August Frugal chatter

[Insane]

Ah competitive sports. Four kids and all played at least one competitive sport,some played two plus a rec sport thrown in there for good measure!! I have spent 25 years driving up and down the highway to tournaments and games.Was it expensive..you bet.Time consuming ..definitely.Was it worth it.. absolutely I had one go to college on a soccer scholarship, one played soccer in Sweden and Denmark for a summer and one went to the Disney Cup in Florida and they all learned humility,hard work, commitment and team work as well as they all formed friendships that have taken them into their adult lives and now that 3 are adults they are still active in their sport.I have worked endless bingos to fund teams and countless bottle drives and other fundraisers to help pay for trips and tournaments out of the country .I wouldn't change a thing, but it worked for our family and you have to have a child that truly loves the sport and commitment.My youngest quit team sports at thirteen, he just didn't take the pressure of performing and it stressed him out.Oddly enough he is the most talented out of the four but he didn't enjoy the commitment and stress,He is very active but does his activities at a non competitive level and I am fine with that, I am just happy he was able to come to us and let us know how he felt.I don't miss the bottle drives and bingos either!!

My oldest is a little buddhist. Everything just rolls off his shoulders. I actually admire some of his qualities cause he didn't get them from me! When his team mates are having temper tantrums because a game or match isn't going their way, his attitude is very much "oh well, next time". He can keep his cool even under extreme pressure. I think that's why he thrives on sports, especially team sports. He just doesn't get frustrated. Whereas, it was a lesson for me that not all kids are meant to play team sports when it came to #2. She just not a team sport kinda girl. She was much happier when we realized this and stopped pushing team sports on her and starting seeking out other activities that fit her personally. But I totally see her being one where the pressure gets to her.

[thriftygranny]

My oldest is a little buddhist. Everything just rolls off his shoulders. I actually admire some of his qualities cause he didn't get them from me! When his team mates are having temper tantrums because a game or match isn't going their way, his attitude is very much "oh well, next time". He can keep his cool even under extreme pressure. I think that's why he thrives on sports, especially team sports. He just doesn't get frustrated. Whereas, it was a lesson for me that not all kids are meant to play team sports when it came to #2. She just not a team sport kinda girl. She was much happier when we realized this and stopped pushing team sports on her and starting seeking out other activities that fit her personally. But I totally see her being one where the pressure gets to her.

Yup they are all different, kids are lucky in this day and age there is so much more opportunity for them to try so many things. good for you that you didn't push #2 to do something she didn't enjoy.

[jasperandchar]

Well today was a productive day around here. DH and DD painted the spare room light blue which was the request from the 10 year old student coming from Korea on Tuesday to live with us for the school year. Just need to go to Ikea and get her a single duvet and cover-they are usually nice and reasonably priced there. My husband bought the paint at Walmart for only $15 a can and it covered the small room and closet in 2 coats so that was a good deal. Furniture was re-arranged in both rooms so that the girls each have space for their stuff. DH sanded and stained the top of a small stool for the desk so it too will look nice and fresh. I can't imagine sending my 10 year old half way around the world to live with complete strangers for 10 months to practice her English and get exposed to another culture but I guess they do things differently there! Hope her parents have Skype and she is not too homesick!

10 years old my goodness I thought it was a teenager (lol) I wouldn't be able to do that myself. Best of luck with her and I hope she can learn from your family and your family gets exposed to different cultures along the way. I hope she doesn't get homesick either as that could be pretty difficult given the distance.

[jasperandchar]

well hanging another set of clothe on my line -got my new bedroom set yesterday -I am in heaven-lol - I have never had a whole complete set in my life -I think we deserve it -saved up for it bit by bit-couponing does help save in the long run -spent 430.26 on groceries so far this month-so 107.00 a week for the 2 of us mind you that is stocking up on some stuff too-not bad spend 42.81 on eating out -twice(not bad)today we are going to kings buffet-so that will cost us for my hubbie's sister 50th -we may split the bill with other brother so she and her friend (a guy) don't have to pay -she is on a disability-so I will give her a card with a bit of money and a nice basket I got last few months from dove paid 9.00 for it it has 2 shampoos ,puff,cologne and a body wash in a nice pink straw basket -summer set (see it pays to by ahead -I knew someone would like this

congrats on the new bedroom set you deserve it, lovely basket for your sil.

[jasperandchar]

I decided well mom was away I needed to keep myself busy so yesterday I processed 20 of 30 ears of corn. 10 were frozen raw, 10 were roasted in the oven and frozen, I also made 3 batches of pizza dough in my bread maker (I love my bread maker) split each batch in half and frozen them. Also made myself some homemade pizza for dinner. We did not have any pizza sauce so I had to improvise, we had some tomato paste and paasata sauce in the fridge which I mixed together cooked down with spices and used as sauce.

I decided after dinner since mom would not be home before I went to bed that I would call it a me night so I quickly cleaned up the kitchen, turned the dish washer on put away all the laundry and curled up in my chair with a cup of tea and watched a bunch of episodes of Saving Hope I had on the PVR.

Today I finished cleaning the kitchen, have potato bread in the bread maker cooking and mom has grilled the last 10 ears of corn to be frozen. Still have a few more things to try and get done today. I still have to write a grocery list which may not go well after just a quick peak I think there is a lot I want to pick up this week.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

Great job on the corn front (lol), glad you decided to take some me time and I rarely purchase pizza sauce I use spaghetti sauce.

[jasperandchar]

I'm BACK!! Did you miss me??? Computer had to go out for repair. (And SC is blocked at work! I know, right? Sheesh, expecting me to work! LOL) There's a rant in here somewhere, but long story short...don't buy a computer from staples! Like EVER!

Managed to sock away a nice little bit of money over the summer (our daycare is cheaper over the summer as the kids only goes part time). Hubby decided to start trying to tackle our cold living room by starting with the garage ceiling. Everyone on our street (it's townhouses) has the exact same problem. Very long story short....the insulation was subpar and the work was of poor quality. Hubby ended up tearing down the ENTIRE ceiling and we had to have someone come in and spray foam the ceiling. Although I know this will make a HUGE difference in the winter, I had to kiss all my summer savings good bye!

And my preteen won't stop growing. I'm not even kidding. He's taller than me. He needed all new hockey equipment this year. Since we live in the middle of nowhere, it means we can't go to used sporting goods stores anymore. So not only did he need all new gear, but it had to be NEW gear. That was $400 I'll never see again, plus I still have to spend the nearly $600 to register him. Sigh....this month has been really, really expensive. And it's not even over yet. The girls still need dance clothes, my son still needs to get registered in squash. Bus passes need to be bought (for my son, my daughter goes to an after school program). And I need to register the girls in skating sometime next month. Man oh man, Aug and Sept are always so darn expensive. Every year I vow to plan better for next year, and every year I fall short. Kids are expensive!

Insane welcome back! Yes you were missed, your wisdom, kind comments and your recipes! glad you are back and that your pc problems & sc problems have now been worked out.

[cdngal75]

I'm BACK!! Did you miss me??? Computer had to go out for repair. (And SC is blocked at work! I know, right? Sheesh, expecting me to work! LOL) There's a rant in here somewhere, but long story short...don't buy a computer from staples! Like EVER!

Managed to sock away a nice little bit of money over the summer (our daycare is cheaper over the summer as the kids only goes part time). Hubby decided to start trying to tackle our cold living room by starting with the garage ceiling. Everyone on our street (it's townhouses) has the exact same problem. Very long story short....the insulation was subpar and the work was of poor quality. Hubby ended up tearing down the ENTIRE ceiling and we had to have someone come in and spray foam the ceiling. Although I know this will make a HUGE difference in the winter, I had to kiss all my summer savings good bye!

And my preteen won't stop growing. I'm not even kidding. He's taller than me. He needed all new hockey equipment this year. Since we live in the middle of nowhere, it means we can't go to used sporting goods stores anymore. So not only did he need all new gear, but it had to be NEW gear. That was $400 I'll never see again, plus I still have to spend the nearly $600 to register him. Sigh....this month has been really, really expensive. And it's not even over yet. The girls still need dance clothes, my son still needs to get registered in squash. Bus passes need to be bought (for my son, my daughter goes to an after school program). And I need to register the girls in skating sometime next month. Man oh man, Aug and Sept are always so darn expensive. Every year I vow to plan better for next year, and every year I fall short. Kids are expensive!

I totally feel your pain. My 11 year old son needed almost all new hockey gear this year. My husband insists on new stuff too....something to do with his always getting used equipment when he was a kid We do the Sport Chek hockey skates deal. If you buy junior skates there and return them with the receipt the next year, you get 50% of the purchase price back. That has enabled us to painlessly upgrade his skates every year. This year we bought $300 skates for $150. Sadly this is his last year as he is in the last junior size. His feet are huge. He will outgrow me height wise within the next few months. Your post reminded me that I still need to make a dental appointment to get him a new mouth guard. Sigh! He is signed up for power skating starting next week. More $$$$. It is worth the money though because he loves hockey. Keeps him from gaining huge amounts of weight and seems to keep his asthma in check. Oh and you are lucky to pay only $600 for registration. Ours is over $800. Haven't paid under $650 since mite.

My daughter goes to a Catholic highschool and needs a bunch of new uniform items. Fortunately she seems to have stopped growing so she will get a few years out of the stuff I buy. She does not like sports. Her thing is art which can be pretty expensive too. Whoever did that survey that said Canadians can raise their kids for $3500-$4500 never had kids in hockey!!
I will be thrilled when September ends and I can start saving instead of spending.

[cdngal75]

I just want to say that a person can make it as expensive as they want when it comes to costs for kids Not judging anyone because each has their own budgets to contend with. Our boys were involved with some sporting activities (more relaxed) and it had to work with family times - so no hockey because we weren't prepared to sit in a hockey rink in the wee hours or late hours of the day. Generally they would just get their friends together (usually after church Sunday afternoons) to play street hockey and then I'd have a bunch over for dinner which was great. A couple of our boys play soccer one evening a week - also just with church friends. So they get their exercise and fun and really don't miss all the registered sports activities. That works well for us - hardly any driving and just a lot less stress. And my hubby gets his exercise too because he usually joins in on the fun.

We live in a very small town in the country. Kids do not all live close together. Hockey is a means of socializing in one place. Keeps them out of trouble. Summer is usually baseball, soccer or lacrosse. I lived on an army base as a kid. Everyone was in close proximity so kids all got together to play. Hardly anyone was in organized sports. In the country, hockey arenas become a gathering place for kids and adults alike.

[cdngal75]

My oldest is a little buddhist. Everything just rolls off his shoulders. I actually admire some of his qualities cause he didn't get them from me! When his team mates are having temper tantrums because a game or match isn't going their way, his attitude is very much "oh well, next time". He can keep his cool even under extreme pressure. I think that's why he thrives on sports, especially team sports. He just doesn't get frustrated. Whereas, it was a lesson for me that not all kids are meant to play team sports when it came to #2. She just not a team sport kinda girl. She was much happier when we realized this and stopped pushing team sports on her and starting seeking out other activities that fit her personally. But I totally see her being one where the pressure gets to her.

Sounds like your son could teach a few parents and coaches a few things about good sportsmanship

[cdngal75]

Back to school costs were really small this year. Just needed a few things. We reuse most things from year to year. I've bought 3 MEC school bags for the kids. The only time they get a different one is when it becomes too small. Then we keep it for the next kid. I find the teachers asks for more than they need. My son needed like 3 glue sticks last year, he came back with 2 unused. So didn't buy him any this year! I spent about $20 getting the 2 kids back to school. I also stock up on discounted items that I know we can use at the end of Sept for the next year. We are still using lined paper I bought in University for like 5c a pack. No word of a lie, the Zellers coupon on the front expired in 2000!

What's your back to school tip?

I think back to school shopping is just a marketing gimmick. Kids do not need an entire wardrobe the first day of school. I purchase my kids a backpack, shoes(if needed) and school supplies(anyone remember the good old days when our supplies were provided). I buy them clothes as needed throughout the year. If my kids stuff from last year (backpacks, pencil cases) are still in good shape, they can use them again.

[Frugalbigmama]

Cleaned out the fridge yesterday morning before grocery shopping. So prepped dinner while I was doing it (potatoes in foil on the BBQ- some were very old but were fine once cut up, broccoli and left over corn on the cob from the day before pool party we attended) Dug chicken from the freezer. Also had plans and the stuff on hand to make lasagna so made 2 for the freezer so 2 meals to look forward to with leftovers. Will be good for a busy day when we want a nice dinner and just have to add salad.

[Frugalbigmama]

I am not a baker. But have decided I'm going to start since I have cut sugar from my diet and it will be easier to make stuff myself so I know what is in it. And will be good for the kids too. Found a yogurt muffin recipe so anxious to try it this weekend. Love muffins but the store bought ones are so fattening!

[jasperandchar]

I am not a baker. But have decided I'm going to start since I have cut sugar from my diet and it will be easier to make stuff myself so I know what is in it. And will be good for the kids too. Found a yogurt muffin recipe so anxious to try it this weekend. Love muffins but the store bought ones are so fattening!

And expensive! I love baking but I have to be in the mood.

[jasperandchar]

Hiya ladies it's hard to believe that September is only 6 days away. Anyways keep the September thread names coming I will post the choices tomorrow to start the voting. Here are the names submitted thus far. September names by Frugalbigmama September Super Savings/////September Frugal Chatter by Granger//// Sweet September Savings by avoncallingu/// Savour September Savings by avoncallingu////

[MrsSunshine]

September is Still Summer (Savings)?? seriously.. some ppl think that once September hits summer is over.. its not ppl.. its still summer for 3 more weeks..