What a wonderful marketplace! They even provide low-income housing for the elderly =$400/month!
shopping
“In the Rich Man’s World”
Don’t spend what you don’t have.*
*It’s called “integrity”
Title by ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money”
Sunday Suggestion
Having just adopted (another) pitbull mix dog, we realized she’s pretty wild. When we walk her around the neighborhood, people react with mixed reactions: delight, fear and a combination of both. She’s cute:
However, she has a very loud, ferocious bark and it scares people. Barking at our guests is absolutely unacceptable and we’re working on it.
Luckily, there are numerous effective resources on the internet:
Cesar Millan is always a surebet;
If your dog bites;
Teach your dog tricks!
Working with your dog is invaluable. There are no shortcuts. Believe me, it’s challenging and I’ve been tempted (more than once) to simply purchase a “shock collar” or something that will make it all easier. But I want her to be well-trained and reliable. I want to be able to control my dog.
So, it’s off to purchase more treats and do the work. Each morning, I play fetch with each to get their exercise in. As Cesar Millan says, their bodies need to be exercised so that their brains can work well!
Sunday Suggestion
My high school daughters pack lunches instead of buying school lunch. They have no access to lockers, so they have to carry everything all day. Tupperware takes up a lot of space in their backpacks and this year, they told me they don’t want to use bulky plastic containers anymore. They requested disposable sandwich bags.
This, when I told myself I wouldn’t buy those disposable baggies anymore. They’re bad for the environment! They’re wasteful!
So, I just purchased two sets of these:
It’s $11 for a set of three. It saves you money. It’s better for the environment. It’s stinkin’ cute. Do you need any other reasons to ditch the plastic ziploc bags and use these instead?
Busy, Busy Bee
Feeling stressed and anxious about the holidays is a choice. Yes, it is.
Don’t succumb to the pressure to buy.
“This year, shoppers plan on spending $660 on average for the holiday season. 27% report they did not create a budget at all and 24% say they overspent last year.” (USA Today)
Create a budget. Stick to it. If anyone has a problem with it, it’s exactly that – their problem.
Focus, instead, on expressing love for friends and family. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. That is the true spirit of the holidays, no matter what your faith.
Here is an interesting graphic from USA Today:
Kismet 