Why does it cost so much to live simply?

I've asked this before, and it really doesn't. It is just that I always want to do everything ALL AT ONCE. But it is just so hard to resist!

I was thinking last night about how I wanted to make comforters for the beds. I looked at my fabric stash, and I really don't have enough cotton (or anything really besides knits or fleece, and that's not really the look I was going for) to make anybody a comforter, much less four of them. And I don't have batting. Or a quilting foot.

OK, how about knitting some sweaters? Or A sweater? Oh, yea. I still don't know how to knit. And the only yarn that I have enough of to make a sweater is maroon acrylic yarn. Which is not really the look I'm going for.

OK, how about food storage? That won't be expensive! That will save me money! Except stockpiling initially costs MORE money. And the shelving costs money. And the canning supplies cost money. Oh, and even gardening, you have to pay for the plants, or the seeds, the tiller, or at least gloves and a hoe.

I'll homeschool! Then I won't have to pay for school supplies, or school fees, and school lunch, and the weekly fundraising things. Except that uh, I still have to pay for school supplies. And books. And bookshelves. And math manipulatives. And globes. And volcano kits. And I probably will have to feed them too, so I'll still have lunch expenses, although hopefully less.

I will say that making my own cleaning supplies has saved me money. Woo-hoo!

I told myself last year to take it one step at a time. And I'm reminding myself again. And I'm doing a little better too since last year.

I might not be able to make comforters right now. But I've got enough material to make the girls a few cotton skirts. It's a start. And I don't know how to knit, but I know how to crochet a dishcloth. I even have some cotton yarn! I can make one of those in the next few days. And I've got enough for 3 or 4 more after that. I got one set of shelves and they were on sale. I asked for canning supplies for an early birthday present. I've found a dozen jars at garage sales. And I've got borrowed many school books, or got them for a low priced used, and I've only spent $7 total for the 5 bookcases in the schoolroom.

I'll get there. I just wish that I would get there a LITTLE faster.