My motivation

I wholeheartedly believe that we all need goals to motivate us.  Although, I do enjoy living “frugally”, it does not always come easy to me.  I have days, even weeks where I question if it is all worth it.  Is it really worth it to run to 3 stores today instead of 1?  Is it really worth it to clip a few coupons?  Is it really worth it to plan my menus? 

When I find myself in this lull, I have to refocus on ground zero.  Ground zero being the primary reason I work hard at doing this. 

For me, my primary drive in doing this is that it allows me to be at home full time.

For, 6 years I worked part time.  Though it was only 1 or 2 days a week, it was still an additional stress to me.  When business changes and personal reasons forced me to decrease my hours, we lost several $100 dollars a month in income.  Our income dropped when we had just started an international adoption.

With our grocery bill rising, our expenses climbing and our income decreasing, I decided to focus more on our food expenditures.  I researched and absorbed as much information as I possibly could.  I took more time creating menus and clipping coupons.  I found that the harder I worked, the more I saved.

During this time I was constantly brainstorming on what type of extra income I could produce?  Should I start babysitting? Should I substitute teach?  Should I work at Target?

The reality was that it was stressful making a job work for me with my husband’s nursing schedule.

Then the light bulb glowed brightly regarding this grocery “thing”.  It took time, but I saved money.  I realized that I could recoup on grocery expenditures the amount of  income I recently lost.

So, I began approaching grocery savings as a job.  A part time job that allowed me to work whenever I wanted, even with kids in tow.  Even my math deficient brain quickly calculated this flexible part time “job” paid nicely.  If I spent 2 hours and saved even just $50, it was like making $25 per hour. I couldn’t make that at Target, babysitting or substituting.

The rest is history.  I threw myself full fledge into saving money on groceries.

When I have those days that buying chicken broth  seems easier than making it….I simply tell myself, “this is your job”.

Overall, it is a job I love.  Besides, I can do the majority of it in my jammies.  Most days, that is all the motivation I need.