Saving for what?

Recently I was asked by a reader what I was saving money for? The question struck me a number of ways. The dialogue in my head was random and not precise at all,.


Some thoughts that came to mind were;

1) What do you mean what am I saving for?
2) Big ticket items…what?
3) Why not save just to save?

Then it occurred to me that none of these answers would be sufficient. So I spent some time really thinking. What IS the goal here? Why am I pinching pennies so hard? The conclusion I came to is directly related to a frame of mind my generation, the late-thirty-something’s. The shared mentality of “I work hard! if I want something I am going to have it!” This way of thinking I can clearly relate to however it is not how I think now or at least not in the same way.

Years ago I can recall seeing a Movado Museum Face watch advertised in a magazine. The ad was exquisite and the colors, language and model all really grabbed me in an unusual way. Sometime soon after seeing that ad I saw the very same watch on TV. Although this time someone was wearing the watch on a talk show and a comment was made by the host on the high equality of the watch . The decision was made that someday I would have a Movado Museum Face watch. The kicker is at that point in my life I didn’t even wear or own A watch. Up until then I didn’t really even care to own a watch. Flash forward a few months and I am at the outlets and guess what? There is a Movado store. I beeline for the store and as I entered I swear I could hear the Angels singing. The store was beyond beautiful. Fancy chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, shiny pristine gold and silver accents were everywhere. The salespeople were all perfectly dressed and manicured. The whole experience felt important and exciting. The Museum Face Movado watches were displayed in the store’s most prestige’s location under locked glass. I approached them to find no visible price tag. A salesperson saw me and quickly approached with keys in hand. “ I know just the watch you are looking for,“ he stated cheerily. “You do?” I said skeptically. He pulled out a silver and gold Movado Museum Face watch and handed it to me. My heart was racing and I felt “happier“ than I could ever recall. I was wearing the exact watch “that I was looking for.” We talked a bit and he told me all about the history of Movado, the current BIG sale, the difference between outlet and store buying and so on. Finally after about a half an hour he stated the price. My heart sank at the $3,600.00 price tag. Which he informed me was $1,400.00 off regular retail. I thanked him and said I would talk it over with my husband. I left determined to get that watch! “Heck” I said “I work hard, if I want something I’m going to have it!” Months pass I find myself naturally navigating into jewelry stores. I was internet surfing for Movados -it had become a slight obsession. On a shopping trip to TJ Maxx I gandered at the jewelry counter and there it was! My Movado Museum Face watch ! The same watch I tried on at the Movado outlet in Manchester ,Vermont. I tried not to get too excited because I did recall the $3,600.00 price tag. However I was in TJ Maxx, so I ask the unkempt grumpy lady at the jewelry counter if I may try on the “silver and gold Movado Museum Face watch.” She slammed open the case ( I jumped-it was startling!) and yanked out the watch, hands it to me and-get this- walks away! She left me with a $5,000.00 retail Movado Museum Face watch! I’m slightly distracted by the events that led up to me wearing the watch so it didn’t occur to me to ask the saleslady for the price. I spent about 4 minutes looking the watch before I realized the price tag was hanging off it. Really, it was so shiny and beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes off the watch. I looked, looked again, then I summoned the saleslady to ask if she could read aloud the price on the tag because I was having difficulty with the small print. Reality was that my eyes were tearing with joy and I couldn’t believe the numbers I saw and wanted confirmation. “$369.99” she said. “I’ll take it” I said, before the last syllable left her lips. I wore it home, I wear it everyday and have for the past four plus years.

I paid cash for the watch and the buying experience was much different than it would have been at the fancy Movado store. A couple of things happened that require reflection. The first is that I was sucked in by advertising to make a big ticket purchase on something I hadn‘t ever thought of buying. I really do not know what compelling components the initial ad was comprised of and how it got to me, but it did. Then the successive episodes of seeing the very same watch penetrated my mind, scary, almost like brain washing. I truly felt strongly that I must have the watch. However I did not whip out a credit card at the Movado store when I initially found the “perfect” watch. This is where I differ from most. If I do not have the cash I do not buy. I scrimp and scrape and put money way so when I do find items that I want I can pay cash for them.

From my perspective I try to see more than just the item in front of me when I look at spending. What am I buying? Why am I making this purchase and the overall impact - ie am I helping the local economy? The environment? The impact on the future? Is this setting a good example? And so on. The Movado experience is another story. I was almost completely blinded by advertising. So much so that I longed for a certain watch when I did not even wear a watch. My judgment was effected by advertising. Well, my flag is up and I am hyper aware of selling tactics and I am careful not to fall into this same predicament again….or so I hope. With that said, Andy- I am saving so I can buy what I want, and pay cash of course.

Get Over It.....

A big house, lots of land, a fancy foreign car, a huge diamond ring, and more. You think you know what you want, but do you really know what it will require to get, maintain and hold on to it? Today is “Get Over IT Day”. This is a perfect opportunity for people to really think about what we perceive as the keys to our own personal happiness.


A house on the lake, If I only had a second home on the lake then I would be happy. An easy thought to have but lets break it down. Buying, furnishing and maintaining a second home may require you to work more to pay the additional bills. Taxes, utilities and expected entertaining would also be included. Would this excess work take more time? Yes. Does additional work make you (or your spouse) cranky, tired, irritable? Will you even have time to spend (awake) at either of your homes? How often, or rather how long would you truly enjoy that second home before it became a burden? Keep in mind this blog is not intended for people like Bill & Melinda Gates, this blog is for lower to middle-income people.

In early winter 2008 my family lost our entire house and garage in a fire. We lived in a lake town, but not on the lake, and the majority of the rentals at that time were lakeside and very expensive. A one-level large-yard lake house was available to us for the time period we required. The location was ideal only minutes from where we were rebuilding. We were getting a taste of life on the lake. We were thrilled to say the least.

The lake house rental was perfect. How beautiful the area was as we watched as the seasons change. Open water froze and the boys ice skated while I cross country skied. We roof raked and shoveled all winter long, which we oddly enjoy. In the spring we sat on the dock with friends and sipped wine. The kids splashed and played in the water. Dinner parties were held a few times a month. As time passed we realized for us to have a house on the lake it would be our only house. According to our calculations the mortgage would be around $3000.00 a month for 40 years and that would not include the $30,000.00-$40,000.00 annual taxes. The house was large and drafty. We found that it is always noticeably colder on the lake also. Utilities were included in the rental but I have an idea that the heating bills were very high.

To be honest the lake house just didn’t seem worth the time and expense. A third of the way into our stay my husband and I both said that it was nice to have the opportunity to see what the lake life was like although it wasn’t as great as we thought. Both of us realized we had some really distorted thoughts of grandeur regarding living on the lake.

Our delusional shock from lake side living has carried over into other parts of our lives. It would be nice to drive a Hummer or a shiny new Jag, as long as I don’t have to pay for it! I will continue to drive my Chrysler Pacifica. I will enjoy me little house - built low maintenance, energy efficient, easy to clean and very low taxes. I still live in a lake town but all those people who have lake houses, well, they pay big taxes so the rest of us enjoy low taxes.

Years back a good friend of my stated it was her twentieth wedding anniversary and she and he husband were looking at diamonds. I stole a glance at my own left hand and briefly longed for something sparkly to rest on my wedding band. A week later she displayed what looked like a close relative to the Hope Diamond. This ring was amazing! A big, sparkly, perfect diamond just over three-carats. I went home and cried with jealousy into my pillow. The following months our conversations consisted mainly about ring related difficulties. Money was tight because they bought the ring, she was always worried about losing the diamond or the entire ring slipping off her hand, or my favorite: the ring was hard to get used to because it was so heavy. I saw my friend recently and noticed she wasn’t wearing the ring. When I inquired on the whereabouts of the ring she said they decided to sell it and pay off some of their credit card debt. She also said “I don’t know what we were thinking when we bought that ring”. "I do," I said quietly to myself…and thanks.

Consider looking closely at the “things” you believe will make you happy. All the times you have said “if I only had ________then I would be happy”. Then look around and the “things” you do have, most of the happiness attached to tangible items is acquired during the planning process and maybe a little happiness during the early stages of ownership. That elation fades over time and what is the depreciation value? Is it worth it or should you just “get over it ?”

OMG! These are the BEST coupon blogs...these ladies..( I am assuming ladies?) know thier stuff and do alot of work...Thank you!!

1. Confessions of A Thrifty Mama 2. Walgreens NO SUNDAY PAPER COUPONS NEEDED for these deals! 3. MoJo Savings( Lots of things FREE) 4. More Than Cents - Walgreens Money Makers 5. Melissa Makes Cents 6. My Frugal Adventures {Free and Cheap} 7. Short On Cents FREE/ CHEAP 8. TEN Free After RR Items 9. Coupon Saving Game (Tons of FREEBIES!) 10. $30 Dollar Weekly Grocery Challenge ($5 off $25 Walgreens Coupon) 11. Madame Deal$ (Walgreens Rock Bottom Deals) 12. Walgreens coupon match ups, rrs, and other deals for the week of 9/27 13. Maven of Savin' (profit) 14. Coupon Teacher (My Picks) 15. Tia Saving Cents - Lots of FREEbies 16. My Coupon College (rolling scenarios- low OOP!) 17. SWAP SAVERS (All Drugstore Deals) 18. Matchups for Walgreens & $5. 00/$ 25.00 Coupon 19. Luv a Bargain- Walgreens Bargains 9/27- 10/ 3 20. FREE at Walgreens this week! 21. Fun trip for tons of free nail polish! 22. Mommies with Cents 23. Melissa's bargain blog (newbie scenarios, low OOP) 24. http://moneyjarsavings.blogspot.com/2009/09/walgreens-deals-92709-10309.html 25. Moms Thrifty Ways Walgreen Freebies 26. Swappin' Spoons - WAGS (FREEBIES really GREAT DEALS) 27. Coupon STL (spend $1.83 earn $11.50 RR) 28. Moms Need To Know (Wags matchups)

29. Nebraska Mom @ Wags 30. The Coupon Project (lots of freebies... even w/o coupons!!) 31. Coupon STL ($5 off $25 Scenario) 32. Walgreens Coupon Matchups 33. Never2Late2Save 34. Joyful Money Saving (Walgreens freebies) 35. The Frugal Girls! {Don't miss these 11 *hot* FREEBIES and Money- Makers!} 36. $5 Walgreens Challenge 37. Coupon Clipping Mom - GREAT week at Walgreens!!! 38. Swappin' Spoons - WAGS -- NEW $5/$25 COUPON 39. Sweet Savings - Wags 40. http://spendless2savemore.blogspot.com/2009/09/walgreens-deals-092709-10309.html 41. Deal Seeking Mom (Walgreens Deals) 42. Saving Cents with Sense (FREE and Cheap) 43. Alaska Coupon Diva- lots of MM! 44. In The Know Mom - BABY STAR diaper bag tote - 10/ 2 45. The Coupon " High" (Includes Low OOP Scenario for newbies) 46. Mistys Money Matters~ Wags paid me to shop!! 47. Once Upon a Coupon - Walgreens Deals w/ PRINTABLE SHOPPING LIST 48. Frugal Shopping With Julie 49. Nicole's Nickels ($4.14 OOP for 6 items with $6 in RR's - MONEYMAKER!) 50. The Domestic Contessa (free Crystal Light) 51. Sweet Deals 4 Us (pictures!) 52. Frugal Fritzie (Wag Deals- Lots of Freebies) 53. Summer's Savings (Wags $13.69 OOP, $20 back in RR) 54. Save At Home Mommy- Weekly Deals $5 off $25 Coupon 55. Keeping the Kingdom First (The Walgreens $5 Challenge) 56. Coupon Katie

57. Mama Lulu 58. Couponnerdz - WAGs scenarios 59. Shelley's Super Savings: Walgreens 60. Confessions of a Couponaholic 61. Frugal Living & Having Fun! ~ Walgreen's All Under $1. 00 62. That Went Well... Walgreen's $12 deal! 63. That Went Well--$5 off $25 coupon! 64. A Frugal Friend (Back in the WAGS Saddle) 65. Frugal Living & Having Fun! ~ Walgreen's Newbie Scenario 66. ($ 1.71 tax for 10 items) Savinga Bundle 67. Mommy Snacks (Reader Friendly Coupon Matches) 68. $20 olay rebate 69. FREE regenerist anti aging eye roller $20 Olay Regenerist Rebate! 70. Walgreens only printables 71. Family Stamping and FOOD! ($43.77 for ONLY $1. 71) 72. Single Parent - Wags $13. 41 73. Little People Wealth (Scenario to Earn $16) 74. moneysavinggirl 75. A Thrifty Mom- Walgreens 76. Happy Homemaker Cindy 77. STL Mommy (Walgreens Coupon Match Up) 78. The Deal Scoop (Free, Cheap, and Moneymakers) 79. Family Makes Cents (Walgreens... Lots of RRs!!) 80. Free Stuff Channel 81. http://www.alotofsavings.com/2009/09/walgreens-deals-927-103.html 82. You're next!

FREE STUFF?

Have you ever received a phone asking you to tour a resort? Me neither. What I did receive was a phone call saying I won a $2,000.00 shopping spree, a 3 day, 2 night stay at select resorts across the country, AND $50.00 cash! Well, well, well....I asked a few questions and guess what? All I had to do was.....tour a resort in Sanbornton. Okay I said , why not? We got nothing better to do on a Sunday. So we loaded up the two boys and off we went. The e-mail said 11:30 prompt. We arrived at 11:20. And waited...and waited..At noon we were served coffee and tea and at 12:20 Ben asked the girl at the desk how much longer. The 3 other couples hurried over to the desk to hear her answer. She gave an apologetic look and asked if anyone needed to leave, we all said yes (it's Nascar at 3:00...for heavens sake!!) so she divied up our free stuff and we were set free. Sure enough we were given 2 vouchers each for $1,000.00 to shop online. (we pay shipping and handling ...in case you didn't already guess) We got our 3 day 2 night stay information (with black out dates...in case you didn't already guess) AND we got our $50.00 cash (in good old paper currency...betcha didn't guess that). Not bad, we did drive almost an hour but I combined this with a trip to the Tilton outlets. GAP has a fantastic sale! They have the BEST kids clothes. GAP clothing , in my experience, does not shrink, fade or stain. I can hand them down from Will to Luke and still take them to consignment when Luke grows out of them. I can't say that for too many other brands. So all in all it was a good day, a nice break in the monotony.

MISSION:Potty Training STATUS: Complete

I think we did it! Like(2) has gone 10 days without any accidents. I have made this announcement before and on the same day Luke peed his pants. However, it is with utmost confidence that I make this claim. How you ask? Well, it began a year ago in March 2006 Luke was 18 months old. I had just read an amazing article in Parents Magazine about potty training infants! I thought it seemed a bit extreme , but I like crazy and Luke wasn't quite an infant . Luke could walk and talk and he would follow us all into the bathroom to inquire on our doings. So, I took off his diaper introduced him to the potty chair.We (yes, my husband had a role in this-you MUST work as a team to be successful) didn't push Luke we let him take control of sitting and standing and peeing and pooing -many times it landed next to the potty. He wore underwear during the day and pull-ups for nap and overnight. There were lots of accidents. We told Luke "we don't pee or poo in our Big Boy underwear," and said no more. When he used the potty (with undies down), just as a chair or to go poo or pee, we gave him a reward. That enticed him to sit on the potty more. We had to be really patient...I mean really, really patient. No matter how frustrated we got WE DID NOT PUT HIM IN A DIAPER! IT HAS TAKEN A YEAR, BUT WE HAVE NOT PURCHASED DIAPERS FOR 12 MONTHS! A package of pull-ups would typically last a month. We figured we saved well over$400.00!! And seriously -there were a lot of accidents. When Luke used the potty successfully all day long we started to take the pull-ups away. This was the longest part of potty training. For months he only had occasional accidents in his pull-ups. We took nap time pull-ups way first. When Luke could make it through nap time dry then we gave him a week or so before we took his bedtime pull-ups away. Some days he would be totally dry in the morning other days he would be soaking wet. Then we did it, we used the last pull-up and vowed to buy no more -no matter what happened. So, sometimes Luke peed in his underwear at bedtime. We changed his bedding, sanitized his crib mattress, and told him he could get a big boy bed when he did not pee in his underwear. Gradually over about 3 months he had less in less accidents in bed and he has been dry for 10 consecutive days, YEAH!!!!
It can be done.. but YOU need to be committed. Happy Training:)

A Tip...finally

IT'S FRIDAY !!!! To me it is comical how out-of-home working people worship Fridays. I look forward to EVERYDAY!! Each day brings a new experience and yes, each new day also brings challenges. Today's challenge: Grocery Shopping. Since January first I have been trying a new grocery system-so far I really like it. The system is easy and saves a ton of time. I spend about 1/2 an hour gathering 7 dinner recipes from the Internet and magazines. I make my grocery list from the recipe ingredients and I include an ongoing list of things I need. Then I separate the list into categories: ie: Frozen, Dairy... Then I shop and I actually stick to my list! For my family of 6 it is usually 4 at the dinner table I average $160.00 a week(Wal-Mart). Each night an hour before dinner I glance at my menu and select that nights dinner. I no longer waste a minute of my day struggling over what we will have for dinner, and I don't waste time running to the store mid-week. However, on Fridays Luke (2) and I trek off to the store, and that in itself , is my first of many challenges for the day!

What?....Cloth Baby Diapers?...

Was Rome built in a Day? Nope, and I can't clean my entire house in one day either. But today is thursday and I am well rested ( and future stock holder in snore strips). So I am cleaning today, actually I am mad-crazy-cleaning-today. Or at least that is the plan. Tip: Cloth baby diapers cut in half fit very well on a swiffer. Spray the cloth with endust and dust mop all wood floors. (I wash my cloths and reuse them over and over) I learned this when I was broke and couldn't afford to buy refills for my swiffer. Actually it was around that same time of financial difficulty that I learned a lot about saving money, being expertly frugal and making things work with what I had on hand. A good label for me might be Creativly Frugal. However, I never warmed up to the idea of using vinegar and water as a cleaning solution, soap and water work just fine.

So on today's agenda is; carpool, music lesson, recycle center, Family Times newsletter, Lions Club business, Library business and something else....oh, yeah...cleaning. All with a two-year-old in tow. I love it!!!