Poverty Climb: Weekly Progress #7

Please excuse the lack of posts this last couple weeks, I've been sick with a toothache that happened to actually be a sinus infection, that turned into a respiratory infection. I'm still a little under the weather, but feeling better!

I am feeling cautiously triumphant. February has been a good month. We got our tax return, and for two precious, gleeful weeks, we got to live like people without money problems.
We got to have a little fun, AND pay bills, and pay off debt, and buy some things we need, some things we wanted,etc. etc., all at the same time. No precarious balancing, no suffering in one area to meet a need in another. No sleepless midnight conversations about how-in-the-hell-are-we-going-to-make-it.

There has been lots of progress (for once!!)

*Paid off $600 bank debt (thus keeping it from damaging credit).
*Paid off $285 bank debt (thus keeping it from damaging credit).
*Paid ALL of our bills, everything past due and current. That was at least $1200!
*Replaced the money we spent in our savings account, and added another $100.
*Bought a second vehicle. Hooray! Hopefully this allows us a few more financial (and fun) opportunities.
*Put all new tires on our first vehicle (they were very bad).
*Bought some clothes we all needed, mostly pants and socks.
*Bought groceries like it was the end of the world. Stocked the pantry completely (flour, canned goods, rice). Bought some healthy foods (mushrooms, lettuce, fruit) and others we haven't had the opportunity to have much of (fish, meat, sauces, cheese, etc.). There of course were a few treats too.
*Bought some of our individual hobby related items. With 6 more inches of snow last night and no sign of spring, we will have plenty of time to fill with hobbies. And while some of it was expensive, it will be our entertainment and stimulation for a long while!


Of course, it's all gone now, and I know that very soon I'll be missing this very badly as I scrimp to make dinner for my family again. I will treasure, and miss, that precious time spent with my family, smiles on all our faces, because we had so little stress. That is what I want, that is what I strive for - not the money itself, but the happy moments that you are allowed when your family in thriving. It's so much harder to manufacture those when you are struggling.
I am deliriously happy that we used the majority of the money to improve our circumstances, but in hind-sight, I can't help wondering what we might have done to improve them even more. Like I dunno, buy stock? Start a Roth IRA? Use it to start a business of some kind? I really have no idea what people who are used to money do to grow theirs, but I've heard all these terms and wonder if we should have done something else. We have some really big dreams for a low income family, and really we only fulfilled our little dreams - more food, more comforts, less debt, more security, a second vehicle. I just really hope those are the giant stepping stones to thriving that we hope they are!