My camera is busted. It’s been out of action for about two months now and I feel incomplete. I weirdly feel like I can’t even write properly when my camera is broken. Pictures and words tell stories together. So why haven’t I fixed it?
We’ve been working hard to save money these past six months. Last year we had an intense budget because we were saving for our family trip to Europe. This year we are trying to stack as much money on our mortgage as we can so it won’t hurt so much when we renovate. Yes, we are finally going to renovate. It’s only taken nine years to get there and I’ve realised that it wasn’t until the renovation became a need, rather than a want, that we began the process.
“I really want to renovate,” I said to my husband a few years ago. “But I know it won’t make me any happier and it seems like a lot of money to spend to stay the same.”
I wasn’t talking from a place of unhappiness, rather from a place of general happiness. I have never been the kind of person who thinks that material things are going to change the way I feel.
Then the shower started having zero pressure in the main bathroom (eight years ago); and the tiles started falling off the walls in the bathroom (seven years ago); and the back deck cover started leaking (six years ago); then the cook top stopped working properly (five years ago); and the girls started complaining about wanting their own bedroom (four years ago); and the back balcony started falling down (three years ago); and the front steps started crumbling (two years ago); and the toilet started leaking (one year ago); and it was finally time (now).
It’s amazing what we can put up with when it doesn’t affect our general feeling of wellbeing. Having all those things fixed properly and not just stop-gapped is going to be brilliant, but in the meantime we’ve made-do. It’s what we have to do because we can’t always afford what we think we want and it’s only really worthwhile going into debt if spending the money is going to make a real difference.
So, back to my poor broken camera. I’ve been taking pictures on my iPhone, but my heart’s not in it. I realised today that I need to fix my camera when I kept putting off a promised recipe for a friend because I didn’t want to shoot the final product on my iPhone. (Sorry Amanda – it’s coming). It’s time to find the money.
Do you place much value on material things?
Jo @ Countrylifeexperiment says
I’m quite minimalist and there aren’t many things I really need to make me happy. Having said that, my camera is like an extension of my arm, and I would feel bereft without it.
Erin says
Oh encouraging you in your reno Bron. And you know who to ask if you have any questions 😉 As you fix each need you’ll wonder “why did we put up with this for so long”. Sounds exciting.
What type of camera are you considering? Love to hear your research, I currently have a Nikon D3100 with a couple of lenses, um actually it’s my daughter’s, but one day she will move out and take it with her, so researching ahead, have heard great things about Cannons.
Amanda @ Cooker and a Looker says
No rush Bron. I know the feeling of a house that badly needs attention but having financial commitments elsewhere.
We’re tackling it one room at a time.
A x
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
We want to renovate too, but I’m a bit “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” even if it is brown. I’m getting less materialistic the older I get and would much prefer to collect moments not things. Let me know if you want to borrow my camera, I can always hop on the train and deliver it to you over a cuppa!
Cat@lifethroughthehaze says
I am always saving for something lol … at the moment we are saving for spending money for our holiday at the end of Jan.
Hope you get your camera fixed xoxo