Today, I would like to unabashedly declare my love for Pinterest, a social networking site that allows you to create virtual pinboards and follow other pinners. I am relatively new to the Pinterest scene, but I adore it for two key reasons:
1) There are limitless frugal ideas for meals, DIY projects, home decorating, lesson plans and classroom organization, etc. Whenever I feel like I'm in a rut--using the same blah lessons, rotating the same five meal ideas, staring at my stark white, blank walls--I hop onto Pinterest for inspiration. Just recently, I tried an artichoke pasta recipe that my friend had pinned. The dish was created with 6-7 ingredients. It was light and healthy, savory and cheap!
2) I can use Pinterest as a tool for motivation. I have to admit, spring seems to be my season for impulse purchases. The sunny, crisp Texas weather cries for flowy cotton dresses and wedges. Spring Break makes me want to hop a plane to a beach somewhere in the Caribbean. But seeing the things I have pinned on my own boards makes me think long and hard about my long-term goals vs. my immediate wants. For example, I have one board filled with my 2012 financial goals, and one board filled with places I long to see one day. Looking at these boards cause me to reconsider the cute shoes I just HAVE to have--or at least to wait until they are on clearance.
Despite the controversy about copyright infringement and the copious amounts of time I spend on there, I still love Pinterest and cannot wait to copy some of the apartment and culinary projects when I have more free time this summer.
You Turn:
Are there any websites-social networking or otherwise--that keep you inspired and motivated to stick with your financial goals?
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Future
So, financially, February has started with quite a bang. I've been well under budget in my entertainment and grocery categories, I've picked up an extra babysitting job (more later on my side gigs), tax preparation cost less than thought, and I've been randomly finding $1 and $5 bills on the streets. I feel proud and more in control of my financial destiny than usual.
February has been significant in another way, as well. My beloved C. and I have been moving away from speaking about the future in conditional, hypothetical terms. We're discussing and planning for concrete future events, such as buying "our" first house and putting "our" children through college. (gulp!) Our weekends consist in large part of hunting for our first place together and browsing online through endless pages of plates, furniture and duvet covers.
I worry about continuing the financial momentum and strides that I've made these first two months. But it's these sweet conversations with C. that help me keep things in perspective. Turning down a lavish restaurant meal or walking straight past a rack of new clothes may feel like sacrifices in the short-term, but intense, focused saving and debt reduction will greatly improve our financial picture for the long-term.
Your Turn: What keeps you motivated to save and spend your money wisely? How do you achieve a balance between satisfying the things you want and need now, and preparing for your future?
February has been significant in another way, as well. My beloved C. and I have been moving away from speaking about the future in conditional, hypothetical terms. We're discussing and planning for concrete future events, such as buying "our" first house and putting "our" children through college. (gulp!) Our weekends consist in large part of hunting for our first place together and browsing online through endless pages of plates, furniture and duvet covers.
I worry about continuing the financial momentum and strides that I've made these first two months. But it's these sweet conversations with C. that help me keep things in perspective. Turning down a lavish restaurant meal or walking straight past a rack of new clothes may feel like sacrifices in the short-term, but intense, focused saving and debt reduction will greatly improve our financial picture for the long-term.
Your Turn: What keeps you motivated to save and spend your money wisely? How do you achieve a balance between satisfying the things you want and need now, and preparing for your future?
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