Reality Check

OK - I know I live in fantasy land most of the time totally oblivious to most things happening around me, living as if the world is mine to do with as I please. Not only the world but my household as well. Well, I was rudely shaken out of my peaceful existence Monday when Jim stayed home and did our taxes. This time of year he is always grumpy, spouting off how the kids are not worth what they used to be, how I don't keep good records, NEVER get receipts for donations and we just generally go around trying not to "poke the bear". I never really took into account Jim's salary (never really knew what he earned), just getting $$ I need when I need it and wondering why I couldn't afford the big purchases when I wanted to make them. Shock set in when I saw the tax return for myself. As I said before, I live oblivious to most things happening and Jim always takes care of that kind of thing, but he made a point of showing it to me this year while fussing about how much "Uncle Sam" takes. I began to wonder how on earth Jim makes more $$ than he has ever in his life (not millionaire status by any means but we should be living comfortably), and it seems I'm always down to my last dime. I looked around our house (not anything spectacular and certainly not finished) and realized the amount of money that we have put into this place, 4 kids all walking around in Hollister or Aeropostale shod in Converse shoes, talking on their cell phones,the Wii, PS2, PS3, computers, iPods,digital cameras, and my closet brimming over with Coach & Dooney handbags. Not to mention the Gucci and Louis Vuitton acquired on our Vegas trips. NO WONDER!!!! This does not include the groceries and gas that teenagers (along with their many friends) consume. So now MOM IS ON A CRUSADE!!!! - The first thing I did was shut off HBO (taking baby steps) and guess what??? Nobody noticed. Makes me wonder how many other things around here could change without notice. I think I will experiment and see just how the natives will react to more cutbacks. This should be interesting and challenging to see just how much spending I can cut. Somehow, I don't think anyone will become TOO ill from my new venture, but I will keep the smelling salts handy for the big girls when they find themselves on a gas and play money budget. I'll keep you updated on our progress and any fainting spells the kids have adjusting to their new "lifestyle".