They always come first.

My kids, this is who I am talking about. I put them and their needs and wants before anything else.

I decided to blog about this today because I recently noticed I have many things that are worn out, falling apart and in dyer need of replacing. But because I always put my kids first I never spend money on myself. Never! OK, not never but very rare and it usually isn’t something for my joy but something out of necessity. For example, my broken steam mop, I was lost with out it so I broke down and bought myself a new one. A mop doesn’t exactly bring the feeling of glamour to a gal.

I don’t buy new things like shoes or purses too often.

Tennis shoes…. New October 2007 thanks to my best friend Vicki who replaced the same tennis shoes that were really worn out. Funny thing, I would probably still be wearing those tennis shoes had she not bought the new ones for my birthday in 07.

My purse…. Christmas 2006 or 2007 (not sure)… bottom line is it is old and worn out. The strap is on its last leg and inside pretty worn out and yucky looking. Case in point just the other day I had a chicken nugget in it. Isn’t being a mother wonderful? Current condition of my purse is boarder-line bag lady. Seriously!

My leather gloves…. Old, at least 5 years old, maybe older… these were a Christmas gift and the fingers have holes in them. It is actually very embarrassing but they serve their purpose. Plus winter is almost over and I will make myself put them in the trash so next winter I have to buy a new pair.

My sun glasses are missing a screw but still holding on so I keep wearing them.

I don’t want you all to think I am this ratty person but I think you are getting the idea. I just don’t do for myself. I make money and spend it on the kids. They have new things out of necessity as they have out grown or wear things out. If it wasn’t for holiday’s I probably would never have new clothes, case in point all the things I listed above were all gifts.

Any time I do plan to splurge on myself something unexpected will occur and take my “mad” money away. Then when I really do have the extra money I can’t decide how I should spend it and then I struggle with spending it or I splurge it on the kids. I guess because I have so many things I would like to have I don’t know what I want/need more.

Right now I guess I am feeling worn out, literally. It seems everything I own is worn out and I could use new. I just can’t decide what is priority, necessity and/or where to even begin. It is so rare I give to myself that it isn’t easy for me to do.

My question for all of you, do you buy what you want when you want it? Do you treat yourself on occasion? Do you budget for things you want? Do you spend more on the kids than yourself?