My list of "wants"

[mich]

We have been struggling financially since last fall. Life is the barest of needs only. At first it was a lot of survival instincts that kicked in and not spending was easy. Now things are slowly improving and I am really struggling with fighting off "want" purchases.

What we really need to to rebuild our saving account that we wiped out over the last year. Wants pop in my head and I push them out, but they just keep coming back! So here is my list, I am releasing it to the universe. Go and leave me in peace! In a few years we can talk...

Klean Kanteens with sleeves for the whole family.
A new (used) larger dining room table.
Dog bone and collar.

and the big ones...

2005 Honda Odyssey, EXL with dvd.
Trip to Disney World.

Anyone else want to join me?

[SeekingJoy]

I have been stuggling with this for a little more than a month, so I can join. My weakness has been in wanting to fix up our house and make it a more comfortable refuge for the family. Maybe if I write it all down, I can either identify more frugal alternatives or let go of these wants.

* couch pillows - comfy, down, soft, machine washable covers and good for nursing
* sport tops for DD and DS' KK so they can drink on their own
* a pair of jeans that fits (darn baby weight that is still here two years later)
* some t-shirts and maybe a dress so I can stop feeling like such a slob in my stained, stretched out clothes (one of those oldnavyweekly coupons would be REALLY nice for this)

Then there are some bigger things I dream about, but are so unrealistic!
* built-in bookshelves in the bedroom with a bench/builtin cedar chest for storage
* tile back splash in the kitchen
* bathroom renovation

[scrapadoozer]

Universe, this one's for you!

*More clothes & shoes for the children. (Trust me, they have plenty!)
*A larger SD card for my digital camera. (It can wait until after I make sure I have enough for the cc payment.)
*More cute diaper covers (I have all that I need already!)
*A matching dining room set that is more our style.
*An embroidery machine.
*Fabric (I could never buy fabric again and have enough for the rest of my days.)

My big one:
A three bedroom, two bathroom house. (We won't need that 3rd bedroom for at least two years. I can wait.)

[JamieCatheryn]

I've had to cross off the budget or refrain from planning to get a lot of stuff.

Patio Table and Chairs
Crown Molding
Train Table
Wood Bookshelves
Sandals for DS
Tennis Shoes for me
Queen Sheets and Blanket
Paint for bathroom
Skirts for me
Couch pillows
Rug and upholstery cleaning
Beds for DS1 and guest bedroom mattress sets
2 small dressers for the boys
New dresser for DH and me
Nightstands for master BR
Supplements to get my energy level and mood in order
Materials for a nice crown canopy for my bed
Nice chairs for the front porch
The dog DH keeps begging for

[time4another]

What I need: DH to stop whining to me about having no $ when he's the one who went on 3 carribean vacations in the course of a year.

What I really want:
90 minute massages on a regular basis
new flooring for the entire upstairs, the bathrooms and the kitchen that will *last*
an eliptical trainer
to paint the white walls
a patio that DH installs himself

That feels better

[nerdymom]

ahh just the thread I need!

Universe, I give you my desires...

-2 sturdy baking sheets
-1 large sturdy cooling rack
-kitchen scale
-wooden rolling pin
-large stoneware mixing bowls
-shelving to convert a coat closet into a pantry
-a couch, any couch, for our living area
-a table to set up my sewing area
-membership to a CSA

[HisBeautifulWife]

No debt.

[Norasmomma]

I'll join in:

Leather furniture to replace our couches that were my parents when I graduated HS. They are nice, but ugh I can't stand them. Plus I could just wipe them down and not have to worry about baby pee.

A cell phone booster-so we could get rid of our landline and save money.

A patio for our backyard(we're close on this)

Finish our floor in the dining room.

Pine bunkbeds for the kiddos

A 13 foot pro rafting set up, lifejackets, paddles, coolers(we could be possibly getting this within the year)

[mich]

An eliptical trainer, I had forgotten that one. I spent weeks dreaming and looking on craigslist for that "want".

I also want to add a new Tivo to my list. Ours is acting up, freezing up and missing shows. Hold on my dear Tivo friend!

[cristina47454]

NAK, but boy can I relate. Drovw an hour to the mall yesterday to discover I had forgotten my bank card...talk about the universe saving me from myself!

What I wanted to buy:

Lands End shoes for my 7yo dd
Tankini for 7 yo dd
Capris for 5 yo dd
Bathing suit for 9 mo dd
Rash guard for dh
Sandals for me
Tshirts for me
Earrings for me
Swim aid for 5 yo dd
Dance shoes for 7yo dd
Ooh, and Target's garden furniture and accessories at 70% off made me drool!....

That would have been the damage just YESTERDAY. Instead we tried Lands End stuff on for size. Maybe my mom will treat the girls.

My saving grace is that I live so far from shopping! Not likely to make that drive again anytime soon!

[Kaitnbugsmom]

What I Need-

$ for advertising and a new massage chair. My current one is serviceable but not the easiest to adjust.

A small car in decent condition for dh to commute to and from school {and a possible part-time job}

A job to come along either for Dh or myself {or both, if we can match schedules so someone is always home with the kids} to supplement dh's living stipend & my child support.

What I Want-

*3 Bedroom 2 bath house with CA & basement in our dream community. And a job to cover the mortgage & living expenses until dh graduates.

*2009 Yaris Sedan in my driveway on DD3's 8th birthday. {aged out of carseats. She's almost 3/4 the way there height wise and 1/2 the weight}

*Bikes for all of us, and a trailer for my bike, and a couple tagalong for dh's so we can cut back on our car useage. We have a decent bike/pedestrian pathway system here, and a near perfect one in the community we dream of moving to. With a trailer even after the little one ages/sizes out of it, I can put groceries and such in it.

[AndrewsMother]

~ A new bedroom set from Ethan Allen, well all new furniture.

~ liposuction on my thighs and hips and a tummy tuck

~ A patio home

~ 2010 Acura RL

~ My family to remain healthy

~ to accomplish all of our educational and career goals

~ to be able to travel every other month

~ A new dress every weekend for church with new acessories and new shoes

~ for DH to wash and detial my car once a week

~ to have enough for my family so that I can give generously to those that don't.

[emski4379]

We're in the same boat:

Cable-I miss some of my shows, especially So You Think You Can Dance
New flooring throughout the entire house. Would love hardwoods.
A new wardrobe for me (i.e. clothes that FIT)
Dentist-I need a couple of fillings and a crown, and DS needs to go as well
CSA membership
Being able to shop more at Whole Foods
1/4 cow
Playset for the kids
Eliptical trainer
New sneakers

Big one:
I would love to just move to a bigger house. We are overcrowded in our small house.

Travel-I would love to have the money to travel more often. Particularly outside of the country.

[BetsyS]

I keep a running dream list, too. Sometimes it even happens (we got a new pop-up camper this year!)

a couch (my old one is threadbare, but I can't find one I love)
a freezer and a side of beef
shelves for my canning in the basement
a new pair of shoes for myself that I love as much as the worn out Birks
jeans that fit and flatter me
the perfect haircut
more time to do all my projects
a flat backyard
a pool membership
money to travel to see all our family frequently

And the big one... no student loan debt

[AllisonK]

Kind if an odd want as its not really material but I really want DH to be accepted into the Navy and ODS.

[kirstenb]

New quality furniture for DS's room
New quality furniture for the baby
Patio furniture for our little deck
A chest freezer
Buying organic meat

And my big one- a house

[goldingoddess]

Originally Posted by HisBeautifulWife

No debt.

I was ready to write out a list, and when I saw this post it put everything back in perspective. When it comes down to it there is nothing I want more than to be out of $33,000 in debt. Granted it is all SL.

OK, I'm going to write a list anyways.

-own a house that I can plant a huge vegetable garden in and have chickens.
-a new bicycle (I've had mine since my older sister was 14)
-a kitchen table and chairs
-a kitchen-aid (this is probably number one)
-a pressure cooker
-to be able to feed my dogs grass-fed beef
-to be able to go the chiropractor
-a newer car, my '92 Subaru can no longer be driven 'out-of-town'
-fabric, loads and loads of fabric

[seeing_stars]

Ooh, I have a long list of things that I'd love to afford!

New couches, ours are so very sad looking right now
Bike trailer so that I can ride my bike
Baby hammock for a place for DS to nap that is out of the way of the other kids
A couple more Bravado nursing tanks
Bedroom furniture for DH and I
Second car so DH and I don't have to share

Someday...

[Stone Fence]

Weekly acupuncture.

[Krystal323]

a house--preferrably paid-for.

or an RV + land so we could live on it while we build!

I also want to get rid of my tiny Cavalier in favor of a VW Bus that I can plaster w/stickers

anything else is gravy.

....well, I really am in need of new shoes.... :