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May 6, 2012    |       13 comments

Rough start for May…

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This is the first weekend of May and I can already tell things are going to be extra challenging on the financial front!  Historically, May is a very challenging month.  The end of the school year brings so many activities for us and the kids and that means more time away from home and…being away from home and on the road has a tremendous impact on spending.  We have tried to prepare but after today I see that we need to prepare even more.  I don’t know what to do yet but recognizing the potential for spending out of convenience is the first step.

Today I just felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  There were errands that needed to be made involving small purchases–and I think b/c I went about running the errands without a real plan in place AND had the 2 youngest kids with me I somehow ended up spending more money than I thought I would.  The kids didn’t ask for anything and I can’t identify anything that I bought simply b/c they were with me but there IS something to be said for that distraction factor.  I feel a bit incapable for some reason that I don’t stay on budget or task b/c I have the kids with me while shopping.  Is it that it involves a lot of talking and explaining on this and that so that my attention is divided and then I end up just buying what I first find so I can move on?  I’m not sure at this point but I definitely see the difference.  Saying that I can and will only shop alone is not an option–so I need to figure this out.

I caved on the way home tonight and we stopped for fast food.  It was not at their request or suggestion but totally mine.  Frustrating but I guess it is bound to happen and I can’t totally freak out.  This is the first fast food we’ve had in a very long time. It stung to hand over $17.00 for 3 of us to eat and it wasn’t even good tasting or good for us food.   Meanwhile hubby was home with the 8th grader and 2 of his classmates as they worked on a school project.  After the friends went home hubby spent $12 on fast food for the two of them.  That’s $30 right there…GONE….Blah.

Tomorrow is a new day…

May 5, 2012    |       23 comments

Gift Registries

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Remember a few years ago, Toys R Us began offering “gift registry” for holidays and birthdays for kids?  I remember seeing those commercials and being appalled and then it seemed that I didn’t hear much more about the concept.  Well, I just googled it and they are still offering it.  I just have to hope that it is not catching on to any great extent.  The very concept is ridiculous to me!  What does that teach our kids?!

I think registries started with weddings, didn’t they?  I can see the rationale behind that I guess–if you think about out of town guests wanting to send gifts that they know the couple need and want, but even that has gone extreme.  In the mid-nineties it was still about knowing what dishes and silverware-maybe towels– a couple chose but the last gift registry I printed up had things like outdoor patio furniture and cleaning supplies!  It almost looked as though the couple had everything they really needed so they were adding stuff just to add stuff.

The baby registry probably started with good intentions too but is now off the charts.  Everyone should just give the new parents diapers….period.

But the one that took the cake for me were the friend of friend who was expecting a baby at the time of her marriage.  I’m not so out of it to find that unusual these days–it happens–but she actually registered with Target’s Club Wedd AND Lullaby Club at the same time! Oh…wait…there was another one that took the cake.  The parish priest who arrived at a new parish and a “welcome” party was put together for him.  Imagine my shock and awe when a note was included that Father So-in-So was registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond!  Maybe put word out verbally about what he may need at his new residence but a registry?!  Really?!

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