Money just flying out the window (long post)

**Neeley** · 02-29-2008, 12:30 AM

This has been the most expensive week. I am not one to normally stress or worry over spending a few dollars here or there. I am actually the spender in my family - love to shop, buy things for my kids, take my kids places, etc.... But I swear, I dont want to spend another dime this week.

Last Friday night we took all the girls on the basketball team DH coached and DD played on out to dinner. Tax and tip it came to $149.80.

Last Saturday we took our weimeraner to the vet since he wasnt feeling well. Our dog needed three different meds, plus we scheduled him for a bath and had them board him for two nights. It came to a whopping total of $340.26.

DS needed new cleats for baseball so off to Sports Authority we go on Monday night. He found a pair he wanted and they were on sale for $40 so I was happy. Well, DS loves shoes - he should have been a girl he loves shoes that much. He found a pair of Vans he really wanted and really did need a new pair of of tennis shoes type/style shoes. His foot is growing so fast - he is only 12 years old and already in a men's size 12. Ok - the Vans were $50. Not a huge deal, I will only be spending $30 more than planned. But then the coolest Mizuno warm-up jacket caught his and DH's eyes - add on another $25. I finally was able to get out of Sport's Authority after spending $125.00. *I also took the warm-up jacket on and had his name embroidered on it so that was another $8. But that was my choice. I have a thing about having everything embroidered. That is the snotty, snobby, spoiled side of me.*

DS has batting practice at the cage that runs us $25-$50 a week this time of year. (Later on in the spring that price goes up, plus his private coach is $150 for 5 lessons [basically $150 a month]. But thank goodness that does not kick in for a couple of more weeks.)

I thought I was done spending for the week - but no I could not be so lucky. DS gets a new bat at least once a year. Normally his bats cost around $250.00-$350.00. Well, about 8:00 tonight we found out a friend of DH and DS was selling his son's brand new bat - it is a 2008 model and only used 6 times for $80. A good baseball bat takes at least 50-100 hits to get broken in so this one is just getting primed up. I gave the ok to buy it because it was a great deal. The bat is in excellent condition and it retails new at $295. We got a good deal, but I hated to spend any more money. In the long run I came out ahead on this deal, I really should not complain.

Tonight around 10:00 DS's travel ball coach called and said we have an out of town, three day tournament this weekend. The tournament is about 50 miles from here so we have to make that trip three times this weekend, pay the gate fee, snacks, etc.... I am thinking it will easily cost us another $125-$150 since my truck takes $75 to fill up and weekend passes to the tournament are $12 per person and we have to buy one for DH, DD and myself.

Our week will have cost us right at $800 extra when all is said and done. I love to spend but not this much. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. We normally dont spend so much at once, it is usually spread out. I am just thankful that we have certain monies we earmark for things like this and it does not put us in a bind. DH keeps our real savings for true emergencies in his work account(so it is not spent unless absolutely needed) and we keep the money for these type things in a secret hiding place at home - easier access. Yes, I know it is stupid to keep large amounts of money at home, but we do.

I have never said this in my life, but I am tired of dishing out the cash this week. I need a break from all this spending. I love to grocery shop and go to Hobby Lobby but I dont even want to do either one for a while.

Thanks for listening to my very long vent. Please keep your fingers crossed that nothing else comes up. (Oh yeah - forgot to add that DH cut the dryer on and my cat was in it Wednesday night. Luckily the heat was off and we found out after only a couple of minutes. Our vet did not charge us for the after hours consult on this one. She is fine now, but that just added to my stressful week.)

**Jskell911** · 02-29-2008, 06:11 AM

Thank goodness you have the funds earmarked. I am sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. I would be too. Hopefully next week will be a much more frugal week. But keep in mind, you did get many things that were needed and at good prices.

**DixieJ** · 02-29-2008, 07:32 AM

Sometimes it does seem like everything comes at once, but at least you had money earmarked for such occasions. Hopefully next week will be a better one for you.

Dixie Jean

**mombottoo** · 02-29-2008, 10:10 AM

I know what you mean...sometimes kids & pets seem like they can cost a bundle. Luckily, it sounds like you were prepared for such things...but, what are you going to do if Hobby Lobby has a really great sale???

**annymoll** · 02-29-2008, 10:31 AM

I can understand. I'm smiling though, at what you don't yet know. Here is a secret.It never ends. One day the phone will begin to ring and you will hear,"Hey Grandma......"LOL. Enjoy the sporting events,those times are happy ones.

**FrugalWitch** · 02-29-2008, 10:59 AM

I think I died. You are seriously saying over 200 dollars for a baseball bat??? 150 for a private coach?? My brain has officially shut-down. Good thing I don't have kids cos they would be playing with normal cheap gear on a normal cheap neighborhood team.

**perSue** · 02-29-2008, 11:02 AM

when it rains it pours!

but just think, except for the necessities (grocery, etc), you're DONE!

at least for a year as far as DS' baseball equipment goes.

it happens and what matters is that you ARE able to pay for this stuff, because the rest of the time you're frugal.

hopefully the next few weeks will show to be very quiet in the financial aspect.

**Edna_E** · 02-29-2008, 07:45 PM

I sympathize. Last summer seemed similar to me - like there were always trips for my mom, or car repairs, or ER visits, or something similarly catastrophic. Now they weren't really catastrophic, they just reduced the rate at which I am getting out of debt, but they messed with my head!

**cissylu** · 03-14-2008, 11:53 PM

kids and pet`s do seem to cost a lot.

**mikandmari** · 03-15-2008, 12:36 AM

I have a friend who has a couple of sons that are really into baseball. They get new equipment all the time... bats that costs hundreds, batting cage practice every week... etc etc. It's nothing like the old days!

When my son was young we were into racing, he had a junior dragster & a quarter midget. It was expensive, and I don't regret it.... but I think they spend more on baseball than we ever spent on racing!

Why has this gotten so pricey? Are you hoping for scholarships? Just curious...

**Neeley** · 03-15-2008, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by mikandmari

Why has this gotten so pricey? Are you hoping for scholarships? Just curious...

We have always spent a good bit of money on our kids' actvities. We have always allowed them to get involved in whatever activites they wanted to try. The only rule we have is you are not allowed to quit mid-season, mid-year, etc...If you don't like the activity, you still have to finish the season, lessons, etc...Since both are A students and well behaved we do not limit the number of activities they can do at once or per year.

No, we are not hoping for scholarships or anything like that. He enjoys his sports very much and we do what we can so he can get the most out of it. He eats and sleeps his football, baseball and basketball. He has been on a traveling football team since he was 6, makes the all-star tournament baseball team for our Dixie Youth league(same thing as Babe Ruth and Little League)and plays on a travel baseball team for USSSA baseball. He loves it very much. He knows how much it costs and is the most appreciative child I have ever seen. He thanks us repeatedly for everything. Every tournament, every practice, every lesson, every pair of cleats - he offers to help pay and thanks us over and over. We don't let him pay for any of it, but it is nice of him to offer.

We do the same for DD. We do what we can so she can get the most out of her activities. She plays volleyball, basketball, writes and does volunteer work with two agencies. She does not ask for much - it is like pulling teeth to find out what she would like in the way of lessons, equipment, etc...

None of it puts us in a financial bind, we would not do it if it did. We budget around $5000 a year towards the kids' activities so all expenses are covered. If the kids acted like spoiled brats, were rude or ungrateful we would not do for them like we do.

**favesis37** · 03-15-2008, 07:05 AM

i remember when we had 2 in sports! ds's basketball shoes were around 150.00. all the kids had to wear the same shoes, then the warm ups for varisty were 80.00, then there was cheerleading! madn is that outragoius. it all adds up. at least you had the money, i think i had to rob peter to pay the bills