Budget

A budget is very important.

This is what I was taught and I can clearly see how a budget works.

However......I hate budgets.

For one, I have always disliked math. I do not find it engaging to think of numbers doing things with other numbers. Also, I have come to see money as a necessary evil that can easily become the controlling factor on the course of life.

I have experienced money in many different capacities. Good and Bad. In the end I don't like it much. I have an undeniable need for it based on the circumstances of life. I am well aware of its influence.

At this time I feel a strong desire to keep my budget as low as possible. Always being open to new ways to reduce it. For me a low necessity for money is freedom. Freedom from the grind. If I do not need a lot of money (and I do not think any person does) then I free up time for things other than working to attain more money.

Freedom. Freedom from the burden of debt and cyclic never ending bills. Freedom to spend time with loved ones. Freedom to learn new things and to engage in activities I enjoy.

There are a great many activities I enjoy. Things that make the efforts of life worthwhile and acceptable. The world is so vast and alive with things, activities, places, people to pass before my perception and create this ever flowing experience of living. That is richness to me. Concentrating on the moments we are in. Vibrantly open and free from the angst of non-acceptance, of desire, want, fear, anger, jealousy, and judgement. So many people seem to trade off part of being alive in exchange for a career and acquisitions of objects. I have been on that track myself and for me it was dull and draining with manic highs and lows.

I don't know if I'll ever hit one out of the park with regard to the pursuit of money......but it doesn't really matter to me. The things I really want in my life I have. I am enjoying my experience and as long as I can abide in a simple fashion that fulfills basic needs and comforts I will rest easy indeed.

Big Rummage Sale Upcoming

As part of my changing philosophy I will be participating in a mult-person rummage sale this autumn season. In this pending yard/rummage sale I will be putting up for sale MANY things that I've been toting around with me for quite some time. Life Dander? Perhaps....





I do believe I will be selling off/getting rid of most of my Christmas decor. (I have quite the collection as I believe I was previously suffering from some strange mental disorder involving whole house staging for x-mas that has no basis in anything reasonable.)




I have unfortunately come to see many of the holidays that are so zealously celebrated as having a consumerism and materialism driven foundation. These are marketed events for conditioning a willingness to spend money on stuff......mostly unneccesary stuff that clogs up the arteries of the energy flow of life. Life is worth celebrating....don't get me wrong. I just don't feel the need for a "special occasion" in order to do so. Nor do I feel it is necessary to spend money or acquire things to properly make notice of the special nature of this life.



I will also be putting my Thanksgiving and Halloween decorations on the chopping block. I have been thinking about all these things for many moons now. I asked myself...what does this add to your life? Does it carry a positive charge - having these bits? What do things affirm about a person...if anything? Is it entertaining, worthwhile, helpful, beautiful?



Well....after my musing on it I determined that a lot of the "extras" type stuff that I have is like a dead weight in my life. I go through the motions with the little traditions I have established....but they don't carry the same significance for me anymore. It's a bunch of empty hoopla of which I don't feel a connection. I just see a pile of stuff in boxes....to be taken out, then placed back into...stored, moved, cleaned. And for what? Just sick of stuff.

The more stuff I move out of my life, the more peace and happiness I experience. Good reason to lighten the load and ditch "shopping" as a recreational activity.