Its hard to find the balance between valuing time and money. Especially growing up menno styles, if you had the physical capabilities to do something, even if you had NO time or desire, and even if you COULD afford to hire it, it felt shameful to do so. Or to buy something you could possibly otherwise make yourself. I understand where this came from, don’t get me wrong, but its something Brady and I have nitpicked over the years. When do you pay for convenience? How much is our time actually worth?? While this is not exactly the same situation, its in the same arena. Go with me.

In my quest to purge our house, we’ve even looked into getting a dumpster dropped off for a few days to fill with our junk. I don’t want to load the landfills or be reckless but I HATE having so much stuff cluttering my house!!

My next move is to look into donating a bunch of our furniture thats kicking around that we don’t want anymore. I know there are some companies that do that, and I do believe I have enough to offer to get myself on that list. But also.

There is SO much, I really should try to sell some of it 😕

But then I have to SELL some of it! 😩 And I’d really rather not have all the fuss and hassle that comes with that!

Being that we are not swimming in money and could use a little, selling would be smartest in that way. But also, is the hassle worth the money? Or do we “pay” for the convenience of not selling things this time? Ugh.

The list of items to get rid of is long, and the list of jobs to do is creeping up there as well. At least some of the jobs are fun. The list of furniture to purchase that will actually work for us is small by design, but it does exist. I want this place to work better. And its going to happen. I’ve worked in the pantry for a couple of days here and there now, and its starting to improve. Hopefully the whole place keeps improving.

Talk to me, friends. What would you do in my position?

I hope to have many a wiener roast here this year 💜 Help us brainstorm a way to have a patio! That’s a very real dream.

I have a follower.

Just the one. But not the kind you want, so its better that way.

Well. Had.

Yesterday, I delivered things to Value Village, and then popped in for a few things. As I walked the store, I noticed a guy near me. He caught my eye, but I didn’t linger and kept on moving. I find more stores have a general order of operations, and at VV, I tend to hit things in the same order. This guy showed up in most of the same spots. Maybe he just had the same process as me.

As I found my way towards the end of my store, I didn’t like that this guy was still right near me. Every time I looked up, we made direct eye contact. I didn’t really want him to approach me, and I didn’t want to give him the chance to follow me out or approach me outside the store. I really prefer to believe the best in people and not always be suspicious of everyone, but I’ve also learned to be on high alert in many of the neighbourhoods I frequent for some of my fostering endeavours.

So rather than panic or even really worry, I changed course and went from near the tills to the complete opposite end of the store.

And that stinking guy FOLLOWED ME!!! 🤬 Didn’t care for that. So once I perused a little and was sure he had followed me, I went back towards the front of the store where there were more employees as well as the security guard, chose a rack, and just stayed there. I looked at that same rack of tshirts for so darn long. Finally, there was a quick turn, the guy went to the till, paid, and took off. He left SO abruptly, I might’ve even said he was annoyed. And GOOD!!! Ugh. I gave him a few minutes before I went and paid, and left myself. Straight to my vehicle. Driver door unlocked, hopped in, locked behind.

TO BE CLEAR! I was parked SO close to the doors. If I had a longer walk, I would’ve asked the security guard to walk with me. But I watched my surroundings really closely and was safe. I did not see that man again. But goodness. I really strongly disliked that.

Same Value Village that asked us to leave because one of my children was pushing a cart, not at all recklessly.

*sigh* I love thrifting, and that is easily my most convenient location considering my usual timeline and location. Don’t do me dirty, VV!

And don’t do me dirty, skeevy shopper creeper man! Don’t follow women through stores!!! It only makes you look super yucky and everyone around you feel unsafe! Don’t!!

For real.