Ok, so Thankful Tuesday isn't really a thing...whatever! I just couldn't think of a good title, so that's what my brain thought of first. Maybe it could become a thing, we'll see! I'm sure there is already a Thankful Tuesday thing somewhere -- but I digress...
Before I had kids I was a very selfish teenager who wasted money on shit I didn't need. (Hey, I'm being very frank...) I would literally get everything I wanted without even thinking twice about it, wasting a hard earned paycheck before I even saw the money. In fact, when I was 18 I made the mistake of getting a credit card and blowing the $5,000 credit limit rather quickly. I still regret that decision, realizing it was the beginning of my debt snowball.
I remember going to college in Philadelphia and shopping with my friends on South Street & at King of Prussia mall almost everyday. We bought clothes, purses, DVDs, CDs, concert tickets, makeup and everything else we didn't need because we were independent and had no parents to tell us "no". I never felt any guilt because I was replacing something that was missing in my life with these material things. I never set a limit for myself, but what teenager does.
At age 19 I got pregnant with my oldest daughter and everything changed. The second I found out I was pregnant, after freaking out, I decided that I had to grow up and not spend so much money on myself. I realized that I would have to care for another human life aside from my own and spend my money on raising this child. I always say it was an overnight transformation, and it really was. Once the realization hit that I was having a child, I changed my ways and grew up. I opened a savings account and started to save money for when she came, I applied for a credit card and used that towards furniture and necessities for her, I got a job and did everything I could to divvy up my money properly and felt amazing for doing that.
Once she was born I devoted myself to Alayna and made sure she had everything that she needed. When I would go shopping I would look at things I loved and wanted, but then I would put them back. Knowing that I had other responsibilities made me feel great that I was able to do that.
Now that I am 28 years old and a mother of 2 beautiful little girls, I splurge occasionally on myself but buy my kids everything they need first and foremost. I am a little more lenient with myself and spending however if my girls need something I will put my own wants aside and spend the extra money on them. My girls are my life and I am extremely thankful to them and for them. If I didn't have my babies I probably would be in much more debt than I am in now due to irresponsibility. Because of them I know how to sacrifice in order to make them happy and have them well cared for.
I love you, girls!
