Despite priding myself on being thrifty, saving for the future and special events, I'm not such a tightwad that I am pained to spend at all. The trade-off with both of us working full time is that there are required expenses and times when doing the thrifty thing just doesn't work well. Some of spending choices stem from growing up and doing without a lot of things. While we are/were not super indulgent on stuff for our kids, we spend towards fitting in, participating in experiences, and having memories.
I spent money this week and lots of it on non-necessities. It was a challenging week. While not being total spendthrifts, some of the money spent helped reduce impact of stress. Others were jsut to add to our qulaity of life. Good uses on both accounts.
- A friends mom picked up Jimmy John's for DD2 before concert, saving me from either stopping myself later or packing her something. It made life work on Tuesday.
- DH picked up frozen pizza for after concert as we hadn't eaten, since I was trying to cram more work work in, then had to help do hair at the school. Cheaper than take out, but splurged on a good pizza.
- I ate at partner agency cafe on Wednesday. My meeting schedule was chaos, out of my office, and I was famished. I was able to get a bit caught up on e-mails as there was secure WIFI. They have a decent salad bar, and with a side of cottage cheese and a Diet Coke, the $10 spent was worth it.
- I topped off DD2's lunch account at school with $60. Occasionally she might bring lunch, but rare because of her hectic morning routine. While I know a home packed lunch can be made for under $2.90, this is a bargain piece of mind that she has access to lunch plus, can pick up something moderately healthy from the ala carte area to eat after school a few hours later when she has an activity but no time between school and when it starts. Often she doesn't spend any extra money from her account because the school lunches are bigger than her appetite so she saves her fruit or anything portable to eat later.
- This was a while ago, but I finally distributed copies of pictures from DD2's buddy pictures (so wonderful)to the other moms. I could have just made counterfeit copies, but that is wrong to steal the photographer's work and for just $2 a copy, he made as many additional prints as was needed. I had 7 made of one and three of another,so $20 spent, but priceless photos of all 8 kids.
- DD2 used to run cross country before show choir got more involved last year. She misses it. She decided to run track this spring. She has a little overlap with show choir, and still with Vocal Jazz, but decided not to do the spring musical this year. So this $150 is just a different expense. She may need a new pair of track shoes as I'm not sure she can just swap out the cleats on the pair she has for a track, or if they are in good enough shape. DH will need to decide this.
- I bought a new suitcase for DH. Our old sets are crap and will be pitched. We've determined we rarely need the big suitcases, if ever, but it makes sense for each of us to have the carry on size that will fit in the overhead bins of an airplane. It is amazing with good packing what you can fit. I matched a few deals, still a bit thrifty, but splurged on the quality and model for the four wheel spin type that are so much easier to lug around.
Not always doing without, or feeling like I have to go the cheapest route is freeing. We have a busy lifestyle and indulging in a few conveniences and a few short cuts can make life keep working during the times of most chaos. Still, It is reassuring to know that at any time, I have some skills to implement belt tightening, and even austerity measures if my budget needs it.
I haven't taken a good look at my frugal wins in comparison to my budget busters recently. More than half way through March with spring on our door step, seems as good a time as any to reflect. I'm focusing on things that could perhaps have been avoided or done differently, and things I was successful at doing differently, not just the regular course of life such as wedding and shower gifts and daughter now driving. However, taking advantage of on-line deals saved money on the wedding/shower from, and insurance is drastically lower for good students, so we tok advantage of our daughters smarts.
Let's start with the bad and get it over with.
Clogged Sink Fix- $319 later and I have a functioning sink. That is good, because I have been limping along for far too long. Reminder to self, to do more to keep it from clogging in the first place.
New Vacuum- At $148 including tax, not on sale and not part of the planned spending. I am using household maintenance and appliances for both these two costs, so the money is there. However, those dollars would have been better spent on repairs or enhancements that add or keep value, not maintenance, but life and dirty homes are like that.
Extra Gas- I split my first Friday off into to afternoons due to work reasons. I also did not have any telecommuting days as I've been playing catch up since missing so much work in February due to illness. Combined, this meant two extra trips into the cities, costing a minimum of $13 in extra gas, and if the federal mileage costs are accurate, $69.44 in total care expenses at $0.56 per mile.
Food waste- Just plain and simple, too much. I had done a medium shop in mid February, and so many items never got eaten or used up, shoved to the back of the refrigerator. This month I threw cottage cheese, moldy lettuce, slimy spinach, and orange juice as a few examples. As hard as I try, we seem to have more still than I think is acceptable.
Shower planning and a second glass of wine-Well, I didn't need any wine, when I met my sister n law to plan our nieces shower, but I had tow glasses.It was already a day where I left for work at 7:00, and wouldn't be home until nearly 10:00, so decided to indulge a little. Still $6.75 a glass, at a pizza pub, might be a bit steep. DH was happy with the pizza leftovers at least.
And the Wins-
Thifted brand new dress pants- At $8.99, a pair with tags still on, priced in the store at $50 came home with me. My work wardrobe is quite lacking these days, and these are a good neutral gray that will work with the transitioning weather.
Made use of wedding shower leftovers-As much a frugal win for DD1 as me, we ate up the food leftovers, and I am buying back unused items that otherwise might have gone to waste.
No baggage check fees- another frugal win for my off spring, as DD2 ended up not having to pay checked luggage fees as she carefully packed to fit in a carry on size. It could have cost her $80 extra for her trip expenses, and instead, she came home with that money.
No late fee-DH noticed VISA added a $27 dollar late fee. We are not late with bills, so called, and no questions asked, was removed and credited.
Skipped lunch delivery last Wednesday-This was happenstance, but the office team ordered lunch one day, and I must not have been around. I happily joined them with my own home packed lunch. I still had the camaraderie without the hefty cost.
How about you? Where were you able to keep expenses at bay, and where did you find dollars leaving your wallet quicker than you would have liked?
