Growing up I had three costumes that I put together rather than buy the costumes. There was a cowgirl, a gypsy and an angel. I also borrowed a costume one year and was a clown. All of the other costumes from what I can recall were store bought. Normally a plastic mask and a plastic costume were involved. I enjoyed getting the candy but probably did not enjoy the costumes very much.
Two of my children have made their own costumes but for the most part they are still store bought. We have had a candy, leprechaun and a pot of gold, bat man, bat man and a princess. A duck, Pokemon, dragons, Superman, a ghost buster, star wars characters, Harry Potter characters, scream ghosts, and a werewolf.
We have never had family themed costumes. I do remember getting a shirt from a shirt transfer place so I could be a Pokemon Catcher for my Pokemon children. Two of my children have a Halloween parade at school and would prefer not to dress up this year. Maybe they could dress up for a career.
I still enjoy the candy part of Halloween. My daughter enjoys the decorating even if she starts in August.
Happy ghosting!
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
We Got A Dog!
Tomorrow will be the one year anniversary of when our dog passed away. Last week we adopted a new dog. The adoption fees cost $250. The food bag cost $14 and a toy was $8. Stool sample test was $34. Happiness for the family priceless. Welcome home, Moe!
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Small Zoo
We encountered a small zoo on vacation. This time I left wishing I could have spent more money feeding the animals and less on merchandise. I spent $14 on animal food and about the same on merchandise. Feeding the animals was fun. Each item cost two dollars and could sometimes feed multiple animals. How many times do you get the opportunity to feed goats, pigs, a bear, raccoons, monkeys, lemurs and alligators? Over all the cost of admission was reasonable and the gift shop had a good selection if you ended up buying a souvenir t shirt or a small necklace.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Saving for an Emergency Fund
If you currently have an emergency fund, how large is it? What do you consider an emergency? Food, shelter and medical attention are important. What about a gift for a wedding or a shower? How about school fundraisers? All of these things should be closely monitored and considered when you are building up your emergency fund. Do your kids need lessons after school every season?
What about your summer plans? Can you do a stay cation? How many animals does your family have or need?
One year we bought a generator, It was the last one in stock and we did not have any electricity. Did we sit down and say how much will this cost us per day? Or did we snap it up feeling that if we would be without electricity too long we would need to pay for a hotel.
So many things come up that will prevent you from saving for your future. Outgrown clothes, a new shirt to take a yearbook photo, an expensive school field trip, a broken down car or a replacement water pump.
Let us break these items down into the necessities vs wants.
Necessities are similar to satisfiers and dissatifiers. When you are satisfied with something you don't necessarily appreciate it but when you are dissatified you might complain.
My son needs a new dress shirt for his 8th grade photos. True. Is it a necessity, no. Does he have a suitable dress shirt? No because he outgrew it. What happens when you go to the store? Do you only buy a dress shirt or do you buy a matching tie and a suit. How did a suit even come into the picture? I would like to call it bargain shopping. A suit is on the radar for May and June events. If the previous dress shirt purchased last year is too small chances are the previous suit is going to be on the smaller side also.
My oldest son is not too familiar with hammy downs while my youngest children often get hammy down toys and clothes. This year one even got a hammy down back pack when theirs broke less than half way thru the year.
School trips might not always be expensive but some can definitely be on the pricier side. A bus trip out of state with theater tickets, lunch and dinner is certainly on the more expensive side.
A school trip and a new shirt might be very small expenses compared to a broken down car, a generator or a water pump. Some of these items can be saved up for so that you do not need to touch your emergency fund. Chances are when your older car is inspected you will need certain things such as new tires, brakes, windshield wipers and various lights. A generator might be needed only every few years for a short amount off time. Can you make do without one? For some a generator may be a necessity while for others it might just be a want. Most things beyond food, shelter and medical treatment could be considered wants. A third car may be a necessity for three drivers in a family and other families find ways to share the two or one cars that they own.
Good luck in determining your needs and wants in the upcoming months.
What about your summer plans? Can you do a stay cation? How many animals does your family have or need?
One year we bought a generator, It was the last one in stock and we did not have any electricity. Did we sit down and say how much will this cost us per day? Or did we snap it up feeling that if we would be without electricity too long we would need to pay for a hotel.
So many things come up that will prevent you from saving for your future. Outgrown clothes, a new shirt to take a yearbook photo, an expensive school field trip, a broken down car or a replacement water pump.
Let us break these items down into the necessities vs wants.
Necessities are similar to satisfiers and dissatifiers. When you are satisfied with something you don't necessarily appreciate it but when you are dissatified you might complain.
My son needs a new dress shirt for his 8th grade photos. True. Is it a necessity, no. Does he have a suitable dress shirt? No because he outgrew it. What happens when you go to the store? Do you only buy a dress shirt or do you buy a matching tie and a suit. How did a suit even come into the picture? I would like to call it bargain shopping. A suit is on the radar for May and June events. If the previous dress shirt purchased last year is too small chances are the previous suit is going to be on the smaller side also.
My oldest son is not too familiar with hammy downs while my youngest children often get hammy down toys and clothes. This year one even got a hammy down back pack when theirs broke less than half way thru the year.
School trips might not always be expensive but some can definitely be on the pricier side. A bus trip out of state with theater tickets, lunch and dinner is certainly on the more expensive side.
A school trip and a new shirt might be very small expenses compared to a broken down car, a generator or a water pump. Some of these items can be saved up for so that you do not need to touch your emergency fund. Chances are when your older car is inspected you will need certain things such as new tires, brakes, windshield wipers and various lights. A generator might be needed only every few years for a short amount off time. Can you make do without one? For some a generator may be a necessity while for others it might just be a want. Most things beyond food, shelter and medical treatment could be considered wants. A third car may be a necessity for three drivers in a family and other families find ways to share the two or one cars that they own.
Good luck in determining your needs and wants in the upcoming months.
Picking a High School
Since my oldest is 14 it is time to select a high school. There are many different options that people choose. I find that most people decide on a public high school or some type of cyber school. We did not exhaust all options but we did try to evaluate four different schools. Choosing a high school can begin in 7th grade or earlier if they have lower grades. Applications can vary on deadlines but be sure to check if there are discounts offered for applying early.
One thing that I would strongly suggest is taking practice entrance exams or even courses designed to help with learning how to take the exams.
Good luck with your endeavors.
One thing that I would strongly suggest is taking practice entrance exams or even courses designed to help with learning how to take the exams.
Good luck with your endeavors.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Summer Expenses
Do your summer expenses normally go up or down during the summer? Ours would normally go up slightly due to a summer vacation. Sometimes activities are stopped for summer and replaced by camp fees. Part of our summer expenses include a pool membership, swim team, swim team bathing suits, pictures and snacks at meets. Maybe your food bill can go down if you don't need to buy individual snacks for lunches. Every bit helps. The swim club we belong to does not have a place to sell food day to day. This is probably better but the ice cream truck does come around to try to entice everyone to buy something. I could bring a snack similar to something that the children would buy at the ice cream truck to try to save some money that way.
I am finding out that my children don't have all the memories of the vacations that I had hoped. Our son asked if he had ever been to a particular state. Yes, we took a vacation in the state he mentioned but he was only 4 years old. I personally do not have any memories prior to age 4 or 5 in my own life.
It is okay to have down time during the summer break. Every moment does not need to be scheduled. I have noticed that some places have discounts during the week even though it is summer. That could be advantageous in multiple ways. First is the discount and second is the place may be less crowded.
You can pace yourself and not do everything in the same summer. There is an Aqua Park that looks to be fun but some of our children were probably too young to go in the past. The best way to go would be on the discounted days even if that means a scheduled day off from work. Many times earlier in the day or later in the day are the best times to avoid crowds. Some places offer free or discounted twilight prices. I have also seen pay what you wish for museum admissions.
Whatever you do or don't do this summer, there is always next year. Check out when the best sales are so you can plan for a certain time or destination. Enjoy!
I am finding out that my children don't have all the memories of the vacations that I had hoped. Our son asked if he had ever been to a particular state. Yes, we took a vacation in the state he mentioned but he was only 4 years old. I personally do not have any memories prior to age 4 or 5 in my own life.
It is okay to have down time during the summer break. Every moment does not need to be scheduled. I have noticed that some places have discounts during the week even though it is summer. That could be advantageous in multiple ways. First is the discount and second is the place may be less crowded.
You can pace yourself and not do everything in the same summer. There is an Aqua Park that looks to be fun but some of our children were probably too young to go in the past. The best way to go would be on the discounted days even if that means a scheduled day off from work. Many times earlier in the day or later in the day are the best times to avoid crowds. Some places offer free or discounted twilight prices. I have also seen pay what you wish for museum admissions.
Whatever you do or don't do this summer, there is always next year. Check out when the best sales are so you can plan for a certain time or destination. Enjoy!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Balance Transfer Checks
Recently we took notice of balance transfer checks. These offers to add to your credit card debt may appear tempting.
Here are a few items to take note of in the rules.
Interest will accrue on new credit card purchases (that are not at 0%) if your balance is not paid in full by the due date. I had seen a recommendation not to use the credit card at all if you are using the card for a balance transfer.
Minimum payments may go to pay off the lowest interest rate including 0%. Some of the companies may apply the money beyond the minimum payment to the highest interest rates first.
When you transfer a balance to a credit card it may not have the normal air miles and rewards.
I was surprised to learn that you can also deposit these balance transfer checks into the bank rather then just using them to pay off another credit card to get a lower rate. Assuming you were willing to get bogged down with using a credit card at all this could sound appealing. I can see many uses where this could come in very handy. The trick would be not to use the card for anything else until it is paid off.
Do the companies send these offers to you when you have a balance on the card or is it just a tool to draw in new business when you are not charging to the existing credit card anymore?
Good luck with your financial future!
Here are a few items to take note of in the rules.
Interest will accrue on new credit card purchases (that are not at 0%) if your balance is not paid in full by the due date. I had seen a recommendation not to use the credit card at all if you are using the card for a balance transfer.
Minimum payments may go to pay off the lowest interest rate including 0%. Some of the companies may apply the money beyond the minimum payment to the highest interest rates first.
When you transfer a balance to a credit card it may not have the normal air miles and rewards.
I was surprised to learn that you can also deposit these balance transfer checks into the bank rather then just using them to pay off another credit card to get a lower rate. Assuming you were willing to get bogged down with using a credit card at all this could sound appealing. I can see many uses where this could come in very handy. The trick would be not to use the card for anything else until it is paid off.
Do the companies send these offers to you when you have a balance on the card or is it just a tool to draw in new business when you are not charging to the existing credit card anymore?
Good luck with your financial future!
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