Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.
I try really hard to be grateful for what I have. I started out on my own 3 years ago with only a mattress and tote to my name. I didn't even have silverware or towels. Now I have a couch, table, dresser and such. I feel guilty when I wish I had things that weren't so beat up or from second hand places. This weekend I tried to make my place look nicer by a new rug and curtains, Well ones that just looked new but I got them for a bargain after searching many stores. I had a friend over and told her to ignore how the bathroom looks because I am still working on making it look better. I only have a white shower liner hanging and a towel hanging as a curtain. She made the comment ohh thats the usual and just her tone hurt me. Awhile back my mom made me feel bad because she didn't want to stay with me because the extra room was to small and their was not a closet.. she was almost homeless so how could she be picky? I feel I can't have people over because I dont have the nicest things.... does anyone else feel bad about their home? does anyone have any affordable ideas to help decorate or add a little something to the place?
I guess I just felt kind of hurt by her and alone in this.
I guess I just felt kind of hurt by her and alone in this.
None of our furniture is new, and we have become experts at painting, mending, and creating a warm pretty environment. We get many compliments on how our home is decorated.
I highly recommend a coat of paint on the walls, it really makes a difference, plus you get to feel good about yourself for having done it. Thrift stores, and garage sales, can be an excellant source for curtains, pictures, and furniture. We too have had the mattress on the floor, I remember being thrilled when someone tossed out a good box springs, then one day a really nice bed frame was by the dumpster. Those days are long behind us now, but are a cherished memory of how we made do, and how God gave us a bed.
Material possessions come, and go, be proud of who you are on the inside. Focus more on the beautiful soul, and spirit you are. You have acquired your possessions honestly, and that counts for much.
Maybe you could make it a fun challange, start by painting a room, you can always paint, or restain end tables, and coffee tables to to together nicely. Plus it will be of a kind and uniquely you.
Hold your head up high, and do not let anyone make you feel less than the beautiful child of God that you are. Now have fun as you begin to create your home.
jokeyj-I wish I could find more people that weren't as judgmental. I am glad to know I am not the only one who gets their items from garage sales and such. I just wish more people understood what it's like to start from nothing. thank u for ur comment :D
Awhile back, I read on this group where the person said they lived, paraphrasing here, in a slum apartment. The community where I live view my apartment building as a slum dwelling. And it don't bother me in the least.
It's small... the thing with small that is great is that I can't own much because I don't have the room for it. I have nothing that is fancy.
This past spring I had a guest stay with me for a couple of weeks. They didn't mind my hodge-podge dinnerware or my apartment. The one thing they weren't comfortable with was that I only had plastic glasses... they liked glass to drink out of... so they used a large coffee mug to have their drinks. It wasn't a slam on me and I was happy that I had something that could work for them.
I still take great pride in my bed. I was flat broke when I moved in this apartment three years ago. For the first three weeks, I slept either on the couch (which came with the apartment) or on the floor. I finally came up with enough money to purchase a mattress, nothing else just the mattress. I slept on that for a month.
Then at the place where I am employed we were doing some remodeling. They redid the whole custodial area... they threw the wood away and I grabbed it all and made my bed frame from that. Then I put two inch styrofoam on top on top of the plywood base and laid my mattress on that.
Right now, I could afford a new bed and a proper frame... but why? I like what I have and that's all that matters to me.
I firmly believe that the more a person owns the more they are owned. I don't own much, nor do I really "want" anything. My needs are met and for that I am grateful.
The thing that I enjoy with not owning much is that I can do more things that I enjoy because I don't have the worries that come with ownership.
I can travel and have no fears about anything I leave here. .. there is a lot to say for not owning a lot and in no shape way or form does that make me "less then."
I have a friend who has the best of everything and it is slowly killing him. He has everything but he has no money. Every paycheck goes to paying on one thing or another. He can't afford vacations. I don't have anything... yet I have money to do things.
There is a major difference between a house and a home. He has a house... I have a home. Kick your shoes off, don't mind the dust and relax... that is heaven to me...
Growing up, my family was very poor, I knew it, and was very ashamed that I was poor.
But thank you mom for showing me how to survive, I have my own home, it does have hand me downs and I have very nice things, but they are all used, and with a lot of tlc you can have very nice things.
See if you can get some stuff at a habitat restore, or rebuild place that restores furniture, you could learn to sew new cushion covers or use the old ones as patterns to make new ones. Just some suggestions.
luv n ((hugs))