Despite having savings for the house renovation, the price of the appliances and furniture were overwhelming.
We started out humbly. I remembered my children having to sleep on sleeping bags because there was practically nothing in the house.
I recalled eating whatever we could find in the fridge to 'cook' using the air fryer and rice cooker.
Purchasing things slowly by the end of the month, a few items at a time, to avoid using any form of loan has been a practice for us.
It was tough. Extremely tough. But we made a promise to not use any form of loan to get these things. And we held on to that promise.
In addition to the accumulating number of money spent, Eid is around the corner.
This time, no new bags or shoes for me or Idros. We only bought the traditional family colour themed outfit for the kids and ourselves. We prioritised the kids' items. We got them new shoes and additional outfits for visiting. Eid is definitly not about purchasing expensive things. Many misconceptions arises whenever we talk about Eid. The main reason why new outfits are purchased (especially for growing children as they can't fit into their old ones) is because of visiting purposes. I rarely purchase new clothes for them. I can't get them to wear their PJs for visiting.
We only bought 5 different types of Raya cookies and that was it. The tupperware container for these cookies was purchased as a gift from Idros' aunt.
The furnishings for the house is a never-ending episode on its own. That is why we do not have the capacity to splurge on unimportant stuff.
We recently bought the kids' 3 in 1 bed, a single bed with a pull-out trundle and mattres underneath it for $700+.
Our box divan base for our queen sized mattress (our old mattress) $200+.
The living room curtains and blinds for the rooms and service yard, $1000+.
Partially see-through (so it will not be too warm in the kitchen) blinds for the service yard.
curtains and day curtains.
And other furnishings like carpet, coffee table cum magazine rack, bookshelves and kids armchair.
Nothing comes in cheap.
But these are far more important than getting ourselves luxurious shoes or bags.
We need the blinds so that we can change in the comfort of our own rooms (we have been changing in the bathrooms) and some privacy of course.
We need the bed to put our mattress on and the kids need to be sleep trained independently, asap.
The one good thing is, by the end of the day, you feel accomplished. Seeing how much you have sacrificed for the children. I kept looking at them sleeping in their beds with a huge sense of satisfaction. They finally get to sleep on their own bed.
I am pleased with the blinds and curtains done up by Sun Classic Decor.
Prioritise your needs and wants to avoid over-spending on luxurious unncessary items.
Many more things to go, taken with one baby step at a time.
