Keeping up with the Jones?

We have all heard the phrase "Keeping up with the Joneses". Perhaps we have even lived it, finding ourselves craving some new item only after discovering someone else in our circle has it. I think this tendency towards craving status symbols in order to be like everyone else is the number one enemy of keeping a reasonable budget.
For example, a coworker of mine drives very nice luxury cars. Part of me wonders what it would be like to step from such a car, hit the alarm button, knowing that my car is one of the pricier ones in any given parking lot. It must feel nice. I like nice things. Who doesn't? And for an instant, I wonder-how could I get my hands on such a thing. Then reality crashes around me when I realize that in my circumstances a car payment would take me further from my dream of staying home. A car payment means less eating out money (yes, I will tackle that monster at some time), less clothes money (already stretched thin), and less for my family.

I didn't fall in love with a man with a middle class income. In fact, most upstanding middle class men, give me the heebie-jeebies. Seriously. Well, I like lawyers and scientists, but all the others, no thanks. Doctors-eww, I mean you touch strangers for money. Maybe a teacher here or there (but in today's world, is a teacher really middle class. Really?). And if English is your domain, well then you make a good "friend" but a lover? Guh-ross. We won't even touch on business majors-unless of course, you are in CIS, then you might be okay. So as you can see, I am really limited in the man department. And I LOVE Karl. 

I guess the question is, how to remain content, when still living within a small budget. As I am hoping to shrink my budget over the next couple years this is something I am working with now.
First of all, frequent reminders of the choices I have made are needed. I have four children. I want every one of them. I can't even begin to imagine life with only one or two children. How quiet and organized. Not for me. I would even love more kids.
Second, I chose to teach.  I had options. I suspect summers off might have influenced my decision, and a dislike for research (goodbye university career). Teachers don't make a lot of money. The choice is to marry well (see point above) or live on credit-since I am leaving graduate school-"credit" is soon to demand its payback. Fingers crossed for Income-based repayment.
Third, I want to work less, I want to be home. I have to keep that goal in mind.
Last spring, I spent hundreds of dollars redecorating my dining room. New drapes, carpet, accessories, etc. And I love it. But the people I "imagined" seeing it, have never been by. They aren't friends. They are "Joneses". My kids haven't expressed any  interest in the new look, my boyfriend admired it, but would he have missed it if I hadn't redecorated? On top of that, if I open a small home daycare, guess which room will be made into the main playroom? The dining room. The table will be moved out and toy boxes will be moved in. Fancy decorations will give way to colorful animals prints and alphabet charts.

So I am making a resolution today. I don't care what the Joneses have. I don't care what they drive, how big their closet is, or even if they are to turn up their nose at my lack of fancy material things. Because I have a lot of something wonderfuls. I have Tierney and Caleb, Taryn and Liam. I have Tess and Spitfire, pee-ers though they are. I have a kind-hearted man, and a roof over my head. And except for on bad days, I have the gift of only seeing what  I like and want to see.  I plan to use that gift more. Chipped paint? I don't see you today. I can only admire the white glossiness of what is still hanging on. Lucky me. :).