Being Content with What You Have

The majority of the time I am content with my life and don't usually want for anything. I'm normally a happy person and it shows in my interactions with others. 
We may not drive a fancy car or have the latest technology, but that doesn't bother me. I am content with what I have. 
Some days when I think about the things we want or need I often realize how fortunate we are to have what we already have. Some people have so much less than we do and would consider what we have to be a blessing. 
Some people have more than we do, like my sister. But you know what? I'm happy for her because I know she doesn't have to struggle for money. That gives me peace inside because I don't have to worry about her. I know her and her family are doing well. 
I have an uncle who struggles with alcoholism and homelessness. That is a lifestyle he has chosen. Yes, we worry about him but we can't live his life for him. He has to want to make some serious changes in his life.
My elderly grandmother told my Dad one time that she wished she had enough money to help her children when they had financial struggles. She worried and prayed for her children her whole life. So you can see that it is indeed a blessing when we have family that we don't have to worry about in that way. 
Some people struggle financially because they make poor choices. Spending money on things we want instead of making sure we have what we need is a recipe for financial struggles. 
The first thing I do when I get paid is pay all of my bills including insurance in case we lose something. A large percentage of my bill money goes to Insurance. This gives me peace of mind and helps me sleep at night, which is one of the reasons I feel content. 
You can adjust your wants and desires to fit your lifestyle. I enjoy staying home and enjoying what we have here. I do enjoy eating out, but I also enjoy a simple home cooked meal like a baked potato or beans. 
It doesn't take much to make me content, it's something I've come to appreciate over the years. 
I don't shop much, except for groceries, as I don't need the latest and greatest things I could buy in a store. 
In fact, when we do venture into a mall, about once a year, I often wonder if the people there are putting the things in their bags on a credit card. 
I remember Amy Dacyczyn writing in The Tightwad Gazette that reporters would get bored with their lifestyle of hanging laundry in the attic to dry and instead should film them zooming by McDonalds without stopping for food. 
We are not that prudent that we wouldn't stop at a fast food place if we needed to, but it's a mental attitude that I understand. 
Amy Dacyczyn was content with her life and didn't feel the need to eat food outside her home. Her choices made her the millionaire she is today. 
Just some food for thought on this Monday morning. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Belinda ~ Living within our Means ~