a long car trip

Well, we're about to embark on a very long car trip once again. This time, we have a nice comfortable car to bring with us. We are bringing our dog with us too.

I find that a car trip can either be very expensive, or rather cheap. For instance, on our last trip, the drive to Quebec was very expensive, we had loads of unnecessary snacks, and frivolous items, but we were all in very sad moods and I was fine with doing whatever was necessary to help perk the kids up. We did not take our dog, (we were going to a funeral, and staying at a hotel) so we had to pay for boarding. The trip home though, that was very cheap, because we took a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter and that was a our meal for the way home.

Obviously we want to try to be somewhere in the middle. There are a few small indulgences we only allow the kids to have when we go on trips. It makes the car trips special for them, and I know they will remember them always because of the little things. For instance, I do NOT allow the kids to have sugary cereals at home, they are quite content with their little wheat squares, and they know to not even ask. But on trips.. that's a different story! I buy one box of the grossest, most sugar laden cereal out there (this time it's chocolate Lucky Charms) and measure it out into snack size bags. The kids absolutely love it, and feel like they're being spoiled.. all for about $4.00.

My hubby and I also buy cola for long car trips, the caffeine and sugar fix can really pull you through some long boring stretches! But we never buy it for around the house.

For entertainment, we do have a portable dvd player. We use it around the house as well so it has proven to be a great investment. Yesterday I bought them a new video from our local discount store, for about $3.50. Usually I make up little kits with new coloring books, and crayons, but this time I've decided we have enough crayons and such so we'll be printing off coloring and activity pages from their favorite tv show website (perfectly legal.. don't worry!) and assembling a little binder each.

I am hoping for a great trip, and am happy that it hasn't cost much at all. The gas is actually being taken care of for us this time, and we're staying with family the whole time...

Bon voyage a nous!

A day downtown.

I am getting ready this morning to go out for a very inexpensive day. I am going to walk downtown (about a 35 min walk each way) so I will save gas, and get exercise to boot! Once downtown I am going to take the kids to the library (free!) then out for pizza. We can get one 2 slice pizza deal for $3.00 with comes with a pop. I get one piece and the kids split the other one, the pieces are very big. After the pizza, we are going to the park (free again!)

My day is going to be full of fun, sunshine, and it will cost me $3.00, perhaps $6.00 if the kids prove to be extra hungry.

Happy Friday!

Another day before PayDay

Ah.

It's a beautiful day here, sun is shining and I'm getting ready to put a load of laundry out on the line (another way to save money!). I've been spring cleaning like mad. I'm very proud to say that I have not given in and bought outrageously expensive storage, bins and the like. I think that is one of the biggest mistakes we make while organizing, to buy storage before we even know for sure what it is we need to store. How many times have we had the wrong size tote when we needed it? Maybe the kids have a toy collection that could be put in a basket or box, and we go out and buy something to get it home and discover that you can't put the lid on it when it houses said collection? Or maybe it's so large that the kids are tempted to put other toys with it while cleaning up, defeating the purpose of organizing it in the first place. And who knows, maybe once the cleaning and purging are done, you will find you don't need more storage afterall... whether the storage "solutions" are too big, too small, or just plain not needed, they cost a lot of money to buy, and then you have to find space to put the containers!

I am not done with the playroom yet. It's March break and it's impossible to purge that room with both kids at home with me. I put things into piles, and have four little hands sneaking the items back out of the piles. Even enlisting their help doesn't work as they get so distracted that it ends up being an even bigger mess! I'm not getting rid of all that much actually. I am going to put a lot of it in storage, to bring out in 6 months or so, starting a rotation of sorts. I've always intended to do that, but have never gotten it quite right. Either I've put away the toys so long that they are no longer age appropriate, or I never get them put away before the kids take everything back out.

So here's to making it another week, pay day tomorrow and Spring Cleaning!

A treat

I've made it to the day before payday with $30. I have started taking out money on a weekly basis as I find that easier to manage. I have had a very long couple of weeks. My husband was complaining on the phone last night about having to eat out for 3 meals a day. I'm having trouble feeling bad for him.. I want to feel bad for him, but I don't. I've been cooking and cleaning up meals for all these days, and am craving a meal out. The kids too have been really wanting it. On Tuesday evening, I had almost given in to the temptation, and did not and am genuinely thankful.

That said, today is such a beautiful day, we are going to walk over to our neighborhood McDonalds, I am going to have my free coffee, and maybe a little burger, the kids will get their long sought after "happy" meals. It will be fun, it will be a treat, and I will walk away knowing that I made it to the end of the week and have the money to do it with.

Then for supper we will have a nice nutritionally balanced meal, and I will be grateful for the little break in the monotony.

Dinner time.

Just taking a moment to write about how I defeated my urge to run out to McDonalds for supper. I've been doing a great deal of Spring Cleaning, and have the kids here, and my husband is away on a business trip. With the dog thrown into the mix, and her fondness for rolling in the mud (and most likely a little of her own mess) it has been a challenging couple of days.

While I was out on a shopping trip this morning, I just had this craving for McDonalds. It doesn't help that they are giving out "free" coffee. I thought about just going through the drive thru for the coffee, but with the two kids in the back seat, I knew that would be disaster. On the way home, I purposely put my debit card and cash in the trunk of the car, forcing me to come home for lunch!

Then this afternoon, I am exhausted, truly exhausted. I've been cleaning, and organizing, and taking care of the children, and playing, and cooking, and cleaning up after the dog. I thought to myself... one quick trip to McDonald's won't hurt... it won't be as much money without buying for 2 adults. BUT I remembered the nice groceries I had bought, and threw together a quick and nutritious casserole in 20 mins. Much faster than getting the kids out the door, into the car, and through the drive thru, and much much cheaper! As a big bonus, the kids ate double helpings, and my son begged to take it for lunch tomorrow. Considering they would only eat maybe a 1/4 of their "happy meal" it would have truly been a waste, financially and nutritionally!

I hope I can remember that the next time a fast food joint calls my name.

Change

It's Spring Cleaning Time!

I don't relish the thought of cleaning, or more aptly, I hate de-cluttering. I don't mind the actual cleaning part, it's finding homes for all the toys, papers, books, assorted things that pile up around the house that I loathe. And buying more storage is not the answer as it just becomes another surface for putting stuff on top of!

This can be either a very expensive time, as you buy all the new storage gear, cleaning products and gadgets, or you can remember you actually already own a broom, a mop and bucket, and some cleaning cloths. Maybe you need to get a container of cleaning solution (or you could make your own!) and perhaps some paper towels for the really gross jobs. I've splurged and picked up some disinfecting wipes for cleaning boot bottoms and the like.

Resist the urge to pick up more totes, shelving, etc. Get rid of the extra things instead, or put them in some kind of real storage (remember good old fashioned cardboard boxes?) label them and stack 'em someplace. Try to use what you already have.

Now the fun part, whilst in the middle of all the cleaning, try rearranging furniture, pictures, etc. Since you're already moving the couch to clean under and behind it (you ARE moving it right?? ) why not try putting it in a different spot. If you have similar size windows in your home, and neutral colors throughout, try trading curtains with another room. Have kids? Why not hang up some of their artwork (or update it) These are all things you can do to spruce up your home, give you some of the change you crave, without giving you more "things" to clutter up your home, and the best part, redecorating without spending a dime.

I find Spring is a wonderful time to declutter your mind, body and soul at the same time...

Let the Sunshine In.

Made it to payday with $7 leftover!

Wow. I didn't think I could do it this week. It's been a long two weeks that is for sure. I got all messed up with my money when Hubby mistakenly took my "spend" money instead of my "save" money from my jars on my dresser, to help pay for our new bedroom furniture. I can see how... I guess it's not very clear. Sometimes what is clear in my head doesn't translate well to real life.

In any event, I was shortchanged by about $70 dollars. And I also took out less money to begin with. It's been very tough.

But I did it this week. I have $7 leftover in my "spend" jar. I could move it into my "save" jar, but I will rummage through bags and the car and hope to find another $1.00 and then I will have enough "extra" cash to buy my daughter a spot in the local library program for the Spring. $8.00 for 8 weeks, I think I can handle that!

Cheers to Payday!

Clarification on home parties

I would like to clarify my position on Home Parties, in case I offended anybody or made them feel like I don't appreciate being invited. It is the opposite, I really like going to the parties, and enjoy being part of the group. I also think the person hosting the party is very smart as they get some outrageously good deals on things they really want!

My only point I was trying to make is I can't believe how strong the urge to spend is when you go. It's that group mentality, and it's overwhelming. The last party on Friday night was a great case in point. I did not want to buy a purse, and had told the lady hosting the party so, that I couldn't afford it, and even with me going in to it with full intention of not buying anything, and I found myself floundering around going "oh my gosh I sooo need to buy one of these!!" Hmm... what colors should I get? And I was shocked with myself!!!

So here's my suggestion, if you go to one of those parties, and are certain before hand that you don't want to spend anything, or have a set limit in mind (say $20), post yourself a reminder of what you are saving for in your wallet (or in my case my pocket) or "call a friend" to ground yourself. There is nothing better than walking away from a great evening with a few items you REALLY want or need, feeling like you got a good deal. And nothing worse than buyer's remorse for buying something you don't even want in the first place, and are stuck with and have put yourself in a worse financial situation for that privilege!