Dad we need more DVDs ...!!!!!

This morning I was still half asleep after a thunder storm, my daughter had been waken up and was stirring in her cot, and my middle son was going through our collection of movies on DVD. It was around 6:00 am, and I was getting into the mindset of organising myself a good strong cup of joe.

Well, I didn't really need a jolt this morning - what my son said to his father while going through our dvd movie collection gave it to me instead!!!

"Dad, we need more dvds ... we can put them here ..."

I can't remember his father's response, needless to say I called out to him (and I recanted to myself quickly Maslow's hierarchy of needs!!) and I needed to give him an explanation between wants and needs.

"Darling, a movie is not something we need. We need food, clothing and shelter to survive," he looked taken aback as I continued, "we also need love."

My son protested: "but Mum, we need entertainment ..."

"Well, we can create our own entertainment, we can go down to the library and get books and dvds for free, but we don't need those things to survive!"

And thus was my day, an opportunity to reflect upon the things that we need, and the things that we would like to have - or the wants in our life.

I know that I am guilty of it too! The other day I was in the baby store picking up my cousin's change pad (a gift for her baby shower) and a bright pink shiny new pram caught my eye. I walked over to it, and eyed it off. I was delighted by the very much pinkness of it, it was indeed very cute. And so, guilty as charged (LOL) I asked the lady to put it on hold for me.

After a discussion with my husband though (and rather sheepishly going back to the store) I asked the ladies down at the baby store to take it off old. It wasn't fair to them I said to hold off stock off the floor when it wasn't on my affordable list right now.

Well, this week, I had been kind of thrown a couple of whammies in the budget to factor in - the hot water booster has been not working for a couple of weeks (I am so very glad I paid a lot of money for a hot water system that is solar, and very reliable as it heats up above the ambient temperature because it was a top of the line system) as I can still get a warm shower out of it. Admittedly, I burned myself the other week because I had been in the shower with it on very hot, and I had for too many years had super hot showers. So ... consequences. Might as well laugh, but for the time being, we are on hot water restrictions and the showers are very short.

The electrical system will need to be replaced throughout the house also. So thus, I am sorting out what is really needed in our home, and what is just a want.

The boys want this, the boys want that, Dad would like this, and I am definitely one of those who likes the nice new shiny things. But guess what - our income only allows for the things that are really important. We have to get the needs really well catered for in our budget, and have the fun stuff occasionally, or reasonably factored in.

Oh, I forgot to add - we also in my house need to laugh - my little family had a rough start in life, and Mumma likes to laugh these days.

But I want to do so affordably. I am learning that it isn't the stuff that gives the joy, and the real laughter, it is the people with whom you have the experience.

So, I have been tracking my expenses to see where the money has been going, and I want to have a good high class quality of life for my children, but one that focuses on where the real high class stuff is - in good values, in getting quality things that last and are looked after, and where the laughter, love and joy are oh so very real.

Oh, and I will be organising that family meeting, so we can all sit down and discuss the above.

Signing off :D