Somethings I Wish I Knew Then {Medical Mondays}

Linking up for Medical Mondays!

Finishing up residency I remember having a conversation with Doc about money. We were wondering how life would change with a "real" salary. We made it just fine on a resident's salary but a big jump was a comin'! I wish I knew then that it is human nature to spend what you earn. We bought a big old house and began refurbishing it, we had 3 more children for a total of 4, and we started seriously paying off our school loans.

If I had it to do over again, I don't know that we would have done much different...I loved that house and my sweet neighbors, even more. We paid off significant debt. And well, that last baby was a surprise but our family wouldn't be complete without her! However, I think maybe we would have socked away more into a rainy day fund that could have been a great start to college savings funds, retirement, etc.

I wish I knew then that the more you have, the more responsibilities weigh. If you have a lot of stuff, it is just more stuff to take care of. When we moved from our first real house (that was 7 bedrooms) into our 2nd (which had half the square footage), we sold A LOT of stuff.

Then, we moved again into a home that has about half the square footage of the 2nd house. I have to say, there has come much freedom in less stuff. My kids aren't as chaotic with less toys. They play outside more. I feel less harried. Our entire house can be cleaned up in about an hour on a really messy day. Freedom.

We have more time to focus on the priorities of life and getting rid of the clutter is a big part of that. It gets to be a bit addictive...in fact, I better get going on my job today...cleaning out toys to make room for the new Christmas toys that came into our home over the holidays! What an opportunity to teach my kids about giving to others and priorities! 

Wishing you all many blessings (and a clutter free new year!)

 DW