Allowance, Schmollowance...

We have never really done allowances with the kids before..at least consistently. If they needed something we just bought it of course and if they wanted something well it would just depend what it was, how much it was, etc. Unfortunately, the answer most of the time was"no" or "wait", neither of them a bad word, but it got old saying it and I know for them it got old hearing it.

See, when you have four children and you are a fair parent, as we try to be, one $5 little gadget that isn't anything much, turns into $20 and four little gadgets that aren't anything much. If you buy for one, you can't help but buy for all.

I am not trying to brag, but we have pretty well behaved children, they do any chores we ask, and more often than not it is without any whining. I know, right? Blessed we are.

OK, ok back to the whole allowance thing..Brian and I had come to the conclusion that in order to keep our sanity while at a store and to keep from being nickeled and dimed to death, allowances are going to be necessary. I had been reading a thread on a mom's forum I go to regularly about allowances and how different families determine the amount each child receives, so we decided to go with "half their age + $2". Got it? Make any cents sense?

So here is how it goes:

Oldest daughter is 11, she receives $7.50 (half of 11 = $5.50 + $2= $7.50)
Middle daughter is 8, she receives $6 (half of 8 = $4 + $2 = $6)
Son is 6, he receives $5 (half of 6 = $3 + $2 = $5)
Youngest daughter is 3 and she receives $3.50 (half of 3 = $1.50 + $2 = $3.50)

I like this method because they can see that age has its privilege and they know that with each birthday their allowance will increase.

I also like it because I can take them to the store with me now without having to give the "don't ask for anything, we are just running in to get a couple of things, we don't have time to look at toys, I know you just want to look, but really we can't buy anything" speech. They have their own money, to give, to spend and/or to save.

Here goes to teaching some financial responsibility (or at least try)!!!


BTW, we will still provide all their needs, I promise!

Ebay? Ebay?? Ebay???

Remember when I said I was too busy to blog?

Remember the part about turning "trash" into treasure over at My Dear Trash?

So I decided to give it a try..

I mean I love a good great deal, but I DO NOT HAVE THE ROOM to keep very many great deals.

Soooo...I decided to see if I could make a profit off of my deals.


I started seeing $$ signs at every yard sale and at every thrift store...even in my own closet (and my husband's too..ssshhh don't tell)

I am still trying to figure out what it is that makes an item sell..is it simply price? Is it shipping costs? Maybe it is all about timing, yes, that must be it..because check these two sales out.


Here we have a ladie's size small Gap Stretch jean jacket.



I purchased it at a yard sale for $1. Listed it on Ebay with a starting bid of $3 and shipping of $5...after a 3 day auction, it did not sell. I immediately relisted it. I changed the starting bid from $3 to $2.99 and the shipping from $5 to $4.95, so a 6¢ difference. It ended up selling for $7.50 + the $4.95 shipping.

Another example that proves it is all about timing..



This nice Tommy Hilfiger men's jacket was found in the back of our closet, we have no idea where it came from, so decided to throw it out there. Starting bid was $3 with $5.50 shipping, after a 3 day auction..NOTHING. Remembering the Gap jacket, I relisted it. However, this time, I upped the starting bid to $4.99 and lowered the shipping to $4.95.

Yeah, it sold for $10.50 + $4.95 shipping.

BTW, if that was your Tommy Hilfiger jacket..I am so sorry......

So while I am still learning the ins and outs of selling on Ebay, I do remind myself that it is all about timing, just as pretty much everything else in life.

Really Aeropostale???

So this morning my oldest daughter and I were discussing that she needed some new winter clothes...as much as I hate to admit it, she really does, she has grown and needs new clothes.

I really like to shop online, I usually can score really good deals. In the last week or two I have purchased four pairs of shoes..all high quality shoes from JCPenneys and Sears for less than $20 that includes shipping for all four pairs!!

Ok, back to Aeropostale..I get an e-mail saying that for today only FREE SHIPPING..yeah, they usually have good prices in their clearance section. I open up the e-mail and it says..

Free Shipping


Today Only


On all orders


$87 or more


Really Aeropostale??


How nice of you...



NOT!!!!

So I Turned 35 Last Week...

Yikes! I cannot believe I am old 35 years of age now!

For the past week or so I have been dreaming of writing some nostolgic post..but alas it never came or happened.

I had thought about being coy and tried to come up with 35 things I want to accomplish in the next year of my life, but I only came up with about 5...yeah, I am a pretty motivated gal, I know.


So instead I will share with you how my birthday went down (because, after all, I know that you have been waiting and waiting to hear about this day, right?)...

It actually started the Saturday before my birthday, after a full day at the air show and watching the Blue Angels, we took our oldest daughter to my mom's and the other three were spending the night with my mother-in-law. In case you didn't catch it, let me explain it a little better:

1 child at grandma's + 3 children at oma's = mom and dad alone for the evening!!

So we decided to celebrate my birthday and went to Houlihan's Restaurant. To make it a little more romantic, this happens to be the place where we met almost 15 years ago!! As we were waiting for our food, Brian pointed out where I was sitting the night we met. I was there with a couple of girlfriends and he was our waiter!! He asked for my phone number that night. I didn't give it to him then, but went back the next night and gave it to him. He remembered where I sat that night too!!! Yeah, he so earned some brownie points with all that remembering! Okay, so I am getting a little nostolgic.....

Moving on to the rest of the birthday celebration..Sunday, of course, was church. After church was dinner at my mom's followed by my fave...

chocolate cake.

Yummy!

At this time we didn't have my younger kiddos yet later Sunday evening we went to pick them up. There I was greeted with some very special presents from them..one of kind birthday cards and very rare pieces of literature :) my kids are very crafty and original...

I love that.

They did not get it from me.

On my actual birthday the kids had to go back to school, Brian had to go back to work..my three year old, Miss Lou Lou, as I like to call her, went to Sonic.

That my friends, was my birthday.

Aren't you glad I shared it with you?

Hope you are having a great week!

I Am Too Busy To Blog

Yeah...too busy reading everyone else's blog.

I feel really bad, so I figured I would share some of the blogs that I find I must check out...

First up, if you are needing some DIY ideas for your home check out Thrifty Decor Chick.

To learn how to turn "trash" into treasure and make a profit, My Dear Trash is a must read!!

Last but not least for those who like to sew, check out Sutton Grace for some great tutorials!

So now you know where I am at if there's hasn't been a post for awhile!!