December 9th-Thrifty Wonderland

     

     First, I'm so excited to get to hear my daughters concert one more time, but  in the cities at a fantastic venue. It looks to be  a full house, masks and proof of vaccination required. We've not gone anywhere yet where that is required, so plan to get there early for parking, and the process. This is not thrifty, tickets, parking, gas, but likely this will be the last Christmas concert for my daughter if, fingers crossed, she's in Spain next year. Also after  s*%t  show that was 2020, I'd have mortgaged my house for this opportunity. The college has to cover the venue costs, the coach buses, hotels, and meals for the students and staff, so every penny is needed. Apparently the concert in the cities is a big deal for the alumni to her college. Neither DH, our other kids, or I are alumni so don't know much about this, but I know a work colleague who did her undergrad there was at the concert two years ago. 

     Non-thrifty tickets aside, I've had some good low cost and free cheer to start my December. 

• Our daughter got two guest tickets for the concert last Saturday so that saved the $44 we would have otherwise had to spend-and we put that towards tonight.
• The hotel did still have a very adequate, if not  gourmet, breakfast to start our day in Sunday.  We ate a bit later than DH normally does, but as I can't eat right away and we both wanted to lay in bed a while, this worked well. This meant we did not need to stop for anything on the way home.
• We also had plenty of leftovers and stuff in the freezer to fill us up once home.
• On Monday, my daughter and I went to Sam's Club and popped over to Kohl's for me to round out my Christmas shopping and burn my about to expire Kohls cash. I found 20 ounce rounds of Presidents Brie Cheese at Sam's for $6.99, a terrific price. ($8.97 Walmart for 16 oz., and $5.99 for 8 oz. at Target). I also priced frozen meatballs at just $2 a pound for a 5 pound bag, but will compare to Aldi on Saturday before buying. 
• I used the Kohl's cash, buying three gifts for the grand sum of $4.49. I was mistaken though on the pajamas I bought for my mother-in-law, and the were not on sale. What is never not on sale at Kohls? She is hard to buy for as I mentioned last week, but she should like them.
• We got some very fluffy snow on Tuesday. I let pup really have a good snoop around on his walk. I chatted with  a new neighbor girl and one of the girls from next door who was helping her shovel her driveway. They both wanted to give Pup some love.
• That same day I got a text from a friend that she had an extra ticket to the highschool Band and Orchestra combined holiday concert. It was wonderful. I was contemplating going anyway, but her text sealed the deal-and I got to visit with her before it started, and in between the set-ups. Seriously, if you want to hear some good music for cheap entertainment, pay attention to your local highschool and colleges. I was rushing to get there, but made it on time.
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• I've earned another $5 Target card through MS Rewards. Since I still have no idea if my son will make it home, I think I will order through Target something I think he'll like and just have it delivered. If he does make it home, I'll ask him to bring it along and I'll open-if it arrives before he leaves that is. 
• Made massive batches of both soup and goulash and we've been eating those. I made a Kwik Trip stop for a few essentials, but basically, stretching out another week of grocery shopping which helps me use what we have while making space for my holiday food.

     After the concert tonight, we have nothing formal on our calendar until Christmas Eve. I'll concentrate on  finishing a few decorating touches and gift wrapping this weekend, maybe a few treats if I power clean my kitchen first. I've got my vacation/change of flex days sorted as will have two full days before Christmas Eve off, plus two days and New Years Eve off the following week. I don't have to feel like anything is a rush rush, and that is my favorite kind of thrift-having time to spare.