Priorities

We have only one computer, and that was never a problem before. Between Hubby and I, we would take turns and all was fine. Now that Oldest has some computer games that she likes to play, it has become sort of a struggle to give up the computer so she can play her educational games. Then as soon as she is finished, Hubby and I both scramble to claim the computer again. He usually claims it in the morning after he wakes up and feeds the cats, makes his coffee, and give the girls a drink. He gets off when I wake up about an hour and a half later so I can check my stuff online. Afternoons are for the kids to play their games, and then Hubby likes to get on again before dinner and then I have it for the rest of the night.

Hubby has started to hint for a second computer and I wish we could afford one. Another computer would be nice and no more fighting over computer time, especially when Middle is starting to get upset when Oldest won't let her play, too. Then in a couple of years, Youngest will want to get on the computer, and then it'll be 5 people vying for on-line time! Yikes! When Hubby starts working again, we have a short list of things that we need / want to get and a second computer is one of them. It's funny how we manage to get along fine with certain things and then there are other things we find we cannot do without.

When we lived at the old place, it was just an acre of land with trees on the edges of the property. We didn't need much by way of lawn tools, and bought a cheap chainsaw for minor tree cutting. We never dreamed that we would move to where we did and found that our pitiful chainsaw is a cheap excuse for a chainsaw. This is where paying for quality pays off and getting what you pay for applies. The chainsaw we have spits and struggles to saw through 10 inch logs of oak or pine, hard wood or soft, it doesn't matter. It doesn't idle when you put it down and cuts off the minute you let go of it. You cannot do any adjusting to the thingamajig unless you send it off to the factory for a fee, whereas a quality chainsaw allows you to make adjustments and repairs. We have learned our lesson. We are humbled and will do more research on future purchases in lawn tools. Living where we do, a chainsaw is a necessity, to cut up fallen trees blocking your way, to clear away rotten trees that have fallen long ago, cutting up logs for firewood, and big thick branches that need trimming and a saw just won't do. When our finances get back to the plus side again, that will be one of our first major purchases-- a chainsaw.

Number one on our list of things is a new water tank. We have well water, and a well pump and the water goes into a holding tank. When we turn on the water, the holding tank sends water to the house, either to the hot water tank or straight to the water main if it is cold water we want. The water tank is going bad and needs to be replaced. Next on the list is a new hot water heater. When we had the house inspected, the inspector warned us we would probably have to replace it in a year or two. Sure enough, almost 3 years later, the hot water tank is starting to go. We still have hot water, but it leaks and thankfully it leaks out of a relief hose and it drains into a bucket we have placed under it. It used to take about a month to fill before we had to empty it, but now it takes only a few days before it is full again.

I feel like this is all a reminder that tells us just because we may be ok financially (whenever Hubby finds a job), it doesn't mean we can go back to spend, spend, spending. I never thought that we would return to our old spending habits, though there are times I have imagined myself running to the stores and spending $400-500 easily on stuff we have gone without for so long. This tells me that we have priorities first to deal with, and then to sock some away for the next emergency and when you own your own home, there will always be some kind of emergency! A home requires continuous upkeep of all sorts of things, ranging from minor paint jobs to electrical to plumbing to roofing.

I used to hear "An unlived-in house falls apart faster than a lived-in one". I thought that was strange because if no one lives in it, then there is no wear and tear on it. But now, I understand, things happen to a home that you have no control over: bugs move in and start eating the walls for dinner; leaves fall into the gutter and decompose causing water to back up and overflow onto the eaves which cause rotten wood which weakens the roof; a small leak by the base of a toilet that goes undetected will soon weaken the sub floor and eventually causes the floor to cave in, and the list goes on.

Tomorrow we find out how the job interview went last week and we are crossing all our fingers and toes, knocking on wood and praying that there will be good news for Hubby. eBay helps, but it is no substitute for a steady income with benefits. Hopefully, the next time I write, there will be positive news!