Archive for January 30th, 2012
Budget
My 1951 Websters ( unabridged addition) states that the origin of budget means a bag or a pouch. My Merriam-Webster (11th addition) calls bouge, a leather bag.
Of the various definitions from both above-mentioned resources, I chose the following: a ‘Plan of affairs’ and ‘…an amount available for a particular use’. Additionally, I added ‘energy budget’ to create a working definition to help guide me through some upcoming stellar events; a family wedding; a family re-union; and a few family mile-stone birthdays.
I fantasized briefly about having more than adequate monies, time and energy available so I could just sail through all these events with a kind of joyful abandon. Then BOOM, reality blows my fantasy away. I need a budget. Relishing having unlimited funds to spend on travel, dress, decorations, gifts, catering, hired help and various other accoutrement evaporated into thin air. The full scope of the challenge before me began to take root in my psyche, my body and my purse. How many ways can I stretch a couple thousand dollars to do a ten-thousand dollar job?
I will have a budget. I will comparison shop; I will invite good planing; I will accept my limitations; I will invite team-work; I will have a plan of affairs; I will allocate time, energy and funds befitting each event; and I will pace myself to the best of my ability. Most importantly, I will focus with joyful abandon on how rich I truly am!