Costumes

We really got lucky this year with costumes! Our daughter received a beautiful Rapunzel dress for her birthday which is earlier in the month. We just added a long braided wig from a local thrift store that sells new products at discount prices along with their previously loved clothing. The wig was around $6.00.
Our son is still on the Mario bandwagon, he wore a homemade costume last year, and as luck would have it, decided to wear it again this year! The hat my husband sewed for him somehow got lost throughout the year, but the overalls and turtleneck shirt survived. My hubby quickly whipped up a new hat, we purchased some white gloves and a fake mustache and voila... 'it's-a-me Mario'.

I am so happy that my kids are so easily contented.

We resisted the urge to go overboard with decorations, and made a lot of them ourselves. It doesn't get much less expensive than using facial tissues to make ghosts (if you use a marker to make a face, and an elastic band to hold the head together and to hang it up, they are really quite cute!). We also used pumpkins that we made as an after-school craft with my after-school crew. Add a dollar store spider web and we are all set!

Happy Halloween!

Boots!

I just got home from two of our local children's consignment stores (I mean stores for children's items, not for buying children on consignment ha ha)

Anyhow, I had already scoped out the stores today by myself, but since I did not have my kids with me, I did not want to buy them anything only to find they are too small. We've left the days of staying in one shoe size for more than 2 months in a row long behind us. It seems we just buy a pair and a week later they are too small.
For the record, I was right on the money for my son's size, but my daughter is a full size bigger than I had thought!

I purchased a pair of girl's boots for my daughter for $6.50, they are sparkly and pink and perfect. Best of all they are in great condition and warm. My son scored an almost new pair of brand-name Canadian Made boots... the price on the tag? $6.99. The price at the cash register? 40% off! Seriously! With tax, the total price for both pairs of boots rings in at around $13. That is $10 less than the price of one pair of mediocre quality boots.

I love these deals. Not just because I'm thrifty, but because it also means that another parent out there is getting some money back for their purchases too. Add to that some fantastic people who own the stores, and it's a neat and nifty little package that is good for everybody. My kids get clean and fresh looking super warm and comfy boots for winter. I get some money in my pocket, and the satisfaction of having bought in a way that reflects my values best.

With my kids new hats (sweet deal from a wonderful friend who owns 3 Monkeys Inc - check out her blog on my blog list!) and stretchy mitts, and new-to-them boots, the kiddies are feeling pretty happy with the chillier temperatures! And that makes us all feel cozier.

So what's the plan?

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Good Morning Thrifty Friends.

So what is your plan for saving money? I am always interested in knowing how other people save money.. or in a better way - don't spend money.

My own plan involves preparing a budget, withdrawing cash from our account for the week, and understanding that is it for the week. I then wrap my head around the cost of groceries, entertainment, etc.

There are many differences in life this year from last year. For instance, I now have a 2-week lunch plan for my home childcare. That means having to buy the groceries up front, even if key ingredients are not on sale. The hope is to get into a routine and buy items on sale to stock up. I also plan to start a dinner plan, at least weekly (not that it has to be the same every week)so that I can prepare many make-ahead meals to make life much simpler as I am about to embark on very busy and full days that will leave very little time or desire for making a great healthy evening meal. I refuse to resort to chicken nuggets and kraft dinner every night.
I'm excited about the prospect of opening the freezer on a Mon night, selecting Tues night's dinner and popping it in the fridge to thaw overnight. The next day I can either throw it in the slow cooker (if the recipe allows) or pop upstairs to pop a casserole or such into the oven an hour or so before dinner time. Some evenings we'll do sandwiches and salad, or soup and salad and that will be nice too.. especially if the soup is already made and thawed and just needs a reheat. I'm about to join the ranks of working moms! Even if I do get to work from home... I will no longer be afforded the time and energy for from-scratch healthy dinner meals.

Along this train of thought comes budgeting. The problem for me is that it's expensive to by tray packs of meat, and all the ingredients for 14 solid planned meals. While I know in the longer run it will save us considerable amounts of both cash and sanity, will be much healthier for us and will make life run much more smoothly - it will wreck havoc on our food budget. Food cost for bulk purchases vary so often that it's almost impossible to budget. Since I have limited freezer space, am often daunted by a slab of frozen-together meat, and also don't like the idea of taking frozen meat, thawing it, possibly cooking it and then refreezing (Jury is out on the health risks), I do not plan to stock up on meat when it's on sale to freeze it for later. I want it frozen only once. If I find chicken on sale, I will tweak my meal plan and cook something with chicken instead.
We are contemplating renewing our big-box bulk-food store membership. We're unsure if we want to because we often find ourselves spending $200 or more, and then still have to do regular grocery shopping. And so far we've only really wanted to buy dog food - a $30 bag to be exact, and have never wished to spend $60 extra dollars for that opportunity. Also with the one vehicle, either hubby will have to go after work, or we'll give up an entire evening(because it's a good 1/2 drive one way), or (gasp!!!) have to go on a week-end day.. none of those are good.

In any event, perhaps I will leave the food budget in the bank, and just take out cash for everything else. I will need to track my grocery spending of course, and am hoping my make-ahead meals will save us some serious cash in the long run. I think it will. I am convinced from scratch is cheaper than prepackaged, prepared. And there is a certain point of it just being worth it even if it isn't saving us money (which it will)... it contributes to our health and nothing is more important to me than raising a healthy, happy family. The stress level will be reduced dramatically, and take out will be a thing of the past - reserved for when we REALLY want it, as an occasional treat, rather than as a result of being caught hungry and unprepared.

Friends - what do you do to prepare your meals in advance? Any tried and true recipes or tips?

Bon Appetit!

Money for Nothing...

I'm BACK

So, after a year long hiatus.. I tried other blogs but they just fizzled out and did not do well. I have missed writing in this blog.

After a year, we have actually spent an incredible staggering amount of money. We just bought a new house. The numbers make me dizzy. Luckily we have been home owners for almost 10 years, and we had great equity to begin with this time around. We made a choice to take a little extra with the mortgage to cover closing expenses and home repairs.

We have made some choices we are very proud of, and some that scared us to death (almost $7000 for a new furnace and a/c eeek!) We don't even use the A/C usually and we have a swimming pool! But once bitten twice shy with trying to sell a house with an 'original' or as I prefer to say 'vintage' furnace and A/C. If things go wrong for us, we need to be able to unload this place ASAP and head for the hills - or the coast, East Coast I would hope ;-)

For me, we bought a house that allows me to do childcare from our basement. The lower level of our home is bright and spacious, with big beautiful windows, there is loads of natural light. I have set up a great play room, and there is a bathroom right next door to the play room. We also have a huge laundry/furnace room with the beginnings of a 2nd kitchen in place (the dream is a full second kitchen to minimize trips up and down the stairs, and for big dinners and extra space for hobbies such as hubbies brewing and canning). I have already begun working, and have a couple more children coming in a week. I am so very happy to have this opportunity to stay home still with my own girl as she is in her last year of kindergarten, and to be home when the kids get home from school. I love being with children, I cannot imagine a better job in the whole world... if I didn't need the money, it's what I would do for free (and I did for about 7 years!), so I know it's the right fit for me. It's also a perfect fit for my family - we don't pay for childcare, I am home, and I feel happy and fulfilled to be working and helping provide for my family. The money is enough to make us comfortable and secure and there is no better feeling than that.

Another important decision is that when our old car died last March, we have not replaced it. Hubby bikes a lot to work, or he takes the car. I'm learning to live without the convenience, we make it work... to the tune of about $500 a month saved - that is based on a new car payment and insurance and gas. We do plan to buy another car in the future, we do see the value in a 2nd vehicle for sure, but for now it is allowing us to not spend a great deal of money. I find it a bit uncomfortable not having a car to be able to rush about as needed, especially with child care - but I have made it clear with all parents involved, they are expected to pick up their children if they need to be someplace, we have a great taxi and bus system in the new city, and I would also call 911 in an emergency. For extra peace of mind, I just completed First Aid training again. With all the children in my care having alternative care people in the city, and the taxi and emergency services available, I feel confident all bases are covered. And I don't really want to be driving with all those children anyways - the less risk the better I believe. I am extremely fortunate to live in a wonderful neighborhood close to 2 great parks, a community centre all within walking distance. Also, I have a full daily schedule, there is no need to drive anywhere to entertain the kids!

I hope you'll come back and join me... let's buckle down and get back on track! Start watching the wallet again and feel free to comment with your own ideas!

It's good to be back :-)