:::: MENU ::::

Apr 12, 2012    |       14 comments

Business Travel

by

I’m in Dallas for the last leg of my Texas tour on the mission I can’t quite define.  I met a lot of people that I work with via email and telephone on a regular basis and that is great!  The Dallas crew is a friendly bunch and I felt very welcomed.  For the record–although it is totally irrelevant really–I like the city of Dallas a lot more than the city of Houston. 

So, while on business travel I am obviously on an expense account.  I can’t cook a meal so I find myself in restaurants.  Even on the company’s dime I found myself hesitating and making decisions based on $$$.  I take this as a good sign that I am learning new habits.  It would be very easy to just go wild and not be a good steward of what is entrusted to me…and I’m pretty sure no one approving my expense report would even notice.  This is a very good sign!

I also learned from someone “in the know” today that the decision to postpone the hire is likely due to the fiscal year and how a pay increase would impact the bottom line.  I am trying very hard not to put all my stock in that statement but it DID make my “travels across Texas” worth it. 

Final funny to share.  Last night I broke down and took the three kids out to eat.  My husband–Steve–was in Houston on business and with my early flight to Dallas this morning…well, I just did not have cooking in me!  I had everything to make spaghetti but after taking an hour after work to just hang out at the neighborhood pool while the kids swam…completing a First Communion lesson with the youngest…and preparing for a presentation I made today for work…I admit it..I was spent.  This is the first time we have taken the kids out to eat in 3 months!  They’ve been great about it.  I had a coupon for $5.99 all-you-can-eat buffets at Souper Salad.  The youngest one’s meal was only $4.00 so while certainly more than I’d spend making something at home…I still gave in.  As we pulled up to the restaurant I reminded everyone “water only guys.”   We all know how those drinks rack up the final bill and the two boys knew what I was talking about.  The 7-year-old girl said, with eyes wide, “you mean we can’t get food?!” 

 Okay then…I guess our changes ARE having an impact!  🙂 

 

Apr 10, 2012    |       16 comments

The saving money bug is biting others in this house…

by

I overheard the kids talking tonight and 7 year old girl explained to her big brothers that the library is the “way to go” because you just borrow the books and DVD’s and you don’t have to give them money.  🙂   This on top of the 13 year old revisiting the 25 cent boxes of Rice Krispies and marveleing aloud.  The 12 year old was on the phone with his Dad yesterday sharing what a deal these antennas are because “tv is FREE Dad.”    There have been some unrelated challenges with the 17-year-old so we definitely don’t have any positive or negative commentary from him.  Oh to be as smart as all of the 17-year-olds out there!  Another day where I find a whole new respect for my parents surviving FIVE teenagers!

I know that some readers will assume our kids are overindulged…but I beg to differ.  They saved money from chores (more on that in a post to come), birthdays, holidays, little “jobs” and have bought ALL of the gadgets they have.  One bought an iTouch after over a year of saving. Honestly I didn’t think he’d be so determined but I’m proud he was!  We supply the bottom of the barrel cell phones b/c my husband has a stash of old phones at his disposal and I’m the only one in this house with an iPhone!  And that was only after it was reduced to an employee discount price.   The middle schoolers just got their phones this school year and friends don’t believe them when they learn their Dad works for a cell company…b/c they definitely don’t have the cutting edge phones.  Three of the four kids seem to be naturally thrifty and the one that isn’t…is learning from the others.  We provide basics and even the PS3 that is now serving as our television supply was split–we paid 50%, they paid the other 50%.   So, all this is to say that I’m not surprised by the lack of drama or pushback from them…but I am surprised at each of them articulating it in the manner they do.  As a new blended family we’ve needed a common goal.  It hit me today that saving money and paying off debt is the perfect common goal!   In some bizarre way (truly bizarre thinking here) I wish I COULD point to a bunch of crap for the kids to explain this debt!  But that’s CRAZY talk!  I am sure the days ahead will see unhappiness and disappointment as the novelty of this battle wears off and we all realize it is a long war ahead.

Anyway, this  is just a random share to celebrate the entire family’s progress.  I like the idea someone put in a comment about recruiting them for my ebay sales.  I know they would love that!

1 … 1,217 1,218 1,219 1,220 1,221 … 1,951