *want*.

I've started looking at getting rid of alot of our "disposable" items that we've become accustomed to using, without thinking about it:
cloth bags
cloth napkins
rewashing ziploc type bags and reusing over & over again
making my own household cleaners
buying second hand furniture and clothes (when we can find them)

Recommiting myself to becoming vegetarian & how important that really is for me.

[Patty A]

Oh where to start.
I have learned so much this year, here are a few.
To know needs from wants. To know that the word NO is the shortest complete sentence in the english language! I have learned that I only fail if I don't try again!
That giving up is easy, but fighting to try harder is where the real work is. I have learned that when I don't have any more to give I can dig deeper and find more ways to make things happen. I can find ways to make things easier, better, and more frugal everyday. I have learned that its ok to ask for help when I need it. I have learned that like minded people can always teach you something new!! I have learned to trust myself and go with my gut feelings more often. They don't lead me wrong! My attitude is my own making. Its up to me to see the glass half full even when others see it half empty.
There are so many more......

[Mom23boys]

What I learned this year was not about money but that not everything is always as it appears. A lot of truths came out this year about in close relationships and I was really heartbroken by the realizations. The first one being the ralationship with my DS#1 and his then fiance. She kept a lie for 16 months about her baby not being his. We finally learned the truth through a paternity test. That was devastating for him and us because we had already become attached to her. The second experience was with DH's family. I thought I really knew them, but I was very wrong. After DH's step-dad passed away, I began to see the real MIL and SIL I had. It is so bad that my DS#2 will not have anything to do with them and he used to spend every evening at my FIL and MIL house. He loved my FIL very much and after he passed he tried to help my MIL around the house until he learned some truths too. It was very heartbreaking to him too, which makes me sad for him. MIL will see him outside and want him to come over, but he yells back that he is busy and walks back in the house. I honestly can say that I can't wait to move....only 17 more days until closing! Thank goodness!

[Sassyclass]

Where do I begin? I've learned I have a lot to learn. I thought I was doing a good job with our income, but FV has taught me several new tricks. I've learned that being frugal is really fun, challenging but fun. I've learned that no matter how bad things get, I/we will and can survive. Thank you God for being there everytime we have called on you.

Cat

[forHISglory]

Another thing I have learned is that we can save, even on a fixed income. I was unsure whether or not we would be able to continue our savings and our giving, but it is working out. It took some trial and error, but we were able to buy 3 CDs this year and still meet all obligations.

[jkbmum]

what i have learned in 2008 is that to not to take for granted of all we have...and what we don't...budgeting and living each day to the fullest...

[mmy2grls]

I learned be happy with what you have and there are ways to be creative with just about everything.

[shoiji]

forHisGlory, I am glad to see you are up to asking these great questions you always come up with!!!

Ok, so for this year what have I learned:

1) That I am very fortunate with all that I have.

2) That I can really live large of a tiny budget.

3) To be greatful that I am finally smoke free.

4) That I can live in a spic and span home.

5) That I need to take more time to do nothing more than realize all that I have.

6) Re-purposing really does save a lot of money.