DREAMS

A blog that I follow and receive e-mails from had some things for thought about following your dreams.
The writer of the blog asked the question "If you knew that tomorrow you could not fail, what would you put on your drawing board today?"  Then she went on to ask "What's holding you back?  Fear? Time? Money?"

Interesting questions to ask yourself.  I think that I will spend some time today while on the train trip from NC back to MD mulling these questions.  I'm not totally sure what I would put on the drawing board today if I knew I would not fail, but I don't even have to think about what would hold me back.  Probably all of the above; fear, time and money.  I definitely have a strong fear of failure.  Time is definitely a factor when combined to energy levels.  Then there is the money issue.  There is truth that we find both time and money for what is really important to us.  I have seen that in my life if I am honest about it.  So I guess it comes down to the fear factor.  What did Mary have to say about fear?  "If your fear of a negative outcome is keeping you from even trying, you will never succeed."

So I  have lots to think about today.  Is my fear of failure to keep me in the future from even attempting to make my dreams come true.  Can I step out in faith and go into a new tomorrow confident in my dreams?

Oh, the Blog I follow and got these thoughts from is Laying Some Tracks
Mary Hunt always has great tips for living life to the fullest yet within your means.  Check you her web site Debt Proof Living.

DPL OLYMPIC REPORT

I guess I never reported on the results of my Debt Proof Living Olympic challenge. I did pretty well. Maybe not a gold medal, but I think a silver one. The only craft supply I purchased during the Olympic time frame was one stamp pad. I did better on the food. I did stick to only purchasing perishables. The freezer was looking pretty empty after the two weeks, but it is full again. I will be working it back down again. I've decided I like shopping only twice a month for the non-perishable products; stocking up on a big trip than working it down over the next few weeks.

Where I fell down was on items not listed on my no spending challenge. I did find several pairs of shoes on sale that I got for the fall. I hadn't gotten any new shoes in about a year and a half and it was time, but that did involve spending money. So that is why I'm only giving myself a silver. I probably could have done without them, but they are walking shoes and they sure are comfortable. My feet are enjoying them.

So what will be my next challenge???? I will think of something. Any suggestions?

BREAK FROM FAIR NEWS

Just a little break from the pictures and news of the fair....though I do have more. I thought I would report on how I am doing with the DPL Olympic Challenge. There are only a few days left. Fortunately I have been so busy with first the fair and then catching up with everything at home and work that I didn't get done while at the fair that I haven't really had time to do much shopping. Using food from the freezer and pantry has been pretty easy. I have both a big freezer and a big pantry. I have been to the store but only for perishables like bread, fruit and dairy products. I am really liking this way of shopping. I may just try doing one major shopping trip a month where I stock up on meats, fish and chicken and canned and frozen foods. Being sure to get a good selection and then throughout the month I can just shop out of my own freezer. Though I don't get to take advantage of all the sales doing this I think I still will save money because I am not good at shopping sales anyway and I always buy more than I need each trip if I am in store too long. If I only go in to get two or three things when I get the perishables it would be a quick in and out! I'll have to think on this. I actually think I can go another week before I begin scraping the bottom of the barrel on choices.

As for my craft purchases. I have only gotten a spectrum ink pad for this weekends VSN challenges. That's it since August 8 and I am working hard to actually go till September. Then I have a few things I've really been wanting from Papertrey Ink and that will be my September purchases till the end of the month when I go to my ffirst stamp show....all bets are off then, but I will work to be good. I just don't know what to expect anfd I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

So that is how my Olympic challenges have been going. Not totally spending free but pretty darn close.

DPL DAY 5

So far so good....having this challenge has saved me from making unthoughtout purchases multiple times already. Grocery shopping as planned has only been for perishables such as dairy, bread and produce items. All main entree items are coming from freezer and or pantry. Of course after 17 days of eating out of the freezer there probably will be a major restocking trip necessary, but that is good as it will mean that I will have new stuff in my freezer and maybe I can just plan to do this once a month. I think I spend more wisely when doing one major trip rather than multiple smaller ones.

Also, though I have been tempted in the area of craft spending (Creative Memories has a wonderfully tempting booth at the county fair) I remind myself to flex my saving muscles and have been able to resist. Of course I have been drooling over the new SU catalog that is out, but I have not and will not place an order till sometime in September and hopefully by then some of the "I really need that set!" will have worn off.......

So with this have I saved and money for the savings account...I do have two checks that will make there way there on Friday. That feels real good. So on to the next few days....and hopefully keeping up the good work...........

I am starting a new line of thought here for the next few weeks. Mary Hunt, the author of Everyday Cheapskate which is a daily e-mail I receive that gives hints and help on living a debt free life, is having a DPL or Debt Proof Living Olympics beginning on Aug 8. It will run during the Olympic games in Beijing. I have signed on for this challenge of stretching my fiscal muscles and will be chronicling my efforts here.

If you are interested in learning how to live within your financial means and/or receive help on getting out of debt check out Mary's Blog.

Here are my goals as written when I signed up for the DPL:
"Count me in….I commit to now craft spending for 17 days, Lord help me!, and no groceries except for perishables. Everything else comes out of pantry. I will use this time to take stock of what I already have and use it. I will also journal my endeavors on my BLOG Life Out My Window. I am also going to resist the urge to run out and stock up now. If I find I need it I can still get it till Friday, but no stocking up in advance. I think that would defeat the purpose. At least for me."

So I guess on Friday I will be saying with new meaning.....Let the games begin!