"FREE" and why we don't complain about it.

I think I'm pretty good at compromise. There are a lot of things that we have each wanted that neither of us has gotten because we compromised. He wanted a new camera. I wanted to go on a cruise. Instead we got a new TV. It worked. And it continues to work. We both look at our list of wants and if our first priority isn't the same we move on down the list until we find something we both want. It's perfect. Most of the time. 

Just recently the aunt of the neighbor of my mother (got that?) was moved into a nursing home. My mother's neighbor, Mary, has been very busy cleaning out the house and getting it ready for her son-in-law to move in (still following?). About two weeks ago my mother brought over a few of the pieces from the house. 

For free. 

Now I'm not sure if you've heard but I work third shift at a hotel front desk. My Fiancé doesn't work at the moment as he is a full time student. He does get some money for living expenses from the government, but it's really nothing to sneeze at. I make the big money in our family... If you can call $1000 a month big money. Now, don't get feeling sorry for us just yet, we do manage to keep the wolf from the door somehow and there are plenty of people in the world far less fortunate than we are. 

However, just because we are scraping by and making ends meet does not mean we are above taking the occasional 'free' this-or-that-or-the-other-thing. Of course in this case, by we I mean I. James hates accepting 'charity' from anyone. Especially my mother. I can't quite figure out why. 

So, she brought over this chair...

Wait, let me go back a bit. So my family was over for Christmas to see our tree. We have one reclining chair, and one large sofa in our living room. That's it. There are eight of us. I think that makes my point. Back to this chair...

Looks pretty classy next to the record player huh?

James hates this chair. He mentions every day how ugly it is. Now, I know it's not the prettiest chair in the world. In fact it's positivity hideous. But it was free.

...

Somehow in my world 'free' is like the ultimate trump card.
 I don't care if you don't like it. It was free.
We can't afford furniture.
My mother's neighbor was kind enough to offer us this chair.
For free.

*blink, blink*

How is this decision complicated? It's a free chair. Now one less person has to sit on the floor when company is over. It was free.

...

Nope. Don't care. The chair is staying. It was free.