fbpx
:::: MENU ::::

Lots Going On – Travel, Decision Time and Almost There

by

I didn’t get an update in last week.  We were traveling to see my grandmother and I neglected to deal with the “no internet” issue at her home.  In the past, I always had a hot spot with my cell phone plan, but since I cut that last fall, well, I didn’t plan well.  I went out for a few hours to get internet and get work done, but otherwise, spent the entirety of my time reveling with my family.  It was truly an amazing trip, and I’m so glad I spent the money to go!

The total cost of the trip was less than $150 for two tanks of gas, and one meal out which I paid for.  But the fun was priceless!  Swimming, fishing and riding four wheelers at all my different extended families homes.  The little kids did not want to leave, and frankly, I didn’t either.  I was especially grateful to my cousins and uncles who spent a good deal of time with my little ones as I have been struggling with what I am calling the “fatherneed” especially for them.

2015-06-15 10.54.04

Princess and Little Gymnast with their catch of their FIRST ever fishing experience, and then we all got to watch the fish get cleaned and then ate them…SO, SO YUMMY!

I’ve also got the big housing decision deadline coming up in the next 30 days and am still struggling with what to do there, but that’s a story all on it’s own and I’m sure I’ll write about it in the upcoming weeks. Needless to stay, it’s still taking up a bit of my time researching, thinking and praying about what the right move is on that front. (Our lease is up in September, but we have to give notice by July of what our plans are.)

And most importantly, we are speeding quickly toward our “no consumer debt” pay off debt which is just a week away.  And I’m beginning to contemplate the next move on the financial front and more immediately a new budget since we’ve been on our super frugal budget now for almost four months.

Oh, and one big thing has happened.  We bought a car!  A family car, just in time for our Georgia trip.  I just couldn’t stomach the thought of the cramped conditions for 8 hours each way and frankly, while the Accord is a good little around town car, I just didn’t trust it for such a long trip.  So after much research and thought, I bought a car.  I will give the details on that in the next week or so.  The twins helped drive down to GA in it, and they too were glad to not have to drive the stick shift for so long.

Sea Cadet driving on the first leg of the trip to GA.  It was his first time driving with the entire family in the car...boy, was it scary!

Sea Cadet driving on the first leg of the trip to GA. It was his first time driving with the entire family in the car…boy, was it scary!


11 Comments

    • Reply Hope |

      Marzey,
      The car purchase was inevitable and will be life changing for me as History Buff will start taking over some of my driving duties this summer and definitely in the fall. Driving the twins car was a great lesson for me (to learn stick shift) and learn what it feels like to have no car payment!
      But that was meant to be there car and I TRULY need some help in the chauffeuring department with 4 such active kiddos.

  • Reply Angie |

    LOL @ the whole “Oh by the way we bought a car!” I look forward to hearing more!

    • Reply Hope |

      Angie,
      I’m glad that made you laugh. It was fun to write.
      And I’m even more excited to tell the story.

  • Reply Walnut |

    I assume the vehicle purchase was able to be paid for in cash if you’re still on track for being consumer debt free in a week?

  • Reply Sue |

    I’m so glad you had such a great family trip – we have been there when you want to take a trip and can’t because you are afraid the car will break down halfway there!!! With the twins age, it might be the last family trip you get to take – so happy you enjoyed it!

  • Reply Wren |

    Ok, when you say ‘we have to give notice by July’, is that the 1st of July or the 31st? If it’s the 1st, you don’t have 30 days, you have 5. You might want to clarify that, so you aren’t caught unawares if they are expecting a decision on the 1st, and no decision means an automatically renewed lease.

    • Reply Hope |

      We have until July 24th to give notice if we want to move out at the end of this lease term, and this company does not flex at all.

  • Reply kili |

    Hi Hope,
    looks like you and the kids are having fun. Great!
    Will be looking forward to a more detailed update on the latest decisions.
    And as a European I can assure you, it is possible to do long roadtrips with stick shift as well…

    • Reply Hope |

      Oh, no, kili, I could not imagine having to drive a stick shift for so long. The 3 hours to Gymnast’s gym meet this spring did me in. Stop and go traffic, like sardines in a can…no thank you. Maybe I’m spoiled.

So, what do you think ?