I couldn’t have said it better…

I like to read a blog called Get Rich Slowly. It’s part of a set of personal finance blogs (PF blogs) that I have feeds for and read every day in my quest to save money and become more responsible. This particular article is a guest post by someone named Amanda, who is a tech writer in Colorado, and I have enjoyed several of her articles. I have tried in many ways to explain the way my life has changed since having children, but I think she has said it better here.

Once upon a time, my husband and I made almost $100,000 a year, had a mortgage payment of $900 a month for a house in a nice neighborhood, drove two new cars, had two cell phones, a full cable package, nice computer, went to a fancy gym with a sauna, ate out all the time, etc. etc. etc. Once upon a time, I had infinite free time and remodeled our kitchen for $2000, increasing the value of our starter home by $12,000.

Then came kids.

. . .

Two and a half years later:

* We have one car.
* I ride my bike to work.
* I use the free gym at work.
* I use the free banking at work.
* We have only basic cable.
* We drink only water.
* I bring my lunch.
* Our family eats out only when it fits in our budget.

We pay cash for everything, we plan all of our purchases, and we, strangely, have far more cash saved than we ever did when we made significantly more. Even stranger, I am happier now, with my costly kids and leftover lunches, than I ever was burning through money.