In other news, today was a no spend day, NO SPEND day number 3 for the year. Tomorrow is another planned no spend so let's hope it doesn't pan out the way yesterday did. I really like the coat though. And I love having a brand new coat for him in the closet that only cost $12. Clearance is just such a wonderful thing (with a heavy dose of restraint). I'm going to look through the budget, but I'm considering buying a second coat just to donate somewhere. I mean, a brand new coat for a little kid who actually needs one for only $12, yeah.
Changing subjects, it's SOOOOOOOOO cold right now! Hm, I guess that's not much of a subject change actually. All of last winter was like this (with LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of snow) so having a really mild November and December sorts of makes up for it a little but gee, I can't seem to get warm, my joints all hurt quite badly (and I'm not that old) and my poor eleven year old mini-schnauzer is really feeling the bitterness too. He's been limping every time he stands up the past few days. Hooray for the polar vortex!
Average daily spending for 2016: $19.55
Oh yeah, I meant to share this the other day because I think it's super cute. I picked up this Christmas reindeer craft for 11 cents in last year's Christmas clearance. Several days ago little Abe and I sat down to work on it. I helped him with the stitching along the edges but he glued all the other pieces on himself and put them where he liked.
The picture on the package showed a very jolly reindeer with perky little ears. Little Abe purposefully made his frowning. I said something to him like, "honey that reindeer looks awful sad. Don't you want to turn the mouth to smiling?" He laughed and said he wanted it just so. It's still so cute. I'd say that was a very well spent 11 cents.
For the record, our dog did knock over our Christmas tree this year. And I think it's safe to say that the blue snowflake thing hanging for the reindeer's antler is an ornament. Little Abe witnessed the falling of our tree and the breaking of several ornaments. I'm just going to speculate that this reindeer must have also knocked down a Christmas tree, hence the ornament hanging from his antler, and that just isn't a fun thing for anyone to experience so the frown is fitting. Haha!
That is adorable!!! Best 11 cents you ever spent :)
ReplyDeleteRight! Haha
DeleteI used to buy my kids clothes for the following year at the ultra ultra clearances. I remember fully outfitting my son for kindergarten for about $50 with all Dayton's (now closed eventually folded into the Macy's after several mergers) so top quality that I think passed on to someone else who got more use out of them. I was getting things cheaper than garage sales. I think this is where frugality comes into play. Saving money, so you have spare money, to save money in another area when the opportunity strikes. There have been studies on how being cash poor keeps families poor. If a person or family is having to live hand to mouth, it is virtually impossible to ever get ahead. You can't buy two loaves of bread when they are on sale for 2 for $4.00 a loaf (sticking one in the freezer)because you don't have $4.00, so end up spending $3.00 on one, eventually spending $6.00 on the same food that someone with a little cushion was able to spend only $4.00 on. I could write and read volumes on this subject. Sorry for the soap box. Great job on the no spend days so far.
ReplyDeleteI know, first hand, exactly what you're talking about. A big part of this frugality journey for me has been learning how to plan much MUCH better. When I came home with the coat for next year my husband thought I was crazy (haha, I bought little Abe's winter coat for this year last year). Planning even when cash is really tight helps for there to be cash for later. But planning takes a lot of work and I think a lot of people don't realize they need to or should plan out purchases.
DeleteAnd then the credit cards. Think of people who are cash poor who use credit cards on a "great deal," (uh, totally used to be me!) say $12 on a kid's winter coat that would have been $36. But using the credit card and not being able to pay it off... even if it's just $12... interest and more interest, and the possibility of late fees, ect. It's this endless cycle (like the $6 for two loaves of bread that you could have gotten for $4 if you had the cash) that keeps you poor and paying way more for stuff then you should be. Credit cards can be deadly (I've been digging my way out of the grave for far too long).
Your son's reindeer is adorable! I try to buy the kids clearanced clothes like that, but fortunately for us 2 of our kids have b-days in October and November so if they need a new coat, I ask one of the grandparents to buy it. But if I found a great quality coat for $12 I would snap it up too.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am trying to figure out some way to display it as a Christmas decoration for next year.
DeleteI REALLY like the $12 coat. It's a purchase I will not regret. It's trendy looking and really REALLY warm. It looks really durable too. There's a comfort in knowing that I won't have to deal with getting him a coat next year now, like that to-do is taken care of (way ahead of time).
I don't know how large the reindeer is, but a string at the top would make it hang nicely on a doorknob. Or, if my child made it, I would possible hang it on the Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteI bought my childrens' clothes on clearance often as I could. With three children, that was important, especially since the first was a boy then a girl, so not many hand-me-downs, EVER. Then, there were five years difference between the second, the girl and the third child, also a girl.
My mom was in a similar boat with clothes. I came along first and then my brother. My second brother could wear hand me downs but eight years after me was another girl. That made for a lot of clothes buying for her.
DeleteThe reindeer is probably too big for the tree but it could hang from a door knob. Maybe I'll attach a string and simply use it as a door decoration, like hang it in the middle top portion, sort of how a wreath might be. I think it would look great on the kitchen door going to the basement. Thanks for the idea!
That reindeer is truly wonderful! He's not frowning or sad, he's puzzled - "How did I manage to get an ornament on my antlers?" Wouldn't you be just a little perplexed under the circumstances?
ReplyDeleteHaha, that seems like a very accurate assumption as well. I was puzzled for a bit as to how/ why he had an ornament there too. I'm sure he must be.
DeleteI still get my kids clothes that way! Deep after season discounts! Well, at least how much they allow me - I refuse to buy clothes they won't wear at all.
ReplyDeleteIt feels really good to have it taken care of so early AND to have saved so much money. I'm going to try and keep up on this route.
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