We Don't Have the Money to Get What You Are Used to Having

Getting used to our budget is the name of the game. Each day is a new conversation and a new adjustment in expectation.

When Sharon first moved in with us this is what she would have for breakfast: bowl of cereal (bowl filled to nearly the brim with milk (about two cups of milk I'd guess) and then some cereal that ominously floated around in the milk as if the cereal was individual little flotation devices), a glass of orange juice (full to the brim - about 2 cups) AND a glass of milk (full to the brim - about two cups). What?! Okay, I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but COME ON!

Aside from the fact that she is already drinking more than her fair share of dairy intake for the whole day at one meal...Orange juice is expensive and milk isn't any cheaper. Um, we aren't buying orange juice anymore (not to say what it does to her breath anyway - oy, that's a whole 'nother topic) and, um, I think that we are limiting everyone on glasses of milk because we can't afford to be running through milk so quickly. Oh, and while we are at it, you really don't need so much milk in your bowl for your cereal.

The great thing is that she accepts the suggestions very graciously and just says, Okay. The hard thing is that we have to reinforce the message a few times before it sinks in. And, I have to have a conversation with my husband as well because she watches what he has and tries to match what he is eating (my husband is 6' and 300 pounds ... his sister is 4'11" and 190....we all need to lose weight, but you get my point here).

But to the point of the topic of brand name shopping. I just can't do it anymore and haven't for many years now. And it is understandable that Sharon would relate certain products with certain brands, but when it isn't in our budget to brand shop then it just isn't -- and that even relates to female products. I have my preferred as well, but it just isn't happening anymore.

I know I have said this before, but it is worth saying again. We knew this was going to be hard, but we had no idea that it would be this hard. There are SO MANY little things and so many questions and behaviors that we didn't anticipate.

My most recent realization (because I am a bit behind on my realizations :) is that the visiting Sharon (and all of us as well to be fair) is not the same as the living with Sharon (and all of us as well to be fair :).