My recent health scare really got hubby and I discussing our future and what WE want to do in the next few years. We have talked the last few years of wanting to really change our lifestyle to something completely different for us - I'm from a small, small town outside of the city and my hubby is from one of the more remote suburbs. We have very much enjoyed living in that suburb and raising our son here. It has a small town feel and everyone knows everyone. But we hatched a dream a few years ago of one day when DS was done high school, selling our suburban home and moving into a downtown (or close to downtown) urban condo where we could walk to live theatre, restaurants, coffee houses, funky stores, ballet, opera, symphony, art galleries and all that downtown living can provide. We would very much like to experience the culture that our city offers.

Once MIL moved in with us, that dream got not only pushed aside, but pretty much disappeared altogether. It has now been revived and we've decided that as selfish as it may seem to others, we want to grasp our dream sooner rather than later because you just never know what is around the corner.

We've contacted my SIL, who is MIL's Power of Attorney and is supposed to be helping MIL find assisted living, and basically said "get a move on"! MIL has been with us a year now and isn't even on a waiting list yet. She is smoking more than ever although it is outside for now but we all know what happens when winter comes. We have also put off any vacations since early last summer because we cannot leave MIL on her own. And to be perfectly honest, there's just too much "togetherness", you know? Absolutely NO privacy for hubby and I and we feel like our lives are on hold. We're both still very glad we have been able to help MIL but it was never meant as a permanent solution.

We are pushing for MIL to find another living situation and we are looking at finding our urban condo within the next two years. As a result, I will be going on a very strict shopping budget.

I have really enjoyed buying a lot over the past two years but it's time to slow things down and shift priorities. A desire for new lifestyle and a renewed partnership with my hubby is now taking precedent and I will be working on paying off the last of our debts and saving some serious cash. From this point forward, there will be no online ordering of any kind (not even eBay) and anything purchased will need to be from a local brick & mortar store, paid in cash. I have actually cut up my credit card (took it out of the freezer) and cancelled the number with the bank. As well, purchases will have to fall into the need category, not the want category. I've gone through my fall/winter wardrobe and I'm very well off for footwear, handbags, outerwear and blazers, including leather jackets. The only thing I can see needing is maybe some work trousers and a few blouses, all of which I can find locally and probably on sale.

So wish me luck (and maybe hold my hand a little along the way?) - I'm excited to start a new phase of my life