I had planned on spending the entire day in the garden yesterday. Instead I ended up spending 7 hours running errands and shopping with my daughter, The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird.
During breakfast yesterday she reminded me she needed to go shopping for a dress for a special occasion she has coming up. The Girl only owns 2 dresses as it is, and she had been saving up her money to buy herself a new dress for sometime now {we give our kids a monthly allowance and they are in charge of buying their own clothes, gifts, entertainment, school supplies, and whatever else they want}.
Because I absolutely despise going to a mall or any retail store this time of year, we made a list of every possible store {except grocery} we would need something from from now until January and headed off in the car.
The first stop was the thrift store.
When you go to the thrift store and see an item you might like do you walk around clinging to it as if it were gold, only to talk yourself out of it before you get to the register? I do it ALL THE TIME. I mean really, could you see me wearing the green leafy skirt above? Like that would ever happen.
It took us 7 hours, we made 11 stops, and got everything marked off our list.
Our first stop was the recycling center to drop off cardboard and newspaper.
Then we stopped by Fred Meyer to pick up some Challenge Butter for $1 a pound. We also stuck some money in the Salvation Army kettle and noticed the bell ringers were a wee bit chilly. So we walked back in and bought them 3 hot cocoas. Yay for random acts of kindness!
We also stopped by World Market to get a few items for my parents gift baskets. Note: Crushed candy canes are only $3.99 here vs $4.99 at Crate and Barrel.
Then we were hungry so we stopped by KRISPY KREME!!!! Wahooo. When the guy handed us our doughnuts I said to The Girl, “Look, free gift tags, how cool is that?” “Whoop T Do Mom” she said.
Then I turned the gift tags over and OH MY GOODNESS … 12 coupons for 6 free cups of coffee and 6 free doughnuts. Yeah Baby Yeah!
Then we made like 5 other stops before ending our shopping/errand spree at Costco. Along with buying new socks and underwear for the Handsome Husband for Christmas {please tell me I’m not the only one who does this}, we also picked up a bunch of cute onsies for a 3 month old baby to place under the Angel Tree.
We had lunch there too. Meatballs, jalapeno poppers, hot cocoa, gummy vitamins, hummus, chips, bruchetta, and spinach ravioli. Hot dog it feels good to be done!
How about YOU? What did you do yesterday? Are you done with your shopping yet?
Mavis
Robin says
Yes,Yes,Yes I hate shopping too. You were brilliant to get it all done in one day. I hope your daughter found a gorgeous dress. And yes I give socks and underwear as Christmas presents too. Other than Fred Meyer (we don’t have those in SoCal) we shop the same stores. Not done shopping just yet but close. Yesterday was spent at Disneyland son’s HS marching band marched down Main Street. It was awesome! I hope you have a great day today. Merry Christmas
Mavis says
Marching down Main Street at Disneyland? Cool Bean Robin! Yes, she found just the dress she was looking for. 🙂 Merry Christmas lady! 🙂
Sarah b says
Wrapped, and wrapped and wrapped. Today is going to be washing my new 4oz bottles for the homemade vanilla extract and filling them up! Maybe even labeling and wrapping so I can be 95% done.
Mavis says
Sweet diggety Sarah! 🙂
sharon in auburn says
I have the beans, but what recipe did you use?
thanks
Christina Davis (rhymes with Mavis!) says
Mavis, I love that you allow your children to budget. What are their current ages and when did you start allowing them to do so? My kids are 9, 6, and 4. I definitely want to allow them to develop wisdom & independence financially. I did not learn budgeting until I was an adult. ack.
Mavis says
Are kids are teenagers and they have had budgets ever since I can remember. Maybe 4 or 5 years old? I think the key it helping them to make good choices with their money, but to also let them deal with the consequences. 🙂
Michele says
I think this might make an interesting post! Well, you have at least two of us who would be interested. 🙂
Kate in NY says
I love the idea of a monthly allowance that would include EVERYTHING. I have 4 kids (9-16) and our allowance system has been fairly haphazard over the years. I feel as if I am constantly handing out cash, and I desperately need to streamline the process. I also want them to learn how to budget and to distinguish “wants” from “needs.” I don’t suppose you would want to share publicly the amounts you give them, and the chores or responsibilities they must complete to get it (if indeed you connect chores specifically to allowance)? Then again, we certainly all know your grocery budget down to the penny! 🙂 I know there is a huge difference in cost of living from one part of the country to the next, so what I might deem appropriate here in suburban NYC might seem positively shocking to a family in the middle of the country. I will say that I currently give the teenagers $40 a month for entertainment, food and drinks, junky crap they like to buy, etc. But that doesn’t include clothing or school supplies. Hmmmm.
Mavis says
I give them $60 a month each. I used to tie the money to chores but don’t have to anymore, because they just do them anyway. 🙂 Monkey Boy is fond of spending his money on junk food and shoes within 3 days of receiving it. I think he only has 2 pairs of pants and a couple of t-shirts LOL. Luckily the neighbor kid who has really good taste {who is a few years older recycles his clothes to Monkey Boy.
My daughter on the other hand saves her money for really nice quality items {her dress was $99} but also shops at the thrift store as well. She is a health nut and doesn’t buy junk food so I think that helps her out in the budgeting department. 🙂
Every kids is different, but I think the important thing is they are making their own choices, and they have to live with them when they decide to buy something.
Heidi says
I think I flatlined for a minute or two after I read your kids do their chores without being asked. Snaps for Mavis! Good job!
Leanna says
Mostly done shopping. Made cranberry bread and strawberry bread yesterday. Made english toffee & zucchini bread today. Our monthly budgeting for our 13 year old is going great. Thanks for your info on this.
Leanna says
Also I would love to give clothes as gifts to my family but my hubby says no. He wants only fun things.
Mavis says
Minty toothpaste is fun. 🙂 LOL I know I am a total dork. I give practical stuff.
Huey says
When I clicked your link for the Sears H/B slow cooker for $9.99 s/store pick up, it was $23.99…Did I miss a step?
Mavis says
Thanks for letting me know, I just updated the post. It looks like the deal is over now. 🙁
Huey says
Thanks! Seemed to good to last long.
Ashley says
I totally buy my husband socks and underwear for Christmas. Neither of us seem to ever buy it for ourselves, so come Christmas we are both wearing hole-y socks. I put deodorant, meatsticks, grill seasoning, etc in my hubby’s stocking :p
Heidi says
My 11 year old son asked for family pj’s this Christmas eve. This was a tradition when I was a kid so I’m going to bring it back this year (not matching) along with a few other old traditions that had gone by the wayside over the years:)
I’m not done shopping. I have no idea still what to get for some people. I hate to just give a gift card but that might be my only option.
LaToya says
I cannot see you in the green leaf skirt. Although, with your affinity for gardening, it should be right up your alley. But I still can’t see it.
Went and spent a gift card at Whole Paycheck – and had lunch there like you did at Costco. While I was in the bathroom, the workers loaded my kid up with all sorts of free grub. Sweet. Will have to poop there more often 😉
Took a pile of (free) magazine to the old folks home.
The laundry never got done, but about 20 other things did. Satisfying weekend for sure.
Dropofrain says
Mavis, you’re not alone. This is our family tradition now, to get socks and underwear at Costco for my hubby 🙂 Well, that’s what he puts on the wish list every year, so I am happy with that.
Sherri says
How did you get butter for $1 a lb? I am totally out right now! Help!!
LaToya says
She said she went Saturday. The last day of the sale…..Challenge Butter was $2 at Fred Meyer….and there are/were $1 and 55-cent coupons out there….so as low as $1….or $1.45. I don’t see it in the ad that started yesterday, so pretty sure it’s a dead deal now.
Mavis says
LaToya is right. The deal ended SAturday night. 🙁 Thanks for your help LaToya.
Kristi says
Love that your kids have this financial responsibility now while at home. Sure helps them from learning more costly failures when on their own. We also have our oldest, 15, price out food, make meal schedules, figure out what to get/not get depending on price, what is left over in groc budget, etc. What’s the worst that can happen if the budget is spent too soon… PB sandwiches and cereal for a few meals. My oldest totally wants me to help him coupon, appreciates it now, and wants to be frugal when on his own. Training starts early.
Great job, Mavis! And yes, I think it would be great to have a series on this, just in case you find yourself bored :).
Helen in Meridian says
My son is 41 or 42, I forget, and says he is the only one of his buddy friends whose mom still buys his underwear. I HATE to pay shipping. When home last weekend for GM funeral, he went home with all the presents I have bought over the year, plus a big box of groceries from my stash, and a frozen turkey and ham that was 9 months old but frozen. Two of his buds lucked out too when I found $75 JCP robes for $3 last March and saved them for xmas. He is more frugal than I, and loves my deals I find for him; but thinks some of my deals for me are excessive.
Lisa says
Golly Mavis, we are so much alike it is scary! Even our wedding bands are similar (maybe our hubbys are alike?) Anywho, I am ALWAYS picking up items and carrying them around and then putting them back because, “I dont really need this right now” Then I will spend a few days wishing I had gone ahead and bought whatever it was 🙁
My son always got allowances and knew from the age of 5 how to fold his own clothes (hes 23 now) and put them away. He is a very good kid and I am blessed. I dont think it was the way I raised him, God just decided to take it easy on me 🙂
My yesterday was busy as well. We went to church and then straight to my mothers house (It was her birthday) where we cooked lasagne and cheese bread for lunch. And decorated her christmas tree as a present for her birthday 🙂 I too am a practical gift giver and since my mom doesnt need anything else to clutter her home, my sister and I decorated for her as a gift.
Now, if I could be the same size as you and garden as well as you…you would have an East Coast twin 🙂