Penny Pinching...

Because 'cent pinching' doesn't have quite the same ring to it. 

It was not so long ago that myself and Tero had two rather nice incomes.  After Markus came along not too much changed for the 6 months that I was on paid maternity leave. 

Once I went back to work, I was part-time and so one of our wages was halved.  Now we are in Finland and living on the equivalent of just one of our previous wages.

We don't have a car and nor could we afford one - well- we could, just, but not if something went badly wrong with it. Not a risk either of us would like to take.

We have a mortgage and maintenance payment on the apartment that is smaller in total than the rent on our place in Ireland.  Utilities and internets are *far* cheaper here and the heating is included in the aforementioned maintenance (no nasty winter surprises is rather lovely).

We are paying off the credit card (bought a sofa on it) at quite an astounding rate and we have money over after food for fun, things for the apartment and things for Markus; his birthday present and party for example.

Where am I going with this?

I got nicely into the habit of not having to think about what we were spending on what.  On my days off I'd mince around the city with Markus stopping in perhaps two coffee shops, have lunch out, buy some random things that looked cute.  I don't know.  There was a lot of just hanging around in the city buying stuff.  Thoughtlessly and aimlessly.  This was partly because I never really liked either of the houses we lived in. One was boring and the other could have been nice given a bit of effort but we moved in knowing we would be leaving for Finland within a couple of months.  

Still. Where am I going with this? :)  I'll get there!

I was walking through a shopping centre today (mall for any USian reading this!) and was feeling a little wistful. I wanted to have a look in the nice shops and be able to buy something if it caught my fancy. Unfortunately today, I was not in a position to do so and caught myself feeling a little sad.  Wanting just a few hundred euros to be silly with.  And THEN it hit me.

What would I buy with that few hundred euros if I was in my former thoughtless and aimless mindset?  I know not. Probably very unmemorable things. I can't for the life of me tell you where my money used to go. Only that it went. I thought about our current situation where we have to be thoughtful and it struck me that, having worked out a budget last month for the next 6 months, I really enjoy looking at what we *can* get each month. This month is Markus's birthday present and the wallpaper and paint for our bedroom. Next month is Markus's food for his party, a reading light for the lounge and a work light for the spare room/craft room and an extra 100 euros off of the credit card.

For the most part I really like this thoughtfulness.  This saving or waiting for the things that we want and need to slowly but surely build a nice little home for us all just as we want it. No thoughtless purchases which are later useless or unwanted. No random, guilt-ridden crap piling up in cupboards. Just progress and achievement and hopefully a nice example for Markus on money management and consumerism or lack thereof.

There. I'm done. :)