Just when everything seems to move at a snail's pace, there's a burst of activity that makes you wonder how you're going to keep up.

I had to schedule a few days off to be with my family and now I'm feeling very stressed to try and get everything in good shape.

If I'm going to be out, I always try to make sure that the work is much further ahead than it typically would be if I were here.

Now that may not seem like much, but here lately I've had the added enjoyment of trying to keep up with the sports page and occasionally some of the stories.

Then I got a call from the appraiser that he's coming on Monday, so that means I have to go to the house I have for sale to make sure everything is ready for him.

It's one of those raining and pouring things. Like the commercials on television selling some product that the world can't live without, I must add, "Wait, there's more!"

I'm also considering purchasing some property. I figure if the government wants to give me some money to buy a house, who am I to turn them down. The program I'm referring to is the one that gives you 10 percent back on the purchase of a residence, up to $6,500 if you already own a home. Those who haven't owned a home or haven't owned one in a period of time can get up to $8,000.

It's the government's way of sticking a carrot on a stick for the housing market and it may be working, to some degree.

All this also undoubtedly benefits the banks as well, which in turn benefits the economy. At least that's the theory. I'm not sure that giving money away was ever a good idea, but that's not my job to figure out. I just have to figure out when, where and how to spend it.

So what to do?

A good friend who often shares advice with me told me to shop, but to remember that I don't need to buy anything. That was good advice, since shopping that way makes one a much more discriminating buyer. There's really no reason to worry about it when there's only a single ‘yes' or ‘no' decision between keeping my money or going in debt.

I'm still struggling with the thoughts of going into debt, to be honest. I don't like that idea at all.

I'd prefer to keep my money, in some ways. However, there's always that romantic notion of moving into a new house somewhere.

There's also the non-romantic notion of coming up with a house payment every month. The house I live in now, modest though it may be, is paid for. I don't have to pay anything to live there.

However, the houses I'm looking at will not be paid for unless I miraculously win the lottery without buying a ticket. Hence my quandary: While there is a carrot dangling out there that looks pretty good, the place I'm at now looks better to my checkbook.

Sure, I could use another bathroom and wouldn't mind having a nicer yard. It would be good to have larger bedrooms and walk in closets, and central air conditioning would be pleasant in the summer.

But when it comes right down to it, it's always cheaper to fix what you have than it is to buy something else.

Dollar for dollar, my old truck and old car, my old house and my old everything else are probably all I need. But needs and wants aren't the same thing, are they?

"You're old enough to where your wants won't hurt you," I remember my mother saying.

Maybe I'll buy something else to occupy my time, or something that needs some work that I can donate a few Saturdays to. I really enjoy that kind of work, for the most part. So long as I don't have to work and make payments.
 

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