Got on-line during my lunch hour. The internet and impulse spending are each other's evil twin.

Vitaminlife $64.97 and Amazon $35.58. Way too easy, but when compared with prices locally, I am saving money on items that we use regularly. I also keep a lengthy list until I can wait no more in order to save on shipping. This always makes the purchase seem like a big hit. The last time I ordered from them was a month ago. That is also getting better. I'm also striving to use up what I already have on hand before purchasing. That's also going very well. Sorting through lots of fluff while running out of necessities.

Onto better things. DH went to the library last night and checked out a copy Overspent Americans. (One of the results of my search using thirft in the subject line.) Very interesting read. The author has done extensive research into the psychology of how keeping up with the Joneses has changed over the years. Its no longer the Jonses that are tempting us.

The second half is about downsizing. So totally grooving on that section. I'm ready to retire next week! With not even five years at current job and tender age of 37, its going to be a while, but I'm really ready. Could also be allergies making me want to curl up in a ball for the rest of eternity and sleeeeeeeep until I am wrinkled and gray with age.

House remodeling is moving along quite nicely. We hope to have three major rooms tiled by the end of the summer. This means they will be totally done/functional and usable!!! It also means we can start with the final unpack and fully determining how much or how little furniture and decor we want to have. Since we moved in, we've been getting rid of things by the van load. Granted, some of it is things like interior doors and bathroom vanites from the remodel, but lots of other knicky knackies and just stuff that we hauled from the mid-west are gone. I love uncluttering!!

In the remodel boxes have been shuffled from one room to the next, either until I get to them to sort out or until we start looking for something we need. We originally moved it down here in case we needed it and didnt know how or where to find it. But lots of it we are either outgrowing or just dont need. (Snow suits, long underwear and turtlenecks for example.

Also, a lot of the clutter was from our apartment. I found that I did a lot of decorating (translate purchasing and acquiring) in our apt to cover up some of the design elements I didnt like or the fact that the walls were an ugly, smoker yellow. Now that we are in our own place, no more covering up. We can actually fix whatever offends us!!! We also have a lot of space and I am going to use that as a design element. I really dont see us spending a lot of money on things to fill the house. DH likes to go to furniture stores and drool over the leather couches. I cant get out of the place fast enough. We have a couch!!! All four legs work very nicely, thank you. Don't go changing what's not broken; it doesnt need fixing...whatever, but point still made.

In the back of my mind, I would rather have the luxury of downsizing/retiring early and lounging about the house late into the morning in my pjs. Rather than have a house full of furniture that keeps me tied to the grind. Not to mention, I will be the one who gets to dust!!

Gotta go. Spanish test that I havent studied for looms close on my horizon - in 15 minutes. yo no estudie.