Birthday Parties

In a post a few months ago, I talked about how birthday parties can break the bank. This past week, Isabella has had 3 birthday parties.

Eek!!!

One is our good friend's son, so I bought him a present quite a while ago. But I didn't have any 'age appropriate gifts in my box (unless a manner's book is ok. I think the parents would be offended as their kids are very well behaved) so that means a purchase! I had a Groupon that expired in a few days to Barnes & Noble which I thought would be perfect to use for their presents!

After picking out a smallish present for both girls, I only had to pay $2 out of pocket which brought the total to $12 for two birthdays, or $6 each. That's something I can handle!!!

If you have room in your budget, buy cheap giftcards on Groupon when you can. You never know when they'll come in handy!

Living Out The Budget

Have you ever heard of Murphy's Law? It goes 'Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong'. Maybe you've heard it as 'When it rains, it pours'. At the moment we're living inside of Murphy's law with 2 broke down cars, and a tire that blew on the driveable one. So how do you stay on budget while it's pouring?

We've had suggestions of selling both cars, buying a new one and paying payments. First, we haven't had a payment in 8 years. Second, our budget cannot handle a payment. And third, I don't like the added pressure on the budget. Eek!

What's our solution? We sold the truck. I am really sad. I love that truck. The leather interior, the cargo space, the cream color...*sigh*. I didn't love the gas guzzling, though. And the money we got for selling it will help pay to fix the van. The van's a Honda, and will go until at least 250,000 miles. We have lots of miles left!

So that's what we're doing! It's not ideal. I'd love a new vehicle. But wisdom, and budget, do not allow it at this time. This is real life in a budgeting world, folks!

Pepper in Some Flexibility

Sometimes, as much as you plan the day, it doesn't go like you had in mind. Not that it's a bad thing, necessarily. Friday was one of those days for me.

I blogged about JBF on Thursday. I had  to drop the clothes off on Friday (of course, the last day for drop off) which has also become Jon and I's coffee date morning with the kiddos. So there was 3 things on my radar...Drop off, Coffee & Run. What I did not have on my radar...Vehicle Maintenance Run, New Glasses, Mall & Dinner Out.

Sometimes life happens. Everything got done, and that is no small task!

When we're having a day like Friday, it's very hard to stay in budget. We actually ate out every meal, I am ashamed to say. While we had planned on eating breakfast out, we had not planned on the other two meals. So how did we do? Well, we spent about $15 for dinner and lunch.

Yumminess!

It's not easy, for sure, maybe it was a little luck even. Lunch was Chick-fil-a spicy chicken biscuits for Jon and I, while the kids had those mini-chick things. Chick-fil-a had advertised the Spicy Chicken was free with purchase. That was a great deal! $6 for lunch for 4 people. Or 3 if you figure the kids between the 2 eat about as much as 1 of us.

Unless they're a bottomless pit that day. Very possible.

When we were home for 2 hours while I ran and the kids rested, I grabbed bananas, oranges and crackers for snack. The kids eat only a small snack, but that day a big one was going to be necessary. I knew that dinner would be pretty far away with phone and glasses needing to be picked up. So they were happy and full until 6:30 when we had another phone pick up after an impromptu mall run followed previous pick ups.

We were right by Sam's and I happened to have a gift card from my mother in law that we decided to use on dinner. Pizza or hotdogs. Neither choice is healthy, but since we eat fairly healthy on a regular basis I don't mind for the sake of convenience once in a while. Total for 5 hotdogs, 2 drinks and a churro...$9.00!

Flexibility certainly helps. But one thing that you need with flexibility, is awareness. Try to know what restaurants where you'll be are kid and budget friendly. Try to throw a few pieces of fruit into your purse or diaper bag, just in case. I try to keep a pack of crackers and bring a bottle of water in the van. You never know when plans will change on a whim!

When A Good Deal Is Not A Good Deal

Sometimes living on a budget can make you do crazy things. Like going to Sam's Club and buying a 5 pound bag of fresh broccoli that goes bad before you use it all. Or stocking up on coconut milk because you just know the kids will love it and buying it in bulk on sale with coupons gets you each carton for $1.50. Then it sits in the pantry for 4 months and counting because the kids don't actually like the taste so you have to force them to add it in cereal which you only eat on the weekends so it lasts forever.

I hope that never happens to you.

But in all seriousness, when you live on a budget and see a good or great deal, the first instinct is to run out and immediately stock up. Especially if you have coupons. But if it's not something that is tried and proven a winner in your house, then you just wasted your money.

That's a $6 + tax waste sitting in my pantry. And we're left with that only because we've been making the kids drink more of it. I don't blame them, it's not really my cup of tea either.

The point is, plan your meals and know what you use for toiletries. Buy what you need. If you see something is a great deal, first ask yourself if it's something you've used before. If the answer is no, don't load up until you've tried it.

Buying things that never get used is a complete waste of your budgeted dollars. And we can't have that!