One non-preschool Thursday morning, my daughter (Litsa’s) and I spent a quiet morning at home. However, it wasn’t a usual non-school morning. I was thinking through everything we needed to do in Memphis (a two and a half hour drive from our home). I prepped my list and our vehicle. The truck was equipped with some gas, snacks, drinks, toys, electronics—-and my list! My list included:
(1) Appt. w/Dr. Thompson @ 2
(2) Mall
- Ride carousal (treats* for out of town medical follow-up)
- Jumping Ride (treats*)
- Auntie Ann’s Pretzel Snack (treats*)
- Ann Taylor Return
- VS Return
- Godiva Chocolate Freebie
(3) Bracelet Inspection (free)
(4) Coffee Break (free)
(5) Late Lunch/Early Dinner (split to save money)
(6) Fleet Feet—measure feet for new running shoes
(7) Gas stop
Luckily, our schedule and our promptness in/out of the doctor’s office and into Memphis allowed us to meet all of our items on our list. Phew! On our ride home, I was spent—and our money was depleted too! After two full months of conscious spending and saving (January Savings Added Up & February Savings Added Up), I couldn’t help but think about consumer consumption and how quickly money goes if you don’t have a budget in place!
At the mall, we dropped $2 for the carousel ride and $7 for the jumpy ride—–$5.83 for an almond pretzel and a small coke. My returns at VS and Ann Taylor were only returns but had my toddler let me look around……The Godiva free monthly chocolate bite was greatly appreciated! Then, a $50 copay at the doctor’s office reminded me to dig out the empty Starbucks bag for a free brewed coffee rather than indulging in a latte! Our late lunch/early dinner combo was just a small treat to tie us over until we made it home—a Panera Bread deli delight with a fresh apple and cheddar/broccoli soup for both of us—with water—approximately $8! Fleet feet went running away with my money—-new shoes, insoles, and a workout pullover was more than a small ping in my consumer consumption thoughts as we drove home!
Yet, our first yard sale of the season was scheduled for Saturday so I was hoping/praying for a “fleeting” return for my workout gear that was going to help keep me in shape all year long! And the yard sale did just that……..but I hated the $18.95 charge for gas that was twenty cents above my price for gas per gallon—although I couldn’t have risked driving any further on an empty tank, I knew I could have preplanned better! There’s always room for improvement……
However, the lesson that I have learned is to pre-plan vacations and trips away from home not only with a list and snacks for us as we travel but dollar signs next to each stop that we are to make and cash in an envelope to cover each and every expense—-and a FULL tank of gas from home at the right price per gallon!
At least these are my thoughts as a stay at home mom who wants to conquer consumer consumption and teach my toddler the importance of living within your means! I have to be the role model that thinks before she spends—that counts the excess as savings before its gone. I can spend more than I make and work more than I play to pay the excess but I want to choose the path less traveled——-stay within budget, play more, reap more—-for I know I’ll stress less about what I’ve spent if I stay within budget. I’m not against crossing off one or more items off our list of “to do’s” if it means more in the end——and not just more cash…
What about you?
When you and/or your child(ren) have an appointment out of town, how do you plan your day so that you stay within budget?
Photo Credit: Bing.com (Great search site for visual images!)
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