Winter Gear New Vs. Second Hand

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, we've already had to dig out the winter gear.

As usual, we're taking stock of what we've got, and what has to be bought.

My daughter was in need of winter boots, she rec'd a great pair from a friend last year, but she needed a new pair this year, although the others I believe will still be awesome as a second pair. We went to a second hand shop recently and bought her some absolutely new condition fabulous winter boots, complete with requisite disney princesses for $3.99. She LOVES them. She also picked out the pinkest pair of snowpants I have every laid eyes on (And of course loves those too) for another $3.99. She can wear her brothers hand me down snow pants, but hey for $4 she can have pink ones. :)
My son did not need winter boots last year (they still fit from the previous year!). This year, he does. This is where the debate starts. Do I spend hours (maybe days!) searching for a pair of second hand BOYS winter boots? Anybody with a son can tell you, it's a rare pair of boots that can withstand a winter with a boy.
So do we buy a pair only to stall having to eventually buy a pair of new ones.. or do we just go and buy the new ones while the stock is still plentiful. He is a very active boy and wears his shoes and boots to threads (or treads I guess). In his case, I believe it's worth the $25 to shell out for new boots because he will get our moneys worth. However, I am going to take a quick look in the online classifieds just in case there is a super deal to be found first. I think we'll still get a pair of second handers so that he has a second pair.
And for some reason, we need to keep buying mittens! Those have to be even more devious than socks, we can always seem to fine one, but not the other. Baskets devoted to each kid, color coding, labelling, etc... and we still seem to have that problem.
For the most part, we have started buying our kids shoes new as I have problems with my feet and understand how important fit and support is, but every so often, we'll find a great pair of barely used shoes that are in near perfect condition, and we'll buy those.
Every little thing helps. Winter jackets, and snow pants are so expensive to buy new there are wonderful deals to be found second hand.

It's bundle up time!

Stickers, stickers!

I just have to share one of the cheapest and easiest things I've ever done for my kids (and my borrowed after school kids)

I have established a very simple sticker chart system. Just little pieces of colored paper, I write the names of the kids on their own piece and every time they follow the rules correctly, or I catch them being extra good, they get a sticker. I find this is so much more positive and effective than negative attention. So far, a full month into school, the kids are all still going strong with this. The after school kids get a chance to show their moms and dads all the stickers, and I've been told they really love to take them home and show them off. My own two love them as well and we display them on our family bulletin board.

I've seen lots of "reward" charts and such for sale. I'm sure they have their place, but I find this is so simple and cheap! I wouldn't be so quick to want to give away a chart that cost me money to buy.. After one full month of use, I've barely made a dent in the paper supply, and I am about 1/2 way through the stickers (which is a great thing, more stickers used means better behaviour!) I bought a very simple "treasure" box to store the stickers in, and make for more fun choosing them.

My total cost for this:
Treasure box - $1.29
Stickers - approx $3.00
Paper - $1.29 for 100 sheets

So, less than $6 invested!

:)

Another great birthday party on the cheap

Well,

It's the day after my beautiful princess's 4th birthday party. We had a nice low key celebration at our home. I scored Barbie decorations, napkins, plates, cups, etc for $0.48 a package! Our gift to her was homemade, a huge barbie doll house (remade from my original one I had as a little girl) and we bought a small gift for her from her big brother.

A simple buffet, and a home made Barbie cake (dress was the cake, baked in a stainless steel bowl for what seemed like forever!) We used an old Barbie that I deconstructed and decorated to be a Princess Barbie. My baby girl and I side by side in the kitchen, her on a chair, rocking out to the radio and icing her dream cake, it was a priceless few moments. Parting favors were books, all chosen with each receiving child in mind.

The house was full of best friends and family. The total cost of the party comes in at around $150 or less.

It was a great day.