Free Entertainment

Who say's great entertainment must cost a fortune? I went to the greatest art museum tonight for Free. It was a once a year gala and my boys even got to attend. It was the annual Walden Progression Art Program. All of the boys entered the competition and each one came home with at least one award.

 Jimmy took 2nd in his age group for photography. He also go the Silver Award for Progression. It was a great thing for him. He took a picture of a pipe over the river that was reflected just right. He entered it under the name of "reflections".

Cole won 2nd place in 2D art for his age group. He got the Bronze Award for Progression. He drew and colored a picture of a dragon. Then placed it on tin foil. Named it  "Silver Dragon"

 Byron got the Silver Award for Progression for his 2D art. he did a pencil drawing of a bird with four angry birds as well.

Kanyon won Honorable Mentions for his Photo of Oreo the Bunny. He also go the Silver Award of Progress. The name of his Photo was "Oreo Bunny".













So for free we got lots of great entertainment. It was open to anyone who wanted to come and support Walden's kids.  Yep budget friendly, family friendly, and sanity friendly what else could have I asked for.

I am so glad I could support my kids in this great endeavor.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has officially sprung here on the little farm we call home. Rabbits are having bunnies, Chickens are flying and trying to eat every bug they can gobble up, and Hubby and I have cabin fever.
I got the cleaning bug not to long ago. I have started to organize the homestead. Decorating is not far behind.
So far the inside has been done wonderfully.

 To get this much organization done with in my home is a small miracle  Almost the whole house is done now. My bedroom, Dining room, Front room, Kitchen (Including inside cupboards), laundry room, and family room have all been done.
That leaves the really hard rooms: Mud/ Storage room. And garage. neither of which I or the boys have had time to tackle just yet. But it is coming quickly.

 The bookshelf alone took us 3 hours to get straightened and done. But we are slowly chipping away at the cleaner side of life.
With the baby here now we have had the challenge of cleaning around the bigger :"toys" if you will. the Swing, port-a-crib, bouncer ect. They are easy to move but harder to keep looking nice if company happens to come over.

With my office in place I can keep up on bills , calling, family things that needs to happen. the best part of this whole thing is my phone. Jimmy had a birthday party and one of the boys needed to make a phone call.He picked up the phone and looked at me and asked. "Mrs.Myers how do you turn this on?" Then proceeded to figure out how to dial. I laugh to myself thinking of how cool I thought this phone was when Krik gave it me.

Look closely you can see even Baby Lykota helped out today. 

 The boys and I have been busy also getting the yard ready for our garden this year. Can't wait to get it in. Krik could not either. He went out a got himself 50 tomato plants today. .

Jimmy and I worked on getting the row's cleaned out so we can plant tomorrow. He would have helped but he had a minor heart attack on Sunday so he is under doctors orders not to do that kind of work for at least a week of not two

The boys are so excited to have the garden going in. Kanyon has asked to plant: Pea's, watermelon, and tomatoes. Byron asked for : cantaloupe  potatoes, and pumpkins. Cole asked for : Lettuce, carrots, and egg plant. Jimmy asked for: Romina tomatoes, jalapeno, and green peppers. We are planting all this plus squash a variety of sorts, onions, spices such as thyme, basil, cilantro, ect..
I love the fact I have such space I can plant as much of something as I need and as little of stuff as I don't want.

The last little bit I have gotten into cooking homemade from scratch meals. Breads, muffins, stews you name it I am trying it. For Jimmy's birthday party to save $ we had it at our house. The kids got to watch movies and make their own pizza's from scratch. I prepared the pizza dough ahead of time and they topped it. then we cooked it.

This was so much fun for the kids. they enjoyed doing it so much. I think they enjoyed eating them just as much.

 They munched down and had a wonderful time at his party. Jimmy turned 14 years old this year. He has grown up so fast.

yep they watched old tv show's classic Doctor Who and Star Trek Voyager. Yep I am raising Treky's. Love it too.

 Byron had his blue and gold banquet for Cub Scouts this month as well. He had to make a cake for dessert that night. He decided to make a tie dye cake from scratch. He made a white cake and colored it. Baked it and frosted it. Loved it too.

he worked hard on this. Letting it cool was hard for him because he wanted to frost it so fast afterward. He made chocolate frosting and it was a white and chocolate cake. I must say for his first time making a cake it tasted yummy.










 He won best inside surprise cake for the night.

Colorful it was and loved it we did.












Well as the summer wheres on I will keep you all apprised of how my simple life ride is going. Cooking is just a fun start to saving money. I even made homemade bread bowls to serve my stew in on Easter.

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Harvest

So it has been a while since I last wrote. I found myself busy with a harvest that has been non-stop over this summer. Update to the family life we have a new member his name is Coffee Myers.  He is a Chocolate Lab/American Bulldog mix and great dog. He loves the kids and is for the most part a calm addition to the family.
Pictures to come.....

The harvest time has been great this year. Our family has produced quite the garden.

This is the way we water the garden 

And the produce we have gotten has been wonderful. It has really helped add fresh fruits and vegi's to our diets. Also I am learning to can/bottle or freeze our produce as well. We put up 58 qt jars of stewed tomatoes over this weekend. (And people wonder why I don't have time to write here.)

Golden Delicious Apples 

Apple a day keeps the doc. away

Grapes off our Grape Vine. 

Punpkin anyone?

Honey Dew this and Honey Dew that. 

Sleepy squash likes to hide. 

Krik taught Jimmy how to can  these. All that hard work outside pays off right here inside. 

We are still harvesting but as of tonight I am writing on here to let you all know I have not yet fallen off the wagon.
We still have chickens.

Little Red Hen

Goldy 

And with the Hens it brings forth the fruit of Eggs. Yeah we are getting about 5-6 a day right now. They lay regularly and are all doing well.

As of date we have enough eggs to supply us for a while with.

We also still have our bunny's and cat!

I know living like this is more then most people can handle but I am enjoying it to the maximum right now. Krik has been the one to really keep up on the farm life. I have been so tired and pregnant that I have not felt like much of a help in all of this but I know he has been.  Thanks sweets for giving me my simple life.

I will keep you all posted on the next adventure we have in bottling vegis soon. 

Fire Season is here.

I live in a state where Fire Season has begun way to early. Usually we don't get our first forest fire until mid June in Utah. However, the conditions were right this year to start an awful season off.  As I have watched this season unfold I have seen destruction, devastation, heroism, and kindness unfold right before my very eyes.
Each one of us has been touched in some way by the fires burning around the western US. Each of us have wondered what if that was me.  What if that was my home that I had to leave. What if that was my city I had to abandon for  a week. What if that was my family that must live in an evacuation shelter because I had no where else to go.
Then you start asking your self, What can I do to prepare? What can I do to help those who have lost everything? Am I really ready if that was to happen here?
I use to tell myself that I did not need to worry about fires because I live in the middle of a City. Not a town or village.  That thought process has changed over night.
Colorado Springs, CO has been totally evacuated due to a huge wild fire burning through the town. It is not a town or small village it is the 2nd largest city in Colorado. I live in the 2nd largest city in Utah. that could very well be me. With a population of 32,000 people that city is roughly the same size and the city I currently live in.
Now that hits very very close to home for me.
I started to look at this blog and think what can I do to be more prepared. It doesn't have to be elaborate!!! It can be made very SIMPLE.
Step #1 :
Ask your self do I have a 72 hour Kit? What should I have in this Kit? Where should I store this Kit?   Honest answer: I don't have a 72 hour kit. I need one.
I am building mine now.

I need to start with something to hold it in. I should be able to pick up and carry it to my car in the case of an evacuation.  I think I will start with a  heavy duty reusable grocery type bag. It has handles and is very durable. It can also store easy in my front room closet right by the front door.  So here is my check list now.  (Remember I have a family of 6 so I need to make sure all 6 of us will be taken care of for three full days.) 

• 3 Days Food/Water supple for each person in Household. (remember you won't be able to cook or refrigerate most generally.) 
• 36 granola or protein bars
• trail mix or dried fruits
• Approx 18 each: canned tuna/ soups/ meats 
• 3 Lg cans juice
• 6 Gallons of Water (1 Gallon of water  Per Person)
• Bedding and Clothing 
•  2 Change of Clothing (short and long  sleeve shirts, pants, socks, jackets, etc.) 
•  3 pr Undergarments each person
•  6 Rain Coat /Poncho 
•  Sleeping Bags for each person and Emergency Heat Blankets 
•  Cloth Sheet 
•  Tarp to roll out and sleep on.
• Fuel & Light 
• 6  Battery Lighting (Flashlights, Lamps) 
•  Extra Batteries - make sure the batteries fit the flash lights. You don't want AA when you need C. 
•  Flares
•  Candles 
•  Lighter 
•  Water-Proof Matches
• Equipment 
•  Can Opener 
•  1 for each person Dishes/Utensils 
•  Shovel  (I have a fold up shovel that fits well inside the bag.)
•  Radio (with  batteries!) 
•  Pen and Paper 
•  Axe 
•  Pocket Knife 
•  Rope 
•  Duct Tape 
• Personal Supplies & Medication 
•  First Aid Supplies 
• See First Aid Kit Supply List below
•  Toiletries 
• roll of toilet paper—remove center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag, 
• feminine hygiene
• 2folding brush
• 3travel size toothpaste
• 6travel size toothbrush
• 1 plastic mirror
• 2 Bar Soap (baggie to store open soap in)
• 1 travel size Hand Sanitizer per person
• 6 travel Size Shampoo
•  Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children’s medication, etc.) 
•  Prescription Medication (for 3 days) 
• Personal Documents and Money 
• (Place these items in a water-proof container!) 
•  Scriptures (miniature ones are lighter) 
•  Genealogy Records 
•  Patriarchal Blessing 
•  Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts) 
•  Vaccination Papers 
•  Insurance Policies 
•  Cash  (you will want this in case you need to make emergency purchases.) 
•  Credit Card 
•  Pre-Paid Phone Cards ( during 
• Miscellaneous 
•  Bag or Bags to put 72 hour kit items in (such as duffel bags or hiking back packs, which work great)  (I am putting each persons items in gallon size zip-lock bags to keep them from getting wet and keeping them dry . Items such as clothing,  books, legal docs ect.)
•  Infant Needs (if applicable) 

72 Hour First Aid Kit

• Standard First Aid Kit Supplies* 
•  Container (metal, wood, or plastic) with a fitted cover to store first aid kit 
•  First Aid Booklet (including CPR) 
•  Prescribed Medications  (3 day supply)
•  Any critical medical family histories 
•  Adhesive 
•  Ammonia 
•  Bicarbonate of soda 
•  Calamine lotion (sunburn/insect bites) 
•  Diarrhea remedy 
•  Elastic bandages 
•  Gauze bandages 
•  Hot-water bottle 
•  Hydrogen peroxide 
•  Ipecac syrup (induces vomiting) 
•  Knife 
•  Matches 
•  Measuring cup 
•  Medicine dropper 
•  Needles 
•  Paper bags 
•  Razor blades 
•  Rubbing alcohol 
•  Safety pins 
•  Scissors 
•  Soap 
•  Thermometer 
•  Triangular bandages 
•  Tweezers 
•  Prescriptions 
•  Consecrated oil 
• Additional First Aid Kit Supplies 
•  Immunization records 
•  Medications for children (if applicable) 
•  Fever reducing medications such as: -aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen  
•  Allergy medication 
•  Antibacterial wipes 
•  Antibiotic ointment 
•  Antiseptic wipes 
•  Band-aids 
•  Burn ointment/spray 
•  Cotton balls 
•  Cough syrup/cough drops 
•  Disposable blanket 
•  Eye drops/eye wash 
•  Feminine Hygiene 
•  Gloves 
•  Hand sanitizer 
•  Hot and cold instant packs 
•  Hydrocortisone cream 
•  Lip ointment (chap stick) 
•  Medical tape (waterproof & regular) 
•  Nail clippers 
•  Needle and thread 
•  Snake bite kit 
•  Sterile strips 
•  Sunscreen/lotion 
•  Tourniquet kit 
•  Vaseline 
•  Water purification tablets

Ok so I now have a good list of what my family needs.  In order to afford all the new stuff I need I can start by looking at what I already have. Most of us have tuna , canned soup and other canned items. You can coupon for these items or buy one extra item each time you go to the store until you have your kit fully stocked.

If you nee to make purchase's on shovels, lighters, and other equipment you may want to yard sale or freecycle.org to find these items. 

I think the only things you might need to pay full price for would be the 1st aid items.  If you watch for sales and pick up things slowly over time you will be able to afford to get this together so much easier. 

I hope this helps anyone not ready for a disaster out with a basic plan. 

Remember in School you had fire drills? You would go to a designated meeting area so you knew everyone was accounted for. Well the next question is does your family have one of those in case of a disaster when you are not all together? 

In Utah yesterday, June 29th the Rose Canyon Fire started by the city of Hereman. People did not have time to grab even their 72 hour kits to get out of their homes. This was an extremely fast moving fire and it was on peoples door step's literally before they could get out. It started while people were at work and not home as well.  In this case if you are work and you come home to an evacuation order how are you going to find your family? Where is the meeting place? Who is going to pick up the children from daycare/school and where are you going to meet? This is a family plan every person in the home should know. IT should be practiced as well. That way in case this ever happens to you , you are ready and not wondering what did that plan say again?!

I suggest writing it down. Putting it under your visor in your car or in the glove box to keep it with you at all times.  This way you know exactly the plan with out needing to go home to remember. 

Ok, so I know this is a lot of stuff for such a short time. I think it is IMPORTANT for every family to be simply prepared. I don't have all the answers. And I am just starting my own journey in this arena. If you have suggestions please comment to help all the readers of this blog be better educated and better prepared. 

http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/first_aid_kit.htm is the link I got my 72 hour kit and 1st aid kit information from. You may want to search online for other ideas to be better prepared. 

Communication is the Key!

Once in a while life throws all of us curve balls. I think I have a few in the last week.
It is our jobs as adults to handle the curves with grace, compassion, and sustainability for the future. This week has been one of those weeks. Sustainability is my main goal. However, I am trying hard to use grace, compassion and tack to accomplish this hard task.

If I was honest with you and myself, I really want to scream out THIS ISN'T FAIR! WHY ME! WOE'S ME!
But knowing that is not the best tactic to tackles this particular situation I am using another tactic from my arsenal of self preservation. Kill them with Kindness.

Here is the situation I and my family is in in our Little House in Orem.

In the last 6 weeks I have blogged and posted we have got a cow for the food table next year. That plan has been interrupted, changed and damaged in all possible ways with one fail swoop. We are renting our little house. I would love to say we are purchasing this home one day. And this is the goal and plan. However, for the time being we are dealing with a landlord. This has been okay until the last 5 days or so.

Before we bought Cow, we spoke with our landlord about putting a cow in the pasture for the summer and winter. As we spoke he never once stated it could be a problem. Fast forward 3 weeks and 4 times of talking with him about the subject of the us getting a cow.
We have a brand new baby cow. We milk feed this cow for 5.5 weeks. Now it is time to put to pasture.
The same week she is ready for pasture their are horses put in the pasture. OK now the questions start.
We ask the landlord if he told the person who owns the horses that Cow would be put to pasture next week. Our landlord back tracks and says I will.
Three days later the women who owns the horses comes to water the horses. My husband tells her Cow is ready for pasture and we will be putting her in the next day.
The next day comes and we go to put Cow in the pasture and their are pad locks on the gates not allowing us to do this.
To frustrate this problem further when we call the land lord to ask for the key he tells my husband the pasture can not be used for our cow because the horse people lease it from him. (When we moved in the landlord did not specify that the pasture was not ours to rent. Remember we spoke of this with him 4 times before purchasing the calf. And when we did the walk through to rent this house he stated it included the pasture.)
Now their is a problem with this situation even further. I have a cow ready for pasture and no pasture to put her in. The horse people are using my water to water their horses. I am not happy about this situation. My husband exchanges words with the horse people because they are not taking care of the horses poop (and with the pad locks on the gates we can't either, Which we had been doing for them because I could not see these wild mares living in hoof deep waste and not having much room for feed due to that fact. My husband had been hauling out the horse manure as a favor to the horses.)Now they are putting the manure in the way of our irrigation water. Thus complicating things even more.

I am a God fearing women. I believe when asked God will present answers to difficult situations. I prayed on this situation. I got my answer. Though I really don't like it. But I know it is the right answer.

I put Cow up for sale. With in 5 hours she was sold. She leaves our home tonight. I am so sad yet happy she is going to someone who can give her the room she needs to roam and be a cow.

Now I must find the grace to move past this mishap with the horse people and landlord and try to be collected when I speak with them. This  is more difficult to do then I thought. I don't know my husband will be able to. He is so mad about the situation that he gets red in the face just thinking about it. Let alone talking about it. I get mad but I am trying to move past the anger. Letting go of anger has never been a strong suit for me. However, I know I must to move forward.

I am frustrated and yet sad at the same time. If find myself thinking this situation did not have to even happen. If your landlord would have just spoke up and said he leased the property to the horses and we could not use the pasture we would have never gotten Cow in the first place. We might have questioned him on why he said the pasture was ours. But the horse people would not have had to even be involved with the situation because we could have dealt with our land lord directly.

Communication is so very important in any situation you have. I am finding that honesty and openness is commodities I do not find  very often. As a result of this situation I am working hard on my own faults in communication area. I hope you can do the same in your life. The most wonderful thing about this is it is a skill. It can be practiced. Practice makes perfect.

Cat, Chicks, and Cows oh my!!!!

Well the last month has flown by me. I have not written here for a while and for that I apologize. This life of simplistic beauty has taken time, energy and effort that I have poured my heart and soul into.
I have had busy busy schedules for the last while and now summer is here it has only gotten busier.
On the up side I feel that living this kind of lifestyle is very very satisfying.

For starters Jimmy my oldest decied to build a fire pit for us to have campfires around. He dug it, and built it. It is just the right size.

All the brothers chipped in to help too. It has been a great fire pit and he did a wonderful job on it. Loving it.






The next thing we got was a few fun new animals on our farm. We have 11 chickens now and 1 cow and a cat.  The chickens give us farm fresh eggs. The cow is still a baby but will give us meat for the winter  months. The cat keeps all the other critters in line. He really is a true farm cat.

Cow and Kanyon

I will upload more pictures of the finished corral in the morning. However, this is what it started as. 

Then it turned in a wonder place for Chickens and Cow to hang out all day. 

Satisfying as animals are they are a lot of work. The chickens lay eggs each day and they get gathered. The cow needs to be feed both morning and night. And their hay needs to be changed every other day or so.  The old hay gets burned in our fire pit and spread onto our garden spot that Krik has put up for us. 

Today we planted 12 tomato plants. Tomorrow through this week we will put in 1 honey dew plant, 2 yellow squash plants, 4 cucumbers plants, 2 jalapeno pepper plants, 1 bannana pepper plant, 2 red pepper plants, 2 green pepper plants, and a hot mexican pepper plant. Seeds we will put in pumpkins, carrots, lettuce (2 different kinds), radishes, green beans, spinach, and then dill and parsley.  Thus my garden is complete. 

I will keep you all updated. 

NEWS FLASH! our little family on the farm will be growing by one coming this winter. Yep, I am pregnant and expecting (his, hers and ours) our 8th child.  As we move closer to the due date I will post more. 

My hubby has kindly asked me to add this last little bit. 

To all your husbands out their whose wives may think they want this satisfyingly simple life, it will kill a husband will all the honey do lists. :) 

I have no idea what he is talking about.  

Just an update

So it has been a few days and I am doing well enough. I can't seem to wait for spring to be here. I have planned so much this spring getting our new home ready to be simplified. I would love to down size the amout of boxes sitting in our mud room and garage. I am going through each box one by one and donating them, puting them away, or trashing them. It has been hard becuase sometimes I really want it but I know there is no reason to hand on to the 5th broken electric razor. Or the electrical cord that has been cut in half.I have a hard time letting go of stuff.
My husband on the other hand, if it is broken trash it. If we are not going to use it donated it. If you might needed and can articulate how keep it. AHHh enough to drive me crazy.


This weekend I am hoping to finish getting my house somewhat put together with the hubby and boys. I want to hang pictures, and make it feel like a real home. Now I have absolutely no decorating talent at all but it will reflect my style. (if you have seen my style you should be scared!)


Sometimes I think just having things accomplished (even if it is just one thing) make you feel good.
Accomplishments make everyone feel as though they are worth something. I know my accomplishments are minor vs others but that is the great thing about accomplishments. They are ours. We own them. No one can take them away from us, no matter how hard they try. We have done them. We put our time, sweat, tears and fears into something that worked out. We can live with them or learn from them and move forward. 

My Accomplishments this week have been many, I was to work on time each day, I was to work everyday, I said I love you to my children each day, I said I love you to my husband each day. These accomplishments are just a few of what has been happening this week.

What grand accomplishments have you had this week?

Why I am going to be Frugal !!!

Calvin Coolidge once said "Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character."

Character is something I need right now. I often look towards too long haul and miss the short stick right in front of me.

This being said; I started to think what is right in front of me? Why am I so overwhelmed with money and other stuff.

My misconception is that being frugal equals being cheap. Not having anything at all.

The answer: I am not being frugal with in my soul. I must think and live frugal in order to feel the peace and freedom of being frugal.

Henry David Thoreau said “We make ourselves rich by making our wants few.”

I want to much!. I want nice things that cost a lot of money. I have not been satisfied with basics lately. I must revert back to the basics to find the peace I felt before.

I just paid for a car outright. I have the title it is mine. It is not new, free of dings, or able to seat my family of 6.  What it is however is: dependable, reliable, and gets me around with good gas mileage and it is MINE. It gets me to my job and to the grocery store. By all accounts it is BASIC.

Thus I have made myself richer by this want but yet living in peace because I don't have to put money out monthly on it.

I am trying to simplify me whole life right now. I know spring is right around the corner. Even with the snow we got this week, I feel the need to start changing my behavior.

George A. Sheehan  said "Anything that changes your values changes your behavior." I must say my values have changed and for the better. My value on money is less. My value on blessings is more. I am straightening out my priorities. Money is not even in the top 5.

My new priority list is:

1- My Families welfare. Do we have enough to eat, a place to sleep, and cloths for our backs. If so I have succeeded. Amy Dacyczyn said "Frugality without creativity is deprivation." Creativity is right up my alley.

2- My Marriage Strong. Are we happy together. Are we showing the boys that being happy with each other even when we don't agree or times are tough? If so I have succeeded. Benjamin Franklin said it best "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship" This can be applied to anything in life.  

3- My attitude. Do I have a positive attitude? Am I showing that attitude outwardly? Is so I have succeeded.  It was Frank Hubbard who said "The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket." Thus my attitude will only double my ability to see peace and comfort if I double my money this way.



 4-My spiritual Needs. Am I spiritually filled. Am I being of service to others? Am I teaching my children Gods Love for them? if so I have succeeded.

5- Back to the basics. Am I striving to have peace and comfort in my life? Do I have the right mind set when
making purchases and paying things on time? Have I the basics to survive? If so I have succeeded. Mies van der Rohe said "Less is more." This was never more true than today!








Robert Louis Stevenson said "Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." And that is where I will begin. Right here, where I am at today.

I START TODAY!!! Keep you posted.

Using all your resources

So as I sit here wondering what great thing to write about today I start to think I need to keep writing this blog for me. I hope it helps everyone else out there in the world. But even if it don't it really is helping me. I must live my this simple life I created for myself.

Live on with in a budget.
Live by my conviction that simple is better.
Live with my decision to create a great live style for myself and family.

With the wedding I lived with the KISS rule. I lived with in my budget. I did not stray out of that realm of things. I was able to because I was able to settle for non-perfection.
I was able to think outside the box. I was able to have a party!

In real life I live this same way.

I think outside of the proverbial box. I try to keep it simple stupid and when problems arise I find myself asking how do I fix this. If there is a way I would fix it before buying new.
However, in the last few months I have have to admit to myself and everyone else this car breaking down thing really threw me.

I found myself saying I need a new car!!!!! I don't care how much, what the cost and I need it NOW!
That was in December after the van left me for the 5th time.
As I wrote before it left us with a broken water pump and radiator. After fixing those things we found the head gasket and thermostat and timing housing cover all had problems. I could not get to go more then 10 miles then it would overheat. I rode the bus and took rides to get to and from work. I think God was testing me to see if I would really go against my principles and lifestyle and go into debt with out thinking about it to get transportation.
I did not!!!!
With the help of my supportive husband I waited out the storm. I used my brain power and kept a cool head. I test drove many cars. I walked away from the lot three times before I found the one I actually thought would do for your needs. My husband told me that we would not buy anything with out sleeping on it. Then it happened. I went to the lot and was going to buy a Jetta. I was going to put down money and get a loan for the rest. The loan would have been at 25% interest due to my lack of credit. I did not care. I was ready to sign papers. Krik told me right then and there "Come on we are going home." OK but why? I was able to make the payments what was his problem. I was tired of looking and waiting for a car. The van was completely broken. It was in the shop and we had rode the bus to the car lot! We are going to pay cash for the car we get. I had agreed to this before even going and looking. I went to work the next morning discouraged. I had test drove so many cars. All with in our price range I needed to be happy with one of them. Krik was pressing me the whole night for which one under our price range I liked best. I deiced it was a toss up between waiting for a Jetta in our range or the Kia Sportage. It was fun little crossover. It would give me great gas mileage and I would be able to drive it in the snow easily.

Well when I got home on Tuesday night I was told I needed to go up the auto dealership and look at a car with him. As we pulled on the lot the Kia had been moved to the detailing area and the stickers were removed. I felt very sick. I knew it had been sold. I did not see another Jetta on the lot so I figured it was not either of my first two picks. I could settle for anything at this point.
Surprise!!!

Yes I got a "new" used car on Tuesday. But I did not go into debt to get it and it is fully paid off.
My hubby paid cash for it. It was the 2002 Kia Sportage. He bought it and I had to sign for it. Tell them where to send the title (which actually sounds very good to me) and then I got to drive it off the lot. I like it a lot.
I am glad I waited. I was able to get a car that I like with out a payment or going into debt! This felt so good. Better then I thought it would actually.

I hope what ever your going through out there you can learn to discipline yourselves like my hubby has. I am learning how to be disciplined and I see now that it can really pay off.