At the end of the month, I want to be honest with you in an update about how my goals to live more simply have been going. Success or fail, this is my September update…
This month was the beginning of school (we all know that first week is all about working out the kinks and getting back into the rhythm of things). It was also the beginning of Little League for three of my kids.
It’s been a struggle to keep to spending goals because of a lot of unexpected expenses for gear and extras that really felt like necessities (camp chairs because those 6 hours in the bleachers were killing me!).
But watching my kids try something new gave me the opportunity to sit back, let someone else coach, and just be their cheerleader.
Oh, and there was the new car…
So, with that in mind, here is my September update on the goals I succeeded at or struggled with this month.
UPDATE: My Year of Simple – September
[Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see below for more details]
No Spend Year
My September update on spending includes a replacement vehicle, baseball equipment, and one patio set I promise I had a good reason for getting!
- New (to me) car – After selling our van, we spent much of last month searching for one that fit our needs. But more importantly, one that didn’t exceed the cash we got for the original. I didn’t want to make payments or dip into our savings, so the field was small. But we finally found a Toyota Highlander that was just under our budget, leaving money for minor repairs. I’m so thankful my husband made this happen!
- Baseball equipment – This wasn’t planned back in January. But we were able to make it work and find some good deals. Now the trick is to not overspend on snacks, wagons, chairs, bags, etc. Somehow, when you’re hauling Gatorade to drop off with the Team Mom, a collapsible wagon seems like a need more than a want…
- Buying a patio set – This was unplanned, but I had been looking for a high-quality set that fit our family and could be delivered since 2020. It wasn’t in the spirit of my No Spend Year plan, but I know it will get much love and use by our family.
Simplifying the Clutter
I have been out of the house so much because of this Little League thing (to all the moms who warned me, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you!), so I have decluttered very little. However, I did do some cleanup in September:
- We decluttered 1,550 items so far – No change. Does the patio set and baseball stuff count as a negative? Ouch.
- Cleaning up the backyard – Because we found a turtle and wanted to give him a safe space to roam, we cleaned up the backyard finally. Plus, we are spending more time out there as the weather improves. AND we now have a table to eat on out there!
- Organizing my reading area – Yeah, this was getting messy and out of control. With a small free bookcase, I organized the area. And any books that I wasn’t truly excited to read (or that fit on the shelves), I returned/donated. (This offsets the patio set, right…?)
Less Micromanaging
I have been able to give my kids more authority in some ways, but in others I am still trying to manage them, to the frustration of all. Here’s my September update on how that’s been affecting things…
- Letting go – It’s hard for me to see how the kids are changing, especially now that they spend so much time with teammates and coaches. Letting go and allowing others to guide them is hard, but I am ceding control where I can.
- The kids are now in charge of their own schedules – I won’t lie, I am still reminding. It’s my native tongue. But I gave each kid their own schedule so they know when they have games, appointments, and assignments to do. It helps that they are so excited that they are ready on time without much input from me. Mostly.
- Not molding my kids into mini-mes – I think parents always want their kids to be like better versions of themselves, deep down. But I am seeing more each day how they are not like me in more than a few areas. Honoring that, meeting them there, and accepting it is harder than I want to admit. But also something I must do, for their sake and mine.
Living a Life of Less Hurry
This September update includes how I’ve become more open to going out (safely), learning to live without service on my phone sometimes, and becoming a work-at-home mom who doesn’t work at home.
- Getting out more – With the pandemic, this has to be undertaken with some caution, but I am trying to be more open to excursions and events with my family. Parks, walks, outdoor movie nights, and other ways that we can socialize safely after a year of only our own company.
- No service – My phone plan limits my data and there is no wi-fi at these baseball fields I spend time at. This was at first really upsetting (no email checks?! no working?! no scrolling?!), but then I saw the blessing in it. Focusing on the kids, meeting other parents, and just enjoying the summer/fall evenings is so much better.
- Not working at home – I haven’t done any work at home this month. None. By using the library and Starbucks as my “office,” I can shut down my laptop when I’m home. This is so much less stressful and allows me to be there for my family without work to-dos constantly stealing my attention. This has helped incredibly.
How are your 2021 goals going? Have you been making progress or have life’s ups and downs affected things? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media! #thejourneyathome
Interested in more posts on goals and simple living? Check out some of these:
How to Save Money as a Dedicated Book Lover
Inspirational Monday: God Provides so We Can be Content
How to Meet Your Children’s Needs in a Large Family
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
Leave a Reply