What Do I Spend Money On?

I realize most of my posts are about what NOT to spend money on so you may be curious as what I DO believe in spending money on.

#1. A good mattress, if you can't sleep at night because you have springs poking you or you can't get comfortable, your whole life quality will be effected including how you preform at work and how well you feel, buy a decent mattress and springs.

#2. Fresh foods, I am a big believer in raw foods, not that I don't love junk food items but I really try to eat 4 raw foods a day, usually 3 fruit and 1 vegetable. I also believe in raw milk, however the closest place to me proves to be a little far in the summer to make it a convenient choice even with the use of a cooler. I also believe in eating a lot of fiber, death begins in the colon.

#3. A good haircut, you wear your hair every day, I have very long hair and I pay $23 plus a tip for a haircut, I have tried walk in places and they just don't cut it, trying to save a few bucks can result with months of growing out a bad look, it's just not worth it.

#4. I am hesitant to mention this but someone needs to tell ladies, you need a decent bra. If you can only afford to buy thrift store clothing that is fine but you MUST wear a decent bra and replace it often, spandex doesn't have a long life. If you are a "C" or above you need an underwire and probably a "molded cup", I pay "big money" $35-$40 for one, I treat it like a little baby hand washing it and hanging it to dry. It will make all your clothing look better. Think you are flat chested and don't need a bra, you are mistaken and trust me everyone but you knows it. It is better to have one good one the ten cheap ones.

#5. Tips, if you can't afford to tip decently then you can't afford to go out to eat. 15%-20% is what you should tip at a sit down restaurant. If you are using a coupon as I often do for a B1GI meal tip on what the bill would be without the coupon. I tip Pizza Delivery men extra, I also tip my hair stylist. If I am at a restaurant where it's buffet and someone just brings your drinks and clears the table I tip $1 per person.

#6. God's work, the more money you give to something the more you find yourself caring about it.

Motivation

Inside one of my kitchen cabinets is a little photo of a lobster...why? It's my motivation. To me it means that for the price of burgers and fries at a family style restaurant I can afford to buy a lobster(or a steak) at the grocery store and cook it myself. The difference is effort.

Now, I do enjoy eating out but I try to remember it should be a "treat" that is built into our budget. Recently we were eating at Smokey Bones, we eat there quiet often because they send out a lot of $10/$20 coupons or buy one meal get one free. Well our check came and my coke was $2.69... I thought about that for a second I would NEVER pay $2.69 for a 2 litter of soda in the grocery store but served over a great deal of ice in a fancy glass I would? For that money I could have bought a lot more product... (and I confess I didn't even finish my first glass the the restaurant).

One of my college roommates used to cut out photos of beautiful women in magazine and post them next to her bed, I thought her quiet silly and maybe a little vain...but now 6 years and 2 kids later she is still very thin...it is something she works at but those photos were her "motivation".

When I don't feel like picking up one more thing or doing one more load of laundry I want an episode of "Horders", and I get cleaning fast... inside my coupon binder is a receipt from CVS saying I spent .12 total for numerous products to remind me that time spent cutting and organizing coupons is MONEY .

One those days when it seems like all I do is correct, clean and discipline small children and I hear myself complaining because I am pregnant and feeling icky yet again, I'll read some of Michelle Dugger's book on child rearing or maybe watch an episode of their show to remind me what kind of finished product I want. If I am a Christian but never pray, read my Bible or go to Church or do one good deed for Christ I would soon not care much about Him.

So what types of things do you use to stay motivated?