For gifts for teachers or a few folks I like to bless....... I have decided to bake cookies. I will get cute plates at the Dollar Tree. Everyone will eat a Christmas cookie even if they are watching their weight I decided. Plus it works for men or ladies. I will bake some when my kids are with their dad and bake others WITH my girls. I will keep the baking simple. I will keep this in the back of my mind as I shop and find good deals.

I hope to live very frugally this weekend as my kids are with their dad. I tend to really turn off lights and keep things very simple while they gone. It helps me catch up and see areas I need to improve on.

Weekends I am by myself--I have tried to go out for dinner with a friend but I have even cut way back on that. Honestly it is because I usually need to rest or sleep! I can eat so frugally at home too.
I can keep myself pretty happy on a shoestring so to speak. Most of my socializing I do at work with my co-workers at work....so I get plenty of adult interacton. That is helpful to my sanity!

I have some yard work to do and I will be putting away some stuff outside for winter. My patio furniture and umbrella need stored along with some beach things.
I will wash my cars too.....it is going to be very nice weather wise.

Gas around here is 2.38. I think that is pretty amazing. It is still crazy but it seems to be better lately. It is wonderful to get a slight break.

OK Am I the only one who has been receiving Holiday catalogs in the mail?
WOW! I am just not in the mood to Christmas shop! I can not get all fired up over ornaments, light up this and that or must haves right now. I am sure I will never get too overly excited. I am not a grinch but it is way too much. I have made a big decsion to simply--throw every catalog away that I receive.
I will not even glance at it or open it....I will toss it right away.
I got three today and three got tossed.
It is really liberating. It will save money and keep me focused on my financial goals at hand.

Merry Christmas

As a housekeeper I clean each day for about 40 older folks. I have learned many many wonderful lessons....all based on common sense. Here is one I will share.
The folks who have cluttered up and knick knacked apartments are generally depressed. These folks do not leave their apartments much to socailize or eat with others. The folks with neater, less cluttered and simplier apartments...tend to be cheery and more upbeat. Most of them socailize and eat with other friends in the dining room. They tend to be friendly and talkative with others....and have a wonderful outlook on aging, even the ones with out much family around.

I noticed that with the messier folks I have a hard time cleaning after them and the neater ones...it is joy to clean for and things get done quicker and things look nicer. Their environment seems happier all around.

Lessons learned for me...keep it simple.
I used to watch alot of home shopping when I was a young married stay at home mother, home with babies and basically depressed living with my ex-husband. I felt I had to have every candle...every basket....every holiday this or that to make my house a home. I went to every home party under the sun and felt I had to buy to make friends or have friends. Silly I now know. Well I have grown and matured and been thru so much....I have a whole new view on living simply and with less. I am far more happier and more content and basically a much more happy person. Plus it is better to save the money for when you are OLDER. Living in the here and now is not smart. We have to save for when we are too sick or too old. I personally will never look to the government for much at all. The burden rests on me. If you think it is expensive now wait for when you are older and you have to possibly pay big bucks to have someone help you shower or use the potty.

If you are living cluttered try to stop the madness now and get yourself some help and get rid of stuff. Or stop buying stuff to feel better. It really helped me to come to that realization. Plus I have a clutter free mind and heart. Talk about true joy. No amount of money can purchase that.

I feel badly for some of the folks I clean for......they are so stuck in their clutter vortex. It is horrible trap to be in at any age.
So learn a lesson or two today, save your money, spend less, stop buying silly trinkets and live without clutter.