Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

savingholmes wrote: »

still enjoying your writing style - makes me think

who is the author of the millionaire women book?

The book is called 'Millionaire Women, Millionaire You' and is by Stephanie J Hale. It is interviews with a number of women who have started businesses, run them successfully and some of the most them.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Good morning, cyber world! After a comfortable night of deep sleep, this morning I was ready to face the weekly accounts and the rest of the planning – had to give up last night. And we continue to do well controlling our expenditure – here I mean the variable expenditure which is easy to control because it is usually in this part of our budgets that many of us: 1) overspend compulsively; 2) have the option to make choices.

Here it comes. Last week we have spent £73.82 altogether of which the expenditure on food is £40.76, regular expenditure is £10.72 and we have other expenditure of £22.34. Most of the other expenditure is a very large tub of body souffl! from Sanctuary and six watch batteries. The last one is interesting – for the ones among you who have your watch batteries changed in shops: I used to be charged about £8 by Samuels to change the battery of one watch, OH bought six batteries and change them at the cost of £7.85 (including postage). So not a bad week – here is for many more like it.

We also did all our shopping for next week today. Now a well deserved rest.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Rest? Remind me, please, what is this? Anyway, as I used to joke a lifetime ago, it looks like I am going to rest after the victory of the world revolution – in other words never. My planned rest turned out to be an outing with little boy. What fun, this was!

I have friends who spend a small fortune every weekend taking their children out and at the end of the day moan that it was ‘horrid’ and wonder why their children did not appreciate it. Thinking about it, I have come to believe that the children misbehave because they either understand or sense that not much imagination, creativity, effort or participation goes in this kind of outings.

This afternoon, little boy and I went to the nearest park – we are very lucky that there are really nice tennis courts there and that it does not cost a dime to play. We played tennis for 90 min and had the most incredible time ever. Well, all right, he did wipe me out and I did have to go straight in the shower after but we laughed, and we talked. This afternoon, he shared with me again – he has been keeping secrets lately, like you do when you are 9 ½.

Now getting ready to go to a party – how can I transform myself and OH into pirates? I have the feeling that this one will defeat me.

And the saying for today is:

“Happy is he who learns to bear what he cannot change.” – J.C.F. von Shiller

Firewalker

savingholmes

sounds like you've been having a good day. enjoy the party

Firewalker

Last night it was a great party. I have to admit though, I did not look much a pirate - wore a black pair of trousers and a white blause with frills. My only reverence to the 'pirate theme' was that I wore one hoop through my year rather than two. Did I mention that we did not have far to go - the party was in the next door house.

Now I am making Ciabatta bread - recipe from Memory girl. It does look rather dubious, though - very liquidy. But, experimentation is the salt of life and progress...Lord, I might be metamorphing into the next Ms. Motivator...

And, yes, today is that day of the dinner party - and I will either establish myself as a Master of Budgeting and Quality or will lose some friends. Also the challange is for the food - any saving on the food is more than compensated for by the wine. There are things on which compromise is not possible and coffee and wine are two of these.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Just a brief note to say that we had great time with our friends - and the menu worked at just under £1.50 per person. We had:

Soupe a L'onion gratinee - 20p
Poulet a la Sauge et rosemarine avec pommes de terre et salad - 100p
Mousse au chcolat - 20p
Melon - 9p

All was cooked from scratch and delicious. This makes me think again 'what a transformation'! Even 13 months ago I could cook three things very well; now I am making chocolate mousse from ingredients - and quite enjoying it.

Well done us - and friends are absolutely terrific as well.

Good night.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Today, apart from feeling rather tired from the weekend’s excesses and working like a person possessed, a question sprang into my mind. What do I really want? Do I want to be rich? What is really my heart’s desire?

And the answer is actually no; I don’t want to be rich. But even though I don’t want to be rich, I still want to feel secure, in control and able to help others – to be able to do this I need to increase my wealth. For years I did not understand this – dumb, I know, but the fact that one can do much more good on a bigger scale if one has the financial means to do so somehow escaped me.

Probably this goes some way to explaining why for so many years my relationship with money was a bit like Voltaire’s relationship with God – we said hi but we did not converse much. Three years ago I did couching and as part of that was subjected to different psychometric tests – on all these tests I scored pitifully low on security and affinity. Translated in everyday language this meant that if something was not to change, I was likely to end up a really lonely and poor old woman. And then there was The Crisis, and you have witnessed parts of my ‘trauma of adjustment’.

As part of this adjustment, I have come to realise that the things I value, the things that define me, although not material in their own right, need serious material base. One of the things that define me is my devotion to my family – and here my renewed interest in security comes into play. Were I on my own, security and caution would have gone out of the window as quick as one can count to two. But having family - and this includes my elderly Dad and my sister, my three sons and my husband – I am going to build; I am going to build the base for us all to have security and opportunities.

Apart from that, two things I probably like best: to provide opportunities to other people and to open minds. This is why I stayed and will stay in academia – through both research and teaching I open opportunities and minds. But teaching is the way to touch the future. To expand this I shall build.

Yet another defining feature of mine is my strife for independence. This is the one that suffers most at present – although I am in one of the few occupations where people still have some discretion over their lives this is eroding quickly.

Wealth can be used to provide such wonderful opportunities to so many - and this is why I shall build.

Firewalker

elantan

i know i dont post much fire walker ... but i really love reading your diary .... you get me thinking alot ... which is always a good thing

savingwannabe

Ditto, i have had the longest day but you always inspire me too dear Firewalker. There is always tomorrow hey?

savingholmes

I think I have had to give myself permission to be successful - as a woman and as a Christian. Like you say money can be used as a blessing to others as well as for personal survival and enjoyment