Well I Was motivated and went shopping yesterday. I went to Ross and stocked up on $5 books (they were REALLY nice big books), a dominoe game, and some puzzles. I then went to Target because I wanted to get a lighty spinny thing (I have no idea what it is called) for each kid, but they only had 1 left. So I got 1 of those, 4 high bounce balls, and some stickers and halloween magnets (really nice) all on clearance. 1/2 came from the $1 bin which my friend had suggested. I think I made out far better at Target than Ross even. Well now I know. I spent about $48 for 4 kids. I was thinking of going to the dollar store for birthday cards, but dh who HATES cards said, "can they read???" I thought about it and decided no they don't really need cards. HE is right sometimes. Saved a few dollars. So $12 per kid, and I think I got some pretty cool stuff...

One of the kids we are really close to and I may go splurge on him a little more, but beyond that not bad. I am not sure if I will take it out of the gift budget or the misc. budget or what. I like to be flexible and if one month I want to spend more on something and take it from another envelope so to speak, oh well. Well that's why I have just a misc. category. We'll see. It is only the 5th, and the month is long.

Oh yeah Ross was bad because I bought some winter clothes for older son. Whenever I buy anything though I think, this costs $13, but it should last through both my sons. Hmmm. So it feels more like spending $6.50 on each. I had bought his winter wardrobe for $40 or so at the thrift shop last month but they didn't have much in the way of jackets. Too bad because I Scored good last year. SO at Ross I saw some nice jackets but spent more than I Would have otherwise I guess. $22 for a jacket, hooded sweatshirt (since the one I had bought thrift didn't fit over his head), and a winter hat for his growing head.

Anyway, the thrift shop I go to is great for kids clothes and that is about it. Mostly shirts and pants. What I really need to do is start checking out other thrift stores in the area. I don't know why but as much as I Shop ebay and thrift, it is always an afetrthought. I would never spend more than $50 or something unless I checked out my used options first. But there is so much under $50 that I don't think twice buying new. I am trying to get out of that mindset. Like reading someone's blog it just occured to me to do some Christmas shopping on ebay. Well duh, why didn't I think of that sooner. Or even in the thrift shops.

We also have a new store out here called "Stupid Prices" (stupidprices.com) that looks pretty good from its ads. Furniture, clothing, groceries, etc. I am going to check it out I guess.

So much of this stuff is over by my work I see more shopping in my future. Blah, I hate shopping. But if they have great grocery prices I can help out dh a bit I guess.

Anyway, I need a big note on my wallet or credit card that says "CHECK EBAY FIRST." Something like that to keep me budget minded on the small stuff.

I don't know why I have always been so frugal minded on big things but not little things. ?????? Something I am learning I guess...

I think in the past I often choose convenience over savings. I would shop shop shop internet all the time, because I hate taking the time to go shopping. I truly dislike it. I LOVE internet shopping in turn, and find that I don't get distracted like I do in the stores, by things not on my list and such. But oh well, that is what EBAY is for. Ebay often is nice, but shipping puts it in the realm of not that frugal a lot of the time... I think I will start doing a littl more in person shopping. More shopping to save money, eh? Sounds like an oxymoron. LOL. & I will put a note that says EBAY in my wallet. No more buying anything without checking Ebay first! In the meantime I need to become an area thrift shop expert...

Was lazy today:

$52.17 cash for 2006
- 1.08 BK Lunch
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$51.09 remains
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I tend to do a $1 lunch every week so I thought today was a good day because it was Wednesday.

My dumb plan for the week was hosting a get together at my house thursday. I did not intend to serve dinner, and chose this option to avoid a $10 - $15 dinner. Oh well. Now I am buying pizza instead due to pressure - LOL. & then all the birthday presents - my word. Oh well, I like my budget to be flexible - so I will probaly chalk this one to eating out & I do have a gift budget. I just did not foresee using it this month or next and was going to use it for christmas instead!!!!!! But oh well - who knew october was such a birthday month! For now I will lump it where I can, just means less gift buying an eating out this month.

Ahhhh, the daycare thread is still being beat to death but on my drive to BK I was pondering something I didn't even thing about. With my first son I drove home at lunch every single day to be with him, and then he napped every afternoon from 1-5. He's a sleeper. I had no idea how good I had it of course - LOL. Another reason why the mommy wars perplexed me. So I don't see my son from 8-12 but I see him before nap and when he wakes up, does he notice I am gone 8 hours a day? Not really!

& then this was the son who we felt at 1 may be ready for preschool or daycare if hubby wanted to get a job. OF course my second son threw us for a loop. I Was lucky CA had a new law at the time and I got 12 weeks paid home. Disability - not full pay - but enough to get by. & then after all that I had to work PT 3 months because he refused to drink from a bottle. & then I had PPD issues and I just could not work full speed again until he was about 6 months old.

I look at him today and I can not imagine putting him in any care - he is such a "baby" still at 15 months. HE is not even walking yet. My older son was just the difference of night and day. At 1 he was like a 2-year-old. At 3 he is like a 5-year-old. I am guessing my baby is on par for being a normal baby, but the whole thing is weird, my other son fast forwarded through this stage so fast. I had no idea there was this stage between "baby" and "full blown toddler."

& sleep? Ha! The baby does not sleep.

Anyway, I have always felt more guilty working with this baby because I no longer have the time to go home at lunch. I have a lot more responsibility, and gas prices have been crazy. & he doesn't sleep 1/2 the day away so I miss so many waking hours. Ah, but I get them all back in the middle of the night! ; )

Anyway, I just throw this out to those of you planning ahead for children down the road. Plans are nice but inevitably your children will put a wrench in your plans. LOL. Guaranteed. ; ) My husband and I keep saying when he turns 2 our daycare options will be much greater and cheaper, etc., etc. But frankly, will he be ready for that? At this rate, no. But we'll work it out I guess. That's why I am here and cracking down on my budget. We have been doing just fine, but saving and getting ahead, not so much. I am starting to envision we will do the 1-income thing longer than we planned, so trying to get to a point where it just doesn't matter. Where that 2nd income is pure gravy. BEfore it was going to be retirement, but now I am trying to squeeze that out of my own check. But I know we will make it work.

I was looking at the credit card and added up Disneyland - $390. I thought it would be about $350 - $400. Oh well.

The really bad thing is opend up my cc bill today online and it threw me for a loop. This $390 popped on and the total was around $2100 for the month. For some reason I was thinking it was going to be closer to $1800. I have NO idea why - LOL. I am not sure if I can afford to stay on top of the budget on this whole lack of sleep thing. Our baby has been teething and sleeping TERRIBLE and I in turn have been super braindead. Maybe I was hoping more would be delayed to next month. Maybe I was getting confused with the cash basis thing. I have no clue what I was thinking. I am saved because we sold Pepsi stock - $1300. Needed $1000 for insurance and figured $300 for an attorney - we are going ot get our wills/estate taken care of. I have no idea if $300 would even cover it, but it's a start. But anyway, that money will help us float by this next month when hopefully we can save money for insurance, etc. I think I am short $100 + plus means no money to emergency fund in October. Man, this stinks. LOL. Though it is very logical that spending an extra $400 made it a non-saving month. I just can't get past I have no idea what I Was thinking.

Oh well, October is long, anything can happen. I have been trying to find time to do some freelance work for a neighbor/client. Then again my weekends are booked - hehe. I better pencil her in FAST so I can put some money away this month.

Oh anyway, we are going to the pumpkin patch next week for my son's preschool and I was to pay $5 for each of us. Since I volunteered to drive 4 kids, they just told me they will pay for me. Yay! Even better since my son just switched to M & W all day, they said he could come Friday instead next week since they are closed Monday. I had thought to ask, but didn't. They are so nice. I don't know how many days when he was 1/2 time they let him stay all day for free because they knew I hesitated to put him in more than 1/2 days, because he just naps all afternoon. Why pay someone to watch him nap? But in a pinch they would keep him all day at no extra charge. & I am glad they are being so super nice on the holiday thing too. They essentially are holding open M/W/F until I can afford to put him back in more. Who else would do that????? Few and far between...

All I know is I save $5 unexpectedly. Yippee.

Well I just RSVPed for 3 birthday parties - yes 3 - and another on the way I know of. & 2 Halloween parties.

Oh my son will be in 7th heaven. He LOVES parties. As for dh and I, eh, we are pretty quiet, low key people. I have no idea where my son comes from and frankly his social life EXHAUSTS us. Of course he thrives from it. This is a big reason why he is in preschool - so we can catch a break.

I tend to be pretty nice with gifts. Usually $20/kid. I spend way more on other kids than I do my own. LOL. But even $10/each for 3 parties is not really in the budget this month. It is tight with Christmas coming up and all. But I got some good ideas from you all. Is 3 parties gonna break the bank? YEah maybe if I didn't get ideas here. ; )

As a working mom I really have trouble mainitaining playdates and such, and I feel bad because dh just doesn't really do them. In the past maybe, but again it really exhausts him. But a friend of mine just e-mailed me and said she was a football widow and up for some sunday playdates. I haven't seen her in ages and that would be great. & then my moms group is revamping and trying harder to do more weekend/evening stuff. Looking at my calendar it is nice, but too late I guess - LOL. My october is completely filled. I hope november slows down a bit!

I am going to be exhuasted and my son is going to have the best month ever I guess - hehe.

I do remember once Halloween hit last year it seemed like the year went in overdrive, and now I see why. January will be here in a blink!!

Here's a long one:

I think the Daycare post was getting beaten to death, but I wanted to share a little more about our situation, because it got me thinking. Obviously, I think people should do what is right for them - they have to live with their choices. & I Say obvious because my husband and I have taken on some pretty untraditional roles. The interesting thing about it though is when we made the decision for him to be a SAHD years ago I always imagined we would get a lot more flak. The only flak comes from his family who can't seem to get past that it works for us. In the mainstream I have mostly encountered admiriation more than anything. Well to our faces, who know what is said behind our backs. LOL. But I know too many women who stay home and never catch a break. & of course they are in awe how much my husband takes on. Not just that but how much we help each other. I can't entirely understand what he goes through, but I know it is not easy, and we do what we can to help each other out.

But yeah, how our situation evolved was that he REALLY wanted kids and I don't think I particularly cared either way. I never really wanted kids, but knew he did, and for him I Would do anything. But I told him all along if he wants kids he could stay home with them. I am not an idiot, and I know it is not easy to be home with the kids 24/7. I think a lot of my feelings came from having a SAHM that was miserable. She never enjoyed being home or having kids, that was clear. & her being miserable made us miserable. For this reason I would never judge someone's choice to work. For some people their kids are better off for it. I know my kids are better off because I work.

Anyway, we always discussed this scenario, and as things evolved, I chose a career I loved whereas my husband chose a career his mom chose. I made clear I refused to stay home with kids if he hated his job. I was unwilling to give up my wonderful job for us both to be miserable. I think he just said what I wanted to hear for a while, yes dear. though clealry I Was right. LOL.

Anyway, before we moved to a less expensive area my husband talked of quitting his job and getting a teaching credential - more of his dream job. I really encouraged him but he never had the guts.

We ended up moving to a new area so that we could afford a house. I found a job right away and he supercommuted for quite a few months. We decided we were ready for children and I think we both thought the other was gonna stay home. As much as we both knew he was the better choice to stay home I think society was getting in his way - he was not feeling good about this choice.

Anyway, someone/something outside of our realm had to smack him. He lost his job the week I got pregnant. He insisted he was going to find a job which led to many fights because it was all in the name of manliness and it really pissed me off we would have to settle on a 30k income at a job he hated when I was doing quite well at a job I loved. Plus images of being just like my mom flashed through my mind. I was not happy in the least.

In the end he never found a job, thank goodness. The first year was pretty tough but has gotten easier with time. I think the worst part was we had just moved where we knew no one and that has been really hard. The support for SAHDs is pretty nil. Over time we have found a lot more supportive parent groups and dh has been working on more and more of his own projects, meeting more people, etc. I truly hope he uses this time to settle on a career he enjoys. I know his mom thinks it is the worst thing ever, but why not follow his heart and his dreams when I Can provide everything else? I am not sure what her deal is. I provide for the family quite well and have ample disability and life insurance to provide should something happen to me. Plus I truly believe he will have the potential to bring in far more income doing what he truly loves than doing a job he hates. In the end that kind of stuff works out. For example my MIL thinks teaching is the worst career. As a second income it would actually be quite WELL for us. The benefits are great and 30-40k would be more than plenty on top of my salary. Plus the flexible work schedule would be invaluable - no after school daycare, etc.

Anyway, that is the long and the short of it. I had no idea though when we made this decision how great it would be for our family. I am so proud every day at the amazing relationship my sons have with their father. IT seems like the best of both worlds to me. I went back to work with my first after 7 weeks and he was fine. We had that mommy/baby bond that just is there no matter what, and in the meantime he has developed just as an amazing bond with his father. & my younger son I took 3 months maternity leave with him. HE needed more time. But both times I had friends just overwhelmed without any help. I have no idea what it is like to care for a newborn all alone. My husband was there with me 24/7. It was a wonderful experience, and glad I had that time with my older son as well. & then back to the real world my husband does the grocery shopping and cooking. & if I Want a night out or a weekend away he is not scared to watch the kids. & when I get home at night I take the kids off his hands and get my time with them too. I guess I know too many moms with un-helpful husbands and I could not imagine. Overall I feel pretty spoiled...

Oh yeah as far as not wanting kids - I was INSANE. I think motherhood is the most amazing thing. If I had to be a SAHM Today I think I could do it. I Wasn't so sure the first few years, but the idea doesn't scare me as much with 2 kids strangely enough - it's more interesting. But for now it works. I think we are really looking forward to when the baby turns 2 and we have a lot more part-time daycare options. Then I wouldn't be surprised if my husband got a job OR went back to school. I Think HE will be a lot happier to have a more regular job outside of just being a daddy. But we've made it over the hump, and just a few more months until our options widen... Overall my husband has done much better with the toddler stage than the infant stage. I think overall men just don't do babies. That is one thing we have really learned - some gender roles hold true - hehe. But regardless how much he enjoyed it, he has done very well raising both boys thus far. In our situation I think it has worked out far better than any other option. & yeah I am glad I was pretty dang stubborn about what I wanted from our relationship. I think we are both a lot happier for it. As hard as staying home has been, he really doesn't whine any more than he did when he worked. LOL. But he is still trying to decide what he wants to do with his life and what job will make him happy. I think that is more important than anything. & me sticking with my career and him staying home has left him with a world full of options, he just needs to decide what he really wants. If the roles were reversed I think he would pick the job that paid the most, regardless of his happiness, and I don't think anyone in our family would be nearly as happy today. Oh yeah except his mom. Ha. But where would that leave us? Gotta do what you gotta do for you...

Spent $2.83 for pepsi and chocolate this morning.

I have been pretty good at bringing 8oz pepsis to work. Pepsi is one of many little luxuries, I need my pepsi to get through the day. I know it is terrible, but my husband buys me the 8-oz cans at the store. Helps me ,limit how much I drink, though probably a pricier way to buy pepsi. Maybe once a week I go out for fast food, $1 meals, but I never buy fast food soda. In the end I come out ahead I guess. Thoug giving up soda would be a lot cheaper, eh??? I'll think about it once I can get a full nights sleep on a regular basis - for now I really enjoy the caffeine - baby has been keeping us up most the time at night.

But alas I went through my last can yesterday and he is going to the store today. So I popped by the corner store and got 20 oz and a chocolate cupcake. A waste of money for sure.

I usually buy the big one and think it will last a few days. Today I got real and got the medium. I know it will be gone by 5:00, if not sooner. Oh well.

I did use to do this junk food run A LOT more often. I have been working on it more for my weight than to be frugal - though the benefits go both ways I guess. But lately I have been having my hubby buy me 2 6-packs at a time. Helps that it lasts longer. Though I still let my stash run out - darn!

$55.00 cash to last 3 months
-2.83 junk
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$52.17 remains
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I better slow down...

Ahhhh, got back from Disneyland last night. It was a good trip. I enjoy traveling with a potty-trained child SO much - actually since he is so newly potty-trained - surprised no accidents, etc. Did great on the car ride. Averaged 8 hours each way due to traffic and stops, etc. Oh yeah, and lucky us on the way back - first rain of the season. First rain + long freeway drive = car coated in black muck. $5 carwash upon return home - not in budget. LOL. I am just grateful we only saw 1 accident - you hear the road gets slick with the first rain. & well we really saw all the oil and dirt churned up on all the passing cars.

The weather was perfect. Couldn't have asked for a better trip. We actually happened to get in the park right when it opened (we weren't necessarily gung ho on waking up early but just worked out) and then got a lot in before it started to get too crowded. Left at 4:00 for a nap and dinner. Worked out pretty good. HAd $20 lunch in the park & $10 dinner out of the park. Then returned until close at midnight. My son did great.

All that being said a lot was over his head and he was happy with the carousel. I had no illusion the trip was more for him than us - LOL. But then again thought he would get more out of it. He certainly enjoyed himself though.

All I could think all day was I Was so glad we did not bring the baby. I saw so many miserable parents. & it's like sure you can push around a stroller, but no strollers in line. I Wouldn't have survived more than an hour or 2 lugging around my big boy. Though we did decide maybe we should come back in 2 years, right before baby turns 3. Then he'll be free to get in, but he will be past the diaper and stroller stage. So we hope. It's a plan anyway.

I have no idea how much the weekend cost. Sick of fast food we opted for sit down lunches and a nice big driving break each way so we'll see how it turns out. We did a pretty frugal trip overall, but it still cost an arm and a leg. It amazes me what people are willing to pay for a few days at Disneyland. I would be surprised if our trip topped $400. Maybe $350. 2 night stay, 800 miles in gas, 1 day at park for 3, and food. Plus $12 for a ballon and a lightup necklace. That was our big splurge. I was proud how little we paid for food in the end. We didn't have to pack a lunch, but we did what we could to keep costs down.

That is probably in general our annual vacation budget, we aren't big vacation people. But this year has been kind of unique. We have done a lot of travel already - & 1 more trip to go. Going to Monterey and San Luis Obispo in December. I love San Luis Obispo - if it wasn't so outrageously expensive I would live there. But hubby wanted to do something nice for my birthday since I took him to vegas for his. & then well, that is it. Next year is going to be a dry year. I Am cool with that. We are going to enjoy our next trip for sure. I don't really want to go anywhere with the kids anyway until the little one is out of diapers and bottles and strollers. Anyway, it will be interesting how the whole vacation thing plays out as the kids grow older. My family never did vacations, and we did some bigger things when I Was a lot older. I think I appreciated it more. Dh on the other hand is spoiled rotten. He turned out pretty frugal and okay, so there is hope. But I think he will want to do a lot more travel than I in the upcoming years. We'll see who wins. ; )

Being so close to the beach and the mountains there is really little need for more than the day trips and weekend trips here and there. I am sure even though next year will be dry we will find plenty of day trips to entertain us. I am sure we will make it to the snow and the beach. Will cost little more than gas. Actually, what I look forward to in a couple of years is camping. But as long as diapers are involved, it can wait. In a couple of years I am sure we will be doing a lot of camping. I think the kids will really enjoy.

Awww, what a great month!

Well, I am not implementing my budget yet. But I am tracking it. I am starting on Jan. 1. In the meantime obviously I am trying to implement all I can. The only thing I am ignoring is I had our big Disneyland trip planned already and another small trip in December. I am pretty confident though that with my efforts we will come out ahead this year. From kind of barely scraping by I put money in the savings, and looks like I can swing some savings through the end of the year.

Anyway, got home today and updated all my stats. Retirement funds did awesome this month, good stock market month. Budget was great even though only implemented it mid-month. Had $185 left at the end of the month plus $30 interest all to emergency funds. Threw in a few extra bucks from rounding, etc. and put away $220 this month. Not bad!

I estimate that I will have $150 next month. + interest maybe I can swing $200. I am still figuring out how I will track everything because I like tracking cash basis, put about $1800 of my bills every month go on credit card, and so this is how I have next 2 months figured out. September is dead and gone, but October just about is as I know where every penny will go and the will pay the credit card which has september expenses. It is a little confusing for now, but I want to get it down to a science. Still have not figured out exactly how I am going to track everything. I may just pull 2k from the emergency fund Jan. 1 and start paying everything more cash basis. Just haven't decided. For now the lag confuses me a bit. I have $5k in the fund but $2k on the credit card due. So if I lost my job tomorrow that makes my emergency fund truly only 3k, right? This is why I kind of just want to switch to cash basis. Still use the card, but pay it early, during the month the expenses are incurred or something...

In reality I should be putting $700/month in temp savings for taxes and insurance. I have a long way to go. Put in 0 this month since set for year. But you know, not going to disneyland and charging $250 for a future trip, well yeah that will go a long way to helping. The budget says I will have $700 if I stick to it. I take its word for now. I still can't believe I'll have that $700 + money to spare every month if we just crack down a bit. But any little bit over budget really messes that up, so we'll see. Anything beats the $0 I have been putting in the last few months.

Only thing we really failed at was "grocery" budget. We stocked up on a lot this month and clipped a lot of coupons, and planned meals accordingly. & we spent $100 more than usual. We are still working on it. Hope it pans out in future months. On flip side I budgeted $200 for misc. & $75 for eating out. Under budget for both so pretty cool. I think we will come in under budget many months. But I like having a little wiggle room for the months we want to splurge a bit. There is definitely fun in my budget.

I have $55 cash leftover from gifts. My goal is to stretch it out through Dec. 31. No ATM. When we are good we don't go to the ATM for months, so we'll see. Basically my personal eating out budget rest of year - quick runs at lunch and eating out with friends - only time I pay cash really.